ASCEND Podcast

About ASCEND Podcast

Are you ready to ASCEND to new possibilities? In this podcast, Dr. Jared Tippets and Dr. Eric Kirby outline why a focus on retention and completion is so important, why previous retention efforts have not always worked, and discuss how we can successfully "ASCEND" to these great expectations. In each episode, we will share innovative ideas, creative initiatives, and best practices and strategies that campuses have used to achieve amazing results. This podcast has intentionally been produced in a quick-tip, bite-sized format where the listener can quickly find ideas, initiatives, and solutions that can be tried on campus today.

Publisher

Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby

Category

business · education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Oct 2022

Latest episode

18 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

318 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Oct 2026

   S3 - E47 - Dr. Kal Srinivas - Rethinking Student Success

   Why do students struggle to succeed when universities offer so many resources designed to help them? In this episode, Dr. Kal Srinivas draws on 30 years of experience in student success and retention to explore how institutions can better support students through meaningful connections, peer relationships, faculty engagement, and intentional guidance. Together, we discuss the role of change management in helping students navigate challenges, ask for help, and embrace setbacks as opportunities...

2. 

   4 Oct 2026

   S3 - E45 - Heather Garcia - A New Way to Engage: Personalized Involvement Road Maps (Engagement)

   What if “Go get involved!” isn’t enough anymore? In this episode, we explore how Southern Utah University is rethinking student engagement through personalized Involvement Road Maps. Instead of asking students to navigate clubs, events, and leadership opportunities on their own, SUU helps them identify what interests them and provides a personalized path to get there. It’s a simple shift from “Go get involved” to “Here’s exactly how you can get involved.”

3. 

   27 Sept 2026

   S3 - E45 - Dr. Ryan Barnhart - Data-Driven Strategies for Enhancing Student Retention (Data)

   Data can tell us what is happening with student retention, but are we asking enough questions to understand why? In this episode, we explore how institutions can combine student data, root cause analysis, and the “5 Whys” method to move beyond surface-level problems and uncover what’s really driving student disengagement. We’ll also explore how closing the loop with students can turn data into meaningful action and stronger student success.

Who has been a guest on ASCEND Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr. Sharon Rea
• Dr. Mike Freel
• Stephanie Merritt
• Susan Goldsmith

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

13 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

77

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact ASCEND Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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  ReThinking

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  Dare to Lead with Brené Brown

• 

  Up First

Questions about ASCEND Podcast