

The EdUp Experience
YOUR Higher Education Podcast
We welcome YOU to America’s leading higher education podcast! Hosted by Dr. Joe Sallustio, whose down-to-Earth approach & industry experience helps to make dry & complicated educational topics more fun & engaging to discuss. Elvin Freytes, Producer, brings YOU the most innovative leaders in higher education to the microphone. The EdUp Experience team brings over 40 years of experience in higher education - YOU will feel refreshed, upskilled, & reskilled after listening to this podcast.
LEARN MORE:
edupexperience.com
We make education YOUR business!
LEARN MORE:
edupexperience.com
We make education YOUR business!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 30, 2025 • 49min
What Universities Can Learn from a 99.7% Debt-Free Graduation Rate - with Clay Christensen, President, Mountainland Technical College
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #406, powered by Ellucian, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Clay Christensen, President, Mountainland Technical CollegeYOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio How does the largest technical college in Utah achieve a 99.7% debt free graduation rate with 6,500 students & a 1,600 person waiting list?What happens when 573 industry professionals serve on advisory committees that can change curriculum overnight to meet real time workforce demands?How does a competency based system with 38 programs averaging 9 months create direct pathways from classroom to career in trades, IT, & healthcare? Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

Sep 28, 2025 • 39min
EdUp Extra: Private College Value, Financing, & Admissions - with Jonathan Sparling, VP Strategic Partnerships, College Well, & Karen Kristof, Dean of Admission, Colorado College
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, part of our new EdUp Extra series (because who doesn’t love a little extra goodness in their life):YOUR guests are Jonathan Sparling, VP Strategic Partnerships, College Well, & Karen Kristof, Dean of Admission, Colorado CollegeYOUR host is Elvin FreytesWhat makes a private college education uniquely impactful, echoing throughout a student’s career & life? How can students know if private college is the right fit for them, & what myths about private colleges are worth busting? How do private colleges provide more financial aid resources than families realize, making the actual net price significantly lower than sticker price?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

10 snips
Sep 25, 2025 • 35min
How Small Town Dynamics Change Academic Integrity Forever - Dr. Andrew Dunlap, Assistant Professor of Anatomy & Physiology, Arkansas State University - Beebe
Dr. Andrew Dunlap, Assistant Professor of Anatomy & Physiology at Arkansas State University–Beebe, shares insights on academic integrity, emphasizing that true integrity means submitting one's own work. He discusses the unique three-strike integrity policy he developed, involving a committee review process. Dunlap also navigates the challenges of integrating AI into education, highlighting ethical usage and teaching students to detect AI errors. He stresses the importance of direct communication and remediation for first violations, making academic honesty a collaborative effort.

Sep 24, 2025 • 34min
If Your University Isn't Broken, What Kind of President Do You Hire? - with Paula Cunningham, Chair, Board of Trustees, Davenport University
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #405, powered by Ellucian, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Paula Cunningham, Chair, Board of Trustees, Davenport UniversityYOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio How does a private university customize & certify curriculum in just 60 days while other institutions take forever to turn things around? What happens when a successful president voluntarily retires after 17 years & 10 straight semesters of enrollment growth? How does a board chair with presidential experience lead a nationwide search for a "builder" not a "fixer" at an institution that's not broken? Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

Sep 23, 2025 • 51min
Maybe Higher Ed's Future Isn't What You Think - with Eric Turner, President, Lasell University
Eric Turner, President of Lasell University and a former Wall Street and IBM executive, shares innovative ideas about higher education. He discusses creating an on-campus senior living community that promotes intergenerational learning, where seniors and undergraduates take classes together. Turner emphasizes the need for institutions to adapt to modern learners’ needs, focusing on career readiness and flexible workforce development partnerships. He also addresses the future of higher ed, advocating for more accessible and diverse educational models to meet societal demands.

Sep 21, 2025 • 44min
If You're Not Tracking This Data, You're Already Behind - with Dr. Nick Swayne, President, North Idaho College
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #403, powered by Ellucian, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Nick Swayne, President, North Idaho CollegeYOUR host is Dr. Jodi Blinco, Vice President for Enrollment Management Consulting, EducationDynamicsHow do you achieve 30% enrollment growth while most institutions struggle with declining numbers?What does it take to build real-time enrollment dashboards that drive strategic decisions?How do you create workforce partnerships that benefit both students & local industry?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

Sep 18, 2025 • 43min
Why Accreditation Isn't the 'Innovation Killer' You Think It Is - with Dr. Heather Perfetti, President & CEO, Middle States Commission on Higher Education
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, part of our Academic Integrity Series, sponsored by Pangram Labs,YOUR guest is Dr. Heather Perfetti, President & CEO, Middle States Commission on Higher EducationYOUR cohost is Bradley Emi , Cofounder & CTO, Pangram LabsYOUR host is Elvin FreytesHow does Dr. Perfetti define academic integrity through the lens of accreditation standards & why does she emphasize centering students around academic rigor & holistic learning experiences? What makes Middle States Commission unique as a global institutional accreditor serving over 500 institutions worldwide & how do they work as part of the regulatory triad? How is Dr. Perfetti supporting institutions navigating AI integration while maintaining academic integrity & transparency in their accreditation processes?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

Sep 17, 2025 • 53min
What Happens When You Call Employees 'Collaborators' Instead? 13% vs 35% Turnover - with Mikhail Shneyder, Chief Executive Officer, Nightingale Education Group
Mikhail Shneyder, CEO of Nightingale Education Group, shares insights on scaling nursing education from 1,000 to nearly 10,000 students in just five years. He discusses the benefits of referring to staff as 'collaborators' to foster a positive culture and reduce turnover to 13%. Mikhail emphasizes the importance of a fully distributed education model and the integration of AI and VR technologies. His vision includes a future of individualized, competency-based education that prioritizes student outcomes over traditional metrics.

Sep 16, 2025 • 45min
How America's 6th Oldest College Became Its 5th Fastest Growing - with Dr. Bryon L. Grigsby, President & Professor of English, Moravian University
Dr. Bryon L. Grigsby, President of Moravian University and Professor of English, discusses the remarkable transformation of the 6th oldest college in America into its 5th fastest growing. He highlights the strategic use of technology, blending liberal arts with vocational training, and the adoption of AI in education. CEO Brent Ramdin shares insights on enrollment and institutional strategies. Together, they explore how to balance innovation with the human aspect of learning and the necessity for colleges to embrace AI to remain relevant.

Sep 14, 2025 • 48min
How to Grow Enrollment 31 Years Running: The Tag Team Strategy - Dr. Peggy Heinrich, President, & Dr. Annamarie Schopen, VP of Teaching, Learning, & Student Development, Elgin Community College
It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #400, powered by Ellucian, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guests are Dr. Peggy Heinrich, President, & Dr. Annamarie Schopen, Vice President of Teaching, Learning, & Student Development, Elgin Community College YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio How does a community college maintain growth when most are facing enrollment declines? What does it take to serve 15,000+ students across 360 miles of urban & rural communities? How do you build a $80+ million manufacturing center while maintaining financial wellness for students?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!


