Explore every episode of the podcast NACUBO In Brief
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Update: What Happens Next? | 17 Nov 2025 | 00:26:50 | |
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 | |||
| Coalition for the Common Good: Meeting a Mission, Leveraging Enrollment, and Boosting Student Success Across Two Independent Institutions | 03 Nov 2025 | 00:23:04 | |
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
| |||
| NACUBO Consulting's Ruth Johnston on Navigating Challenges and Strengthening Institutions | 27 Jan 2025 | 00:24:43 | |
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 | |||
| Futurist Bryan Alexander on Trends, Innovation, and Hope for Higher Ed of Tomorrow | 10 Mar 2016 | 00:37:50 | |
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! | |||
| Wendell Brase on Sustainable Performance Improvement at UC Irvine | 25 Feb 2016 | 00:29:17 | |
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. | |||
| Carleton College's Fred Rogers on the ROI of Smart Sustainability | 11 Feb 2016 | 00:27:50 | |
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. | |||
| Explaining College and University Endowments with Ken Redd of NACUBO | 27 Jan 2016 | 00:28:41 | |
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. | |||
| UW's Ruth Johnston Shares TAP — Transforming Administration to Support the Academic Mission | 14 Jan 2016 | 00:20:43 | |
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! | |||
| Rundown of 2016 Federal Budget Changes with Director of Federal Affairs Liz Clark | 21 Dec 2015 | 00:18:26 | |
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! | |||
| The Role of Faculty in Economic Sustainability with Professor Audrey Bilger | 17 Dec 2015 | 00:19:21 | |
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! | |||
| Introducing the Economic Models Project with NACUBO's Bob Shea & Jackie Askin | 10 Dec 2015 | 00:34:39 | |
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. | |||
| How FASB's Non-Profit Proposal will Likely Impact You with NACUBO's Sue Menditto | 25 Nov 2015 | 00:29:00 | |
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. | |||
| Payment Security: EMV Migration and Beyond with Randy Vanderhoof | 25 Nov 2015 | 00:23:37 | |
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. | |||
| Enabling Strategic Data Use with a New Analytics Playbook | 13 Jan 2025 | 00:26:26 | |
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 | |||
| Lauralea Banks on Transforming Purchasing Culture & Technology | 12 Nov 2015 | 00:20:18 | |
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. | |||
| Anne Gross and Joan Piscitello on Cash Management and Student-First Banking | 12 Nov 2015 | 00:17:41 | |
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. | |||
| Workforce Development and Student Outcomes | 02 Dec 2024 | 00:16:39 | |
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:
| |||
| Fitchburg State Looks at the Impact of Billing Practices on Student Retention | 18 Nov 2024 | 00:17:40 | |
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: | |||
| TIAA Institute's Anne Ollen on Why Someone Would Want to Work for a College or University | 04 Nov 2024 | 00:29:25 | |
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 | |||
| How Georgia Tech is Using Generative AI to Streamline Work | 21 Oct 2024 | 00:20:23 | |
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 | |||
| Amazon Web Services' Mark Hampton on the Need for Effective Change Management | 07 Oct 2024 | 00:20:39 | |
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 | |||
| Three Institutions Partner to Enhance Student Mental Health Services | 23 Sep 2024 | 00:19:30 | |
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 | |||
| How Leaders at UC Irvine Harnessed Momentum from the Pandemic to Rethink Work | 09 Sep 2024 | 00:19:31 | |
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 | |||
| Pete Zuraw Shares People-Centered Insights from Recent Facilities Research | 15 Jul 2024 | 00:25:21 | |
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 | |||
| Communicating Financial Stakes to Campus Faculty and Staff | 20 Oct 2025 | 00:26:35 | |
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
| |||
| Dig In to the Evolving Inputs and Impacts of NACUBO's Flagship Research Projects | 01 Jul 2024 | 00:25:47 | |
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
| |||
| Preview NACUBO's Student Success Hub: a Comprehensive Toolkit to Build Success and Equity | 03 Jun 2024 | 00:26:49 | |
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 | |||
| Flywire's Sharon Butler Shares Insights and Research on International Payments | 22 Apr 2024 | 00:23:55 | |
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 | |||
| Congressional Catch-Up: A Spring 2024 Legislative Outlook | 08 Apr 2024 | 00:22:32 | |
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 | |||
| The "Better FAFSA" Rollout: Where Are We Now? | 25 Mar 2024 | 00:18:42 | |
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 | |||
| NACUBO's President, Kara Freeman, Delves Into Resilience with Two Higher Ed Leaders | 04 Mar 2024 | 00:40:12 | |
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 | |||
| 2024 Federal Outlook for Finance and Funding with GFOA's Emily Brock | 08 Jan 2024 | 00:26:04 | |
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 | |||
| Cybercrime and Higher Education: How One Institution Responded to an Attack | 27 Nov 2023 | 00:22:58 | |
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 | |||
| Breaking Down Silos to Create and Sustain Equitable Student Outcomes | 13 Nov 2023 | 00:22:18 | |
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 | |||
| Why MSU Denver Chose to Raise Its Minimum Wage | 30 Oct 2023 | 00:19:08 | |
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 | |||
| Risk and Responsibility in the College Business Office | 06 Oct 2025 | 00:22:39 | |
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
| |||
| Mauve Group CEO Ann Ellis Shares Global Operations Solutions | 16 Oct 2023 | 00:17:54 | |
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 | |||
| Analyzing Student Data to Drive Satisfaction and Retention | 02 Oct 2023 | 00:19:16 | |
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 | |||
| Top 5 Higher Education Business Issues of 2023 | 18 Sep 2023 | 00:33:43 | |
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
| |||
| Higher Ed Enrollment Management Under the Microscope | 04 Sep 2023 | 00:20:23 | |
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 | |||
| NACUBO's New Podcast • Career Conversations | 28 Aug 2023 | 00:01:06 | |
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! | |||
| More is Possible With Higher Education | 10 Jul 2023 | 00:23:21 | |
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 | |||
| What's Happening in the Nation's Capital? | 05 Jun 2023 | 00:22:45 | |
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. | |||
| Mergers and Affiliations in Higher Education | 29 May 2023 | 00:28:23 | |
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. | |||
| Top Five Higher Education Business Issues: Meeting Students' Evolving Needs | 24 Apr 2023 | 00:23:21 | |
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 | |||
| Top Five Higher Education Business Issues: Supporting and Maintaining the Workforce | 06 Mar 2023 | 00:34:48 | |
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 | |||
| Aligning Tuition Policies With Strategic Vision | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:17:37 | |
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 | |||
| Top Five Higher Education Business Issues: Providing Secure & Modern Technology Infrastructure | 27 Feb 2023 | 00:22:37 | |
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 | |||
| Top Five Higher Education Business Issues: Navigating Resource Constraints | 23 Jan 2023 | 00:26:34 | |
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 | |||
| Top Five Higher Education Business Issues: Managing an Uncertain Economic Climate | 09 Jan 2023 | 00:20:10 | |
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
| |||