Cover Story: 2026 Spring Semester Roundtable

What happens when you combine various areas of the student experience in the same room on a cold and blustery Wednesday morning in early January? You end up having an engaging conversation about the spring semester! Our panelists were quick to tout new and interesting events happening in their area during the spring semester.

What are some of the exciting features of the spring semester that students can look forward to (in addition to longer days and warmth!)? Academic Advising has an intriguing new theme for Registration Week that is likely to garner a positive reception from students, faculty, and staff. Commencement has a new location this year.

Student Affairs has a litany of exciting events that will captivate anyone’s desire to break out of the doldrums of winter. Admissions has engaging events for prospective students. A new sports team in athletics is entering its inception phase. There are also some profound changes to the Gen Ed curriculum that won’t have a massive impact on students, but should still be at the forefront of a student’s mind before they register for their next term’s classes.

Our panelists for the Financial Aid Office’s roundtable discussion comprise a diverse array of individuals across the College’s enrollment management and student support services. Amanda Birch, Senior Advisor & General Advising Coordinator, represents Academic Advising. Bernadine Griffin, Assistant Director of Residence Life, represents Residence Life. Zoe Lockwood, Accounts Receivable Supervisor, and Mark McGuire, Financial Aid Coordinator, represent the Business Office and Financial Aid Office, respectively.

Ryan Quann, Registrar & Director of Institutional Effectiveness, represents Academic Affairs in the roundtable discussion. Karen Riley, Career Services Specialist, represents Career Services. Mike Torres, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Sport Administration, brings his knowledge of athletics to the table. Representing the undergraduate and graduate admissions offices are Annie Hake, Senior Admissions Recruiter, and Gigi Gaul, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions. Hannah Bakey, Assistant Director of International Student Compliance, offers her insights into the complex area of international student recruitment and compliance. Rounding out our panel is Tatianna Marshall, Assistant Director for Student Engagement, who promises to deliver a thrilling and engaging student events experience this spring.

Read on for the spring semester’s roundtable discussion.

Financial Aid Office: Let us kick off this panel with Academic Advising. What’s new in the spring semester for Academic Advising?

Amanda Birch: Registration Week returns the week of March 23 and concludes on March 26. The grand prize remains $250. A drawing for the grand prize will be on Thursday, March 26, at 4:00 pm.

Academic Advising is hosting two pop-up registration events after Registration Week, on April 13 and 14. This event provides students with an opportunity to register for fall classes if they were previously unable to do so at Registration Week.

Is there anything Academic Advising is focusing on specifically for students in the spring semester?

Amanda Birch: Encouraging students to visit the Academic Excellence Center if they need additional assistance in their spring semester courses. Our primary role is ensuring students persist and ultimately graduate.

You mentioned Registration Week is happening during the last week of March. Do you have a theme for the event yet?  

 Amanda Birch: It’s a board game theme for Spring Semester Registration Week. I am currently working with our marketing department to create invigorating content for the event.

If a student is graduating in the spring semester or the upcoming summer session and has questions about where they stand regarding conferral, what would your advice be?

 Amanda Birch: Stop in for a chat with your academic advisor. Deb Harbaugh, Hannah Bakey, and I are available to meet with students to conduct a preliminary grad checkout. During a grad checkout session, a student can verify with an academic advisor that they are indeed on track to graduate by their scheduled graduation date. An academic advisor will review the student’s academic advising worksheet, academic transcript, and other materials to ensure they’re prepared to graduate in a few months.

For students who are not graduating this academic year, what advice do you have for them about transitioning from the spring to the fall semester?

Amanda Birch: Academic advisors are acutely aware that the transition from the spring to the fall semester is significant. Students must comprehend that fact. So, if a student has a question about future course registration options or any other topic covered by an academic advisor, stop in and chat with an academic advisor if you need assistance with preparing for the fall semester.

Thank you, Amanda. Switching gears to Graduate Admissions. Gigi: What’s new in Graduate Admissions this semester?

Gigi Gaul: This Spring, our Graduate Admissions team is looking forward to attending several local Graduate School Fairs to connect with prospective students. Some of the locations we visited last fall and plan to visit again include the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Goucher College, and we featured our Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program at a virtual graduate school fair for Psychology programs in partnership with NAGAP, the National Association of Graduate Enrollment Professionals. From an application standpoint, we launched our new application system, BusinessCAS, for the Spring II Session. You can find the link here.

How’s the new application processing going?

Gigi Gaul: We recently updated our website with the new BusinessCAS application for Spring Session II, starting March 16. The great thing about BusinessCAS is that it offers a sort of “shopping cart” experience for applicants. Some of the students who add GBC to their “cart” might not have ever heard of us. Still, because of centralized applications like CAS, they can browse hundreds of different business programs, and the minute they indicate interest in one of ours, we can start communicating the value of a GBC education. Right now, for spring, we have 50+ students indicating interest in one of our programs – that’s a positive outlook!

If an undergraduate student is completing their degree program this semester and has an interest in the graduate program, what should their next steps be?

Gigi Gaul: First, I’d encourage them to bring it up with their advisor. If they have room in their program and schedule to replace a current undergrad class with a graduate-level course, this can be worth a quick change and put you one step ahead for your 5th-year master’s. Next, I’d encourage them to meet with Grad Admissions, either in person or virtually, to discuss which master’s degree option is best for them. You can book an appointment with our office here.

Talk about the upcoming Graduate Preview Day. What can prospective students expect at this event?

Gigi Gaul: This year, prospective students can expect to have a fantastic time on campus for our Grad Preview Day and Info Session! Attendees will hear from various departments, including Financial Aid and Career Services, while connecting with GBC Faculty. We will have a panel of current and recent graduate students to share their experiences in the program and answer questions from prospective students. Attendees will have a chance to receive one-on-one guidance on the BusinessCAS application and to have any questions about the application process answered by Admissions. A bonus: the date of the Grad Preview Day coincides with Hoop it Up, an Alumni Event featuring our men’s and women’s basketball teams. Attendees can attend this family-friendly event for free, meet alums back on campus, and see the campus during one of our busiest times this winter!

Thank you, Gigi. Bernadine: Anything new or exciting happening in Residence Life for the spring semester?

Bernadine Griffin: One cool new thing we’re trying to do in residence life is amp up our social media presence. Starting this semester, we will be posting monthly outlines of the social programs scheduled for the residence halls. On our Instagram residence life page, we will be posting about housing selection, which is later in the semester. We are also going to post about our next texting app, Band, which is another way to stay connected with students residing on campus.

If a student is already on the Band app, they should join the residence life chat. The Band app is where I post up-to-date information for residential students. Resident Assistants also post status updates for their applicable areas. It’s akin to Facebook. On-campus residents can also communicate with each other if there’s a dilemma or if they want to reach out to other residential students.

So, those are our two primary forms of communication for the spring semester.

Are you receiving a positive reception with students on the Band app?

Bernadine Griffin: Believe it or not, the Band app has been extremely popular in some of the residence halls. It helps provide quick, real-time updates. For instance, if one of the residence halls requires an emergency repair, I can put out that message on the app instantly. Most students receive a push notification from the app, meaning the communication is often in their hands moments after the message goes out. Email takes students a tad longer to read and is not always a valuable tool for rapid communication.

On-campus residence students also frequently use the app. For example, a student will post about an event they are having; feel free to drop by. Those are the app’s positive experiences. It has been slow to get new students onto the app.

But it really is an essential app for residential students for real-time updates during emergencies or other unexpected events. The app is also a terrific way to connect with your Resident Assistant through messaging and interacting with their content.

First-year students who are entering their second semester at the College are likely unaware of the housing selection process. How can a student best prepare for housing selection?

Bernadine Griffin: The most important thing to remember when it comes to housing selection is to attend the information sessions. There is a lot of information to cover, including what to expect at the event and how the selection process works. It’s even suitable for returning students to attend the information sessions, since this year’s housing selection process is very different from the ones they’ve experienced in the past. I am not going to divulge too much at this time, but keep abreast of upcoming information sessions for the housing selection process. All students with an interest in housing must attend an information session.

The most important thing a student can do is remain up to date with the Business Office on their payment obligations for the spring semester. Attending Registration Week and registering for fall classes are other key components of housing selection. Students must enroll in fall courses before they can participate in the housing selection process. Registration Week is the week before Housing Selection, so don’t dither on that task.

Overall, housing selection is a seamless process as most students enroll in fall classes during Registration Week and satisfy their Business Office obligations before the Housing Selection event.

Sometimes students need to move off campus for various reasons. What’s the best process for doing that? For example, imagine you are a current student who does not plan to reside on campus in the fall semester. What’s the best way to communicate that information to you to avoid penalties?

Bernadine Griffin: The most important advice I can give is to read the residence life contract beforehand to comprehend the cutoff dates to make the soundest decision on your end. The housing contract outlines specific dates for students to inform the Office of Residence Life of their intentions not to return. Most importantly, students can email me at [email protected] or my work email. Either way, letting me know in advance that you no longer wish to reside on campus is the preferred method to ensure this task proceeds smoothly.

Afterwards, students can expect to receive a brief survey about their overall residential experience. By answering this survey, you help the Office of Residence Life collect valuable feedback to inform future initiatives.

Last question for you, unless you want to add anything else to this discussion: Overall, what can a residential student expect to experience this spring semester? Any fun activities happening in the residential halls?

Bernadine Griffin: We are really trying to amplify our spring semester programming for residential students. We have a Graduate Assistant whose sole focus is on programming, so she’ll be hosting some events. Resident Assistants will also be hosting their own events throughout the semester. We received student feedback in the fall semester; I am actively working to incorporate it into spring semester programming to make it an even more enjoyable experience.

And the biggest thing about my area is that if a student is interested in becoming involved or wanting to be part of programming in Residence Life, they should join the Residence Hall Association (RHA, for short). We are looking for individuals who want to represent their residence hall to bring real connection and community back to campus from the students’ perspective. If any students are interested in that opportunity, they can reach out to me or my office.

Thank you, Bernadine. Shifting gears to the student financial services side of things. Zoe: What’s new in the Business Office?

Zoe Lockwood: The primary focus for our area in January was the issuance of 1098-Ts. Those went out before January 31 and are available electronically on Campus Web.

Two new things for students to be aware of in the spring semester: First, the College has a corporate partnership with WSFS and ShopRite. Students who work at those entities and are interested in using those discounts should contact their Human Resources office. ShopRite’s corporate discount is also available to an employee’s dependent. Again, chat with your human resources representative for more information if these two discounts apply to you.

Second, the Business Office is enhancing its communications with students, whether it’s email, letters, phone calls, or text messaging. We are in the initial stages of exploring a new system to help us achieve those communication goals. We can only do so much, so any type of automation campaign would be beneficial for our outreach efforts to students.

Talk about the payment plan process.

Zoe Lockwood: Yes, that is very important. The only time when you would not have to sign up for a payment plan every semester is when you are on an annual plan.

If you are doing a semester-by-semester payment plan before the start of each semester’s first payment due date, you will want to make sure you enroll in a payment plan. You can do so with assistance from a Business Office staff member via email or phone. Or you can conveniently do it 24/7 on Campus Web.

Let’s say a student still has an outstanding balance with the College from a previous semester and wants to re-enroll. What’s the best way for students in that predicament to resolve an existing balance?

Zoe Lockwood: In accordance with the College’s established policies regarding outstanding account balances, a student would typically need to clear the balance to $0 before they can re-enroll. There’s a bit of fluidity in this situation, as it depends on how long the account has been open.

Typically, for an older balance, we offer feasible payment plan options to reduce the balance to $0 over a period shorter than a calendar year. Usually, it’s just figuring out what a student can pay: monthly, bi-weekly, weekly, etc. Essentially, we want to devise the most creative repayment strategy that works best for the student. We try to be flexible. It really depends on the student and how fast they want to re-enroll at the College.

What’s the best way a student can depart campus after the spring semester from a Business Office perspective?

Zoe Lockwood: Review your account in the finances tab on Campus Web. If you are uncertain about your account status, you can always reach out to a staff member in the Business Office. I promise we are charming people!

Thank you, Zoe. Tatianna: I hear there are a lot of fun activities happening this semester. I know there is always something new in your area. At one point in the past, you brought butterflies to campus. What are some new events students can engage with in your area this semester?

Tatianna Marshall: We have many activities this semester. My brain is going 1,000 miles a minute right now!

This semester, our calendar theme is Wild, Wild West. The biggest event of the spring isn’t butterflies; it’s a mobile rage room in April. A company is going to come to campus, set up in the parking lot, and all kinds of interesting things you can smash or destroy. So, I am super excited about that event.

 Obviously, we will advertise all our activities and events on social media. We also have our weekly Student Affairs newsletter, which lists all our happenings and updates. Students can also view event information on the physical flyers posted across campus. We are mainly focused on digital communication strategy, however.

How can students connect during these cold months?

Tatianna Marshall: Be on the lookout for information regarding student organizations. There will be advertisements for organizational meetings and the associated events that those organizations may be having.

I know, just off the top of my head, that Lightning Studio is returning with vigor and will reappear as a viable creative option for students interested in that type of artistic expression. BSU is also returning with intensity for the spring semester and will have many events and activities for all students to participate in.

Any sneak peek of Commencement season from a Student Affairs viewpoint?

Tatianna Marshall: During senior week, we will be opening the time capsules for the Class of 2026. It’s hard to believe that the entering class of 2022 is now departing us. This year is the second consecutive year that a departing class opens the time capsule. The night before graduation is the College’s annual Cap n’ Cork celebration at Cork n’ Barrell. A new event to keep in mind during graduation season is Give Back Before You Leave. This event is a volunteer opportunity for graduating students to give back before they leave through community service. An exciting component of this event is writing letters to future Bolts from our graduating class. Stay tuned for more information.

Also coming back with a ton of popularity is the Dunkin’ Donuts Community Cruiser. More information about the Community Cruiser’s return to campus will become available to students later in the semester.

What is typical in a time capsule?

Tatianna Marshall: It is different for each graduating class, depending on their personality when they first entered the College. Usually, students write a letter to themselves about what they liked when they first started college. Now, four years later, they get to re-read that letter and compare their answers to today to see what changed.

The responses from students after reading the letters are always fascinating to observe. Students don’t leave actual items in the time capsule; instead, it’s a letter they wrote to themselves. That’s a good experience. It’s an enlightening experience. It’s incredible to learn about the changes in one’s preferences after four long years of college.

Thank you, Tatianna. Next up, the Registrar’s Office. It’s all you, Ryan.

Ryan Quann: There are two exciting events students should watch for: Grad Fest and Commencement. We are not too far away from launching official communication about Commencement. If you are walking at the commencement ceremony, it is essential to remember that you need to retrieve your regalia at Grad Fest. This year’s ceremony is at the Chase Center on the Riverfront. Broader, more official information about Commencement will be forthcoming.

In tandem with the Academic Advising Office, the Registrar’s Office will also be assisting with the grad checkout process. Avoid negative surprises now; verify with your academic advisor or a staff member in the Registrar’s Office that you are going to graduate on time in this academic year.

What are the biggest misconceptions students have about Commencement?

Ryan Quann: Perhaps the biggest misconception we always have is that students who finish in the summer session mistakenly believe that they cannot walk in this year’s ceremony. That’s false. So, if you are completing your degree program this summer, you are eligible to walk at this year’s ceremony.

Any other updates from your work in Institutional Effectiveness?

Ryan Quann: Student Satisfaction Survey is returning in February. That survey is available to every student enrolled in any division: undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral.

The survey touches on all areas of the College. Within the survey, questions focus on how important something is to a student. For example, how important is it to have a knowledgeable financial aid office? Other questions ask about the students’ overall experience. It produces valuable feedback for the College.

There will be a grand prize drawing for students who complete the survey. More information on that is forthcoming at the time of the survey launch.

Another important topic for you to address is the Gen Ed and its recent revisions. You do not have to go too nuanced in your response, but what should students be aware of when they meet with their academic advisor or schedule future classes within their current degree program?

Ryan Quann: More messaging from their academic advisor is coming to students about the transition to a new Gen Ed curriculum. Some courses in the current curriculum will become unavailable after the 2026-27 academic year. What does that mean for students? Well, it means they will need to remain flexible and select a different course option.

Simply put, students will not lose the credits they have earned. So, whatever courses they have already completed will always stay with them. Now, if a student withdraws and returns to the College many years later, there may be an exception to that guarantee. For the most part, we want to help students achieve their academic goals without losing the hard-earned credits they’ve earned.

My reassurance to students reading this: If you stay enrolled and are on track to graduate on time, you will not lose any credits under the new Gen Ed platform.

What’s interesting about the new Gen Ed curriculum is that students have more elective options than under the current one. Some of the new classes that are in the developmental stage are pretty fascinating. More information about future elective offerings will become available at the Registration Week event in March. I am encouraging students to review the new generation of elective offerings to see if anything piques their interest.

Another point of reassurance: Some degree programs will require customization, to be determined in consultation with that student’s academic advisor. Next year’s seniors will have minimal impact on the new Gen Ed. However, next year’s sophomores and juniors will face a larger effect from the new curriculum, mainly in a good way.

Believe it or not, but the fall semester will be here before you know it. Transfer students will have an itch to start scheduling as soon as it becomes available to them. What’s your best advice for the next class of transfer students?

Ryan Quann: Transfer students who have a serious intent to enroll at the College should follow the same steps as any other student. Apply. Submit all relevant transcripts for a transfer credit evaluation. Receive an acceptance decision with your initial transfer credit evaluation. If you like what you see, commit to the College by submitting a tuition deposit. The Registrar’s Office will slot your transferred-in courses closer to the summer session. Transfer students can still register for classes with an academic advisor before their transferred-in courses slots on their academic advising worksheet.

Another plug for the new Gen Ed curriculum: There’s more flexibility than the existing one with elective spaces. Goldey-Beacom accepts up to 90 transfer credits, which is quite generous compared to other institutions. We also accept C- grades or better on an academic transcript for a course to transfer in. Even with the revised and improved Gen Ed curriculum, there are still some unique situations where the number of transfer credits is minimal. For example, earning an associate’s degree in nursing at a community college and then transferring into Goldey-Beacom’s accounting program is likely to result in a loss of transfer credits. So, while the new curriculum offers renewed flexibility from additional elective spaces, there may be limitations for a small number of students who are enrolling in a completely different program from the one they completed at another institution.

Thank you, Ryan. Karen, you are up next. Tell us a little bit about what’s happening in Career Services.

Karen Riley: We are gearing up for the spring semester Career Fair that’s on March 4 in the Event Center. It’s a great event. Obviously, we usually have approximately 50 employees available for students to browse and chat with. One of the things the First-Year Experience focuses on in the spring semester is career competencies.

I anticipate that many students will want to stop by Career Services to revise or build a résumé to prepare for their job search. That’s a busy time for us. Getting students ready for the Career Fair is also a momentous occasion. In the fall semester, we had a networking event for specific majors, such as finance. We plan to incorporate more of these major specific events into our bustling spring calendar. These events seem especially helpful for students.

We also had a roundtable event featuring alums and representatives from a range of employers who came in to speak with students. Different classes attended; it was an intimate event, unlike a Career Fair. Students could sit at a table and chat with someone about how they got into their role and any questions they may have. It’s a terrific networking experience for students to witness firsthand.

So, those two events are great additions to Career Services, and we plan to have two of those in the spring semester.

Dates and times for those new events will become available at a later date.

We are continuing our tabling on Tuesdays, which run most Tuesdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. This event provides students with an opportunity to chat with an employer about possible career opportunities at their firm or organization. Mock interviews with real-life hiring managers are also available monthly. I strongly urge students to register in advance for the mock interviews. It’s gaining popularity among students.

Career Services continues to encourage students to participate in internships, even if it’s not for credit. I try to remind students that their existing part-time or full-time jobs may qualify as internships if they are related to their major. Your role doesn’t need the word “internship” affixed to it. Too many students get hung up on the oddity that the word ‘internship’ must be in their role title. It can be an internship for credit as long as it’s relatable to your major.

Inevitably, this always happens. Senioritis. Seniors who wait until the last moment to start the job search. What’s your recommendation for a graduating senior who hasn’t been interning in their field of study or hasn’t even held down a steady job yet?

Karen Riley: If you are a full-time student, and this often happens to our student athletes participating in spring sports, and are currently unable to find employment, start building networking connections now. Attend networking events. Start meeting people. Even if you cannot begin employment until after Commencement, the more connections you make now, the easier your job search will become when you are actively looking.

When you are actively networking, listen to future opportunities, and remain in touch with that recruiter or hiring manager. Use LinkedIn to start connecting with others who may help you land your first job.

If you have a family member who works at a company you are interested in, start contacting them to inquire about any openings the firm may have soon. Do not dither on completing your résumé. The Career Services staff, Beth and I, are available all summer long to assist you with the job hunt. We are always available to assist our alums—whether it’s your first job right after college or your next significant role long after your college days.

Economists and financial analysts are spotting inconsistencies in the labor market. There are many mixed signals as to what’s happening in the labor market. What are you seeing from your vantage point? Are companies still hiring? Are you noticing a hiring slowdown?

Karen Riley: My observations are that people are having to apply to more roles than they previously did a few years ago. It’s not that there are no jobs available; rather, securing one requires additional effort and takes more time.

Employers are advancing applicants in the hiring process who have prior work experience over those who do not—reminder to students: any job is better than no job. Therefore, many jobs, although unaligned with your chosen career path, have transferable skills that employers view favorably. Even volunteer work through community service efforts is noticeable by employers.

Any skills you can highlight on a résumé that showcase your ability to interact with others are beneficial for employers to see. Communication is key in the workforce. So, highlighting your leadership roles in academics, at work, or even on the sports team is critical to getting noticed by an employer.

Always practice your interview skills. Just remind yourself that the job search may take a tad longer than you would like. We have seen many successes in placement rates in Career Services after a student graduates. It’s just not going to fall into your lap. Now is the time to start preparing for your first big job after graduation.

Thank you, Karen. Mike: What’s happening in athletics?

Mike Torres: We are currently in the winter sports season. Spring sports will start practicing soon.

The College is introducing women’s flag football next year. We are patiently waiting for the official vote from the NCAA to make it a sanctioned NCAA sport. Once that happens, things will start moving rapidly for that sports program. The program did receive its first commitment, so we’re very excited to build on that momentum.

Outside of the flag football news, we do have some new programming for the spring semester that I would like to share.

Two programming events to highlight: In April, in conjunction with the Athletics Leadership Academy and Mark Olazagasti, a Board of Trustees member at Goldey-Beacom College, the Athletics Department will host a financial literacy event for student-athletes. We also have John Ulsh, the author of The Upside of Down, coming to campus to speak with some of our student-athletes.

The Student Athletes’ end-of-the-academic-year award ceremony is at the end of the semester, most likely the first week of May. We always try to let the seasons advance as far as they can before that event. Hoop It Up is the only other event at the ordinary for us in the spring semester. The event is on Saturday, February 28. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams are playing that day.

How are the College’s winter sports teams doing? What are you expecting from the spring sports teams?

Mike Torres: Men’s basketball is doing exceptionally well. Women’s basketball is trending in the right direction after a slow start. Baseball has high expectations for another postseason run. Softball has a younger squad this season. It’ll be interesting to see how they perform with the influx of new talent. Track is still in contention to deliver another strong showing across all its competitions. Overall, it is shaping up to be an exceptional spring in athletics.

And this is the swan song for women’s tennis and men’s golf, correct?

Mike Torres: At Hoop It Up, we’ll be having senior night for the men’s golf team. Tennis will hold its own senior night recognition ceremony at its home tennis court. More information about the tennis team’s senior night will become available soon.

Last question for you is a tricky one: Talk a little bit about the athletic aid renewal process. What can students expect after the spring semester?

Mike Torres: Coaches will review their scholarship allocations at the end of the spring semester. In some cases, students may receive an increased scholarship amount. When a student’s scholarship increases or decreases, for whatever reason, that information is directly communicated to the Financial Aid Office. If there is a decrease or non-renewal in athletic grant-in-aid, students typically have 15 days after the non-renewal or reduced athletic aid email to appeal the decision.

When appealing the decision, students should understand that the committee they’re appealing to is separate from athletics.

There are occasional situations where a student may need to enroll in additional courses to complete their degree. Students usually chat with their coaches about that predicament. Coaches then consult with Jeremy or me to determine whether their student-athlete qualifies for additional athletic aid.

Thank you, Mike. Hannah, you are up. How’s it going with international students?

Hannah Bakey: Graduate International has about 70 deposited students for the spring semester. I am in the throes of registering students before the first Saturday class meeting of the spring semester (January 24). Processing applications and data with USCIS is taking longer than usual. Requests for Evidence (RFEs) are becoming more tedious, but nothing is necessarily out of the norm. There is also a decent number of international graduate students interested in enrolling in the second session of the spring semester.

Gigi explained how the new app process is affecting her area. What’s your take on it?

Hannah Bakey: In January, the College flipped the switch to go live with BizCast, which is a terrific new tool for streamlining applications to the College’s graduate programs. Part of the reason for moving away from the College’s existing internal graduate admissions application was the enhanced automation features that BizCast offers. This new process does require a $58 application fee for non-MACP business majors seeking to study in the graduate division.

Financial difficulties can arise for a variety of reasons. International students may not understand precisely what that means for them. Do you want to expand on that topic?

Hannah Bakey: Options for international students facing financial difficulties are a tad more complex than those for domestic students. Undergraduate international students have limited ability to pursue gainful employment. As a result, undergraduate international students cannot earn as much as graduate students can earn.

As an F-1 student, you can apply for a full-time work blanket authorization from the federal government due to severe economic hardship. It’s a pointy needle to thread. A cog in this scenario is that students need to be careful not to misrepresent their financial difficulties. When did your financial situation change? These are all the types of questions I walk students through when preparing for a full-time work authorization request.

What academic programs are international students gravitating towards?

Hannah Bakey: When the College initiates new academic programs, there’s a whole process that I go through to get them approved for F-1 students. For example, the College is patiently awaiting approval for its newest graduate-level offerings for international students: Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. International students are showing strong interest in those degree programs. The MBA with the analytical track is enrolling students at a rapid clip. Students continue to move with their feet to that degree program.

Thank you, Hannah. We have heard from graduate admissions. Now let’s hear from undergraduate admissions. Annie, the floor is all yours. Go ahead.

Annie Hake: Accepted Students Day is March 28. There are also Saturday Visits available for prospective students to tour the campus and learn more about Goldey-Beacom College. We have three Saturday Visits in the spring semester: February 7, April 11, and May 2.

Several campus visits are happening throughout the spring semester, including visits to a few local AVID programs and to recently created high schools. I am also in the process of inviting local DECA chapters to visit campus and chat with some of our business faculty. Recruitment season ramps up in February.

And Jobs for Delaware Graduates (JDG), they’re coming to our campus, too, correct?

Annie Hake: Correct!

Can you offer us a sneak peek of Accepted Students Day?

Annie Hake: No, not too much to share yet. It’s March 28 in the gymnasium. It is going to be an exciting day.

Last question for you, Annie: May 1 will be here before we know it. What can accepted students expect in the weeks leading up to May 1?

Annie Hake: Personalized communication. We ensure we understand their needs from a variety of perspectives, including academics, financial aid, and residence life. Admissions representatives try to connect students with other departments early on so they receive the best possible information before making an enrollment decision.

Admissions representatives are attending decision days at a few of our local high schools: Odessa, Middletown, and Appoquinimink have significant decision days in April. Strike, Goldey-Beacom’s mascot, also tags along for the decision day visit.

Finally, it’s financial aid’s turn to speak. Mark: What’s new in financial aid for the spring semester?

Mark McGuire: January was a hectic month, wrapping up outstanding fall semester issues that lingered over winter break, in addition to the seasonal rush for spring financial aid. Financial aid is also working closely with our friends in the Admissions Office to welcome new students for the spring semester.

Explaining the total cost to a mid-year transfer student can be tricky. That’s why I prefer to meet with students one-on-one so they can see the difference between spring and full-year costs, which is more applicable to the upcoming fall semester.

February is our big push for financial aid offers. Our initial batch of financial aid offers is typically around 700 accepted students. Once tuition rates are available for the 2026-27 academic year, the Financial Aid Office will begin packaging returning students’ financial aid for the fall semester. From that point onward, it’s a large-scale ramp-up of meeting with students and families one-on-one.

We’re also preparing for Commencement season by having federal student loan borrowers complete their exit counseling requirement in advance of Grad Fest. Students have already started completing this critical requirement.

There are also several conversations happening with undergraduate students who desire to enroll in the graduate program after graduation. If that’s you, now is the time to start chatting with the Financial Aid Office about your financing avenues at the graduate division. Now is also a good time to start preparing for summer session costs, as your summer financial aid package will look very different from your regular financial aid package during the fall and spring semesters.

Are you noticing any trends with outside scholarships?

Mark McGuire: It appears that many high school guidance counselors are neglecting to advertise these scholarship opportunities. Incoming students right out of high school are unaware of these external opportunities.

The Financial Aid Office is making sure that new students have these opportunities sooner rather than later to decrease their educational expenses. Delawareans alone have several options at their disposal: the ScIP Grant and Career-Based Scholarship from the State of Delaware, the New Castle County scholarship, and scholarships offered by other local municipalities and organizations with reasonable application procedures.

Outside scholarships are often the best resource for students. It’s worth applying for them. And we can help you with that in the Financial Aid Office.

Thanks, Mark, and everyone.

Above: Panelists at the 2026 spring semester roundtable discussion. From left to right counterclockwise: Zoe Lockwood, Accounts Receivable Supervisor, Mark McGuire, Financial Aid Coordinator, Karen Riley, Career Services Specialist, Annie Hake, Senior Admissions Recruiter, Tatianna Marshall, Assistant Director for Student Engagement, Mike Torres, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Sport Administration, Bernadine Griffin, Assistant Director of Residence Life, Ryan Quann, Registrar and Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Amanda Birch, Senior Advisor & General Advising Coordinator, and Hannah Bakey, Assistant Director of Institutional Student Compliance.