Trellis Strategies

Trellis Strategies 360 Discussion Series - Institutional Transformation: Rethinking Outcomes and Accountability
2025-06-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Webinar, 301 Sundance Pkwy, Round Rock, Texas, 78681, United States
There is increased pressure, and no shortage of frameworks, to look at outcomes for postsecondary degrees and credentials. Institutions increasingly are feeling pressure to adapt to the needs of an evolving workforce within degree programs. Episode four will focus on the role of outcomes and accountability as institutions undertake transformation to meet the needs of today’s learners.

Panelists:

Dr. Walter Kimbrough, Interim President, Talladega College

Eric Bing, Chancellor & Chief Executive Officer, The College of Health Care Professions

Interested in More?

Thanks for Attending Our Virtual Webinar

Trellis Strategies is a strategic research and consulting firm dedicated to advancing postsecondary education and strengthening the workforce by delivering unparalleled insights into the student experience, from application through graduation.

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Maximizing Yield - Turning Applicants into Enrolled Students
2025-06-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Webinar, 301 Sundance Pkwy, Round Rock, Texas, 78681, United States
With fewer college-bound students and declining yield rates, institutions can no longer rely on traditional admissions tactics alone. Join Trellis Strategies to examine how a cross-campus approach—focused on guiding each applicant through the enrollment process—can strengthen yield and build a more resilient incoming class.

Interested in More?

Thanks for Attending Our Virtual Webinar

Trellis Strategies is a strategic research and consulting firm dedicated to advancing postsecondary education and strengthening the workforce by delivering unparalleled insights into the student experience, from application through graduation.

Get In Touch

Basic Needs Summit
2025-07-16 08:00 - 17:00 | The University of Utah – S.J. Quinney College of Law, 383 South S University Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States
Join Trellis Strategies at the Higher Education Financial Wellness Alliance Summit for data driven conversations about student basic needs including food insecurity, transportation, and financial security.

All Summit attendees, in-person and virtual, can attend the Basic Needs Summit for free!

*Simply select the option to register for the Basic Needs Summit as part of your Summit registration.

Basic Needs Summit Tentative Agenda

10:00 a.m. Welcome & 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey Results Overview

Bryan Ashton, Trellis Strategies

Allyson Cornett, Trellis Strategies

Carla Fletcher, Trellis Strategies

10:45 a.m. Basic Needs Supports 101

Carrie Welton, Trellis Strategies

11:30 a.m. Campus Implications – Utah Focus

Bryan Ashton, Trellis Strategies

12:30 p.m. Lunch & Networking

1:30 p.m. Future of Postsecondary Education & Affordability

Beth Akers, AEI

Debra Chromy, Trellis

Courtney McBeth, WGU

2:30 p.m. Food Security & Housing, Transportation – BREAKOUT SESSION

Food Security & Housing

Transportation: Anthony Schuette, Trellis Strategies

Interested in More?

Thanks for Attending Our Virtual Webinar

Trellis Strategies is a strategic research and consulting firm dedicated to advancing postsecondary education and strengthening the workforce by delivering unparalleled insights into the student experience, from application through graduation.

Get In Touch

Mental Health and Wellbeing: Supporting the Whole Student
2025-08-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Webinar, 301 Sundance Pkwy, Round Rock, Texas, 78681, United States
Trellis Strategies and the C4SW, the Coalition for Student Wellbeing, are collaborating on this webinar to explore the current state of student mental health and what institutions can do to support holistic student wellbeing. We will discuss key findings from Trellis Strategies’ 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey, followed by a panel discussion highlighting challenges and effective practices from both student and institutional perspectives.

Interested in More?

Thanks for Attending Our Virtual Webinar

Trellis Strategies is a strategic research and consulting firm dedicated to advancing postsecondary education and strengthening the workforce by delivering unparalleled insights into the student experience, from application through graduation.

Get In Touch

One in Five: Addressing the Needs of Caregiving Students in Postsecondary Education
2025-09-08 14:00 - 15:00
Caregivers form a key constituency of current, potential, and returning college students, with around one in five undergraduates having legal dependents. Students who take care of children and other family members face greater barriers to education than their peers without caregiving responsibilities, impacting their ability to access and complete a postsecondary credential, with intergenerational implications. Increasing degree attainment among U.S. adults requires alleviating the barriers caregivers face—financial insecurity, time poverty, and decreased sense of belonging—improving their ability to complete a credential and to do so sooner with less debt.

In this webinar, Carrie R. Welton (Policy Strategist) and May Helena Plumb (Research Associate) explore recent data on caregiving students from the Fall 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey and highlight strategies for institutions, states, and the federal government to invest in the modern learner.

Modern Learner Summit
2025-09-15 11:00 - 2025-09-16 18:00
Trellis Strategies and the Trellis Foundation invite you to join us in Austin, TX for the inaugural Modern Learner Summit, taking place September 15–16, 2025.

Sept.15: 11:00 am-6:00 pm (CT)

Sept.16: 8:00 am-4:00 pm (CT)

This two-day convening will bring together higher education leaders, nonprofit partners, and policy stakeholders to explore a central question: How are today’s students navigating college and how can institutions adapt to support them?

The Modern Learner is not one type of student. They may be returning adults, first-generation students, caregivers, part-time enrollees, or individuals balancing work, family, and school. What they share is a need for systems that are flexible, relevant, and designed to meet them where they are.

Agenda

September 15th, 2025: Defining the Modern Learner

11:00 AM Check-In

12:00 PM Welcome & Defining the Modern Learner

12:30-1:20 PM General Session: Defining Non-Linear Pathways and Credential Attainment

1:30 – 2:15 PM General Session: Learner-Centered Course Design

2:15 – 3:15 PM Snack & Fireside Chat: Reflections on Leadership for Modern Learners

Dr. Harrison Keller, President, University of North Texas

3:15 – 4:00 PM General Session: Quality Outcomes on Non-Degree Credentials

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Reception: Punch Bowl Social

September 16th, 2025: Scaling Best Practices

8:00 – Breakfast

8:30 – 9:20 AM General Session: Rural Learners

9:30 – 10:20 AM General Session: Policy Implications for Texas Higher Education

10:30 – 11:20 AM Deep Dive Sessions

Basic Needs Track: Transportation Solutions

Non-Linear Pathway Track: Creating a Campus Culture of Support

Quality Outcomes Track: Micro Educational Experiences

11:30 AM – 12:15 PM Lunch

12:30 – 1:20 PM Deep Dive Sessions

Basic Needs Track: Public Benefit Support

Non-Linear Pathway Track: Workforce Solutions & Higher Education Partnership

Quality Outcomes Track: Competency Based Education and Skill Verification

1:30 – 2: 15 PM General Session: Update from Washington, D.C.

Dr. Tom Harnisch, Vice President for Government Relations, SHEEO

2:30 – 3:15 PM General Session: Deep Dive on Flexible Delivery Pathways

Dr. Mark Milliron, President, National University

3:15 – 4:00 PM Closing Session

Dr. Wynn Rosser, Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Event Location

The Westin Austin at The Domain 11301 Domain Dr, Austin, TX 78758, USA 512-832-4197

Contact Andrea.Gonzalez@trellisstrategies.org with event questions.

Trellis Strategies 360 Discussion Series: Innovative Leadership for the Modern Learner – A Discussion with Chancellor Flores
2025-09-23 12:00 - 13:00
The needs of modern learners are vastly different than those of previous students and higher education leaders are rising to the challenge. Join us for the Fall Trellis Strategies 360 Discussion Series, where Debra Chromy, Ed.D., President & CEO of Trellis, hosts one-on-one conversations with innovative higher education leaders who are reimagining their institutions for the modern learner.

From fresh approaches to student success, to bold ideas about industry alignment, these candid conversations will give you a front-row seat to how colleges and universities are evolving in real time. Join us this September for Chancellor Mike Flores, of the Alamo Colleges District, who is working to advance the moonshot of ending poverty through education and training.

Panelist:

Dr. Mike Flores, Chancellor, Alamo Colleges District

Transportation Security
2025-10-15 13:00 - 14:00
Consistent transportation to and from campus is crucial to student success. In this session, we will discuss the various ways that transportation presents a barrier to higher education access. Through reviewing results from the Fall 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey and examining methods to gather quantitative data on commuting patterns, we will identify frameworks for analyzing transportation access and we will close by discussing institutional strategies and techniques that can help students more effectively get to where they need to be reliably and consistently.

Introduction to the Modern Learner
2025-10-27 13:00 - 14:00
Today’s students are navigating higher education with new expectations and evolving needs. In this introductory webinar, Trellis Strategies explores the profile of the Modern Learner. We will explore who they are, what they value, and how institutions can better align their strategies to support success. Join us for a data-informed conversation that sets the foundation for reimagining non-linear pathways for educational attainment.

The Parenting Students Project at ACC: Successes and Future Directions
2025-11-05 13:00 - 14:00
The Parenting Students Project (2021-2025) combined direct financial assistance with a strong community of care to support over 100 parenting students at Austin Community College District (ACC). Through a mixed-methods evaluation, Trellis Strategies found that participation in the PSP was associated with a 20-percentage point increase in term-to-term retention and that participants experienced substantial positive impacts on their transportation security and mental health. In this webinar, leaders from United Way for Greater Austin and ACC will share reflections on the successes and challenges of the project and directions for future work to support parents as they pursue postsecondary education.

Understanding the Some College, No Credential Learner
2025-11-12 13:00 - 14:00
Millions of learners have started college but left without a credential across the country. This is often due to financial, personal, or institutional barriers. This session dives into the characteristics and challenges of the Some College, No Credential (SCNC) population, offering insights into how higher education leaders can re-engage these students and based on Trellis Strategies new research with SCNC learners.

Basic Needs 101 with Trellis Strategies
2025-11-19 13:00 - 14:00
Whether you’re just beginning to explore basic needs support or looking to strengthen existing initiatives, this discussion will equip you with the knowledge and tools to make a meaningful impact.

Our Trellis Strategies team will explore:

Non-tuition barriers that threaten students’ ability to persist and complete

Resources and supports available beyond traditional higher education structures that can improve postsecondary access and completion

Examples of effective strategies from around the country

Who Should Attend: College and university administrators, student affairs professionals, financial aid officers, higher education and basic needs advocates, and anyone involved in student support services.

Overview of a Some College, No Credential Toolkit
2025-12-02 14:00 - 15:00
Building on our understanding of the SCNC learner through our recent national Some College, No Credential survey, this webinar introduces a practical toolkit designed to help institutions reconnect with and serve this critical population. From outreach strategies to institutional policy considerations, Trellis Strategies shares actionable resources and examples that empower leaders to create pathways back to higher education for students who paused their journey.

Trellis 360 Discussion Series: Innovative Leadership for the Modern Learner – Dr. Robert Vela
2025-12-16 12:00 - 13:00
The needs of modern learners are vastly different than those of previous students and higher education leaders are rising to the challenge. Join us for the Fall Trellis 360 Series, where Debra Chromy, Ed.D., President & CEO of Trellis, hosts one-on-one conversations with innovative higher education leaders who are reimagining their institutions for the modern learner.

From fresh approaches to student success, to bold ideas about industry alignment, these candid conversations will give you a front-row seat to how colleges and universities are evolving in real time.

Tune in for our discussion with Dr. Robert Vela, President of Texas A&M University-Kingsville, who uses strategic planning and collaborative leadership to support today’s students.

From “Work First” to Workforce First Strategies
2026-01-13 14:00 - 15:00
Federal and state governments invest billions of dollars each year in higher education and workforce development programs to expand access to education and training. Yet research shows personal financial circumstances and the need to work significantly affect people’s ability to enroll and stay enrolled. When individuals cannot afford tuition and cover basic expenses, they miss out on gaining the skills and credentials employers require. As a result, those public investments fail to translate into higher earnings, increased tax revenue, stronger economic stability, or reduced use of public benefits.

Public benefit programs are intended to help people meet basic needs while working toward economic independence. However, many of these programs restrict education, creating barriers that deter, delay, or deny access to pathways proven to lead to higher wages, greater tax contributions, and lower unemployment and poverty rates.

Join us to learn more about this research and explore how some states treat public benefits as tools for success rather than obstacles by aligning benefit policies to support education, completion, and workforce participation.

Speakers:

Jennifer Stiddard, Senior Director in Policy & Advocacy, Jobs For the Future (JFF)

Caroline Treschitta, Senior Government Affairs Manager, National Skills Coalition

Carrie R. Welton, Senior Policy Strategist, Trellis Strategies

Trellis 360 Discussion Series: Innovative Leadership for the Modern Learner – Dr. Michael Baston
2026-01-20 12:00 - 13:00
The needs of modern learners are vastly different than those of previous students and higher education leaders are rising to the challenge. Join us for the current Trellis 360 Series, where Debra Chromy, Ed.D., President & CEO of Trellis, hosts one-on-one conversations with innovative higher education leaders who are reimagining their institutions for the modern learner.

From fresh approaches to student success, to bold ideas about industry alignment, these candid conversations will give you a front-row seat to how colleges and universities are evolving in real time.

Tune in for our discussion with Dr. Michael Baston, President of Cuyahoga Community College, and hear how Tri-C is successfully reengaging adult learners, strengthening career pathways, and advancing institutional transformation.

Mental Health in College: What Research Tells Us About Supporting Students
2026-04-08 13:00 - 14:00
Join editor Dr. Alexis Redding and contributing authors of the forthcoming book Mental Health in College: What Research Tells Us About Supporting Students for an engaging conversation on the evolving landscape of student mental health in higher education.

This webinar will highlight key findings from the book and explore actionable strategies for institutions seeking to better support student well-being. Panelists will share research-based insights, practical examples, and reflections on how colleges can create more responsive environments for mental health.

Speakers:

Dr. Alexis Redding, Editor

Bryan Ashton, Managing Director, Trellis Strategies

Allyson Cornett, Director of Research, Trellis Strategies
