Upcoming Programs
Online
The Science & Art of Student Recruitment
Thursdays, July 31 – August 21, 2025
- Master the strategies to inspire & recruit students
- Boost enrollment, refine engagement, and shape student success
Online
Fundamentals of Strategic Enrolment Management
Fridays from October 31 - November 21, 2025
- Canada's only micro-credential in Strategic Enrolment Management
- For professionals involved in SEM or committed to student success
What is SEMM (Strategic Enrolment Marketing and Management)?
Broadly defined, everyone working in higher education works in SEMM. SEMM includes all the people involved in attracting, admitting, teaching and supporting students (both behind the scenes and face-to-face). This is why every role within post-secondary contributes directly or indirectly to SEMM and impacts enrolment and student success.
Our SEMM Community
Virtually every college and university in Canada has been involved in our Strategic Enrolment Marketing & Management conferences and training programs. We are grateful for the support of the many volunteers who share their time, expertise and insight with the SEMM community.
To learn how you can get involved, visit the Get Involved section.
Free Resources
Webinars
Our free webinars foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among post-secondary peers across Canada.
Click here to submit a webinar proposal.
June 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. (ET)
Discovering Your Gifts: Decolonizing the Career Exploration Experience
Discovering Your Gifts is an interactive and relational workshop, thoughtfully developed by Mike Calvert and Coline Casey at Northern Lights College…
August 12, 2025 from 1 to 2 p.m. (ET)
Crafting and Marketing to Student Personas
This conversational panel will unpack the strategic value of personas—not just as marketing tools, but as foundational components for cross-campus alignment and student-centered decision making…
May 22, 2025
Cracking the Code: Rethinking Student Success with HeadStart
If you knew who your most at-risk students were before they even set foot on campus, your support services could start reaching out to them on day one and make a difference with the students who almost immediately feel they aren’t going to make it.
April 30, 2025
From Insight to Impact: Alumni Perspectives on the Strategic Enrolment Marketing for Leaders Program
During this panel, graduates will share what drew them to the Strategic Enrolment Marketing for Leaders program, the moments that shifted their thinking, and how it continues to shape their leadership today.
Receive Weekly Student Insights
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35%
of students think that generative AI has positively influenced their academic achievements.
#1
Pursuit of happiness is the most important value to domestic college and university students.
55%
of students think their school is responsive to their needs.
37%
of students expect to secure a full-time job before they graduate.
SEMM Socialization
The following free resources were created to help institutions align everyone—from admissions to academics, from student services to senior leadership—around a shared goal: student success, institutional health, and organizational resilience.
How Systems Thinking Strengthens Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM)
Board Member SEM & Institutional Success Briefing
SEM Socialization Presentation
Brainstorm Blog
Ideas and insights to help you attract and engage the next generation.
Research
Our research provides critical insights into both student career interests and employer hiring trends, enabling us to develop targeted programming, resources, and member engagement initiatives.
2025 SEMM Landscape Survey Results
The SEMM Landscape Survey is conducted annually by post-secondary professionals across universities, colleges, and polytechnics, highlighting the evolving landscape of student recruitment, decision-making, and institutional readiness.
The Brainstorm Student Interests Report
The Brainstorm Student Interests Report is a comprehensive research study that provides an in-depth look at the mindset of Canadian post-secondary students. Find out how you can get a free customized report comparing your students responses to national data.
The 2025 Canadian Campus Recruitment Outlook Report
With over 35 pages of insight into Canadian campus hiring activities and 30+ charts and graphs highlighting key findings, the report is designed to help you develop effective student recruitment and communications strategies to attract, engage, and retain top talent.
Get Involved
We are grateful for the support of the many volunteers who share their time, expertise and insight with the SEMM community.
Present at a SEMM Conference
We're looking for unique perspectives, ideas, insights, and successes that have positively impacted students and enrolment at your school.
2025 Atlantic SEMM ConferenceCommunity Webinars
Are you ready to share initiatives that have improved student and enrolment outcomes with the SEMM community in Canada? Click the button below to submit a webinar proposal.
Submit Webinar ProposalAdvisory Groups
Advisory group members from across the country meet virtually to provide guidance which shapes current and future offerings. To view the current members of our advisory groups, please click here. Reach out to Jennifer Powell at jennifer@brainstorm.ca if you'd like to put your name forward for a committee or council.
SEMM Advisory Council
The Council comprises strategic enrolment management professionals from across the country who meet virtually four times yearly.
Dr. Christopher Busch
University of Windsor
Assistant Vice President, Enrolment Management
Danny Friere
University of Saskatchewan
Governance Officer
Dr. Joe Stokes
Ontario Tech University
University Registrar and Associate Vice President, International
Dr. Lee Ann McKivor
Memorial University of Newfoundland
University Registrar and Associate University Secretary
Patricia Jelinski
Queen’s University
Executive Director, Communications & Marketing
Shelby Verboven
University of Toronto Scarborough
Registrar and Assistant Dean Enrollment Management
Trevor J. Phillips
University of Alberta
Assistant Registrar, Indigenous Enrolment Management
Jenn Goodwin
Okanagan College
Vice President, Enrolment & College Relations
Dan Seneker
Saint Mary’s University
Associate Vice President, Enrolment Management & Registrar
Ali Martin-Mayer
McGill University
Director, Admissions & Recruitment
Janene Christiansen
George Brown College
Registrar and Associate Vice-President, Strategic Enrolment
Virtual SEMM Conference Program Committee
The Committee comprises strategic enrolment
management professionals from across the country who meet virtually.
The
commitment is typically one 1-hour meeting monthly leading up to a large-scale in-person or virtual
conference event.
Stefanie Elia
Niagara College
Manager, Recruitment Engagement
Dr. Lee Ann McKivor
Memorial University of Newfoundland
University Registrar and Associate University Secretary
Cristina Blesa
Toronto Metropolitan University
Associate Director, Marketing & Digital Engagement, International Student Enrolment, Education & Inclusion
Mindy Kostiuk
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Recruitment Officer
Nicole Owusu Ampofo
McMaster University
Recruitment Officer
Mary Ross
MHR Consulting
PSE Consultant
Partners & Sponsors
Our programs and events are enhanced by the support and engagement of many different organizations that serve the SEMM community. Please email Jennifer Powell, Director of Community Engagement, at jennifer@brainstorm.ca to get involved.
Recent Supporters:
Past Programs
Halifax, NS
SEMM Atlantic Conference
June 12 & 13, 2025
Online
Strategic Enrolment Marketing for Leaders
Mondays from May 26 - June 16, 2025
Virtual
SEMM Virtual Conference
May 7 & 8, 2025
Online
Strategic Domestic Student Recruitment
Mondays from April 7 - May 6, 2025
Online
Fundamentals of Strategic Enrolment Management
Thursdays from February 5th - 27th, 2025
Online
Fundamentals of Student Recruitment Marketing
Wednesdays from January 22nd - February 12th, 2025
Toronto, ON
SEMM Forum Conference
November 5th - 7th, 2024
Stay in the Loop
Subscribe to our mailing list to be the first to know about our upcoming
offerings. If you have any questions,
reach out to Jennifer Powell, Director
of Community Engagement, at jennifer@brainstorm.ca.
Leading employers, universities and colleges rely on Brainstorm for strategic advice, informative insights, and practical professional development.
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