EMDImpactConference2026

Join the tech team in a role-based cyber mystery where staff uncover what happened, spot red flags, and stop unsafe response choices before they spread!

• Learning Outcomes: By the end, staff should be able to: 

o    Identify common warning signs of phishing, impersonation, urgent requests, suspicious links, and unsafe file-sharing requests. 
o    Practice safe response behaviors: don’t click, don’t forward sensitive data, don’t use personal email, report quickly, and verify through official channels. 
o    Understand that ransomware can involve data theft, deletion, operational disruption, and recovery uncertainty, not just a locked computer screen.  

Session Description:
This one-hour session will outline the complete student lifecycle and reinforces how every department contributes to student success.
Beginning with lead generation, participants will follow the student journey through the admissions process, how campus tours work, the enrollment process, when a student is referred to an Assessment Coordinator, when a student is referred to an Accessibility Coordinator, at what point SALT would step in for support and finally proceeds into the classroom and the understanding that the support doesn’t end there – how faculty and other support departments such as IT, Registrar etc have an impactful role on shaping the student experience and strengthens retention.
The session will highlight the critical role each team plays in creating a positive, consistent experience that supports student retention, and long-term success.
I would hope that participants will gain a deeper understanding of how their work impacts both students and colleagues across the organization. The workshop emphasizes that student support does not begin or end with the Admissions teams—it is a shared responsibility that extends across every stage of the student experience. We can strengthen our communication,  and awareness between departments to collaborate to help improve the student experience, and ensure students get the support they need from inquiry to graduation.
Takeaways:

1. Understand of the complete student journey
2. Recognize the importance of cross-department collaboration
3. Identify opportunities for all to enhance the student experience.