Changing Higher Ed

Facing tough times ahead, higher education enrollment is at a critical juncture, as discussed by seasoned experts Drumm McNaughton, Bill Conley, and Bob Massa in this episode. They examine the current landscape, characterized by fluctuating student numbers, the next two demographic cliffs, and changing educational trends. Drawing from recent reports by the National Student Clearinghouse and the Co...

Navigating New Frontiers in Higher Education In the quest for sustainability and relevance, universities worldwide are confronting a pivotal moment that calls for a transformative rethinking of their traditional business models. The Ernst & Young white paper: How are you balancing the books for a digital future? discussed in the episode, created in partnership with Times Higher Education, delves i...

Innovating Higher Education for a New Era When it comes to higher education, innovation isn't just about generating ideas; it's about knowing how to implement them effectively. In a world that's rapidly changing, colleges and universities need to adapt to meet the needs of today's students. Dr. Philly Mantella, the President of Grand Valley State University, is at the forefront of this innovation,...

In this conversation between Dr. Drumm McNaughton and Dr. David R. Decker, the President of Franklin University, we explore three strategic moves aimed at driving higher education enrollment. Franklin University, which primarily serves non-traditional, part-time adult learners, offers a unique perspective on higher education.   Podcast Highlights   Applying the 4 Ps of Marketing to Higher Educatio...

This thought-provoking conversation dissects the structural disruptions in the higher education landscape. Drawing parallels with the entertainment industry, McNaughton and Smith explore the strategic turbulence ahead for higher education leaders.   Key Discussion Points: Introduction to structural disruption and its defining role in today's higher education. A glance back at the entertainment ind...

Strategies for Seamless K-12 to Higher Ed Transitions, Embracing Online Learning, and Building Strong Institutional Foundations The second half of this two-part series with Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU)'s Chancellor Terrence Cheng explores the strategy CSCU uses to better communicate to high schoolers how connected K-12 is to higher ed to ensure equity and accessibility for al...

Learn how CSCU's unification of its once-siloed community college is building a sustainable higher education model and helping improve retention and enrollment. The first half of this two-part series with Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU)'s Chancellor Terence Cheng explores how CSCU partners with local businesses to ensure equity and workforce preparation for its majority-minority...

This episode delves deep into the challenges of diversifying student bodies in higher education, especially in the wake of SCOTUS decisions on Affirmative Action. Dr. Thomas Parham and Dr. Dilcie Perez, stalwarts from the California State University system, bring their expertise and insights to the table.   Drowning in Diversity Debates   Higher education has always been a battleground of ideologi...

Although a for-profit institution, Post University employs a unique and effective two-fold approach to ensure graduates are career-ready with lifelong learning skills that "not-for-profit" universities can emulate on their campuses.   In this podcast episode, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Director Camille Dumont of the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) about how she aligned...

By 2032, college football playoff revenue and new lucrative conference media contracts are projected to reach $16 billion annually for 54 schools with the most lucrative football programs, according to a new report from Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics in partnership with CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen).   During this same time frame, the report also finds that 26 of these 54 schools will l...

Higher education must strive to increase the average tenure of university presidents, which currently stands at a dismal 3.7 years. This can be accomplished by addressing ineffective presidential onboarding processes and shared governance practices, among others.    In this second half of a two-part series, Dr. Drumm McNaughton discusses best practices and strategies with a nationally recognized a...

President university turnover is a major problem in higher education, with the average tenure of leaders serving in this capacity at one institution declining sharply from 10 years to a shocking 3.7 years.   In this first half of a two-part series, Dr. Drumm McNaughton discusses the challenges facing university presidents and why their tenures have become so short with a nationally recognized auth...

Although higher ed as a whole believes in the importance of freedom of speech, very few agree on what the free exchange of ideas looks like and how it should function on campus. But with the current hostile political and social climate, it's now more important than ever for higher ed to unite on what truly matters—protecting respectful and productive speech that leads to a better and kinder societ...

As higher ed faces enrollment challenges, fostering diverse pathways for first-gen students becomes crucial. Dr. Drumm McNaughton's podcast features Dr. Marielena DeSanctis, President of Community College of Denver, discussing innovative solutions based on her unique K-12 to community college leadership insights. She emphasizes essential K-12 partnerships for first-gen support and advocates for a...

Higher education leaders who want to increase inclusion while maintaining affordability at their campus can emulate the actions of the Illinois Institute of Technology. By following three core principles, Illinois Tech has ranked first in the state for people it has successfully moved from the bottom 20th percentile of household income to the upper 20th percentile.   Illinois Tech is also one of j...

Tier two (R2) research and smaller institutions, including two-year, minority-serving, and tribal colleges, can now build solid research infrastructures and perform groundbreaking discoveries through research enterprises on the same scale as larger R1 and flagship universities. In this episode of Changing Higher Ed ® , Drumm speaks with Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director of the National Science Fou...

It is well known that public perception of post-secondary education is at an all-time low, as politics, rising tuition, and higher student debt is saddling students and graduates with more stress. And, despite reports showing that people with student debt can negatively affect society, the Supreme Court recently ruled that the $1.7 trillion in student debt cannot be forgiven despite what the HEA c...

The recent hack of MOVEit has serious implications for higher education. MOVEit, an application used by the National Student Clearinghouse and many other institutions to move large files, directly affects numerous higher ed institutions and solution providers. This, coupled with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act going into effect in early June of 2023, has (should have) put cybersecurity at the top of mi...

The recently filed and highly publicized Florida versus the Department of Education lawsuit could change the face of higher education across the US. At stake is the ability of accreditors to set standards in the accreditation versus how much state governments can be involved in accreditation affairs. Essentially the lawsuit is pushing to allow institutions to change their accreditors without being...

Higher ed needs to provide more accessible, high-outcome internships to meet the current demands of the workforce and students. A recent McKinsey report finds that more than 85% of companies feel there is a skills gap between education and industry, and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified several career readiness skills students must have upon graduation but ca...

Currently enrolled students, as well as people who stopped out or never attended a higher ed institution, are sharing what will keep them enrolled, re-enroll, or enroll for the first time, in addition to what could make them leave, not come back, or never attempt to enroll at all.   In the second half of his two-part podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton continues his conversation with Dr. Courtney Brown...

Higher ed leaders can learn what 6,000 current students, 3,000 people who stopped out, and 3,000 more who never enrolled in a U.S. college or university say their barriers have been to finishing their education over three years. The results come from a study by the Lumina Foundation called "The State of Higher Ed" in partnership with Gallup. In the first of a two-part podcast episode, Dr. Drumm Mc...

A lot has been happening up on the Hill that affects higher education. In his latest podcast episode,  Dr. Drumm McNaughton catches up on the latest news with Tom Netting, president of TEN Government Strategies, who advocates before Congress, federal agencies, and state governments on behalf of private institutions of higher education and post-secondary education companies.   Tom discusses the par...

A new study on what campus leaders can do to help their graduates move into good jobs by age 30 found that the most effective ways for young adults to succeed in the workforce generally involve attaining post-secondary education degrees. The Georgetown Center for Education in the Workforce (CEW)'s "What Works: 10 Education, Training, and Work-Based Pathway Changes that Lead to Good Jobs" determine...

The liberal arts are currently under fire in higher education, with Marymount University in Virginia recently eliminating nine such undergraduate degrees. But should most colleges and universities follow suit, it would harm democracy in America, according to Jeff Scheuer, author of Inside the Liberal Arts: Critical Thinking and Citizenship. " There's no way a democracy can function based on people...