Higher education stands at a crossroads. With growing public skepticism about the value of a college degree and mounting financial demands on both students and institutions, the need for bold, student-centered leadership has never been greater. Today, you'll hear from someone who has not only confronted these problems, but also turned them into possibilities for positive change.

My guest, Dr. Nicholas S. Zeppos, Chancellor Emeritus of Vanderbilt University, shares the story of Opportunity Vanderbilt, one of higher education's most ambitious financial assistance efforts, and what it took to erase undergraduate debt while boosting access and student achievement. He discusses the groundbreaking developments taking place in the sector, ranging from enrollment cliffs and rising costs to political scrutiny and the need to rethink how institutions serve communities.

This episode is a strong call to action for higher education executives to change old behaviors, get closer to their data, and stay engaged with both their internal and external audiences. Dr. Zeppos provides practical advice on how colleges should make the case for their worth, embrace transparency, and develop new solutions to guarantee students prosper in and after college.

Show Notes:

[03:12] Vanderbilt has about 6,500 undergraduates getting a fairly traditional liberal arts experience. They are alsod a hybrid Institution with a large research university.

[04:41] Dr. Zeppos has been at Vanderbilt almost 40 years and has held almost every job except football coach.

[05:10] We learn about making the case for access and providing resources for access to college. The high loan burden at Vanderbilt was deterring enrollment.

[06:01] Creating Opportunity Vanderbilt and raising $700 billion dollars has transformed the campus, graduation, and completion. No Vanderbilt undergraduate will leave with undergraduate debt.

[07:19] The college experience is more than getting a degree, it's also setting students up for success.

[08:43] It's really important to prepare students by focusing on their psychological, emotional, social, and academic development.

[09:48] Dr. Zeppos wanted to go from a model of is the student graduating to is the student thriving?

[10:53] The importance of using data to connect and prioritize focus and services.

[12:39] There's also challenges with perception and the perceived value of higher education.

[13:29] There's a dramatic reset going on with universities and colleges.

[15:22] Universities and colleges are dealing with enrollment cliffs and funding cuts or even endowment taxes.

[16:36] How the expenses of higher education are growing faster than the revenues.

[18:32] How leaders can shift and start to think differently about the value higher education offers.

[20:14] College presidents and boards need to get out and talk to congress and their senators.

[23:20] There needs to be a solution with the costs of higher education.

[26:17] Using data and having an economic impact statement.

[27:11] Dr. Zeppos used to have the Saturday Rhodes Scholars once a month.

[28:11] The importance of physically presenting yourself in the local communities and with constituents. Listen and be part of the solution.

[30:51] To get started do a full-blown audit. How connected are you with the community and leaders? Look for solutions to lower costs.

Links and Resources:

Civitas Learning Website

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Dr. Nicholas S. Zeppos - Vanderbilt University

Dr. Nicholas S. Zeppos - LinkedIn

Opportunity Vanderbilt

The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe - Short Story Summary, Analysis, Review