The “Policy Pivot” of 2025 has matured into the “Institutional Survival” era of 2026. With international demand shifting and internal resources stretched to their breaking point, the role of Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) has never been more precarious—or more vital.

This session dives into the findings of the 2026 Canadian SEMM Landscape Survey, revealing how institutional silos and financial pressures are redefining the sector. However, amidst these challenges, a powerful story of resilience is also emerging. We will explore how a “village” mindset—supported by a dedicated workforce—can be the ultimate competitive advantage. 

This plenary and the associated breakout sessions will move beyond simple data reporting into a strategic conversation about institutional survival, the strength of our collective mission, and the critical need for a systems-thinking approach.

Following the plenary, attendees will join one of three focused breakout rooms for 10 minutes each (will go to each breakout session eventually) to discuss the findings and apply them to their own institutional contexts. 10 minutes set-aside for sharing after the breakout sessions close.

Breakout Topic: The Career Promise

• The Context: Students want careers (93.94%), but our “brand” is under fire.
• Discussion: How can we use our high success in preparing students for careers (74.49% agreement) to rebuild our reputation?

Breakout Topic: Leveraging the Dedicated Workforce

• The Context: Staff are “drowning,” yet 91.31% feel their work is vital.
• Discussion: How do we protect this high level of engagement and sense of mission while operating with fewer resources and more “fragmented systems”?

Breakout Topic: Scaling the “Supportive Environment”

• The Context: 48.48% of staff say a “supportive learning environment” is why students stay.
• Discussion: In an era of “Institutional Survival,” how do we ensure the “village” mindset remains the core of our SEM strategy rather than a luxury we cut?

Faculty play a critical role in attracting, supporting, and retaining students, but motivating busy academics to engage in recruitment and retention efforts can be challenging. 

This session explores practical strategies for encouraging meaningful faculty participation. Participants will examine what truly motivates faculty in today’s higher education landscape, including recognition, alignment with academic values, workload considerations, and institutional culture. Through real world examples and interactive discussion, attendees will leave with actionable approaches to strengthen faculty and recruitment staff partnerships.

• Identify motivators that resonate with faculty across disciplines and career stages
• Align recruitment and retention efforts with teaching, research, and service expectations
• Reduce barriers that limit faculty engagement

In 2024, U of T won its first Nobel Prize in 40 years, generating a tidal wave of profile.  We began to wonder…would the halo effect extend to undergraduate enrolment? Combining brand health research, our Laureate’s brilliance and vulnerability, and our knowledge of the prospective student mindset, we created a virtual event for applicants around the globe to boost excitement and self-confidence about their ability to succeed in post-secondary studies. Staff in admissions, special events and communications delivered an effort that exceeded expectations for participation, resonance and yield. We’ll share our blueprint, planning checklist and takeaways so you can feature your academic super stars and do something similar.

Learning Outcomes

• Discover our blueprint for spotlighting academic superstars, aiming to surprise and delight audiences, making applicants feel appreciated, and giving them a taste of your learning community far beyond what can be gleaned in a viewbook or website to build excitement and engagement
• Learn what the research says about prospective undergraduate students’ mindsets to help you put their needs at the centre of event design
• Understand the risks, costs, benefits and key considerations required to execute a similar effort at your institution

Every year, thousands of students share their thoughts about post-secondary life—and in 2025, over 24,000 of them told us exactly what’s working, what’s missing, and what needs to change. Drawing on findings from the 2025 Brainstorm Student Interests Report, this insight-driven session explores the student experience across the full post-secondary journey—from attraction and enrolment, to student development and engagement, to career readiness and transition to work.

Using Brainstorm’s Student Success Ecosystem as our framework, we’ll examine what students are telling us at each stage of their path—IN, THROUGH, and OUT—and what those insights mean for institutional strategy, service design, and student engagement. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of student expectations, key friction points, and actionable ideas to improve support across the entire journey—from first contact to first job.

A great enrolment strategy does not begin with numbers and data. It does not begin with a written plan. It does not begin with goals, objectives, and metrics. Before any of that it begins with people (staff, faculty, leadership), the community of an institution, and their ability and willingness to work hard and believe that together they can do anything. It needs to be a community where people are connected. Where they experience belonging, inclusivity, and appreciation for their contributions. A strong, savvy culture built from authentic leadership where each person’s talents are valued as integral to the whole. An environment where those talents are fostered for sustained success. Because when politics and global issues and economics deliver tough impacts as we are witnessing right now, it remains for those who serve students to be the core of enrolment continuity. 

If you want to explore how intentionally crafting culture helps shape the enrolment journey, from future students’ first point of contact to alumni, then this session is for you.

Join Mary Ross, a renowned leader in higher education whose career has spanned across the country including institutions from Newfoundland to British Columbia and within the United States. Currently consulting and serving as Interim Vice President, Admissions & Enrolment at Adler University, Mary brings a wealth of experience from her former role as Registrar and her unwavering commitment to innovation and student success. Embark on a journey with her as she delves into: 

• The essentials of a strong culture and why they matter.
• The people first mentality and how to know if you have it.
• How to sustain a positive culture during times of economic hardships.

Retention is often measured in numbers, programs, or services—but what about the hidden, everyday experiences that quietly push students off course? Subtle challenges—like social exclusion, miscommunication, bureaucratic frustrations, group project stress, or small personal setbacks—can accumulate and erode confidence, belonging, and persistence. These are micro-traumas, invisible yet powerful forces affecting all students.
This session introduces the Retention Currents Model, a fresh, easy-to-grasp framework for identifying and addressing these hidden forces. Participants will explore how small experiences ripple through the student journey and discover actionable strategies to transform negative currents into trust, resilience, and engagement.

1. Through storytelling, real-world examples, and interactive exercises, attendees will leave with:
2. A new lens to see and understand the hidden forces affecting retention
3. Practical strategies to intervene early and build belonging
4. Tools to create student experiences that turn small challenges into positive momentum

This session is for anyone who wants to look beneath the surface of student success and turn invisible obstacles into thriving, inclusive campus experiences.

Learning Outcomes

• Define micro-traumas and understand their impact on student retention.
• Identify high-risk touchpoints where small challenges accumulate across all student journeys.
• Apply practical, human-centered strategies to turn negative experiences into resilience, engagement, and belonging.

Before the session begins, participants will take a few minutes to complete the Student-Centric Mindset Scorecard — and during the session, we’ll turn insights into action. In this interactive 45-minute workshop, participants will reflect on their results, explore how their mindset shapes the student experience, and identify opportunities for growth. Through guided prompts and small-group dialogue, participants will leave with a clearer understanding of their patterns, actionable ideas to strengthen their practice, and a personal commitment to one intentional change that enhances student-centred work.  

Learning Outcomes

• Understand what their scorecard reveals about their mindset and practices.
• Identify personal strengths and areas for growth.
• Commit to one small, actionable step to enhance their student-centred work.

Yes—they do. But not the way you think. This talk will show you exactly how to write subject lines, optimize your links, and lay out your email copy so your message gets across.

In this session, you’ll learn:

• How to write good subject lines that increase open rates. 
• Typical email reading patterns and how to use them to your advantage. 
• How to appropriately use formatting and white space. 
• Recommendations on sentence structure and reading level. 
• How to use links and buttons to guarantee click-through. 
• A quick way to test if your email will get read.

Recruitment is everyone’s responsibility, and building strong bridges between faculty and Student Recruitment & Enrolment allows institutions to draw on the strengths of both groups. Over the past three years, Saint Mary’s University has been intentional about removing silos and embracing meaningful partnership.

In this session, co-presenters from the Sobey School of Business, the Faculty of Science, and Student Recruitment & Enrolment will share how an informal collaboration evolved into formalized structures across the university. Rooted in shared goals of increasing enrolment and ensuring student success, along with mutual respect for each other’s expertise, this approach has shifted SMU from ad-hoc interactions to a coordinated model that includes school visits, faculty-supported recruitment events, aligned messaging, and cross-functional working groups.

Attendees will learn how to create effective communication channels and collaborative opportunities that improve the prospective student experience. We’ll share tangible outcomes, challenges faced and lessons learned, and a practical roadmap participants can adapt to build collaborative, campus-wide systems at their own institutions.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify practical strategies for developing structured communication channels and shared priorities between recruitment and academic units.
• Apply a collaborative outreach model that includes co-developed events, faculty supported outreach, and coordinated follow-up with prospective students.
• Develop an action plan to build or improve cross-functional working groups that support recruitment and incoming student experience.

Journey mapping has long been a powerful way to understand and improve the student experience—but in 2026, new tools are transforming how quickly and effectively institutions can build meaningful maps. This workshop will reintroduce the fundamentals of student journey mapping while showcasing modern advancements that save time and uncover deeper insights. Participants will explore how to leverage Google Analytics custom reports, AI-powered survey analysis, and AI-supported interpretation of human interviews to capture the student voice at scale. The session will also highlight emerging platforms, like persona-based mapping templates, that allow teams to visualize and act on data with greater precision. Walk away with practical strategies and toolkits to modernize your approach and accelerate student-centric decision-making on your campus.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply modern digital tools to accelerate the creation of student journey maps.
• Use AI-driven analysis to uncover insights from surveys and interviews more efficiently.
• Design persona-based journey maps that support evidence-based improvements to the student experience.

Finding the right partner can determine the success of your marketing, communications, or technology initiative — but the process is rarely straightforward. Between internal pressures, tight timelines, competing priorities, and glossy vendor pitches, institutions and agencies often navigate the same challenges from different vantage points.

This joint session brings both sides to the table.

Campus decision makers who have led vendor evaluations — from informal searches to full RFPs — will share how they aligned stakeholders, assessed fit beyond the proposal, and avoided common pitfalls that can derail a project. Alongside them, leaders from top higher ed marketing and technology firms will offer a transparent look at what makes partnerships work (and what undermines them), including scope clarity, mutual accountability, communication norms, and how to build trust early.

Through an open, candid dialogue, this session will explore:

• What institutions really look for when selecting a vendor, and how they balance internal needs with external promises
• Common missteps in vendor selection and how to avoid them
• How agencies evaluate institutional readiness and set partnerships up for success
• The relationship habits that produce exceptional outcomes — and red flags on both sides
• Practical strategies to make smarter vendor decisions and establish stronger, longer-lasting collaborations

Whether you’re preparing for your next RFP, managing an active partnership, or refining your vendor strategy, you’ll leave with actionable insights from both campus leaders and partners who’ve seen these relationships succeed — and fail — firsthand.

Financial pressures are challenging new and experienced leaders to re-structure workforces, streamline operations, or reduce costs. This interactive session leverages scenarios from two Canadian universities with markedly different sizes, mandates, regions, and political climates, to activate group discussion and problem-solving towards attendees’ own challenges.  

In the first quarter of 2025, Emily Carr University Admissions experienced an almost-100% turnover in staff. As part of a strategic effort to modernize operations under shrinking budgets and increasing learner expectations, leaders spent a full year re-building a workforce, business plans, and institutional trust. The results delivered positive year-over-year application numbers and policy advancements, on-time and under-budget. 

Enrolment growth required Wilfrid Laurier University’s Admissions team to pursue organizational change between 2017 and 2022. Here, technology served as the catalyst, redefining staff skillsets and setting the stage for the 2026 restructuring of the Marketing and Communications teams. This journey demonstrates how investment in technology and talent can drive enrolment outcomes, even amidst structural change. 

Through exploring these two universities’ diverging yet similar challenges and transitions, attendees will have space to discuss their emerging challenges and network together in a collaborative and collegial space. 

Learning Outcomes

• Identify effective strategies for restructuring (departments or workflows) during periods of fiscal constraint
• Recognize key factors that influence resilience during change, resource constraints, and shifting expectations
• Build connections with a network of peers who are leading teams through similar transformations

Confidence isn’t a diploma you hand out on graduation day. It’s a doorway students learn to find, open, and walk through long before they leave campus.
In this workshop, we confront the reality of the ‘Zoom Face Generation’—students who spent high school behind screens, absorbed by algorithms, and arriving on campus less comfortable making eye contact or raising their voice. With bold style and real-world warmth, this session blends cultural commentary and proven techniques to help reshape interaction from the first day to a future career.
You’ll walk away with actionable strategies to cut through digital fatigue, spark authentic connection, and rebuild social confidence—all without requiring a bigger budget. Think micro-moments that matter, attention hacks that work better, and mentorship moves that feel human again.

Learning Outcomes 

• Cultivate deliberate micro-engagement techniques to reconnect students.
• Activate student confidence through structured yet human mentorship moments.
• Translate cultural trends (like algorithm attention models) into tools that hold focus and foster growth.

Join us for a dynamic closing session designed to spark reflection, connection, and momentum. Our panel of speakers will share the insights they’re taking back to campus to strengthen student success—and recommend standout sessions you won’t want to miss on replay. You’ll have the chance to weigh in via live polls, respond in the chat, and share the takeaways that resonated most with you. Before we close, we’ll invite you to commit to a few simple next steps—so you leave the Summit not just inspired, but ready to act.

Learning Outcomes

• Reflect on key insights from the Summit and identify strategies to apply on your own campus.
• Engage with peers and panelists to prioritize takeaways and highlight standout sessions for future reference.
• Commit to concrete next steps that translate inspiration into practical action to enhance student success.

Promoting services and events online isn’t enough — students need to feel a sense of belonging before they’ll engage and persist. But how can we foster belonging in an increasingly digital world? With more students living local and commuting, York University turned to intentional online activations, FOMO (fear of missing out) and trend-driven content to build community beyond the physical campus. This session explores how digital belonging strategies can strengthen connection and retention, and how you can adapt these ideas for your own institution.

Learning Outcomes

• Design intentional digital activations that foster authentic student engagement.
• Leverage FOMO and social momentum to drive participation and connection.
• Apply trend-driven strategies to strengthen belonging and retention.

Awareness campaigns are some of the most expensive marketing investments a school will make, especially when traditional channels like TV, radio, transit, and out-of-home are part of the mix. Yet most institutions are still reporting on success using clicks and impressions, which in 2026 are just about the cheapest and easiest numbers to generate. The average person is now exposed to over 4,000 ads a day. Seeing your ad, or even clicking it, does not mean a prospective student has remembered you, considered you, or will recognize your name a week later when their guidance counsellor brings up post-secondary options.

This session is about retiring those vanity metrics and replacing them with a small set of indicators that actually tell you whether awareness is being built. We will walk through the metrics our agency uses with post-secondary clients running pure awareness campaigns, the free and built-in tools you can pull them from (Google Search Console, Google Analytics, ad platform dashboards), and how to set realistic benchmarks before a campaign goes live so you are not stuck defending impression counts to your VP at year-end.

The goal is to leave marketing teams with a reporting framework they can use the next time they pitch a brand campaign internally, and a clearer way to defend awareness spend in a tight-budget environment where every dollar is scrutinized.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify the specific signals that indicate real awareness is being built during a campaign, and know which tool to pull each from.
• Build a simple pre-campaign baseline, so your reporting actually shows lift instead of raw numbers in a vacuum, and walk away with a downloadable measurement template you can plug into your next campaign brief.
• Push back confidently when leadership asks “how many impressions did we get?” and reframe the conversation around metrics that connect to enrolment outcomes.

Early and intentional support can change the trajectory of a student’s university experience. This session will highlight the University of Northern British Columbia’s (UNBC) collaborative approach to strengthening student success through two early support systems: the First-Year RISE program, developed with faculty and student success services to foster connection, confidence, and foundational skills, and the Academic Resiliency and Success Plans, co-created by Student Advisors to guide students on probation toward reflection, action, and renewed momentum. Together, these initiatives showcase how proactive and remedial, student-centered supports can normalize challenges, build resilience, and help students thrive throughout their academic journey. 

• Learn how cross-campus collaboration (faculty, advisors, and student services) strengthens student success initiatives. 
• Identify practical strategies that could be adapted or scaled to enhance early supports at their own institutions. 
• Reflect on opportunities to strengthen collaboration and early intervention practices in their current context.

In the ever changing post-secondary landscape, institutions must continue to create, innovate and iterate to strengthen student success. In 2022, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), launched the Student Success sub-unit and merged it with existing career and co-op functions to create the Career, Co-op & Student Success Centre (CC&SS). This presentation will zoom in on the Student Success sub-unit as a new team implementing a new strategy: a first-year transition program centered around holistic student support and resource navigation. 

Learning Outcomes

• Learn about TMU’s student success strategies.
• Identify steps to implement new student success strategies at their institution  
• Outline considerations for implementing new student success strategies at their institution.

In 2023, Northern Lights College launched a Strategic Plan with a bold goal: grow our domestic enrolment, which had lagged for years. Through the creation of an institution-wide Student Journey working group, the College transformed its recruitment and admissions approach, leveraging data-driven strategies, team restructuring, and targeted outreach. The results? Two consecutive years of 16% enrolment growth and the largest total enrolment in a decade, along with a 42% increase in Indigenous student enrolment across academic, vocational, and trades programs.

In this session, attendees will explore how strategic planning translates into actionable enrolment tactics and how lessons from NLC’s journey can be adapted to other institutions seeking measurable growth.

Learning Outcomes 

• Understand a successful framework for transforming an institution’s domestic enrolment strategy.
• Learn step-by-step planning processes from high-level strategy to hands-on implementation.
• Explore actionable recruitment and admissions tactics that led to measurable growth, and discuss how they could be adapted at your institution.

This session will explore how Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Indigenous Student Success Strategy supports Indigenous student success through a relationship-first approach that spans recruitment, transition and student support. Rooted in indigenous values and community connection, the strategy focuses on building trust, culturally relevant support systems, and long-term partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations. We will highlight key components of the strategy, including the Wicihitowin Transition Program, Indigenous community liaison roles, and student retention initiatives. We will also share how our team responds to the unique barriers Indigenous learners face, both inside and outside the institution.

• Developing the Strategy
• Strategy Goals
• Outcomes and Student Success

At Humber Polytechnic, we talk a lot about helping students discover The You You Knew Was In You. To truly move the student recruitment needle, the “storytellers” who spark that possibility and the “relationship builders” who help students believe it must work together with shared purpose.

Join Andrew Leopold (AVP, Marketing and Communications) and Amber Holliday (AVP, Recruitment and Student Mobility), as they explore what happens when leaders stop asking whether marketing or recruitment ‘owns’ the funnel and instead focus on how they are shaping the same experience from different angles. Sharing how they moved from siloed efforts to an aligned approach that included learning from each other’s realities, unifying around shared goals, demystifying data and creating space for honest conversations.

Whether you are looking to fix a “broken hand-off” or want to optimize your conversion funnel, this session will offer a roadmap for turning institutional silos into intentional collaboration. 

Learning Outcomes

• Speak the Same Language: Develop shared KPIs and data-sharing practices that allow both teams to measure success through the same lens.
• Optimize the Handoff: Implement strategies to ensure “Marketing Qualified Leads” transition into “Recruitment Realities” without losing momentum or brand trust.
• Foster Cultural Synergy: Apply leadership tactics to break down departmental silos and build a culture of radical transparency and mutual goals.