Congratulations on making it through another successful recruitment cycle! Now that May 1 has passed, it’s time to take a deep breath, lean back, and reflect, as you start turning your attention to the class of 2026.

What energized you and your team this season? What drained your batteries the most? Taking time to reflect on how things went will allow you to be intentional about your plans for the fall and give your team an opportunity to share their experiences and feelings — a great way to strengthen team connections.

There’s nothing quite like diving into a new topic, or expanding your understanding of something, to feel re-energized. May is an excellent time for training, especially if you’re planning to attend Slate Summit or Engage Summit this summer. Even if you aren’t able to make it, training staff on these CRM features will enhance efficiency and automation:

• Configurable Joins – Building recipient list queries
• Segments – Exporting valuable information and creating automations
• Portals & Microsites – Expanding engagement strategies

This May, be sure to set aside time to begin planning for fall. We know things are still busy, but trust us when we say a bit of planning and strategizing now will help lay the foundation for a smooth transition to your next recruitment cycle.

If you haven’t yet reviewed April’s Common App release notes, now is the time to do so! Be sure to look them over and attend the webinars they offer, so you have enough time to complete your app changes and testing before August. Head to your member solution center to see a summary of what’s been released so far.

Speaking of application updates… Slate users: check your inbox for a message about your XSLT files being deprecated. If you’re using custom pages with XSLT customization, that functionality has been removed. If you need help with updating your application pages, feel free to reach out and we’ll get you ready for the fall.

This is the time of year most students consider transferring, so make sure their application process is as easy as possible! Here are some ideas to think about:

• If students who have earned a certain number of credits don’t need to submit their high school transcript, set up a rule in your application to remove it as a required item when students meet the criteria.
• Instead of asking for parent information on the application, give transfer students options other than mother and father (think spouse or partner).
• If your student portal/microsite is geared toward traditional first-year students, consider creating a transfer-specific one that places relevant forms (like housing waivers or credit evaluations) and information (like housing/dining options and campus involvement opportunities) at the forefront.

Also, don’t forget about the power of personalization! Everything you’ve created for first-year students will likely work for transfers with just a few changes. Be sure to highlight topics these students care about most, including course information, how they’ll fit in, and career outcomes.

May 1 may be behind us, but we all know the work isn’t done! Keeping new students engaged over the summer is critical to keeping melt at a minimum. If you haven’t already, make sure to set up communications to remind them about important dates and to-dos like advising, registration, housing, and orientation. Consistent communication will help them feel connected and prepared for campus life.