The Magellan Podcast · Season 2, Episode 11 · 50 minutes

Financial aid decisions shape whether a student enrolls, starts a course, and stays on track to graduate. The offices and systems responsible for those decisions often work on different timelines. What would change if institutions treated the way students pay for college as part of the enrollment experience from the beginning?

Dr. Wayne Patton and Dr. Lee Beaumont of Magellan Learning Solutions speak with Jen McMahon, founder and managing partner of Mac Insight Group, about the operational side of student financial aid. They discuss the pressure on aid teams, the faster pace of online programs, funding options for adult learners, and the need for admissions, financial aid, student accounts, academic leaders, and advising to share timely information. The conversation returns to a practical goal: give students a clear picture of cost and payment before they start, then support them through each new term.

In this episode

• Why online and adult learners need financial aid processes that fit multiple start dates and shorter terms.

• How FAFSA requirements, transfer history, borrowing limits, and summer terms can complicate a student's plan.

• Why employer tuition assistance, military benefits, private loans, and payment plans require coordination across campus offices.

• How a student's payment readiness can help teams spot potential enrollment melt before classes begin.

• What connected systems, documented processes, and a clear handoff from admissions to advising can do for the student experience.

About the guest

Jen McMahon is the founder and managing partner of Mac Insight Group, a higher education consulting firm that works with institutions on enrollment, financial aid, student accounts, and operational improvement.

Chapters

• 00:00 — Introduction and guests

• 01:41 — Mac Insight Group's approach to solving campus problems

• 05:29 — Changes and staffing pressure in financial aid

• 12:11 — Traditional students and online adult learners

• 19:40 — Making payment part of enrollment strategy

• 24:56 — Summer terms, transfer students, and borrowing limits

• 31:52 — Keeping leaders informed as requirements change

• 33:38 — Affordability and enrollment melt

• 38:11 — Payment readiness before a term begins

• 41:41 — Connected systems and a better student handoff

  45:32 — Closing advice and the value of higher education

Learn more

• ⁠Mac Insight Group⁠

• ⁠Magellan Learning Solutions⁠

If your institution needs help with marketing and enrollment, curriculum services, academic operations, training and professional development, or a custom solution, connect with Magellan.

In this episode of the Magellan Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Lee Beaumont, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Magellan, to introduce a powerful new service within our Lead Optimization portfolio: Magellan’s Lead Lifeline.

Lead Lifeline is designed to help institutions rescue lost leads, re-engage student inquiries, and move them back on course toward enrollment through timely follow-up and personalized outreach.

Learn more about Magellan's Lead Lifeline

In the episode, the group discusses:

• What is lead optimization?

• The key challenges colleges face and why do so many struggle with lead follow-up?

• Magellan's lead optimization is rapid, personalized, application-guided, marketing-aligned, scalable, and cost-efficient.

• Why does this matter?

If you or your school is looking for help with RSI, marketing and enrollment, curriculum or course development, operational services, training, or professional development, think Magellan; our team would love to help. Reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thinkmagellan.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you for joining us on the Magellan Podcast: Navigating Education in the 21st Century.

Show Credits

The podcast theme was written and recorded by Dr. Wayne Patton. The podcast was recorded by, produced and edited by Adam Ranck.

Kentucky State University (KSU) and Magellan Learning Solutions are proud to announce the release of a new podcast episode titled “Transforming an Institution: The Collaborative Journey of Kentucky State University and Magellan Learning Solutions.” The episode, recorded on the beautiful campus of Kentucky State University, chronicles a powerful and strategic partnership that is reshaping the future of online education at one of the nation’s most historic HBCUs.

This in-depth conversation features KSU’s President, Dr. Koffi C. Akakpo, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Michael D. Dailey, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Dr. Stephanie Mayberry, and Director of Marketing & Public Relations Jessica Holman. They are joined by the leadership team from Magellan Learning Solutions, including Cofounder and CEO Dr. Wayne Patton, President and COO Aaron Traphagen, Chief Business Development Officer Jimmy Queen, Vice President of Marketing & Enrollment Dr. Lee Beaumont, and Associate Vice President for Online Education Mike Floyd.

• Read the press release (available soon)
• Learn More About KYSU Online Programs

In the episode, the group discusses:

• The vision behind KSU’s shift to prioritize online learning
• The role of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education in funding and supporting the initiative
• The services Magellan provided, from curriculum development to student support infrastructure
• Real-world data showing the early success of the partnership
• Lessons learned and a shared roadmap for future impact

If you or your school is looking for help with RSI, marketing and enrollment, curriculum or course development, operational services, training, or professional development, think Magellan; our team would love to help. Reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thinkmagellan.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you for joining us on the Magellan Podcast: Navigating Education in the 21st Century.

Show Credits

The podcast theme was written and recorded by Dr. Wayne Patton. The podcast was recorded by Aaron Traphagen, and produced and edited by Adam Ranck.