#168 How to Identify Student-Centered Colleges: Key Insights with Elliot Felix

Flourish Coaching

Apr 1, 2025

In this episode, Lisa and Elliot discuss:

How to identify truly student-centered colleges beyond marketing claims
The impact of well-connected campus services on student success
Why experiential learning is essential for career readiness
The hidden challenges of higher education that students and families should know

Key Takeaways:

Colleges with one-stop shops simplify administrative challenges by consolidating financial aid, registration, and advising services into a single location, reducing confusion and delays for students.
Libraries that function as academic support hubs provide students with integrated resources like writing centers, tutoring, research support, and maker spaces, ensuring easy access to essential learning tools.
Experiential learning centers are crucial because hands-on experiences like internships, co-ops, and industry certifications (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce) offer more career value than additional majors or minors.
While well-designed campus apps can streamline student services, too many uncoordinated digital tools create confusion, making it harder for students to navigate resources effectively.

“Experiential learning is one of these great opportunities where one plus one makes 11—it’s because you build skills but also a network…you’re talking to real people with real problems that you get experience solving, and then—through that work—those projects become part of your portfolio.” – Elliot Felix

About Elliot Felix:

Elliot Felix is an author, speaker, teacher, father, and consultant to over 100 colleges, using his design background to improve campus spaces, support services, and technology. Over 20 years, he has spoken at SxSW Edu, taught innovation courses, and worked with top universities like Carnegie Mellon, MIT, NYU, NC State, and UVA, improving the experience of over 1,000,000 students. His work appears in Fast Company, Forbes, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. His book How to Get the Most Out of College (2022) earned a blue star from Kirkus Reviews, calling it “A knowledgeable, enthusiastic guide packed with strategies and encouragement.” His upcoming book, The Connected College: Leadership Strategies for Student Success, arrives in early 2025.

Episode References:

Episode #068 How to Get the Most Out Of College with Elliot Felix: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/068

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