Jacquelyn Witchko & Lucas Delproire on Effective Talent Retention

This week we’re talking all about the war for talent in higher ed. Jackie and Lucas join Dustin to talk about how institutions need to consider the holistic experiences of how they recruit and support their faculty and staff to be empowered to do their best work for students.

Key Takeaways

• Modernize Processes to Attract Talent: Institutions must move away from outdated practices like paper-based systems and embrace modern tools that enhance efficiency and streamline administrative burdens.
• Tailored Recruitment Marketing: Generic job postings no longer work; colleges need to personalize their messaging and showcase the unique benefits of their communities.
• Retention Matters More Than Ever: Investing in onboarding programs, mentoring opportunities, and professional development for faculty and staff leads to better retention and long-term success.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making is Key: Using analytics to understand pain points and improve processes ensures institutions can effectively adapt to new challenges.
• Focus on Hybrid and Flexible Work Options: Transparency and clear policies around hybrid work are critical for recruiting and retaining today’s workforce.

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Episode Summary

The War for Talent in Higher Education

The higher education sector faces intense competition for talent, requiring institutions to rethink their strategies. Lucas and Jackie note that the pandemic brought shifts in expectations, with hybrid work and flexibility now being top priorities for both faculty and staff. Institutions that clearly communicate their hybrid work policies and foster a vibrant campus community are better positioned to attract top talent.

Recruiting is also becoming more complex, with candidates evaluating institutions just as critically as institutions evaluate them. Institutions must refine their recruitment marketing, emphasizing diversity, inclusion, and a supportive community to stand out.

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The Critical Role of Digital Tools in Recruitment and Retention

Digital tools play a transformative role in addressing administrative burdens and enhancing faculty and staff satisfaction. Lucas explains how tools like PeopleAdmin’s Faculty Information System help reduce time spent on tedious tasks by automating processes like faculty activity reporting, promotion, and tenure documentation. This gives faculty more time to focus on research, teaching, and mentoring students.

For staff and faculty alike, centralizing workflows—from job postings to onboarding and beyond—enhances efficiency and creates a more seamless experience. Jackie highlights how institutions that adopt these tools see tangible benefits, such as faster hiring cycles and improved retention rates.

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Retention Starts with Community and Support

While recruiting talent is important, retaining them is even more critical. Institutions that invest in professional development, enhanced onboarding programs, and meaningful mentoring opportunities create an environment where employees thrive. Lucas and Jackie stress the importance of fostering a sense of belonging and connection, particularly for junior faculty, who often need additional support to flourish in their roles.

Using data and analytics is also essential for identifying retention challenges. Institutions can track where faculty and staff spend the most time and identify areas to reduce administrative burdens. Tools like PeopleAdmin’s platform make it easier to measure and address these issues, ensuring better outcomes for both employees and students.

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This Episode is Brought to You By Our Friends at Ologie

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About the Enrollify Podcast Network: 

The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network.  If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Our podcast network is growing by the month and we’ve got a plethora of marketing, admissions, and higher ed technology shows that are jam packed with stories, ideas, and frameworks all designed to empower you to be a better higher ed professional. Our shows feature a selection of the industry’s best as your hosts. Learn from Jeremy Tiers, Zach Busekrus, Jaime Hunt, Allison Turcio, Jamie Gleason and many more. 

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