FOCUS
55 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago -When you’re challenged with a new problem at your school, wouldn’t it be nice to hear from someone who’s already solved that very same challenge? Each episode, we’ll interview a university administrator or industry expert about the problems they’ve solved and how they addressed it. If you’re a campus administrator, IT director or work in student affairs or the bursar’s office and you want solid ideas for solving your campus’ challenges, this podcast is for you.
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Episodes
Episode 707: Managing Enterprise-Level Systems During Digital Transformation
December 12, 2023 09:30 - 27 minutes - 37.7 MBAs higher ed institutions take steps towards innovation, strategy and technology need to be developed together. On this episode of FOCUS, Heather Fraser of Dalhousie University (Dal) discusses the strategic approach the institution is taking to manage campuswide digital transformation. Fraser, the Director of Enterprise Application Services at Dalhousie, is responsible for managing recent efforts to innovate the institution’s enterprise portfolio. Listen to learn about the importance of owner...
Episode 706: Extending Student Success Beyond the Student Finance Office
November 28, 2023 09:30 - 30 minutes - 42.2 MBHigher ed institutions are constantly innovating to fit the changing needs of students to support their success. Kevin Smith, Assistant Vice President and Director of Student Records and Financial Services at Canisius University, joins FOCUS to share how the university’s experience in evolving the one-stop shop with a new solution from TouchNet, Student Account Advisor. Smith offers insights on how Student Account Advisor provides a comprehensive view of a student’s financial engagement while...
Episode 705: Optimizing Your Payment Solution to Work for Your Students
November 14, 2023 09:30 - 35 minutes - 48.5 MBMany higher education administrators are called to their positions for the same reason: to help students succeed. Lisa Mazure, Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Fiscal Services at Alamo Colleges District, joins this episode of FOCUS to share her experiences with supporting students while keeping accounts receivable and revenue flow healthy. Listen to hear her journey of improving account services at different institutions, leading to an increase in student success and financial litera...
Episode 704: ACH Payment Trends and Avoiding Fraud in Higher Ed
October 31, 2023 09:00 - 24 minutes - 33.1 MBAs higher ed institutions continue to evolve to offer more cashless payment solutions, automated clearing house (ACH) payments are becoming more popular. This week, Brad Smith, senior director of industry engagement and advocacy at Nacha, joins FOCUS to discuss the benefits of ACH payments for campus transactions. Learn more about ACH payments on campus, Nacha, and efforts to update the ACH rules for better risk management in the network. What are ACH payments? ACH payments are direct transac...
Episode 703: Empowering a Safe and Secure Experience with OneCard
October 17, 2023 09:00 - 30 minutes - 42.4 MBOn this episode of FOCUS, Doug Vanderpoel joins from Mount Holyoke College to share insights into how his institution uses the TouchNet OneCard Campus ID (https://www.touchnet.com/id-management/onecard-campus-id) system to enhance the campus experience. From student ID management to ensuring campus safety and smart data monitoring, Mount Holyoke College has developed numerous unique and innovative uses for their OneCard system. Mount Holyoke College Mount Holyoke College, the oldest women’s c...
Episode 702: Simplifying International Payments with Tulane University
September 19, 2023 09:00 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MBGuiding international students through account payments can be tricky. With currency exchange rates constantly changing, it can be difficult for students to be confident that they are paying the correct amount. On this episode of FOCUS, Mike Pilman, System Administrator for the Account Receivables Office at Tulane University, joins us to give insight on how Tulane works with TouchNet and TransferMate to simplify payments for international students while improving administrative processes for...
Episode 701: Taking a Student-Friendly Approach to Past-Due Accounts with the University of Alabama
September 05, 2023 09:00 - 32 minutes - 44.6 MBOn this episode of FOCUS, Kristy Pritchett, Director of Student Account Services at the University of Alabama, joined us to discuss how a student-friendly approach to past-due accounts lead to higher retention rates. The university created their approach out of a need to give additional support to students that were facing financial hardship. Through an integration with TouchNet, the University of Alabama partnered with ECSI RecoverySelect to focus on accounts receivable and past-due accounts...
Episode 607: Behind the Scenes of Mobile ID for Apple and Android
July 25, 2023 09:00 - 42 minutes - 57.7 MBSmartphone use is ubiquitous, especially on college campuses. With nearly every student carrying a smart device with them all the time, it was only a matter of time before colleges began investigating whether mobile IDs could help enhance the student experience. Joe Harting, a leader in campus operations, joined the Focus podcast to discuss what he learned from pioneering Mobile ID for Apple and Android at Northern Arizona University (NAU) as the Director of Campus Operations. NAU...
Episode 606: The Future of Sustainable Campuses with TAFE Queensland Gold Coast
July 11, 2023 09:00 - 32 minutes - 44.6 MBSustainability is an increasingly present topic in higher education. Today’s students value sustainability in their lives - on and off campus. Karen Dickinson, General Manager of TAFE Queensland Gold Coast, recently joined the FOCUS podcast to share how their new Robina Campus has taken a holistic approach to sustainability since its inception. From finding best practices to how sustainability is infused into every aspect of the campus, Robina serves as a model for comprehensive sustainabilit...
Episode 605: Unlocking the Entrepreneurial Spirit on Your Team
June 27, 2023 09:00 - 38 minutes - 52.9 MBWith all the high-tech innovations coming to campuses, it’s easy to overlook the need for a human factor in the spirit of transformation. Joe Abraham, operating partner at Beyond Academics, recently joined the FOCUS podcast to weigh in on how to encourage innovation by understanding teams through the lens of entrepreneurship. Abraham is also the author of Entrepreneurial DNA, which explores four entrepreneurial archetypes, and shares how each applies to higher ed. By understanding your team’s...
Episode 604: Evaluating Data Breach Trends & Payments Security in Higher Ed
June 13, 2023 09:00 - 33 minutes - 45.8 MBAs higher ed institutions continue to implement more digital technologies, data breach tactics have become increasingly sophisticated. Universities and colleges process and store massive amounts of sensitive personal and payments data, which are increasingly the target of cyberattacks. On this week’s episode of FOCUS, Sean Davidson, Senior Manager of Security Solutions at Verizon, shares the latest trends in payment security and data breaches. Davidson also imparts wisdom on the best practice...
Episode 603: Unifying Student Services into a One-Stop Shop with Portland Community College
May 30, 2023 09:00 - 31 minutes - 71.7 MBDuring this week’s episode of FOCUS, Fredderick Simmons discusses how Portland Community College (PCC) is bringing together siloed services to create a powerful one-stop shop for student success. Simmons is the Student Account Services Manager, overseeing PCC’s relationships with Ellucian Banner and TouchNet. Since PCC’s recent administrative reorganization, the school has put bettering student services at the top of their priorities with the “One Together, Together One” model. Simmons shares...
Episode 602: Designing Intelligent Experiences in Higher Ed
May 16, 2023 09:00 - 32 minutes - 73.6 MBThis week on FOCUS, we’re joined by Rob Sparks, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Partnerships at Anthology, to discuss how creating intelligent experiences can support student success. Sparks is responsible for supporting Anthology’s corporate and global strategies, identifying new opportunities, overseeing their integrated partner ecosystem, and computer information science (CIS) market penetration. With more than 25 years of experience in the higher ed tech industry, he share...
Episode 601: Protecting Student Investments with University of Texas at Dallas
May 02, 2023 09:00 - 28 minutes - 65.5 MBOn the first episode of the new season of FOCUS, Cheryl Friesenhahn joins us to discuss the adoption of GradGuard tuition insurance at the University of Texas at Dallas. Friesenhahn is the Senior Director of Financial Services, leading the Bursar Office in overseeing all aspects of student finance for the past 18 years. Under her leadership, UT Dallas transformed their tuition refund appeals process by implementing GradGuard, enabling students to protect themselves against financial hardship ...
Episode 507: Cryptocurrencies 101 for Higher Education
December 06, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 31 MBAs cryptocurrencies continue to rise as a payment method, applications of crypto have yet to be realized in many industries, including higher education. Some early adopters have started accepting cryptocurrencies for donations, and a few have even begun to take crypto for tuition payments. But the question remains, how practical are cryptocurrencies as a form of payment in higher education? With this comes many questions about how cryptocurrencies work and if there is a place for them...
Episode 506: Maximizing Campus Card Operations with University of Louisiana at Lafayette
November 29, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 39.4 MBCampus card office operations are at the forefront of higher ed innovation. With more campuses pushing for highly integrated solutions for student and faculty ID management, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) serves as a model of success with their Cajun Card. Kari Foti, Director of the Campus Card Office at ULL, joins the FOCUS podcast to share how their integrated campus ID has combined different departments and uses to enhance their campus experience. From dining services to h...
Episode 505: Redesigning Student Services with California College of the Arts
November 08, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 38.5 MBMichelle Ziegmann and Vicki Breitinger of the California College of the Arts (CCA) recently joined the FOCUS podcast to discuss their experience redesigning student services. CCA is a nonprofit art and design college in San Francisco, California, with around 1,500 students across 34 degree programs. The college serves as a great case study for other campuses as they begin to rethink their student experiences. Ziegmann is the Associate Vice President for Technology Services and oversees enter...
Episode 504: Building an Integrated Student Payments Experience with George Washington University
November 01, 2022 09:00 - 26 minutes - 36.2 MBThis week on FOCUS, Jen O’Quinn from George Washington University (GW) shares her experience in building an integrated student payments experience that puts student support first. O’Quinn is the Student Accounts Director at GW where she dedicates her time to finding the best solutions to fit students’ financial needs. The university is a robust user of TouchNet, and together they ensure that implemented processes and systems work together to best support students. O’Quinn gives insight into G...
Episode 503: Driving Innovation within the Higher Ed Community
October 25, 2022 09:00 - 19 minutes - 27.4 MBIn the world of higher education, innovation is the constant goal. Institutions and solution developers continuously work together to create the best and most efficient experiences possible for both students and staff. But identifying where to start in the process of innovation can be difficult. Lauren Ipsen, CEO of Ellucian, sheds light on this topic as she joins the FOCUS podcast and discusses supporting student success, and how partnerships throughout the higher ed tech community have beco...
Episode 502: Going Cashless with Eastern Michigan University
October 11, 2022 09:00 - 21 minutes - 30.2 MBAs more higher ed institutions explore becoming cashless campuses, schools like Eastern Michigan University (EMU) can be used as a model for success. EMU is a four-year public university with 20,000 students that has been completely cashless since 2017. Beth Hardcastle, Assistant Controller for Student Business Services at EMU, joined the FOCUS podcast to discuss how no longer accepting cash payments, closing the in-person cashier’s office, and implementing payment plans have impacted their o...
Episode 501: Elevating the Campus Card Office with NACCU
October 04, 2022 09:00 - 27 minutes - 37.8 MBLike most facets of higher education, campus IDs and card offices are evolving. With the need for more contactless solutions and increased security, the introduction of mobile IDs poses many questions for card offices and data management. On the latest episode of FOCUS, Dawn Thomas, CEO of the National Association of Campus Card Users (NACCU), sheds light on the innovations coming to campus ID management, the importance of good data, and how institutions can prepare themselves to better use i...
Episode 408: Modernizing Payments with Canberra Institute of Technology
August 15, 2022 09:00 - 25 minutes - 58.1 MBModernizing Payments with Canberra Institute of Technology Karl Caig, director of corporate services at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), joined the FOCUS podcast to share his experience with the Ellucian Payment Center by TouchNet. At CIT, Caig is responsible for maintaining key systems and processes that support operations and student management. His next goal is to reposition the institution by focusing on flexible education and training delivery, and to completely overhaul curre...
Episode 407: Understanding the New PCI Standards for Higher Ed
August 02, 2022 09:00 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MBThe latest version of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) was recently released and higher ed institutions should start preparing to comply. Adherence to the new PCI DSS 4.0 will require colleges and universities to update how they manage PCI compliance campuswide. To outline the major points of the new standards and how to approach, FOCUS podcast invited Walid Barakat to share his expertise on the subject. Barakat is the senior vice president of IT governance, risk, an...
Episode 406: Streamlining Payments for Campuswide Compliance with College of Charleston
July 19, 2022 09:00 - 28 minutes - 39.6 MBStreamlining Payments for Campuswide Compliance with College of Charleston Institutions are always on the search for solutions to streamline payments and ease the processes of accounts receivable and reconciliation for student and administrative use. David Katz, treasurer of the College of Charleston, found the solution in consolidating all payment systems under one platform, TouchNet, which he shared on the latest episode of the FOCUS podcast. Discover key insights from Katz on the adoption ...
Episode 406: Streamlining Payments for Campus wide Compliance with College of Charleston
July 19, 2022 09:00 - 28 minutes - 39.6 MBStreamlining Payments for Campuswide Compliance with College of Charleston Institutions are always on the search for solutions to streamline payments and ease the processes of accounts receivable and reconciliation for student and administrative use. David Katz, treasurer of the College of Charleston, found the solution in consolidating all payment systems under one platform, TouchNet, which he shared on the latest episode of the FOCUS podcast. Discover key insights from Katz on the adoption ...
Episode 405: Addressing Stranded Credits to Create Win-Win Solutions
July 05, 2022 09:00 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MBStranded credits are a significant issue in higher ed institutions, impacting both schools and students. With new data arising on the subject, there is much to learn about potential solutions to the problem of stranded credits and how to keep students on track. James Ward joined a recent episode of Focus to shed light on the topic of stranded credits and solutions campuses can employ. Ward is a senior researcher at Ithaca S+R, where he leads research on higher ed institutions, finance, and po...
Episode 404: Understanding Gen Z's Expectations and Behaviors
June 21, 2022 08:00 - 43 minutes - 59.6 MBGen Z expert and author, Hana Ben-Shabat joined the Focus podcast to demystify the expectations and behaviors of Generation Z, who are now in college and entering the workforce. Colleges and university leaders have now been tasked with attempting to understand their values to innovate new ways to appeal to this generation, as they are unlike any generations of the past. Ben-Shabat shares her insights on Gen Z to help business leaders maximize the potential of this group by studying thei...
Episode 403: Improving Payment Operations with Georgetown University
June 07, 2022 09:00 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBIt’s no secret that the pandemic altered the way colleges and universities carry out their everyday operations, driving campuses to adopt more innovative technology. In this episode of the Focus podcast, Rico Marea, assistant vice president for Revenue Receivables and Payables at Georgetown University shares how they transformed their payment operations by adapting and implementing more modern solutions. Adapting to new payment options During the pandemic, Georgetown quickly discovered issui...
Episode 402: How Robots are Reshaping the Campus Experience
May 24, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MBChris shares all about Starship's autonomous delivery robots that are taking over campuses and creating more convenience for students and visitors. Why higher ed institutions are the perfect fit Although it seems like it might be easy for little robots to get lost in the big world of a higher ed campus, delivery robots have flourished at universities and colleges. Campuses are the perfect combination of a defined geographic location with a dense concentration of 18-22-year-olds, the age group...
Episode 401: The Changing Role of the Chief Business Officer (CBO) in Higher Education
May 10, 2022 09:00 - 31 minutes - 43.1 MBDr. Susan Whealler Johnston passed away on August 12, 2022. We admire the leadership she gave to NACUBO and the entire higher education community. She was thoughtful, caring, and passionate. May we all remember her lifetime of contributions to the pursuit of reinforcing the value of higher education. We were honored to have her as a podcast guest and hope you enjoy listening to this episode of FOCUS in which Susan shares insights into how higher education is evolving. Recorded April 2022. Dr....
Episode 308: Payment Plans at Long Island University
October 11, 2021 09:00 - 37 minutes - 50.9 MBHeather welcomes David Mainenti, AVP of enrollment, finance and compliance at Long Island University. He shares his strategy for using payment plans to set students up for success. Special Guest: David Mainenti.
Episode 307: International Students and Alternative Payment Methods
September 27, 2021 09:00 - 34 minutes - 47.8 MBToday Heather interviews Tom Butler, who heads up the Education and Student Housing department at TransferMate. They discuss the trends and expectations we are seeing with international student enrollment, as well their use of alternative payment methods. Special Guest: Tom Butler.
Episode 306: SponsorPoint at Wichita State with Robyn Bongartz and Ryan Lohfink
September 13, 2021 09:00 - 32 minutes - 44.2 MBIn this episode, Heather speaks with Wichita State’s Robyn Bongartz, Director of Student & AR Fiscal Operations, and Ryan Lohfink, Student Account Specialist. They walk through how they use TouchNet’s solution SponsorPoint for third party payments and how it’s created efficiencies for students, staff and sponsors alike. TouchNet SponsorPoint is an innovative software solution designed to connect contract sponsors to campus information systems using the latest web-based technology. Using Spons...
Episode 305: NACUBO Report Update with Bryan Dickson
August 23, 2021 09:00 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MBHeather hosts Bryan Dickson, director of student financial services and educational programs at NACUBO. He talks about the data from the 2020 Student Financial Services Benchmarking Study and shares his insights on procedures, staffing and payments on higher learning campuses. Special Guest: Bryan Dickson.
Episode 304: Digital Transformation at Redeemer University
August 09, 2021 09:00 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MBIn this episode, Heather speaks with Len Moelker, director of information technology at Redeemer University in Hamilton, Ontario. He tells her about the digital transformation initiative that has set Redeemer University well on its way to being a contactless campus. Redeemer University in Hamilton, Ontario is in a digital transformation. Using a six-phased plan called the Reaching Higher Initiative, the university is bringing an innovative, contactless approach to campus life. Redeemer began ...
Episode 303: Better Outcomes with Tuition Protection
July 26, 2021 09:00 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MBHeather hears from Derrick Shy, Vice President of business development at GradGuard. COVID-19 UPDATE: NEW EPIDEMIC COVERAGE ENDORSEMENT AND SPECIAL PLAN ACCOMMODATION We are pleased to announce that all GradGuard tuition insurance plans purchased on or after February 18, 2022 will now include a new Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, which can provide coverage for when an insured student completely withdraws from school for the covered term due to becoming ill with any epidemic or pandemic diseas...
Episode 302: Improving Processes with EmoryCard
July 12, 2021 09:00 - 44 minutes - 60.8 MBOn this episode Heather is joined by Kim Pfeffer, Director of Emory Card at Emory University. Kim explains how changes and updates with the campus card have affected and improved processes for staff and students alike. Special Guest: Kim Pfeffer.
Episode 301: A Platform Approach at TouchNet
June 21, 2021 17:45 - 19 minutes - 26.8 MBHeather hosts Adam McDonald, president of TouchNet. They explore the future of TouchNet and the future of higher education. Special Guest: Adam McDonald.
Episode 208: The Changing Payments Landscape with Stacy Hughes
December 15, 2020 10:00 - 19 minutes - 45.4 MBStacy Hughes, Chief Information Security Officer at Global Payments, Inc. and Heather discuss the changing payment landscape and its impact on security and compliance. Special Guest: Stacy Hughes.
Episode 207: Student Housing Post-COVID with Jason Gross and Michael Fogarty
December 08, 2020 10:00 - 33 minutes - 77.8 MBHeather talks with Jason Gross and Michael Fogerty from Adirondak about what housing and residential halls look like in the post-COVID world and how campuses can move forward from here. Special Guests: Jason Gross and Michael Fogarty.
Episode 206: PCI Council’s Strategic Framework and Expectations for PCI DSS v4.0 with Troy Leach
December 01, 2020 10:00 - 33 minutes - 76 MBTroy Leach, senior VP and engagement officer at PCI Security Standards Council gives Heather some insights about the new strategic framework that has been put into place for PCI compliance. Special Guest: Troy Leach.
Episode 205: Using KPIs on Campus with Christine Blakney
November 17, 2020 10:00 - 43 minutes - 98.8 MBChristine Blakney is the managing director of student business services at Texas Tech University. She walks us through how KPIs, or key performance indicators, have helped the campus business and students on campus as a whole. Special Guest: Christine Blakney.
Episode 204: Using Data to Create Success with Lindsay Wayt
November 03, 2020 10:00 - 38 minutes - 88.9 MBLindsay Wayt, NACUBO’s director of analytics. We’ll be discussing the ways higher education institutions can use data to help them pave the way to a successful future. Special Guest: Lindsay Wayt.
Episode 203: Positive Outcomes from the Pandemic with Valarie Van Vlack
October 20, 2020 09:00 - 24 minutes - 56 MBValarie Van Vlack is the Treasurer at Texas State University. She tells Heather about the changes that have happened on campus since the pandemic, like how data has helped her make decisions across campus which will serve the students and the business, as well as how they've created a virtual (instead of physical) one-stop-shop for students, Special Guest: Valarie Van Vlack.
Episode 202: Protecting Students' and Schools' Investment with John Fees
September 22, 2020 09:00 - 29 minutes - 66.8 MBJohn Fees, Founder of GradGuard, talks with Heather about what his company does and why it's necessary. GradGuard is a sort of insurance program that supports students through unexpected events, which allows schools to protect the students they serve. He helps me understand the growing need for students and schools to be protected should the unthinkable happen. Special Guest: John Fees.
Episode 201: Working Toward a Contactless Campus with Jennifer McNeill
September 08, 2020 09:00 - 29 minutes - 66.4 MBJennifer McNeill, ONEcard Manager at the University of Alberta in Canada explains to Heather how students and staff in Alberta are working towards a contactless campus this fall and how TouchNet's ONEcard is helping to accomplish this goal. Special Guest: Jennifer McNeill.
Episode 108: NACUBO Report Update with Bryan Dickson
April 28, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 82.8 MBBryan Dickson, director of student financial services and educational programs at NACUBO talks us through the results of the recently published 2019 Student Financial Services Benchmarking Study, as well as the Policies and Procedures report. The report helps gauge trends and challenges colleges and universities are facing today. Special Guest: Bryan Dickson.
Episode 107: Columbia College's Payment Plans Game Changer with Denise Gelina
April 14, 2020 09:00 - 13 minutes - 18.8 MBDenise Gelina, from Columbia College, describes how having flexible payment plan options benefits the university’s diverse student body and their needs. She outlines how each plan is customized to serve both traditional and non-traditional students, specifically active military students. Special Guest: Denise Gelina.
Episode 105: Protecting the Student Account with Meghan Carr
March 17, 2020 09:00 - 18 minutes - 25.6 MBMeghan Carr, director of the cashier’s office at the University of Missouri, explains how the university combated poor retention due to inconsistent and delayed student fees by implementing Market Place, a separate real-time payment platform. She highlights the process of implementing the system and the many convenient functionalities of Market Place and its short-term and long-term benefits. Special Guest: Meghan Carr.
Episode 104: Business Officer Survey with Doug Lederman
March 03, 2020 10:00 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MBDoug Lederman, editor and co-founder of Inside Higher Ed, breaks down the surprising results of the most recent business officer survey. The overview provides national insights as to how higher education business officers are feeling about the current state of higher education. Lederman explains how universities are reacting to common national issues of resource restraint, decreasing traditional student enrollment and the perception of the value of a college degree. He dives into how universi...