NACUBO In Brief: Recent Episodes
NACUBO Distance Learning
What economic trends today will set the stage for the future? How will legislative actions impact student financial aid? What accounting policy or reporting changes are on the horizon? Navigating the business of higher education institutions requires knowledge about a variety of issues—from finance to campus security.
In this podcast series, hear colleagues, experts, and industry leaders explore issues, provide best practices, offer solutions to new questions that may not have been asked before, and think through how recent developments will shape their institutions in the months and years ahead.
What challenges are higher education business officers facing right now—and where are institutions seeking help? NACUBO's Liz Clark is joined by Ruth Johnston, vice president for consulting, to discuss the growing operational, financial, and strategic pressures campuses are navigating. From budget model changes and procurement reviews to process improvement, athletics, and deferred maintenance, they explore how chief business officers are involved in nearly every aspect of campus operations as institutions grapple with financial pressure, uncertainty, and change. The conversation also highlights how NACUBO Consulting helps campuses strengthen decision-making and turn good ideas into actionable strategies. Tune in for the final episode of the season before NACUBO In Brief returns this September. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn * Learn more about NACUBO's Consulting * Check out the State of Higher Education: Top 5 Business Issues of 2025 * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
Holistic advising brings together academic, financial, and personal support to improve student outcomes and retention. NACUBO's Bryan Dickson is joined by Kelli Rainey, senior director for student success initiatives, and Suzanne Lyons, senior consultant at Phase Two Advisory, to explore the critical role business officers play in supporting these efforts strategically. They discuss the cross-functional design behind these practices and how institutions are moving beyond siloed services to scale student-centered models sustainably. The conversation also highlights NACUBO's Student Success Hub, which offers practical tools to help business officers use data to strengthen student success initiatives. Additional Resources * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * Connect with Kelli on LinkedIn * Connect with Suzanne on LinkedIn * Check out NACUBO's Student Success Hub * Learn about Phase Two Advisory * Read about NACUBO's student success work alongside Phase Two Advisory and Sova * Read about CUNY ASAP (City University of New York's Accelerated Study in Associate Programs) * Learn more about TRIO programs through the Council for Opportunity in Education * Check out this Practice Guide on Effective Advising for Postsecondary Students from the Institute of Education Sciences * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
Some institutions are reducing the all-too-familiar "runaround" by bringing together traditionally separate services like financial aid, student accounts, and the registrar into a single point of contact. Myles Lawhorn (Community College of Philadelphia), Wendy Pursell (Kutztown University), and Jay Stefanelli (Rutgers University–New Brunswick) join NACUBO's Bryan Dickson to discuss these "one-stop" service models. From fully integrated to hybrid approaches, they explore how their institutions are working to remove barriers and create a more connected student-centered experience. The conversation also highlights the importance of buy-in, staff training, and adaptability—along with emerging considerations like AI. Additional Resources * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * Connect with Myles on LinkedIn * Connect with Wendy on LinkedIn * Connect with Jay on LinkedIn * Learn more about implementing one-stop models: + One Stop Student Services: Why Combining Services Boosts Student Success + One-stop centers: Invaluable tools for community colleges and the students we serve + Integrating for a Successful One-Stop-Shop for Student Services + Why Your 'One-Stop' Is Worth More Than You Think * Read research on the impacts of one-stop models: + Exploring the Impact of an Integrated Student Services ("One Stop") Model for Graduate Students(full download available) + Exploring the Impact of an Integrated Student Services ("One Stop") Model on Access, Affordability, and Student Retention (full download available) * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
"We like to say we're not boring people, but we get excited about boring things," reflects NACUBO's Sue Menditto, senior director for accounting policy. In this episode, she joins Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research, to discuss higher education accounting, Sue's decades-long career contributing to accounting policy standards, and the evolution of the Higher Education Accounting Forum. From AI and workforce trends to financial reporting and policy shifts, they explore how the field has expanded beyond transactions to strategic decision-making. The conversation highlights the critical role of accounting professionals as translators, advisors, and leaders—and why this community continues to come together year after year. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Sue on LinkedIn * Learn more about the 2026 Higher Education Accounting Forum * Explore NACUBO's accounting resources * Meet the Accounting Principles Council * Check out NACUBO's endowment management resources * Read recent NACUBO coverage on FASB/GASB updates: + GASB Issues Implementation Guide Exposure Draft + NACUBO Accounting Principles Council Meets With FASB on Technical Improvements * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
What's happening in Washington, DC, and what does it mean for higher education? Join NACUBO's Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research, and Bryan Dickson, director, education policy, as they unpack what's moving in Washington—and what's still pending. They discuss federal funding updates, the outlook for student aid and research, and what to watch from the White House, including the FY27 budget request and potential changes to Uniform Guidance. The conversation also highlights fast-developing Department of Education regulations and other emerging issues, offering a timely snapshot of the higher education policy landscape. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * Learn more about the Financial Accountability In Research (FAIR) Model on NACUBO's Sponsored Research page * Join us for the next Washington Update webinar on April 6 at 1 pm ET * Register for the webinar, How and When to Make Perkins Loan Liquidation Decisions, on April 8 * Learn about NACUBO's Board of Directors' Advocacy Day * Read NACUBO's news coverage: + Congress Passes Budget Legislation That Funds Student Aid and Blocks Indirect Cost Rate Caps + ED Proposes New Repayment Plans, Loan Limits * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
NACUBO's Bryan Dickson, director, education policy, and Kat Masterson, assistant director for research and policy analysis, join Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research, to discuss the Student Financial Services Benchmarking Report—one of the most practical tools offered by NACUBO's research team. From operational performance and financial risk to staffing trends, the study collects and standardizes data from institutions nationwide, enabling participants to benchmark against peers and track their own progress over time. The conversation highlights how these quantitative insights help campuses evaluate the efficiency of student account operations and strengthen service to students and families. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * Connect with Katon LinkedIn * Learn more about the Student Financial Services Benchmarking Report * Check out the Student Financial Services Policies and Procedures Report * Data collection begins March 12, if you do not receive an invitation but expected one, please email: research@nacubo.org * Check out the 2026 Bursar Fundamentals online learning session recordings * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
How are college and university endowments performing? NACUBO's Ken Redd, senior director for research and policy analysis, and Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research, explore findings from the 2025 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments, including investment returns, spending trends, charitable gifts, and student-managed funds. Beyond the numbers, they also discuss the study's core purpose: educating policymakers, the public, business partners, and NACUBO members about how endowments work, how funds are stewarded, and the practices that guide long-term management and governance in support of student success. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Ken on LinkedIn * Access the NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments * Explore more Endowment Management Resources from NACUBO * Register for the Endowment Leadership Series (February 17 – March 12, 2026) * Learn more about CASE Insights on Voluntary Support of Education * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
What role does professional development play in helping higher education leaders navigate increasingly challenging environments? NACUBO's Randy Roberson, vice president for leadership development, joins Liz Clark and Bryan Dickson in a conversation about NACUBO's education programs for 2026. They discuss how member-driven content, policy expertise, business partner insights, and peer learning come together across conferences, forums, and online programs. This episode highlights how NACUBO programming helps business officers turn complexity into clarity, build community, and lead their institutions with confidence. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * Connect with Randy on LinkedIn * Learn about Bursar Fundamentals (February 12, 2026) * Learn about the Endowment Leadership Series (February 17 – March 12, 2026) * Learn about the Student Financial Services Conference (March 8 – 10, 2026) * Check out the Higher Education Accounting Forum (April 13 – 15, 2026) * Check out the NACUBO Annual Meeting (July 18 – 21, 2026) * Check out the NACUBO Events page for forthcoming information on: + Planning, Budgeting, and Analytics Forum (October 5 – 7, 2026) + Tax Forum (October 25 – 27, 2026) * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
How are higher education business officers integrating artificial intelligence into their work? Join NACUBO's Liz Clark, vice president, policy and research, and Lindsay Wayt, senior director of business intelligence, as they discuss how AI is moving from experimentation to everyday practice across campus operations. They explore new survey insights, emerging use cases, and the opportunities and risks AI presents—from automation and data-informed decision-making to governance, ethics, and ROI. The conversation highlights how business officers can approach AI with cautious optimism while planning strategically for the future. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn * Check out the 5 Things Business Officers Can Do to Support AI Use * Read more about the AI survey report * Learn more with the Actionable Insights for AI Series (May 12—26) * Check out NACUBO's webpage on Artificial Intelligence in the Business Office * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
How can colleges and universities remain agile, student-centered, and future-focused in a rapidly changing work landscape? Join Manish Kumar, vice president for administration and finance at Bowie State University, and NACUBO's Bryan Dickson as they discuss how hybrid work, shifting campus culture, and new technology continue to reshape higher education operations. Manish shares lessons from Bowie State's post-pandemic transformation—from flexible work policies and reimagined campus space usage to strategic long-term planning and responsible AI adoption. Additional Resources * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * Learn more about Manish and Bowie State * Read NACUBO's coverage on Supporting and Maintaining the Workforce, from NACUBO's Top 5 Higher Education Business Issues of 2025 * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
In this episode, NACUBO President and CEO Kara D. Freeman joins Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research, to share what she's heard from business officers and other higher education administrations from across the country during her travels this fall. Kara brings a broad view of the challenges institutions are navigating and identifies major themes emerging across institutions—uncertain funding, rising costs, workforce pressures, and rapid digital transformation. She highlights how business officers are adapting through flexible planning, collaboration, and innovation. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Kara on LinkedIn * Read NACUBO's Top 5 Higher Education Business Issues of 2025 * Use NACUBO's More Is Possible With Higher Education to amplify the value of higher education * Check out the NACUBO Student Success Hub * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
November 12, 2025, marked the end of the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. What happens next for higher education? In this episode, NACUBO's Liz Clark, vice president, policy and research, and Bryan Dickson, director of student financial services and educational programs, discuss how the shutdown impacted colleges and universities and what changes are on the horizon now that the government has reopened. They discuss the FY26 budget, Workforce Pell, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, federally sponsored research, and more – and what it all means for the campus business office. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * Read more NACUBO coverage on these topics: + Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program + Sponsored Research + Liz's Shutdown Story "Many Questions Remain Unanswered Despite End of Shutdown" * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
What happens when institutions prioritize collaboration over competition and align their missions together for the common good? Join Charlie McFarland, director, strategic affiliation initiatives, Antioch University; Jeff Nutter, chief financial officer and vice president for business affairs, Otterbein University; and NACUBO's Liz Clark, as they discuss how and why their universities formed a separate entity—the Coalition for the Common Good, a different type of academic shared services organization that has created new pathways and opportunities for students Charlie and Jeff talk about shared governance, shared resources, faculty buy-in, and the coalition's overall impact on enrollment and how it is clearing pathways for student success and completion at both Antioch University and Otterbein University. They also discuss a dedication to promoting the common good, including democracy, social justice, equity, inclusion, and engaged global citizenship. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Charlie on LinkedIn * Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn * Learn about Coalition for the Common Good * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
College and university business officers know what they know, but how can they translate commonly misunderstood complex financial terms and processes – such as endowments, deferred maintenance, and funding salary and benefit rates – into something accessible for nonfinancial audiences? In this episode, Rachel Pauletti, director, higher education consulting at Forvis Mazars, joins NACUBO's Liz Clark in a conversation about the importance of the business officer's role in effective financial communication with campus faculty and staff. Rachel explains that faculty and staff are critical stakeholders in strategic planning, thus, not giving them a full understanding of at least the operating model and high-level revenues and expenses would be a disservice. They can bring interesting thoughts to the table – especially once they have all the information. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn * Check out NACUBO's Strategic Higher Education Finance and Planning Course * Learn about Forvis Mazars' Higher Education Financial Literacy Training * Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is more than just a threat assessment; it’s a methodical organization-wide approach to making decisions about the safety and security of college and university community members – on campus and abroad. Join Bronté Burleigh-Jones, CFO, vice president, and treasurer at American University; Keesha Trim, senior director of risk management at the University of Richmond; and NACUBO’s Liz Clark as they discuss key considerations to make when implementing an integrated approach to risk management in higher education. Bronté and Keesha talk about the shared responsibility in ensuring ERM plans are always ready to meet the moment and how to communicate ERM strategies to the broader community. Bronté also shares the mindful approach her campus took in conducting a risk analysis on whether to arm or not arm the campus police department – showcasing how a thoughtful ERM process can set a standard for future decision-making. Additional Resources * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Keesha on LinkedIn * Learn about University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA) * Check out URMIA’s Annual Conference, Oct 12-16 * Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
When tuition policies have more exceptions than the rule or there is a need to increase student enrollment and reach new markets, it might be time for institutions to take a fresh look at—and consider modernizing—those policies. In this episode, the University System of Maryland’s Colleen Auburger, associate vice chancellor for budget analysis, and Chad Muntz, associate vice chancellor for decision support and chief analytics officer, join NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson in a conversation on how they aligned tuition policies with their strategic priorities and guiding values of accessibility and affordability. Chad and Colleen discuss how they built a workplan with considerations for timing, impacts, and risks, and the importance of engaging with stakeholder groups in a meaningful and manageable way to get feedback. They also share how equity and access were addressed and offer advice for other institutions exploring a realignment of tuition policies with long-term strategic planning. Additional Resources * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * Connect with Chad on LinkedIn * Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn * Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
Employee disengagement and burnout don’t just affect morale; they carry real financial and human costs for institutions. In this episode, Amanda Bailey, vice president for human resources at Boston University, and Kelcey Stratton, chief behavioral health strategist at the University of Michigan, join NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson in a conversation on the hidden costs when institutions don’t prioritize mental health and employee well-being. There are institutional costs associated with employee turnover, as well as absenteeism, presenteeism, and lower engagement. Amanda and Kelcey review healthcare data and share how their institutions are aligning policies and programs to meet the evolving needs of faculty and staff. They also share how business officers can think holistically about cost, culture, and impact, and why well-being should remain part of financial sustainability conversations. Additional Resources * Read this Surgeon General Publication on Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being * Read more on Employee Engagement Strategies: Fixing the World's $8.8 Trillion Problem * Read more about Addressing Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being With Purpose - Huron * Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn * Connect with Kelcey on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
There’s no shortage of news about the U.S. Department of Education these days—from an executive order proposing to eliminate the agency, to new proposals on Capitol Hill that could reshape federal aid programs, to upcoming regulatory changes. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ Karen McCarthy joins NACUBO’s Liz Clark and Bryan Dickson to explore what these developments mean for higher education institutions and staff working in financial aid and business offices. They also discuss how NASFAA and NACUBO are supporting their members through advocacy and engagement. Additional Resources: * Read the latest NACUBO news * Follow NASFAA on LinkedIn * Connect with Liz Clark on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan Dickson on LinkedIn * Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
April 30 marked the first 100 days President Trump’s second term in the White House. Executive orders and federal agency upheavals have created new challenges and much uncertainty for colleges and universities. On Capitol Hill, House budget and tax proposals include a number of policy ideas that are adding to concerns. NACUBO’s Liz Clark and Ashley Jackson discuss these issues and advocacy efforts NACUBO has taken on behalf of its members. Additional Resources: * Read the latest NACUBO news * Register for the next NACUBO Washington Update * Connect with Ashley Jackson on LinkedIn * Connect with Liz Clark on LinkedIn
The fifth edition of the National Profile of Higher Education Chief Business Officers, released last year, offers crucial insights into the career paths, responsibilities, and aspirations of CBOs across the country. In this special crossover episode between CBO Speaks and NACUBO in Brief, host Donna Schiele and NACUBO's Bryan Dickson explore the Profile's findings with Nicole Long, chief financial officer and vice president of finance and administration at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, and Peter Elliott, vice president for administrative services at South Florida State College in Avon Park, Florida. The Profile examines key demographic trends in higher education leadership, revealing significant progress in diversity while highlighting areas still needing improvement. Long and Elliott provide valuable context around the study's findings on career pathways, succession planning, and evolving skill requirements. Their discussion emphasizes how the CBO role continues to expand beyond traditional financial oversight, with increasing focus on data analytics, new business models, and strategic planning - areas that require intentional development of future leaders. Join us for an insightful discussion about: * Key findings from the 2024 CBO Profile, including demographic shifts and emerging trends * Essential skills for modern CBOs, including strategic planning and change management * The importance of succession planning and developing future leaders * How the role of CBO continues to evolve and expand beyond traditional financial responsibilities * Strategies for attracting diverse talent to CBO positions
The 2024 National Profile of Higher Education Chief Business Officers provides crucial insights into the changing nature of the profession, revealing how the role continues to expand beyond traditional financial oversight to encompass strategic planning, data analytics, and comprehensive institutional leadership. This discussion brings these findings to life through the experiences of current CBOs, offering valuable perspective for institutions and leaders working to develop the next generation of higher education business officers. Links * Learn more about the National Profile of Higher Education Chief Business Officers * Connect with Peter on LinkedIn * Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts! + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
Executive orders and memos issued during President Trump’s first weeks back in the White House have elevated risk and uncertainty for colleges and universities. A leaked list of House budget and tax proposals includes a number of alarming policy ideas, and it is unclear how, or if, the Congress will be able to fund the federal government after March 14. NACUBO’s Liz Clark and Ashley Jackson discuss these issues and advocacy efforts NACUBO has taken on behalf of its members. Links & Notes * NACUBO Letter to Congress on 2025 Priorities (January 31, 2025) * NACUBO Statement on Federal Funding Freeze * Catch up on news from NACUBO * Register for NACUBO’s February 11, 2025 Washington Update * Connect with Ashley Jackson on LinkedIn * Connect with Liz Clark on LinkedIn
Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts! * Career Conversations * CBO Speaks
Dr. Ruth Johnston, vice president of NACUBO Consulting joins Liz Clark to talk about NACUBO Consulting. Ruth talks about the expertise, experience, and leadership abilities NACUBO consultants bring to each engagement. She also discusses some of the top issues for which institutions are seeking solutions. Ruth also explains how NACUBO Consultants are integrating tools available from NACUBO such as the Student Success Hub, resources developed by NACUBO’s analytics team, and more. Links & Notes * Learn more about NACUBO Consulting * Connect with Ruth Johnston on LinkedIn * Access the NACUBO Student Success Hub * Explore additional analytics resources from NACUBO * Discover Higher Education’s Top 5 Business Issues of 2024
La Toya Hart, Ph.D., assistant vice president, institutional research, planning and effectiveness, at Jackson State University and Lindsay Wayt, Ph.D., senior director, analytics, at NACUBO join Liz Clark to talk about the new Change With Analytics Playbook, a comprehensive resource designed to support institutions in creating a culture and capacity for strategic data use. The free resource contains 16 “plays” for data leaders to follow in order to make significant progress on their institution’s analytics goals. Links & Notes * Access the Change with Analytics Playbook * Connect with La Toya on LinkedIn * Connect with Lindsay on Linked In * Explore additional analytics resources from NACUBO
Demographic and economic swings are a reality for colleges and universities, but thoughtful campus leaders can create proactive, rather than reactive, approaches to program development and connect those with employers’ workforce needs. Ivy Tech Community College’s Dominick Chase, senior vice president and chief financial officer, and Molly Dodge, senior vice president of workforce and careers sit down with NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson, director of student financial services and educational programs, to discuss how the institution cultivated corporate partnerships and legislative support for a dynamic, skills-oriented curriculum that has increasingly transformed student outcomes. Additional Resources: * Connect with Dominick on LinkedIn * Connect with Molly on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts! * + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
Student retention is a top priority for every campus and is affected by numerous factors. Everything from accessibility to payment instructions, course registration and billing due dates, payment methods and options could influence student retention. Join Becky Copper-Glenz, Fitchburg State University’s dean for the school of graduate, online, and continuing education, and Bryan Dickson, NACUBO’s director of student financial services and educational programs as they discuss research findings from the university. They’ll explore which billing practices have impacted enrollment and retention, how practices are being applied to different student groups, and whether their payment processes are aligned with today’s environment. Additional Resources: * Learn more about Fitchburg State’s work * Connect with Becky on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
Anne Ollen, Managing Director at the TIAA Institute, a think-tank within TIAA, develops and executes the TIAA Institute's higher education program. In conversation with NACUBO’s vice president for policy and research, Liz Clark, Anne shares highlights from a recent TIAA Institute research initiative to deepen understanding of potential and current employees' job choices and what people expect to gain in return for the work they do at colleges and universities. She describes a tool institutional leaders can consider—an employee value proposition (EVP)—to convey the benefits of working in higher education. Anne shares insights on the tangible and intangible benefits of an EVP. Additional Resources * Explore the research from the TIAA Institute * Learn more about Anne Ollen * Connect with Anne on LinkedIn * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn
Brent O’Guin, artificial intelligence strategist and architect at the Georgia Institute of Technology speaks with Neil Gavigan, policy and advocacy manager at NACUBO about his work leading generative AI integration across the institution. Stating “you don’t have to wait to start getting value from AI,” Brent shares his experiences helping staff build a working understanding of readily available tools while applying them to various administrative functions. Links & Notes * Read about Georgia Tech’s Responsible Adoption of AI * Connect with Brent on LinkedIn * Connect with Neil on LinkedIn
With 30 years of experience in higher education administration, Mark Hampton, executive education advisor at Amazon Web Services (AWS), is deeply familiar with the changing needs of institutions and necessary steps to meet the challenge. In conversation with NACUBO’s vice president, policy and research, Liz Clark, Mark shares insights about change management as well as the importance of proper data stewardship. Likening an institution’s data to its financial resources, Mark challenges administrators to break down data silos before they are “left behind” in this era of rapid technological change. Links & Notes * Read Not Set in Stone: Strategies to Break Down Data Silos and Increase Analytics ROI * See Mark’s work with AWS * Connect with Mark on LinkedIn * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn
Andrea Young, vice president for finance and administration at DePauw University, and Curtis Wiseley, executive director of MINDful College Connections, speak with Neil Gavigan, policy and advocacy manager at NACUBO, about their innovative approach to better meet the mental health needs of students at Depauw University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and St. Mary of the Woods College. With a shared vision and support from the Lilly Endowment, these three institutions created a flexible and responsive consortium to help each member deliver resources when—and where—their students need them. Links & Notes * Learn more about MINDful College Connections * Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn * Connect with Neil on LinkedIn
In 2021, human resources leaders at the University of California, Irvine leveraged changing ideas about the nature of work to introduce “Work Reimagined,” a program designed to retain the institution’s culture and community and deliver on its mission while building a human-centric work experience that allows for increased flexibility where and when employees work. In this episode, UC Irvine’s Ramona Agrela, chief human resources officer, vice chancellor, and Michele Quint, executive director health sciences HR & medical center HR join Neil Gavigan, policy and advocacy manager at NACUBO to share about the ongoing process their institution is taking to improve outcomes for the institution and its employees. Links & Notes * Read more about UC Irvine’s Work Reimagined program * Connect with Ramona on LinkedIn * Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn * Connect with Neil on LinkedIn * Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts! * + Career Conversations + CBO Speaks
Pete Zuraw, vice president of market strategy and development at Gordian, joins Neil Gavigan, policy and advocacy manager at NACUBO to discuss the latest in higher education facilities management. The conversation centers around the 11th edition of Gordian’s State of Facilities in Higher Education study, released earlier this year. Pete and Neil focus on the various human elements that provide a foundation for higher education facilities: an aging facilities workforce, changing demographics in higher education, and the mission-driven purposes of facilities. Links & Notes * Download The State of Facilities in Higher Education, 11th Edition * Download Gordian, APPA, and NACUBO’s Framework for Rethinking Collaboration in Higher Education * Explore NACUBO’s State of Higher Education series * Connect with Pete on LinkedIn * Connect with Neil on LinkedIn
In this episode, NACUBO’s senior director, research and policy analysis, Ken Redd joins vice president, policy and research, Liz Clark to dig into the inputs and impacts of NACUBO’s research projects. Beginning with the 2023 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments, a report that marks the 50th anniversary of NACUBO’s endowment study, they walk through the evolving research process and changing policy considerations of this flagship report on college and university endowments. Next they discuss results of the 2023 NACUBO Tuition Discounting Study—an annual study of tuition discounting practices, the use of institutional grant aid to reduce undergraduate tuition, at private nonprofit institutions. On the whole, Liz and Ken shed light on how these studies help inform business officers, the higher education sector, and members of the public about key trends in higher education finance. Links & Notes * Download the 2023 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments * Read the press release: U.S. Higher Education Endowments Report 7.7% Return for FY23 While Spending More in Support of Their Missions * Read the 50-year NACUBO endowment study retrospective * Download the 2023 NACUBO Tuition Discounting Study * Read the press release: Annual NACUBO Tuition Discounting Study Finds Financial Aid Awards on the Rise * Read insights from Wofford College about tuition discounting * Learn more about NACUBO Research * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Ken on LinkedIn
During the 2024 NACUBO Annual Meeting, NACUBO will unveil a new Student Success Hub, a toolkit designed to offer pragmatic approaches to evaluate and sustain student equity and student success initiatives. The Hub is the result of work from NACUBO that has been supported by three 3-year grants to produce a bank of resources to strengthen schools’ ability to analyze financial and student outcomes-related data. In this episode, NACUBO’s vice president for policy and research, Liz Clark speaks with Kelli Rainey, Ed.D., senior director for grants management about the project and Amber Randolph, senior vice chancellor for administration and economic development, and chief financial officer at Rutgers University-Newark to learn more about the journey she and representatives from the 25 other participating colleges and universities undertook to develop this important project. Links & Notes * Listen to NACUBO In Brief Episode 84: Breaking Down Silos to Create and Sustain Equitable Student Outcomes * Connect with Amber on LinkedIn * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Kelli on LinkedIn
Sharon Butler is deeply familiar with the “uneasiness and concerns” that international students face when it comes to paying tuition and other expenses. As Executive Vice President of Global Education at Flywire, a global payments enablement company that partners with institutions across the world, she is looking for solutions to these problems. In a conversation with NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson, director, student financial services and educational programs, Sharon shares findings from a recent a survey of more than 1,800 students across the world and talks about the importance of reducing friction to help students find the right solution. Links & Notes * View Flywire’s study Unlocking the Door to Higher Education * Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
On the heels of a recent fly-in advocacy day on Capitol Hill, NACUBO’s director, government affairs, Ashley Jackson speaks with policy and advocacy manager Neil Gavigan about the state of play in Congress. The conversation touches on highlights from that fly-in and examines how fallout from the protracted FY24 appropriations process, along with upcoming elections, may affect the legislative calendar for months to come. Links & Notes * Visit NACUBO’s Advocacy Issues Page * Watch NACUBO's Advocacy 101 Webinar * Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn * Connect with Neil on LinkedIn
Every year, students and families rely on federal student aid to make decisions about higher education. As the Department of Education has struggled to implement a streamlined version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), pressure has steadily increased on students, families, and the institutions that serve them. In this episode, Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) joins NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson, director of student financial services and educational programs, to discuss the far-reaching challenges brought about by this rough rollout. Links & Notes * Visit NASFAA’s FAFSA Simplification Center * Watch NACUBO’s Update on “Better FAFSA” Implementation * Connect with Justin Draeger on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan Dickson on LinkedIn
In this special episode, Kara Freeman, NACUBO’s president and CEO, interviews two familiar higher education colleagues about their recent book, The Resilient University: How Purpose and Inclusion Drive Student Success. Throughout the conversation, Freeman Hrabowski III, president emeritus, and Lynne Schaefer, vice president emerita for finance and administration at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), share insights earned through careers in together in higher education leadership at UMBC. Their discussion touches on the role leaders must play in meeting campus challenges, building an inclusive community, the purpose and value of higher education, and much more. Links & Notes * The Resilient University: How Purpose and Inclusion Drive Student Success * NACUBO’s State of Higher Education Series: More Is Possible With Higher Education * Connect with Kara on LinkedIn * Connect with Lynne on LinkedIn * Watch this episode on YouTube
NACUBO’s Liz Clark, vice president, policy and research, speaks with Emily Brock from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) about what’s expected from Washington policymakers this year. Emily is director of GFOA’s Federal Liaison Center and shares her thoughts on what legislative and regulatory actions may impact financings (bonds) and talks about the patience needed as we await additional guidance from the federal government on several fronts. Links & Notes * About GFOA * GFOA Best Practices * GFOA ESG Disclosure * Resource Page on the Financial Data Transparency Act (FDTA) * Background on the FDTA * NACUBO News: IRS Opens Direct Pay Election Tool for Clean Energy Credits * Connect with Emily on LinkedIn * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn
In a conversation based around their NACUBO 2023 Annual Meeting session, Lou Mayer, chief finance officer, vice president of finance and treasurer and Tej Patel, vice president for information technology and chief information officer at Stevens Institute of Technology talk with Neil Gavigan, policy and advocacy manager at NACUBO about cyberattacks and higher education. Throughout the conversation, Lou and Tej illustrate why higher education is a prime target for cybercrime and share lessons learned from a 2019 ransomware attack on Stevens. Links & Notes * Connect with Lou on LinkedIn * Connect with Tej on LinkedIn * Connect with Neil on LinkedIn
On this all-NACUBO episode of the podcast, Liz Clark, vice president, policy and research speaks with Kelli Rainey, senior director, grant programs about Kelli’s ongoing work to help institutions strategically finance equitable student outcomes. Supported by a series of multi-year grants, this effort has partnered NACUBO with a diverse group of 26 institutions across the country to build understanding around how to improve student outcomes and provide higher education leaders with the tools and information they need to best serve their students. Links & Notes * Connect with Kelli on LinkedIn * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * NACUBO Grant and Foundation Partners
Chris Harder, senior fiscal operations manager for student affairs at Metropolitan State University of Denver joins NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson, director, student financial services and educational programs, for a conversation about MSU Denver’s decision to pay its lowest earners more than legally required. Referring to the move as an “investment in the institution and its students,” Chris shares background on the decision as well as challenges, anticipated and otherwise, implementing the plan. Links & Notes * Connect with Chris on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * MIT Living Wage Calculator
NACUBO’s Liz Clark, vice president, policy and research speaks with Ann Ellis, CEO and co-founder of Mauve Group. Together, they discuss Ann’s early work as an educator and how Mauve Group has grown to offer a variety of global operations services in more than 100 countries “from Japan to Chile.” After realizing there were opportunities to offer new solutions to the higher education sector in 2012, Mauve Group now offers support to institutions that employ people outside the United States in research, instruction, data analysis, and much more. Links & Notes * Connect with Anne on LinkedIn * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Mauve Group
Building on their institution’s legacy of serving disadvantaged students, Penny Evans-Plants, chief information officer and Zach Sherwin, director of enterprise analytics at Berry College join NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson, director of student financial services and educational programs to discuss their ongoing efforts to leverage existing data to better serve students. By focusing on “identifying students with excessive debt and intervening as soon as possible,” Penny and Zach are helping to produce positive outcomes for their most at-risk students. Links & Notes * Connect with Penny on LinkedIn * Connect with Zach on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
With input from business officers at public and private colleges and universities across the country, NACUBO recently identified the most-pressing higher education business issues in 2023. NACUBO’s 2023 Rising Star Award recipient, Katie Walker, assistant vice president for finance at the University of Virginia, joins Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research at NACUBO, to discuss the challenges—and how colleges are strategizing to respond. Links & Notes * NACUBO’s Top 5 Higher Education Business Issues of 2023 * Connect with Katie on LinkedIn * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts! * + Career Conversations (brand new!) + CBO Speaks
As we enter a new academic year and colleges and universities welcome new and returning students, NACUBO In Brief speaks with enrollment experts. In a conversation addressing different challenges facing enrollment officers, lessons learned from the pandemic, and more, Neil Gavigan, NACUBO’s policy and advocacy manager, sits down with Fabrizio D’Aloisio, associate vice provost for enrollment management and executive director of undergraduate admissions at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Kevin O’Sullivan, vice president of enrollment management at Iona University. At a time when perceptions of higher education are increasingly complex, Fabrizio and Kevin provide insights into national and local approaches for attracting and retaining students. Links & Notes * Connect with Fabrizio on LinkedIn * Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn * Connect with Neil on LinkedIn
NACUBO's new podcast Career Conversations, featuring insights and advice for business professionals new to higher education, starts airing biweekly on September 8th. Make sure to subscribe!
Discussing the latest release in NACUBO’s state of higher education series: More is Possible with Higher Education, NACUBO’s director, student financial services and educational programs, Bryan Dickson, speaks with senior director, analytics, Lindsay Wayt. Together, they examine some of the ways that higher education benefits students, communities, and society as well as areas where institutions may be able to do even more. Links & Notes * More is Possible with Higher Education * NACUBO's State of Higher Education Series * Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
Where do things stand for higher education as the Biden Administration attempts to govern with a now divided congress? What would a U.S. debt default – or a political deal – entail for institutions? Will the U.S. Supreme Court's judgments on student debt relief and the use of affirmative action practices in the admissions process have a significant impact on the sector? This week on NACUBO In Brief, members of the NACUBO federal affairs team – Bryan Dickson, Ashley Jackson, and Liz Clark – discuss what's going on in the nation's capital, including recent regulatory initiatives at the Department of Education.
Nobody wants a college to close, but enrollment and demographic trends, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, are requiring some colleges to consider what steps they may need to take to survive and thrive. For some, the only option may be a merger or affiliation with another institution. Join Michael B. Alexander, President, Lasell University; Kasia Lundy, EY-Parthenon Principal, US Higher Education, Ernst & Young LLP; and Haven Ladd, EY-Parthenon US Education Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, as they discuss models for mergers, mitigating risks, and governance and execution considerations.
In the final episode of a five-part series based on NACUBO’s Top Five Higher Education Business Issues of 2022 project, five members of the higher education community weigh in on the most pressing challenges facing students and what their organizations are doing to help create positive change. Responding to a two-part question from Neil Gavigan, NACUBO’s policy and advocacy manager, we hear from Chris Foster, The University of North Texas; Dr. Jhenai Chandler, The Institute for College Access and Success; Emmanual Guillory, The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; Jeremy DiGorio, Stetson University; and David Arnold, NASPA Links & Notes * NACUBO’s Top 5 Higher Education Business Issues of 2022 * Connect with Chris on LinkedIn * Connect with Jhenai on LinkedIn * Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn * Connect with Emmanual on LinkedIn * Connect with David on LinkedIn * Connect with Neil on LinkedIn
In the fourth episode of a five-part series based on NACUBO’s Top Five Higher Education Business Issues of 2022 project, Liz Clark, NACUBO’s vice president, policy and research, speaks with Andy Brantley, president and CEO of CUPA-HR and Choi Halladay, deputy executive director of business operations at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Building on findings from the 2022 CUPA-HR Employee Retention Survey, they discuss “a recruitment and retention crisis” in higher education and the need for flexibility and innovation, as leaders seek to invest in their employees. Links & Notes * NACUBO’s Top 5 Higher Education Business Issues of 2022 * CUPA-HR Employee Retention Survey * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Andy on LinkedIn * Connect with Choi on LinkedIn
In the third episode of a five-part series based on NACUBO’s Top Five Higher Education Business Issues of 2022 project, Bryan Dickson, NACUBO’s director, student financial services and educational programs, speaks with José Rodriguez, vice president and chief information officer at Pomona College. Together, they discuss José’s “holistic approach” to cybersecurity, opportunities and threats of new AI platforms, and the importance of the human element in information technology. Links & Notes * NACUBO’s Top 5 Higher Education Business Issues of 2022 * EDUCAUSE’s 2023 Top 10 IT Issues * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn * Connect with José on LinkedIn
In the second episode of a five-part series based on NACUBO’s Top Five Higher Education Business Issues of 2022 project, NACUBO’s vice president for policy and research, Liz Clark, speaks with Jim Hundrieser, NACUBO’s vice president for consulting services, and Laurie Bernotsky, executive vice president and provost at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. During their conversation, Liz, Jim, and Laurie discuss changing perceptions of higher education as well as strategies to support students, meet institutional goals, and adapt to new expectations in resource constrained environments. Links & Notes · NACUBO’s Top 5 Higher Education Business Issues of 2022 · NACUBO Consulting · Connect with Liz on LinkedIn · Connect with Jim on LinkedIn · Connect with Laurie on LinkedIn
In this episode, the first in a five-part series based on NACUBO’s Top Five Higher Education Business Issues of 2022 project, NACUBO’s vice president for policy and research, Liz Clark, speaks with Susan Fitzgerald, associate managing director, global higher education and nonprofits, at Moody’s Investors Service. In addition to discussing Moody’s 2023 outlook for higher education, Liz and Susan touch on the changing environment around debt and lingering challenges from the pandemic. Links & Notes * NACUBO’s Top 5 Higher Education Business Issues of 2022 * Moody’s 2023 Outlook for Higher Education (complimentary; sign-in required) * Commonfund’s 2022 HEPI Report * EY-Parthenon Study Indicates Higher Education Long-Term Debt Increasing 4 Percent Per Year * Connect with Liz on LinkedIn * Connect with Susan on LinkedIn
As digital payments become increasingly common, many kinds of businesses are pivoting to no longer accept cash. In this episode, Chris Cook, executive director of the office of student accounts at Vanderbilt University, speaks with NACUBO’s director, student financial services and educational programs Bryan Dickson about going cashless at Vanderbilt, recognizing that it may not work at all organizations. Together, they discuss Vanderbilt’s measured and intentional approach to the transition and unpack many of the internal and external benefits Chris has uncovered. Links & Notes * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
In this episode, originally offered on December 15 as part of NACUBO’s Legislative Lunchcast webcast series, NACUBO’s senior director, government affairs, Megan Schneider, and director, student financial services and educational programs, Bryan Dickson share the latest updates on legislative and regulatory topics affecting higher education. Links & Notes * December 15 Legislative Lunchcast * HEERF Resource Center * COVID-19 Resource Page * Connect With Megan on LinkedIn * Connect With Bryan on LinkedIn
In this episode, originally offered on October 27 as part of NACUBO’s Legislative Lunchcast webcast series, NACUBO’s senior director, government affairs, Megan Schneider, and director, student financial services and educational programs, Bryan Dickson share the latest updates on legislative and regulatory topics affecting higher education. Links & Notes * October 27 Legislative Lunchcast * HEERF Resource Center * COVID-19 Resource Page * Connect with Megan on LinkedIn * Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
In this special episode, NACUBO’s vice president, policy and research, Liz Clark, chats with senior director, government affairs, Megan Schneider, and director, student financial services and educational programs, Bryan Dickson about the latest from Washington and beyond. Get to know the team better in a conversation that ranges from legislation and policies impacting higher education to the latest and greatest Netflix recommendations. Links & Notes— · Connect with Liz on LinkedIn · Connect with Megan on LinkedIn · Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn · Inching Toward Infrastructure: The View from NACUBO
The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and advocacy organization committed to promoting access and success in higher education. In this episode, NACUBO’s vice president, policy and research, Liz Clark speaks with the Interim President of IHEP, Mamie Voight, about her organization’s efforts to use data and evidence to create equitable and innovative degree pathways to help students and institutions. Among IHEP’s advocacy priorities is the College Completion Fund, a potentially transformational investment in evidence-based strategies to help students earn their degree. Links & Notes * IHEP Degrees When Due Case Study: Shasta College * IHEP Developing a Data-Informed Campus Culture report * IHEP Degree Mining Tool * College Completion Fund briefing playlist
The University of Arizona received NACUBO’s 2021 Excellence in Sustainability Award for its Compost Cats program. In this episode, NACUBO’s senior director of government affairs, Megan Schneider, is joined by Dr. Ilse Rojas, Compost Cats program manager, and Trevor Ledbetter, director of the Office of Sustainability at University of Arizona. Together, they discuss the award-winning program, which has grown from an on-campus composting initiative, to a hub of sustainability education and action for the Tucson community. Links & Notes * NACUBO Excellence in Sustainability Award Recipients * Connect with Ilse on LinkedIn * Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn
Heather E. McGowan, future-of-work strategist and author of The Adaptation Advantage, joins NACUBO’s senior director of government affairs Megan Schneider to discuss how to lead in a post-pandemic world. Their conversation ranges from entering the era of human capital and what that means for students preparing for the workforce, to ways you can marry your passions with market needs, and finally how colleges and universities can better support their own workforce.
Links & Notes * Heather McGowan Bio
Colleges and universities across the country have benefitted greatly from the COVID-19 relief aid appropriated to higher education by Congress via the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). While much discussion of HEERF has centered on the primary portion of aid known as the (a)(1) allocations that most schools have received, there has been less discussion of how institutions that also received (a)(2) allocations, those earmarked for particular institution types, have utilized these less restricted funds. In this episode, NACUBO’s senior director of government affairs, Megan Schneider talks with Juan Castillo, vice president of finance and administration at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) about how TAMIU has used its HEERF (a)(2) allocations in new and innovative ways to support student success and meet community needs.
Links & Notes * NACUBO State of Higher Education Series * Connect with Juan on LinkedIn
Tuition Discounting at private colleges and universities continued to rise in the 2020-21 academic year as institutions tried to keep pace with students’ financial needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, NACUBO’s vice president for policy and research, Liz Clark talks with Jeff Weinstein, co-founder and vice president for strategic analytics at Vemo Education, about tuition discounting and how institutions should re-think aid to attract and retain a new generation of students.
Links & Notes * 2020 Tuition Discounting Study * Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn
As the COVID-19 pandemic brought sweeping changes to the higher education landscape, institutions have been forced to plan and forecast in a more sophisticated way. In this episode, NACUBO’s vice president for policy and research, Liz Clark talks with Derek Freitag, strategic account executive with Synario, to uncover how schools are making long-term adaptations and how Synario can help institutions strategically plan for a variety of scenarios.
Links & Notes * Synario
NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson, director of student financial services and educational programs, and Lindsay Wayt, director of analytics, discuss the latest edition in NACUBO’s State of Higher Education series. Titled “Bold Action Required: How to More Effectively Support Students from Low-Income Backgrounds,” the effort calls on higher education professionals to take action to support students from low-income backgrounds, including using data to understand challenges, making a commitment to underrepresented students, and investing in policies and practices that facilitate systemic change.
According to Vemo Education vice president and co-founder, Bill Brosseau, income share agreements help institutions to be more thoughtful, strategic, and adaptable to helping students most in need as they tackle doubts around affording their post-secondary education. Vemo’s efforts hinge on helping balance student and institutional needs to ease anxieties of college affordability for both. NACUBO’s vice president for policy and research, Liz Clark, sits down with Brosseau to talk about ISAs and how institutions can be student-focused and financially astute with a careful application of this innovative financial aid tool.
Links & Notes * Vemo Education * Connect with Bill Brosseau on LinkedIn
How has the pandemic changed the value of a higher education degree and intensified our need to talk about affordability? Why are students of color and lower-income students less likely to attend certain institutions? NACUBO’s director of analytics, Lindsay Wayt, joins Liz Clark to talk about the association’s State of Higher Education Project and how it’s a call to action to help CBOs see, react to, and use data to address important topics.
Additional Resources: https://www.nacubo.org/Advocacy/State-of-Higher-Education
How are colleges and universities responding to the pandemic? Is 2020 truly proving to be an era of transformation? Paul Friga, University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler strategy professor and the co-founder and chief strategy officer of ABC Insights, joins Liz Clark to explore how institutions are taking action and why creativity and collaboration are necessary to tackle the many challenges the higher education sector is facing.
Emmanual Guillory, director of student and institutional aid policy for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), joins NACUBO Senior Director of Government Affairs Megan Schneider to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fall higher education enrollment.
Have we seen an enrollment decrease? “That’s a very good question… we are, unfortunately seeing a decline in enrollment,” says Guillory. But the overall landscape — which institutions and students are being impacted the most — is a story of nuance.
Guillory goes on to offer his insights on fall semester trends based on a recent NAICU enrollment study and to forecast potential enrollment trends beyond fall 2020.
Links & Notes
- NAICU Survey of Private Nonprofit College Fall Enrollment
Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators joins NACUBO director of student financial services and educational programs Bryan Dickson to discuss the impact of Income Share Agreements on the higher education landscape.
While this space isn’t yet regulated, Justin explains that schools have some flexibility to experiment with these alternatives to traditional financial aid and notes that institutions that are leading the way with these new instruments are doing so with great care.
As students look for different ways to finance their education, campus leaders, policymakers, and consumer protection groups will need to do their homework in this area now, as Justin and Bryan see ISAs becoming more commonplace.
Brad Kendrex, executive vice president for administration and operations at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and interim vice president for administrative services at Mesa Community College joins NACUBO senior director, government affairs Megan Schneider to discuss the impact of COVID-19 legislative support on community colleges.
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) of the CARES Act has offered unique challenges and implications for community colleges thanks to prioritization of full-time enrollment in determining funds received, and other factors. This isn’t a surprise, according to Kendrex, but the implications are significant.
Private, nonprofit institutions forgo a significant portion of potential revenue to help families offset the cost of college. The 2019 study, conducted before the coronavirus pandemic, indicates that this trend is becoming even more profound.
Today on the show, NACUBO Assistant Director for Research and Policy Analysis Kat Masterson joins NACUBO Vice President for Policy and Research Liz Clark to share the latest findings and new insights from the study, focusing on institutions’ use of tuition discounting to recruit and support students, and the challenges that come from increasing aid.
Thank you to EAB for their generous support of this study.
Maeesha Merchant, senior vice president and CFO at California Institute of the Arts and Tom Heck, chief investment officer and CFO at the Ball State University Foundation, join NACUBO Vice President Liz Clark to discuss the role of college and university endowments in the current crisis.
“Endowments are not rainy-day funds,” says Merchant, “institutions have contractual obligations to our donors” that limit how funds can be used. Listen in to hear how these experts are seeking creative solutions to help their institutions persevere through unprecedented public health and financial crises.
Brian Flahaven, senior director for advocacy for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), joins NACUBO’s Liz Clark to discuss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on charitable giving at colleges and universities. “There’s a lot of uncertainty,” he says. “Uncertainty is the enemy of charitable giving.” Listen in to hear how development and advancement officers are responding to address needs across the higher education landscape.
Susan Whealler Johnston, President and CEO of NACUBO, joins NACUBO vice presidents Jim Hundreiser and Liz Clark to discuss the challenges college and universities are contending with related to the COVID-19 pandemic. How do colleges and universities plan ahead when there are still so many uncertainties?
Pat Lane serves as Vice President for Policy, Analysis, and Research at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). This month, Pat joins Megan Schneider, senior director of government affairs at NACUBO, to educate us about his organization and share the latest results and trends from WICHE’s Knocking at the College Door project. That research is critical in assessing the supply for post-secondary education with projections of high school graduates 18 years into the future for every state in the country. The data offers a unique perspective with a broad scope sure to help leaders make informed decisions in challenging times.
Links & Notes
- WICHE Knocking at the College Door — Projections of College Graduates through 2032
A renowned institution, Berklee College of Music, recently underwent a successful merger with the Boston Conservatory, itself a historic music training academy. Now, the Boston Conservatory at Berklee serves as a training ground for music, dance, and theatre.
On this episode, Berklee’s Chief Financial Officer, Mac Hisey, and Anne Ogilby, partner at law firm Ropes and Gray, join NACUBO's Liz Clark to discuss the journey from independent institutions managing shared services to the new, merged school. Anne also shares observations from her extensive experience assisting institutions with mergers, discussing both opportunities and risks.
For over 40 years, NACUBO has conducted a study on institutional endowments designed to answer key questions in how these financial tools are used. Over the years, this has become the largest study of its kind, offering a comprehensive set of data for policy makers, parents, students, and the broader community in how their institutions are using endowed funds.
This week, NACUBO’s Senior Director of Research and Policy Analysis, Ken Redd, joins Vice President for Policy and Research, Liz Clark, to report findings in the most recent report. There are some real high points in study results this year but they come with qualifications to be sure. And while we have a clearer view of how colleges are using their endowment funds, the current political landscape, taxes and tariffs, and climate change are all driving a mood of uncertainty in financial leaders across survey participants.
- NACUBO-TIAA Study of Endowments
The financial environment for families entering higher education is more complex than ever. As costs increase across the higher education landscape, it’s increasingly important for institutions to take responsibility to both make a sound case for the long-term economic value of higher education and to help families understand how to pay for their educational experience and reduce risk.
On this episode, Wittenberg University Director of Student Financial Services, Doug Schantz, joins NACUBO's Bryan Dickson to discuss the shared responsibility of financial literacy education and the resources available to institutions looking to help families stay informed.
How does the physical footprint of a college campus evolve while its leaders balance the costs of new technologies, interest rates, construction, real estate, and deferred maintenance? The mechanical complexities of this ecosystem are only the first part of the conversation; what happens when you add the emotional ties your constituencies may have to the outcomes of your decisions?
This week on the show, we have two guests well-positioned to help us understand this campus balancing act. Liz Clark, NACUBO’s VP for Policy and Research, sits down with Jed Shivers from the University of North Dakota and Steve Stabile from the New School in New York City. Together, they explore their approaches to some of the more challenging decisions they’re making on their campuses today.
Sustainability efforts on campus are no longer limited to environmental sustainability. Diversity and inclusion, social justice, and economic impact — among others — are all efforts requiring sustainability thinking. Bringing leadership together with faculty and student constituencies to build a governance structure to institutionalize these efforts is key.
In this episode, New Mexico State University Strategic Chief Financial Officer Ruth Johnston joins NACUBO Assistant Director for Advocacy and Student Financial Services Bryan Dickson. Together, they explore Johnston’s career as a strategic leader and how her strategic planning efforts have helped shape the way universities adapt to the changing climate, in all its contexts.
George Washington University Associate Vice President & University Controller Sharon Heinle sits down with NACUBO’s senior director of accounting policy Sue Menditto to discuss the need to translate financial information for non-financial people effectively. The Controller’s Office at GW is the waystation for a wide variety of financial information from tax through development and research; ensuring that leadership departments and stakeholders across campus each have current and accurate data — and that they understand it — is a crucial responsibility.
Tom Simard is Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Administration at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and he joins NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson, assistant director for advocacy and student financial services. Massachusetts is stepping up to face the question of institutional solvency with a new metric that aims to better understand the nature of previous closures in the state, and provide a diagnostic into potential future challenges facing the state’s institutions.
What is the regulatory role for the state commissioners? How does the department help stakeholders to understand the financial standing of institutions who may be facing financial challenges without being a burden on others? Simard paints a picture of a process designed to support the Massachusetts higher education landscape, and may even serve as a model for other states, too.
Joanna Gramma is a senior consultant at Vantage Technology Consulting Group and she joins NACUBO’s Megan Schneider, senior director of government affairs, to take on a subject at the intersection of technology and higher education: centralizing a new set of higher education student and institution data at the federal level. Many institutions already make this sort of data public on their own websites; but advocates for a new system argue that a centralized data source would offer a useful tool for parents and students to evaluate all of their different educational options.
However, if such a potentially large set of centralized data were collected, does the federal government have both the IT infrastructure and regulatory framework necessary to protect such information? Gramma helps us to understand the current information security landscape and points out some potential areas for further research whether you’re an IT specialist, administrator, or parent.
Syracuse University SVP and CFO Amir Rahnamay-Azar knows a thing or two about steam. His university’s steam generator has been providing power and more for decades across the university. When it came time for a major retrofit, it came time to revisit facilities that were core to the operation of the institution. As he says, “I need steam, not a steam generator.”
So they turned to a Public-Private Partnership, a relationship that allows the university to address their power generation requirements and work with a private organization to manage the infrastructure. Today on NACUBO In Brief, Rahnamay-Azar joins NACUBO’s Megan Schneider to share the journey toward the PPP at Syracuse.
This week on NACUBO In Brief, we bring you part four of our four-part series dissecting one of higher education’s biggest challenges: financial modeling and forecasting in the face of great uncertainty.
In our last episode, we presented sophisticated applications of scenario planning that can help institutions take their budgeting and forecasting models to the next level. In our final episode, our guests offer a survey of their experience working with campuses that have experience in using these more advanced analytical tools.
NACUBO’s senior director of accounting policy Sue Menditto invites two experts in for the conversation; Larry Goldstein, President of Campus Strategies and author of College and University Budgeting, and Brett Matteo, managing director of The PFM Group and president of Synario software (formerly known as Whitebirch).
This week on NACUBO In Brief, we bring you part three of our four-part series dissecting one of higher education’s biggest challenges: financial modeling and forecasting in the face of great uncertainty.
In our last episode, we discussed how institutions can build a forecasting and scenario planning process that is grounded in budgeting. This week, we take scenario planning to the next level with examples of sophisticated applications that can help institutions see around corners.
NACUBO’s senior director of accounting policy Sue Menditto invites two experts in for the conversation; Larry Goldstein, President of Campus Strategies and author of College and University Budgeting, and Brett Matteo, managing director of The PFM Group and president of Synario software (formerly known as Whitebirch).
This week on NACUBO In Brief, we bring you part two of our four-part series dissecting one of higher education’s biggest challenges: financial modeling and forecasting in the face of great uncertainty.
In our last episode, we made the case for the value of forecasting. This week, we dive deeper, discussing the process of forecasting with illustrations of how institutions can build a forecasting and scenario planning process that is grounded in budgeting.
NACUBO’s senior director of accounting policy Sue Menditto invites two experts in for the conversation; Larry Goldstein, President of Campus Strategies and author of College and University Budgeting, and Brett Matteo, managing director of The PFM Group and president of Synario software (formerly known as Whitebirch).
Unstable future revenues. Ballooning costs. Shifting demographics. For some, the challenges facing our institutions are no longer posing questions about what our schools will look like in the future, but whether our schools have a future at all. Even the most fortunate are concerned that there won’t be sufficient resources to sustain excellence — much less fund new ambitions.
This week on NACUBO In Brief, we bring you part one of a four-part series dissecting one of higher education’s biggest challenges: financial modeling and forecasting in the face of great uncertainty.
NACUBO’s senior director of accounting policy Sue Menditto invites two experts in for the conversation; Larry Goldstein, President of Campus Strategies and author of College and University Budgeting, and Brett Matteo, managing director of The PFM Group and president of Synario software (formerly known as Whitebirch).
American Council on Education research vice president Lorelle Espinosa sits down with NACUBO’s Lindsay Wayt this week to share key findings from the association’s recent Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education report. This report’s findings illuminate key underlying issues facing equity in higher education and perceptions of the value of a higher education in key demographics.
View the interactive report on ACE’s website.
Links & Notes
- Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education — Report from American Council on Education
- About Lorelle Espinosa, Vice President for Research — American Council on Education
NACUBO’s Liz Clark speaks with Sophia Harding of Staffordshire University and Lucy Heming of Imperial College, both university administrators from universities in England, to compare trends in public opinion about higher education and discuss how institutions are preparing to deliver on their educational missions into the foreseeable future.
State institutions are increasingly reliant on tuition dollars to fund operations in the face of declines in state appropriations. Sophia Laderman joins NACUBO brings the latest insights from the State Higher Education Finance report to help us paint a clearer picture of today's funding landscape.
Links & Notes
- 2018 SHEF Report — State Higher Education Executive Officers Association
Institutions dedicate a significant portion of their tuition and fee revenue to help families offset the cost of college. Just how much? It’s significant, says NACUBO Senior Director of Research and Policy Analysis, Ken Redd. This grant aid — aid that does not require repayment — is reaching new heights. Today on the show, Ken joins NACUBO’s Liz Clark to share the latest findings from the study, focusing on private institutions’ use of tuition discounting, and to discuss the challenges that come from increasing aid and the corresponding impact on net tuition revenue.
Thank you to EAB for their generous support of this research.
Links & Notes
- NACUBO Tuition Discounting Study
This week on the show, Juan Martinez, Vice President, CFO, and Treasurer of the Knight Foundation, joins NACUBO senior director of federal affairs, Liz Clark, to talk about diversity in the asset management industry. Research supported by the Knight Foundation looks at trends in women and minority-owned asset management firms— and the results challenge long-held assumptions in the field and open the door to a more aggressive acceptance of diverse portfolio ownership.
Links & Notes
- Learn more about Juan Martinez at KnightFoundation.org
- 2018 TIAA-NACUBO Study of Endowments
- Diversifying Investments: A Study of Ownership Diversity and Performance in the Asset Management Industry
Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has released their new International Graduate Admissions Survey study. On today’s show, Liz Clark sits down with Lauren Inouye and Hironao Okahana from CGS to talk about the study and the impacts of the political and economic impacts on international student enrollment in the United States.
The biggest takeaway this year? The second general cycle of decline in enrollment in international graduate enrollment. But some of the reasons may surprise you. Join us today to hear about the benchmarking around the data can help you make more educated decisions in your own enrollment efforts.
Lauren Inouye serves as Vice President for Public Policy and Government Affairs and Hironao Okahana Associate VP for Research and Policy Analysis at the Council of Graduate Affairs.
Links & Notes
- Council of Graduate Schools International Graduate Admissions
Colleen Campbell, Director, Postsecondary Education for Center for American Progress (CAP) joins NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson to talk about the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid proposed payment vehicle and the myStudentAid app. The initiative is designed to improve function and compliance for colleges and universities and provide convenience for students and families, but CAP has some consumer advocacy concerns.
The new program will allow students to receive their federal student aid dollars directly from the federal government — and the details are important to understand.
Links & Notes
- myStudentAid at NASFAA
For over 40 years, NACUBO has conducted a study on institutional endowments designed to answer key questions in how these financial tools are used. Over the years, this has become the largest study of its kind, offering a comprehensive set of data for policy makers, parents, students, and the broader community in how their institutions are using endowed funds.
This week, NACUBO’s Director of Research and Policy Analysis, Ken Redd, and Senior Director for Federal Affairs, Liz Clark, report findings in the 2018 report. This week on NACUBO In Brief, Ken and Liz break down the current state of endowments with key areas of focus for finance leaders in the coming year.
Links & Notes
- NACUBO-TIAA Study of Endowments
The recent government shutdown had a significant impact on our nation's research institutions. Jennifer Poulakidas of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities joins Megan Schneider to discuss the broader implications of the shutdown on research and higher education.
Peter Smith has been an institution in global higher education issues for the better part of 50 years. In his latest book, Free Range Learning in the Digital Age: The Emerging Revolution in College, Career, and Education, Dr. Smith uses evidence across the education ecosystem to document the unimaginable transformation occurring that challenges some of the common mythology in our field. For Smith, this book is about the end of knowledge discrimination, that education is often judged not on what you learn, but where you learned it. The end of this knowledge penalty comes with tectonic shifts in technology and access, no matter where that access is offered.
Links & Notes
- About Peter Smith — Open Education Consortium
- Free Range Learning in the Digital Age: The Emerging Revolution in College, Career, and Education by Peter Smith — Amazon.com
NACUBO assistant director of research and policy analysis Lindsay Wayt joins us today to share the latest results from the NACUBO 2017 Tuition Discounting Study, measuring the trends and strategies employed around tuition discounting across our member institutions. This week on NACUBO In Brief, Lindsay offers valuable background on the methodology underlying the report, along with some surprising trends that might impact your own institutions and your decisions around tuition discounting.
NACUBO assistant directors of research and policy analysis Lesley McBain and Lindsay Wayt join us today to share new NACUBO research, a new paper in the NACUBO Perspectives Series, addressing the relationship between tuition discounting and access and affordability for underrepresented minority students.
This paper examines whether increasing tuition discount rates between 2011 and 2015 was associated with an increase in the enrollment of underrepresented minority students. Findings indicate that institutions that increased their tuition discount rates the most had above-average increases in their proportions of undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds. Listen in for additional findings and background on the study and its relationship to the broader NACUBO Tuition Discounting Study today!
Links & Notes
- Download Tuition Discounting and College Access for Underrepresented Students
For over 40 years, NACUBO has conducted a study on institutional endowments designed to answer key questions in how these financial tools are used. Over the years, this has become the largest study of its kind, offering a comprehensive set of data for policy-makers, parents, students, and the broader community in how their institutions are using endowed funds.
This week, NACUBO’s senior director of research and policy analysis, Ken Redd, joins us to report findings in the 2017 report. If you remember Ken’s report on this show from last year at about this time, things have changed — and not always for the better. In the short term, the strong market has impacted short-term performance is a positive way. However, analysts watching the 10-year trends are not seeing such rosy news. Plus, the changes coming next year with the implementation of the nation’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, there are significant concerns that donors will find a disincentive to donate at typical rates — and there are discouraging forecasts to back up those concerns.
The Republican party’s framework for tax reform appears to be moving quickly — and rather quietly — toward a bill. The framework itself is quite high-level at this point, but there are a few key areas that will absolutely impact higher ed institutions. According to Liz Clark, NACUBO’s director of federal affairs, more detail is likely coming which should clear up some of the vagaries in the framework as it exists today, but that detail will likely come with a very short window for analysis before it heads to a vote. Liz joins us on the show today to help us understand specific areas of concern and offers guidance for beginning the dialog in your institution now, so that you’re not caught off guard as the pace of this legislation picks up!
Consumers may have heard about Net Neutrality in recent weeks as Internet companies have made their positions clear across our favorite websites. But do you know how the fight for a fair and open Internet is poised to impact higher ed? Megan Schneider, Assistant Director of Federal Affairs for NACUBO, and Jarret Cummings, Director of Policy and Government Relations for EDUCAUSE, join us today to highlight the current policy and technology landscape surrounding Net Neutrality and the actions each organization is taking in support of Net Neutrality positions.
NACUBO assistant directors of research and policy analysis Lesley McBain and Lindsay Wayt join us today to share the latest results from the NACUBO 2016 Tuition Discounting Study, measuring the trends and strategies employed around tuition discounting across our member institutions. This week on NACUBO In Brief, Lesley and Lindsay offer valuable background on the report, and share their unique insights on the state of discounting as custodians of this report.
Shared Services encompasses the web of possible partnerships between departments, divisions, and even across institutions that share resources to improve efficiency and decrease costs, and relieve pressure on tuition. For a small institution, streamlining processes and finding internal efficiencies is no longer enough. Forming shared services partnerships is a critical path to financial success according to our guest today.
This week on NACUBO In Brief, Augsburg College Chief Financial Officer Beth Reissenweber joins us to share her experience creating and implementing shared services at her institution. A successful information technology partnership has led to a more robust shared ERP system designed to improve student service, efficiency, and save money along the way.
It’s early days in the new administration, but lawmakers have been all too public about their interests in legislation that could dramatically impact charitable giving. What will that mean to endowments, scholarships, and academic service?
This week on NACUBO In Brief, Dickinson College’s Dr. Brontè Jones and NACUBO Federal Affairs Director Liz Clark set the stage for what is sure to be a rigorous debate in Washington, and how the potential outcome may be cause for concern at your institution.
A Climate Action Plan documents an institution’s greenhouse gas emissions and the plans they have to reduce them. In 2006, today’s guest helped launch the effort to create a Climate Action Plan for University of Washington, a project that would ultimately take over three years, cataloging the massively complex infrastructure that emits greenhouse gasses across the institution.
This week on NACUBO In Brief, energy and climate policy analyst Roel Hammerschlag joins us to share the experience of creating and implementing the Climate Action Plan, outlining the benefits of the marginal abatement cost curve in defining the most effective projects to take on, and the political hurdles the team was required to leap to get those projects approved and completed.
For over 40 years, NACUBO has conducted a study on institutional endowments designed to answer key questions in how these financial tools are used. Over the years, this has become the largest study of its kind, offering a comprehensive set of data for policy makers, parents, students, and the broader community in how their institutions are using endowed funds.
This week, NACUBO’s Director of Research and Policy Analysis, Ken Redd, joins us to report findings in the 2016 report. If you remember Kenn’s report on this show from last year at about this time, no, things have not improved. The trend toward spending in the short term is shaking the foundation of a long-held cultural belief in generational equity, and the new administration in Washington brings with it considerable uncertainty. This week on NACUBO In Brief, Ken and Megan break down the current state of endowments with key areas of focus for finance leaders in the coming year.
- NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments
This period of transition between the outgoing Obama administration and the incoming Trump administration brings great uncertainty to finance offices across the higher ed landscape. Today on NACUBO In Brief, NACUBO assistant director for federal affairs Megan Schneider joins us to break down key incoming cabinet positions, House and Senate cabinet replacements, and broad policy implications that are likely to impact CBOs in the coming year.
Listen in for the latest information driving NACUBO’s advocacy considerations as we move into the next political era.
2016 marks the third release of the National Profile of Higher Education Chief Business Officers in collaboration with The American Council on Education. Understanding CBO career trajectories and pathways, roles, responsibilities, salary levels, succession planning, and demographic information has become increasingly important in supporting our members and supporting institutions.
This week on NACUBO In Brief, NACUBO Vice President of Professional Development Marta Perez Drake and Assistant Director of Research and Policy Analysis Lesley McBain share the background of the study and a number of interesting outcomes related to demographics, CBO pipeline and retirement planning, with important findings on distribution on gender and race in the CBO and financial officer ranks across NACUBO member and non-member institutions.
The 2016 National Profile of Higher Education Chief Business Officers is available July 8, 2016 at NACUBO.org.
Gary Margolis is a retired university police chief. Over his decades in campus public safety, he has watched as the boom in online activity and connections with social tools has opened new pathways for aggression between students. His role, and the role of campus public safety, has changed dramatically as a result.
Today, Margolis serves as president and CEO of Social Sentinel. His company has built a product designed to listen for the language of self-harm and aggression online, taking cues from marketing sentiment analysis and repurposing it for something new: protecting students and their institutions from harm.
This week on NACUBO In Brief, Margolis shares his own journey from chief to CEO and looks at how campus safety needs have evolved from blue lights to social media threat alerts. “Administrators need to be aware of the current behavior of their students,” says Margolis, “and understand the tools in place to protect them.”
The annual NACUBO Tuition Discounting Study (TDS) measures tuition discount rates and other indicators of institutional grant awards to freshmen and undergraduates attending four-year private, nonprofit (independent) colleges and universities. Hear the results, analysis and trends directly from the researchers who gathered the data, NACUBO's Ken Redd and Lesley McBain.
For more information on the Tuition Discounting Report, visit the Research section of NACUBO.org.
The demographic landscape is evolving, and in so doing, providing the richest opportunity that higher education has had in decades, according to futurist, researcher, and writer Bryan Alexander. These demographic trends, the aging of the student body, the demands of technology in and out of the classroom, all function to shake the worldview of those in a position to lead today’s institutions.
This week, Alexander offers a rich landscape to tread as we navigate our own future as CBOs. The silver lining? Thanks to science fiction, social media, and a generation of students ready to get to work, there is real innovation taking place in many sectors of higher ed, as long as we’re willing and able to embrace it!
Beginning with the heading, “The Key Attributes of an Effective Organization,” Wendell Brase and his leadership team at University of California, Irvine, built a management and leadership model designed to provide the underlying foundation for operation across the institution. The result — measured and validated — is a set of 31 management and leadership variables that measure performance and guide effective management behavior. Over the last 15 years, UCI has collected a robust set of data and uncovered the correlational indicators behind behavioral attributes that can predict performance success over time. Join us this week as we talk to Brase, Vice Chancellor of Administration and Business Services at University of California Irvine, about his work in developing the UCI model, and the key lessons he and his teams have learned about their own performance.
Sustainability is a financial decision, according to Carleton College Vice President and Treasurer, Fred Rogers. The sustainability mindset has permeated the Carleton administration and academy, from daily activities to the college’s development of a climate action plan, a part of the President’s Climate Commitment and a blueprint for the College to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
This week on the show, Fred shares the institution's sustainability plan, from low-hanging fruit projects, feel-good projects, to their larger projects, infrastructure renovation or recommissioning. Carleton has proven that even a small college can take an actively progressive role in developing a sustainability program, with an eye on financial efficiency, too.
For over 40 years, NACUBO has conducted a study on institutional endowments designed to answer key questions in how these financial tools are used. Over the years, this has become the largest study of its kind, offering a comprehensive set of data for policy makers, parents, students, and the broader community in how their institutions are using endowed funds.
This week, NACUBO’s Director of Research and Policy Analysis, Ken Redd, joins us to report findings in the most recent report. While the overall financial picture for endowment managers is about as rosy as the financial picture for our global economy — not that great — there is some good news in the numbers for parents and students in the way institutions are spending from their endowed funds in spite of the glum reports from the global markets.
Managing university infrastructure is a critical responsibility for those in the role of CBO, but one shared by many groups across the institution. But what happens when you realize that infrastructure begins to lag the demands of the academy?
This week, University of Washington Associate Vice President Ruth Johnston joins us to introduce TAP — Transforming Administration Program — a program designed to look inside and across the institution to identify and execute the projects designed to improve service delivery, enhance service to the campus, reduce waste, and reduce costs. The TAP team has worked hard to unify the institution’s stakeholders and increase communication and transparency as a result. If you’re looking for a model for improving service delivery across your campus, join us this week for a welcome blueprint for transformation!
Lawmakers are headed home for their holiday recess, but before they turned out the lights, they managed to pass the 2016 federal budget. This week on NACUBO In Brief, NACUBO Federal Affairs Director Liz Clark joins us to walk through the major changes that will directly impact business officers and institutions across the country. From federal student aid changes, funding for important programs and grants, and some surprising increases we didn’t expect, Liz helps us make sense of the changes we’ll all be addressing soon!
Dr. Audrey Bilger serves as professor of literature at Claremont McKenna College. This summer, she authored “It’s Not Us versus Them,” published in Business Officer magazine, in which she outlines the gap between faculty and administration in her attempt to answer a simple central question: How do faculty members think about the financial situation of our institutions?
It turns out, as Dr. Bilger discovered, faculty don’t think much about institutional finance. This week on NACUBO In Brief, she makes the case for faculty to embrace institutional reality, to learn more about their place as educators beyond their departments, and get involved in discussions that will move their institutions forward sustainably.
This is a wide-ranging conversation about the economic models that serve higher education, about taking back the dialog in the media, and about our shared role as advocates of higher education as a public good. Listen in!
Two years ago, the NACUBO board authorized the Economic Models Project in an effort to address the issues facing higher education business models. Higher education continues to suffer in the strategic communications conversation in the media. From cost of education to endowment and fundraising, state participation to ever-evolving pedagogies and inflating program rosters, critics offer an unbalanced perspective on the value proposition offered by our institutions in the eyes of our shared constituencies.
Today on NACUBO In Brief, NACUBO’s Bob Shea and Jackie Askin join us to introduce us to the Economic Models Project, and give us clear picture of why NACUBO has chosen take a leadership role in this initiative to bring leaders and stakeholders together with the right data to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our institutions.
The last time FASB’s reporting model changed for higher education and other non-profits was back in the 1990’s. In the last 20 years however, much has changed in our industry. With those changes comes the next chapter in how we handle asset class restrictions, operating measurement, expense reporting and so much more.
Today on NACUBO In Brief, NACUBO’s own director of accounting policy, Sue Menditto, joins us to provide background on the changes, and outline what CBOs need to know about the proposal to will impact you and you’re institutional reporting.
Business officers who want to stay current with the changing payments market and payments security standards need a plan for how to get merchants and business centers up to date with the latest payment methods and security standards.
The payments industry in the United States is migrating to EMV chip technology, replacing the magnetic-stripe bank cards and point-of-sale (POS) terminals that have been in use for decades. EMV-compliant chip cards offer better security for card-present transactions by making every transaction unique. In addition, chip cards are more difficult to counterfeit or copy.
Hear an expert discuss alternatives and how to avoid increased financial risk and exposure while preparing to meet the needs of your students now and in the future.
Universities are continually looking for ways to improve processes and reduce costs. Today, Lauralea Edwards of Washington State University joins us to share her experience helping to transform the institution by instituting change her constituents buy into. She uncovers the major obstacles they’ve addressed, from transitioning away from paper, to developing new technological systems that departments embrace. And the major insight that started it all? The epiphany that her department should serve as vanguards to support faculty in their work delivering quality service to students.
The Department of Education has defined new rules around cash management at colleges and universities, some developed as a result of concerns around agreements that a number of schools have with institutions that provide accounts to students and how they relate to disbursement of federal financial aid. Today on NACUBO In Brief, Anne Gross, NACUBO VP of regulatory affairs, and Joan Piscitello, treasurer at Iowa State University share their insights and experiences in working with financial institutions and the development of new rules that impact them.