Strategic Enrollment Consulting for Departments & Programs

For those that desire a strategy—but need a clearer path forward.

For academic programs ready for change—but unclear on how to get there.

You’re not alone. Across campuses, departments are desiring to increase applications, attract better-fit students, develop a strategic plan or launch new programs—often without any enrollment expertise at the table.

And when that happens, the response is usually tactical:

Let’s record a webinar.
Let’s add more content.
Let’s go to a grad fair.
Let's make a handout.

The intent is good—but the strategy? Often disconnected from what students actually need, and what the data is telling you.

Tactics aren’t the problem. The problem is no one’s stopping to ask whether they solve the right thing.

That's where we come in.

What I Help You Do
(That Actually Works)

This is strategic, no-fluff consulting rooted in real-world experience—and custom-built for academic programs.

✔️

Design or Refine
Your Strategy

Whether you already have a defined strategic plan or enrollment funnel or you're operating on instinct and spreadsheets, I help clarify how prospective students are moving through your process or program. That includes identifying critical touchpoints, aligning marketing and admissions efforts, and making sure you're not unintentionally creating friction. If you want more applicants and more enrolled students, the funnel is where we start.

✔️

Define Your Messaging Strategy

Before you write a single headline or record a video, you need clarity on what you’re actually saying—and who you’re saying it to. I can help you define the core messaging strategy behind your enrollment efforts: your value proposition, your key differentiators, and what matters most to your audience. This becomes the foundation you (or your marketing team) can build from across channels and campaigns.

✔️

Make a Plan That Matches Your Capacity

Big ideas are great—but only if your team has the bandwidth to execute. I help you prioritize strategies based on what’s realistic for your structure, timeline, and staffing. That might mean phasing a rollout, rethinking your team’s workflow, or focusing on high-impact efforts that deliver more with less.

✔️

Target the Right Audiences

It’s not just about reaching more people—it’s about reaching the right people. I help you identify overlooked or under-tapped audiences based on your program’s goals, capacity, and timeline. Whether that’s high school students, internal students, career-changers, specific majors or new geographic markets, I’ll help you address how strategic choices you are (or are not) making align with how today’s students actually make decisions.

✔️

Align Strategy With What Already Exists

You don’t have to start from scratch. In many cases, there are campus tools, systems, or partnerships that could help—but they’re underused, siloed, or just not on your radar. I help you connect the dots: aligning your efforts with existing platforms (like Slate), campus-wide campaigns, or central marketing support so you’re not duplicating work or missing opportunities.

Built for Programs Like Yours

Short-term support with long-term impact—customized for your structure, your goals, and your bandwidth.

Professional Health Care Programs

From pharmacy and medicine to speech-language pathology and P.A., professional health programs operate in complex, high-stakes environments where competition is fierce and applicant expectations are high.

I’ve served in enrollment leadership within health professions education, managing every piece of the puzzle: strategic planning, hands-on recruitment, marketing, application and interview processes, event coordination, and yield strategy. I know what it takes to build a pipeline that works—and how to execute a plan that matches your program’s goals and resources.

I understand how health care students make decisions, what motivates them to apply, and what barriers can quietly derail them. I also know how to tap into the resources already on your campus, reduce duplication of effort, and build enrollment strategies that are focused, efficient, and sustainable.

Academic Departments Without Enrollment Staff

Far too often enrollment and recruitment responsibilities fall to faculty—on top of teaching, research, service, and everything else. That’s a heavy lift, especially if you don’t have experience in admissions, marketing, or audience strategy. You want more applicants or more enrolled students—but figuring out how to make that happen shouldn’t come at the cost of your time or sanity.

This strategic consulting is designed to take that weight off your shoulders. I’ll assess what’s working, where the gaps are, and how you can align your efforts with campus tools, resources, and goals.

You’ll leave with a better understanding of modern enrollment, clear insights, concrete ideas, and a realistic roadmap you can follow—without needing to become an enrollment expert yourself.

💬 How It Works

Strategic support that fits your goals—and your bandwidth.

Every engagement starts with a conversation. Whether it's a one-on-one virtual session, an on-campus visit, or a collaborative workshop, you choose the format that works best. Some teams just need a thinking partner. Others want a summary they can share. And some need time and space for their whole team to think it through together.

✅ Strategy Sessions (Conversation-Only)

Perfect for teams who want to talk it out.
You bring the challenges or questions, I bring the insight. This is real-time strategy work—collaborative, fast-moving, and designed to give you clarity on what’s possible. Sessions can be virtual or in-person, depending on your location and goals.

What’s included:

1:1 or small-group sessions (virtual or on-campus)
Strategic discussions and problem-solving, real-time idea generation
Optional follow-up email with key takeaways
You move forward independently from there

Consulting starts at $175/hour
Great for focused challenges or strategy discussions.

Note: One-hour sessions are best for targeted questions or decision-making—not full-scale assessments or planning. Most programs benefit from a 3–5 hour engagement to get real value and actionable recommendations.

✅ Strategy + Summary (Conversation + Deliverable)

For teams that want a takeaway they can act on.

This includes everything in the strategy session, plus a written document outlining key insights and recommendations. Perfect for deans, department chairs, or committees that need to reflect, share, or advocate for next steps.

What’s included:

Multiple consulting sessions (minimum of 5)
A 1–3 page summary with:
- Observations and insights
- Opportunities and priorities
- Recommended next steps
- Relevant tools or resource suggestions
Follow-Up Q&A

Consulting starts at $175/hour.

Best for identifying opportunities, assessing what’s working, and outlining a clear direction.
This is where we dig in and start building a usable plan.

✅ Team Workshops (Optional Add-On)

For departments or colleges ready to roll up their sleeves and rethink strategy together.
Workshops are ideal when you want to bring multiple voices into the room, break down silos, or align on a shared enrollment vision. These sessions can be half-day, full-day, or multi-session, and are tailored to your goals.

What’s included:

Pre-session planning call
Customized session agenda
Facilitation of strategic conversation and collaboration (virtual or on-campus)
Optional post-workshop summary or action brief

💡 Please note: On-campus sessions or workshops will include applicable travel expenses, which will be discussed and agreed upon prior to scheduling.

Meet Your Consultant

Laura Rudolph, M.S.

Founder & CEO, Square One Consulting, LLC

Led by a higher ed professional with nearly two decades in enrollment leadership—including building the strategic enrollment plans and marketing strategies as the director of a health professions program—Laura offers fast, focused strategic support for programs flying without a full (or any) enrollment team.

With a master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications (WVU) and a journalism degree (EKU), she brings a rare blend of messaging expertise, data fluency, and student behavior insight—plus the lived experience of navigating silos and systems.

Let’s Solve the Right Problem.

Not every program needs more tactics. Sometimes, you need a fresh set of eyes and a clear plan.

Let’s figure out where you need help—and fix it.

📆 Don’t wait to improve your strategy—get started today!

Strategic Enrollment Consulting for Departments & Programs

What I Help You Do (That Actually Works)

Design or Refine Your Strategy

Define Your Messaging Strategy

Make a Plan That Matches Your Capacity

Target the Right Audiences

Align Strategy With What Already Exists

Built for Programs Like Yours

Professional Health Care Programs

Academic Departments Without Enrollment Staff

💬 How It Works

Meet Your Consultant

Let’s Solve the Right Problem.

What I Help You Do
(That Actually Works)

Design or Refine
Your Strategy