Changing Higher Ed

Successfully reinventing a college or university into a truly innovative school after cutting a major portion of programs sounds near impossible, but the experiences at National Louis University (NLU), a four-campus private institution in Chicago, proves that presidents and other decision-makers can achieve the same without having to rebuild trust in faculty and staff.  NLU is also the poster child of a university that successfully shakes the status quo. It provides no-cost tuition and grant-covered programs, supports an unprecedented student-first culture that promotes continuous change and accessibility, and has adopted a data-informed mentality to facilitate equity. To learn more about NLU’s unique journey, Dr. Drumm McNaughton spoke with Nivine Megahed, Ph.D., National Louis University’s 11th president who has spent more than 20 years making higher education more accessible for students of all backgrounds. Podcast Highlights Stop accepting existing norms. It’s important to rethink the higher ed business model. Culture always trumps strategy. Don’t shortchange culture because there will always be resistance that could jeopardize it. Embrace data to inform decisions. You can read the show transcript here: https://changinghighered.com/include-all-stakeholders-for-successful-higher-ed-transformation   About Our Guest Dr. Megahed is the 11th president of National Louis University, bringing more than 20 years of experience in making higher education more accessible for students of all backgrounds to one of the Chicago area’s oldest and most innovative nonprofit universities. Her current strategic priorities at National Louis include creating the modern urban university focused on affordable, accessible, quality education that promotes student success, veterans’ education, new frontiers in digital education, and education across the lifespan. About the Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton, host and consultant to higher ed institutions. To find out more about his services and read other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm’s website, https://changinghighered.com/. The Change Leader’s Social Media Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email: podcast@changinghighered.com Keywords: #changinghighered #thechangeleader #HigherEdTransformation

Dr. Drumm McNaughton interviews Dr. Lucie Lapovsky of Lapovsky Consulting about higher education finances, including how low enrollment is forcing smaller, non-elite colleges and universities to shift cost functionality, drop majors, consolidate, reset their tuition, price-match the competition, embrace online learning and micro-credentials and retain students. Podcast Highlights Operating online provides campuses with great economies of scale, such as increased amounts of sharing between different institutions. The low-cost college coalition Rise helps schools increase the number of available majors. Although most mergers benefit larger institutions, some acquisitions complement both schools, including smaller campuses, like when the specialized school Willamette University acquired the Portland College of Art and Design to strengthen its weak fine arts program. For a successful merger, presidents need to find a school that can offer some value to their institution by expanding their economies of scale. Merging can allow schools to eliminate costly programs since there will likely be an overlap in offerings. Resetting tuition can combat the false impression that higher ed is expensive since the average discount rate at private four-year schools is 54% to 55%. As a result, these institutions are offering financial aid at much lower levels. The University of Maine price matches the tuition of any other school in New England that a prospective student has been accepted into. Others offer prospective students admission to their institution before they even apply. More students believe online learning is reputable and fewer view living on campus as a requirement. There is also an increased demand for lifelong learning and early college options. Some schools are combating data that suggests that nearly 40% of students don’t graduate because of mental health issues by outsourcing services. But many of them choose not to get reimbursed since this could prevent students from seeking help. To read the full show summary, visit: https://changinghighered.com/navigating-higher-ed-economic-challenges-insights-for-presidents-of-higher-learning/ Resources Dr. Drumm McNaughton is a consultant for higher education institutions. To find out more about his services and read other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm’s website, https://changinghighered.com/.   The Change Leader’s Social Media Links LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email:podcast@changinghighered.com   Keywords:#ChangingHigherEdPodcast #TheChangeLeader #HigherEdFinance

Podcast Summary Dr. Drumm McNaughton interviews CFO Tom Netting of TEN Government Strategies about the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan, the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, delays in upcoming regulations, and the effects that changes in Congress will have on higher education. Podcast Highlights Chief Justice Amy Coney Barrett reviewed and dismissed two of the six filed suits against Biden’s Student Debt Cancellation Plan Two other pieces of litigation will receive oral arguments from the Supreme Court by February 28, 2023 Presidents should encourage all current borrowers to ensure their student aid data is timely and accurate at studentaid.gov FSA departments announced that cohort default rates for fiscal year ’19 decreased for all institutions The Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill gives roughly $79.8 billion to education and includes a $500 increase in the maximum Federal Pell Grant The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is pending publication until April 2023   To read the full show notes, visit https://changinghighered.com/washington-update-student-debt-omnibus-regulatory-changes Resources Dr. Drumm McNaughton is a consultant for higher ed institutions. To find out more about his services and read other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm’s website, https://changinghighered.com/. The Change Leader’sSocial Media Links LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email:podcast@changinghighered.com #WashingtonUpdate #HigherEducation #HigherEdNews  

Dr. Drumm McNaughton, CEO and Higher Education Consultant at The Change Leader and Deb Maue, Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Aurora University, discuss what has happened in 2022 and predict trends in higher education for 2023. Read the summary at https://changinghighered.com/2023-higher-education-predictions-2022-year-in-review  

Dr. Drumm McNaughton, in conversation with Danny King, co-founder and CEO of the global digital credentialing platform Accredible, about this new—and now mainstream—technology that is transforming the hiring industry and higher ed’s approach to credentialing. Podcast Highlights In the last decade or so, digital credentialing has become mainstream, with most organizations around the world—including many universities—using it. Institutions, as well as individual students, would benefit if higher ed leaders focus on making their students look their very best by promoting them through information shared with employers or other universities. As universities increasingly maintain relationships with their graduates over many years, digital credentialing through university-branded certificate wallets could help both the institution and its graduates make better decisions and strengthen the institutional brand.   To read the full show notes, visit: https://changinghighered.com/digital-credentialing-helps-higher-ed-add-layers-of-value-to-stakeholders #HigherEducation  #DigitalCredentialing #Accredible Resources Dr. Drumm McNaughton, Higher Education Transformation expert. To find out more about his services and read other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm’s website, https://changinghighered.com/. The Change Leader’s Social Media Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email: podcast@changinghighered.com  

Podcast Summary Dr. Drumm McNaughton, in conversation with Dr. Nathan Long, President at Saybrook University, about how Saybrook has managed to more than double enrollment over the course of eight years. Podcast Highlights To connect with prospective students, update the university’s mission every four to five years using data obtained from market research. Allocating a high percentage of the overall budget to marketing can not only increase but diversify enrollment. The benefits of and ways to include and support faculty in recruitment initiatives. Best practices for introducing new programs to the institution. To read the full show notes, visit: https://changinghighered.com/continuous-enrollment-growth-success-strategies-for-a-small-university Resources Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton is a consultant for higher education institutions. To find out more about his services and read other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm’s website, https://changinghighered.com/. The Change Leader’s Social Media Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email:podcast@changinghighered.com #EnrollmentGrowth #HigherEd #TheChangeLeader

In the conclusion of this two-part series, Dr. Drumm McNaughton and Dr. Belle Wheelan, president of the Southern Association of Colleges Commission on Colleges, discuss the tsunami of issues facing higher ed and accreditation today, including several hot-button issues, how she responds to criticisms of accreditation, recent SACSCOC standards, and what’s ahead for accreditation.   Podcast Highlights Student learning outcomes continue to be “a big deal.” The desire for micro-credentialing by sources outside accredited colleges and universities is stronger than ever, and how—and even if—to proceed is still up in the air. In its current mid-cycle, SACSCOC is focusing on reviewing existing standards, shared governance, and DEI matters, and these will probably continue to be focus areas in coming years.   To read the full show notes, visit: https://changinghighered.com/an-assessment-of-higher-ed-accreditation-and-sacscoc-part-2 #HigherEdAccreditation #HigherEducation #SACSCOC   Resources   Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton is a Higher Education Consultant. To find out more about his services and read other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm’s website, https://changinghighered.com/.   The Change Leader’s Social Media Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email: podcast@changinghighered.com  

In the first of this two-part interview, Dr. Drumm McNaughton interviews Dr. Belle Wheelan, president of the Southern Association of Colleges Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), about the tsunami of issues facing higher ed and accreditation today, including three recent examples of undue political influence on governing boards.   Podcast Highlights The current misunderstanding of accreditation likely stems from the larger issue of the overall decline of public support for higher ed in general. Governing boards—for both public and private institutions—have become increasingly politicized, but there are ways for presidents to address this. Recent case studies from Kentucky, South Carolina, and Florida underscore the negative impacts of undue political influence in higher ed.   To read the full show notes, visit https://changinghighered.com/president-of-sacscoc-higher-ed-accreditation #HigherEducation #HigherEdAccreditation #HigherEducationGovernance Resources Dr. Drumm McNaughton, Higher Education Board Governance expert. To find out more about his services and read other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm’s website, https://changinghighered.com/. The Change Leader’s Social Media Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email: podcast@changinghighered.com  

Host, Dr. Drumm McNaughton is joined by Dr. Jana Mathews in discussion about the changing role of faculty in student mental health – how helicopter parents, social media, and the pandemic lockdowns shaped today’s undergraduate students, along with three tips for faculty as they navigate this unprecedented landscape, and how Higher Ed Administration can support Faculty in this transformational role.     Podcast Highlights It’s important to remember that incoming college students are still maturing physically and intellectually, and they are not yet full-fledged adults. Faculty increasingly are put in the difficult position of being asked to engage with students and help them work through hard—and time-consuming—personal problems. Institutions often send mixed messages to faculty: to provide a holistic experience that helps students become critical thinkers and well-rounded citizens, and also to maintain strict personal and professional boundaries.   To read the full show notes, visit: https://changinghighered.com/understanding-and-supporting-the-changing-role-of-faculty-in-student-mental-health #SharedGovernance #StudentMentalHealth #HigherEdFaculty Resources Dr. Drumm McNaughton, Higher Education Board Governance expert. To find out more about his services and read other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm’s website, https://changinghighered.com/. The Change Leader’s Social Media Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email: podcast@changinghighered.com  

Dr. Drumm McNaughton interviews Dr. Larry Large, long-time higher education administrator, president of LD Large Consulting, and president emeritus of Oglethorpe University about the most important disruptions facing higher ed today and how higher leaders can respond. Podcast Highlights The world of higher education has changed over the past thirty years in ways that affect virtually all areas of operation: demographics, student and institutional costs, governance, and more. Higher ed leaders must understand how these changes affect their institutions and educate all stakeholders—including the media—about the situation and how it’s being handled. A focus on innovation and succession planning will be critical as academia navigates these uncharted waters. To read the full show notes, visit: https://changinghighered.com/top-6-disruptions-for-higher-ed-institutions/ #changinghighered #highereddisruption #higheredtransformation Resources Dr. Drumm McNaughton, Higher Education Board Governance expert. To find out more about his services and read other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm’s website, https://changinghighered.com/. The Change Leader’s Social Media Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email: podcast@changinghighered.com