THE CHANGE LEADER

Category: Business of Higher Ed

Changing Higher Ed Podcast 309-Dr. Drumm McNaughton and Dr. Shaun Carver- International Enrollment Strategy: Taking Higher Education to the World

Take the University to the World: A New International Enrollment Strategy for Regional and Private Colleges:

Changing Higher Ed podcast 309 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Dr. Shaun Carver

In this episode of Changing Higher Ed, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Shaun Carver, Executive Director of UC Berkeley’s International House, about the structural shift reshaping international student enrollment and what it means for U.S. institutions.

While national enrollment numbers suggest stability, the reality is far more uneven. Top-tier institutions continue to attract international students, while regional and private institutions are seeing declines driven by visa restrictions, global competition, and changing perceptions of the United States as a destination.

What you’ll gain from listening to this podcast:

✓ Enrollment Reality: Why international enrollment trends are diverging sharply between top-tier and regional institutions

✓ Decision Drivers: How brand strength and perceived welcome are shaping student and family choices

✓ Undergraduate Risk: Why undergraduate international enrollment is more exposed than graduate

April 28, 2026 June 27, 2026
High Structure Course Design for Student Engagement, Retention, and Success | Changing Higher Ed podcast episode 264 featuring Drumm McNaughton and Justin Shaffer

High Structure Course Design for Student Engagement, Retention, and Success:

Changing Higher Ed podcast 264 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Dr. Justin Shaffer

  Many institutions lose students not because learners are incapable, but because the courses in which they’re placed weren’t designed to help them succeed. Gateway courses, especially in the first year, continue to be a bottleneck in higher education, resulting in high failure rates, lower retention rates, and widening equity gaps. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Our guest on the Changing Higher Ed® podcast is Dr. Justin Shaffer, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Teaching Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. He’s the author of the book High Structure Course Design, which gives faculty practical, evidence-based strategies for designing and delivering courses that increase student engagement, close performance gaps, and improve learning across disciplines. While the model was developed with large

June 17, 2025 June 27, 2026
Changing Higher Ed podcast episode 260 featuring Drumm McNaughton and Kathleen deLaski discussing how to align academic programs with workforce needs and serve nontraditional students

How to Align Academic Programs with Workforce Needs and Serve Nontraditional Students:

Changing Higher Ed podcast 260 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Kathleen deLaski

In this episode of Changing Higher Ed, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Kathleen deLaski, founder of Education Design Lab and author of Who Needs College Anymore?, about how colleges and universities can align academic programs with workforce needs and better serve the growing population of nontraditional students. The conversation explores modular credentialing, skills-based learning, and what it takes to restructure academic offerings for long-term relevance and economic mobility.

What you’ll gain from listening to this podcast:

✓ Skills-Based Learning: How institutions can integrate job-relevant skills into curriculum design.

✓ Step-Ladder Credentials: Why modular, stackable credentials help students gain momentum and return later to complete degrees.

✓ Workforce Alignment: How academic outcomes can be translated into competencies that employers recognize and value.

✓ Structural Shifts: Why redesigning programs alone won’t work

May 20, 2025 June 27, 2026
Strategic Affiliation in Higher Education: What Colleges Can Learn from the Colleges of Law and TCS Education System-Changing Higher Ed podcast 258 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Dr. Matt Nehmer

Strategic Affiliation in Higher Education: What Colleges Can Learn from The Colleges of Law and TCS Education System:

Changing Higher Ed podcast 258 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Dr. Matt Nehmer

In this episode of Changing Higher Ed, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Matt Nehmer, President of The Colleges of Law, about how the institution approached strategic affiliation to support sustainability while maintaining its mission and identity. Nehmer explains how the Colleges of Law joined The Community Solutions (TCS) Education System and what other institutional leaders should know when evaluating similar options.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

✓ What strategic affiliation is and how it differs from mergers or acquisitions

✓ How a dual-board governance model can preserve institutional autonomy

✓ Which shared services the institution accessed through the system affiliation

✓ How the affiliation aligned with accreditation expectations and requirements

✓ How legal structuring was used to protect institutional assets during transition

✓ Examples of academic collaboration enabled

May 6, 2025 June 27, 2026
Turning pages of a book with 2025 predictions for higher education and Higher ed 2024 year in review

Higher Ed 2024 Year in Review and 2025 Predictions:

A Year of Change and Challenges

The higher education landscape in 2024 has been marked by significant upheaval and transformation – some might say that it has been the most turbulent year in its history. We have seen political polarization, demographic challenges, and rapid technological advancements intersect, resulting in higher education institutions facing immense pressure to adapt. All the while, there continues to be more capacity than there are students, which is characteristic of a mature-to-declining market that has resulted in an increased pace of mergers and closure activities. All in all, it has been a doozy of a year. This article examines the trends and developments that shaped 2024, provides a thematic review of the year, and outlines key predictions for 2025. A Look Back At Our 2024 Predictions for Higher Ed In our annual

January 2, 2025 June 27, 2026
Changing Higher Ed podcast 238 washington Update-Implications of the 2024 election on higher ed part 2

Washington Update: Implications of the 2024 Elections on Higher Ed — Part 2:

Changing Higher Ed® podcast 238 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Tom Netting

In this second episode of this two part podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton continues the conversation with Tom Netting, president of TEN Government Strategies and our Washington Update expert. The discussion provides insights into how the 2024 US elections will transform higher education, examining anticipated changes under a Trump administration and Republican-controlled 119th Congress, with particular focus on policy shifts, regulatory changes, and institutional impacts.

What you’ll gain from listening to this podcast:

✓ Leadership Changes: Understand the significant shifts in Congressional committee leadership and their impact on education policy

✓ Regulatory Insights: Learn about incoming changes to borrower defense, gainful employment, and accreditation standards

✓ Policy Navigation: Discover how institutions can prepare for executive orders affecting immigration and Title IX

✓ Accreditation Evolution: Gain clarity on the fundamental reforms coming

December 17, 2024 June 27, 2026
higher education board room with board members panicing over their institution's climbing debt and shrinking merger options

College Merger Strategy: The High Cost of Waiting Too Long:

When Timing a Higher Ed Merger, Procrastination and Hope Put Your Future at Risk

In our latest article, we examine why waiting to explore merger options is becoming an increasingly dangerous strategy for institutions facing enrollment and financial challenges. The article centers around the strategic timing of merger considerations, revealing insights about market dynamics, institutional leverage, and the narrowing window of opportunity for struggling colleges and universities.

What you’ll gain from reading this article:

✓ Strategic Reality: Understand how waiting until crisis the crisis point severely limits merger options

✓ Market Insights: Learn why strong institutions aren’t interested in acquiring colleges after a certain point

✓ Timing Perspectives: Discover how early merger exploration provides greater negotiating power

✓ Stakeholder Management: Strategies for proactive communication with faculty, students, and alumni

✓ Financial Positioning: Learn how to position your financial stability and value proposition

✓ Value

December 5, 2024 August 4, 2026
post-merger integration planning for successful university mergers The Change Leader | connecting two universities by bridge

Post-Merger Integration: Planning for Successful University Mergers:

Strategic Framework for Successful Integration: Aligning Vision, Operations, and Culture in Higher Education Mergers

Higher education institutions are facing mounting pressures from declining enrollment to increasing competition. As mergers become a more common strategy for sustainability and growth, we’re seeing presidents and boards focused on the challenges of post-merger integration. In this article, Drumm shares planning considerations for university leaders, from initial vision alignment through operational execution.

What you’ll find in this article:

✓ Integration Planning: Understanding the elements of a successful integration team and timeline

✓ Strategic Decisions: Evaluating autonomy levels and identity preservation

✓ Operations & Systems: Practical approaches to integrating technology, administrative functions, and academic support

✓ Cultural Considerations: Building cross-institutional collaboration while respecting traditions

✓ Regulatory Requirements: Planning for accreditation and agency approvals

✓ Stakeholder Engagement: Strategies for faculty, staff, and alumni communication

✓ Integration Success: Creating lasting value through

November 7, 2024 June 27, 2026
Changing Higher Ed podcast 232 - Improving Public University Systems at Scale with Drumm McNaughton and Jim Johnsen

Improving Public University Systems at Scale:

Changing Higher Ed podcast 232 with Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest James R. Johnsen

In this episode of Changing Higher Ed, Dr. Drumm McNaughton welcomes Jim Johnsen, former President of the University of Alaska System and Vice President of Executive Search for Greenwood Asher & Associates, to discuss his new book “Public University Systems: Leveraging Scale in Higher Education.”

What you’ll gain from listening to this podcast:

✓ System Governance Insights: Understand how public university systems operate, their structures, and challenges in serving 75% of America’s college students

✓ Strategic System Design: Learn the differences between homogeneous and heterogeneous systems and how states approach system-wide coordination

✓ Scale Optimization Strategies: Discover methods for leveraging institutional scale to achieve political, social, and economic goals while improving operational efficiency

✓ Political Navigation Skills: Master practical approaches to managing complex dynamics between governors, legislators, and system boards

November 5, 2024 June 27, 2026
Changing Higher Podcast 227- Strategies to Improve Student Retention Rates and Lower Acquisition Costs- with guest Carey Dukes

Strategies to Improve Student Retention Rates and Lower Acquisition Costs:

Changing Higher Education podcast 227 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guests Carey Dukes

In this episode of Changing Higher Ed, Drumm welcomes Carey Dukes, Assistant Professor of Management at North Greenville University, to discuss innovative strategies for improving student retention and college readiness.

Podcast Overview:

✓ Insights into the current state of student retention in higher education and the concept of “Academic Armageddon” for first-year students.

✓ Strategies for implementing a pre-college readiness course to better prepare students for academic success.

✓ Practical advice on addressing the six key variables of student readiness and implementing proactive preparation programs.

✓ Vision for long-term benefits of improved student preparation beyond the first year.

✓ Guidance for university leaders on analyzing retention rates, assessing financial impacts, and evaluating existing programs.

This episode provides valuable ideas for presidents, board members, and administrators committed to improving student retention,

October 1, 2024 June 27, 2026
Changing Higher Ed podcast 202-Beyond Career and Job-Ready Graduates-Beating the Underemployment Odds

Beyond Career and Job-Ready Graduates: Beating the Underemployment Odds:

Changing Higher Ed Podcast 202 with Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and Guest Kevin Grubb

  According to a new report, a startling 43% of college graduates are underemployed in their first job. It’s no surprise career readiness has become a critical priority for universities across the country. With the cost of education rising and underemployment rates soaring, institutions have a responsibility to ensure students are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and experiences they need to succeed in their careers and lives beyond graduation. Under the leadership of Associate Vice Provost for Career and Professional Development Kevin Grubb, Villanova has developed a holistic approach to career readiness that integrates career development throughout the student’s academic and career journey, from orientation to graduation and beyond. Villanova University is transforming the student experience by integrating career and professional development throughout students’ academic journeys. By embedding these essential

April 9, 2024 December 11, 2025
Lifelong Learning Models for a Changing Higher Ed Marketplace | Changing Higher Ed Podcast 200 with Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and Guest Amrit Ahluwalia

Lifelong Learning Models for a Changing Higher Ed Marketplace:

Changing Higher Ed Podcast 200 with Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and Guest Amrit Ahluwalia

In the 200th episode, Dr. Drumm McNaughton and Amrit Ahluwalia discuss the transformation of higher education into a key player in lifelong learning and workforce development. They address the shift in educational models to meet the needs of a rapidly changing job market, where over 60% of jobs will require new skills by 2025. The conversation focuses on redefining the role of universities to support continuous upskilling and reskilling, moving away from strictly traditional degrees towards a more flexible and accessible approach to education.

Ahluwalia and McNaughton explore how universities can evolve from their traditional role as knowledge gatekeepers to facilitators of lifelong learning. They highlight the importance of continuing education divisions in expanding access to learning and acting as drivers of socioeconomic mobility.

The episode underscores the need

March 26, 2024 December 11, 2025
Changing Higher Ed Podcast 196 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Paul Weiss – A Win-Win Partnership for Universities and Older Adults- Engage Seniors, Enrich Your Community

A Win-Win Partnership for Universities and Older Adults: Engage Seniors, Enrich Your Community:

Changing Higher Ed Podcast 196 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Paul Weiss

Discover the untapped potential of engaging seniors in higher education in our latest episode. We spotlight the Oasis Institute’s pivotal role in fostering lifelong learning, health, and civic engagement, and its dynamic collaborations with universities.

Learn about the multiple benefits that are enriching educational experiences for seniors and injecting fresh perspectives into the academic realm.

This conversation offers a glimpse into how these partnerships bridge generational divides, catalyze community enrichment, improve civic and philanthropic engagement, and bolster university research.

You’ll hear innovative strategies that leverage the wisdom and experience of older adults, revealing a path to a more inclusive, vibrant educational ecosystem.

Listen to the podcast, read the extended show summary, or read the transcript for an enriching discourse on the symbiotic relationship between higher education

February 27, 2024 December 11, 2025
Changing Higher Podcast - A More Efficient University Business Model For The Win - Part 2 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Dr. Melik Khoury President and CEO of Unity Environmental University

A More Efficient University Business Model For The Win – Part 2:

Changing Higher Ed Podcast 195 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Dr. Melik Khoury

Faced with an overwhelming number of complex issues, the higher education sector must urgently develop and adopt innovative business models to transform itself into a more accessible, affordable, and future-proof system. Dr. Melik Khoury, whose visionary approach and adaptation of the university business model has navigated his institution through tumultuous times and set a new standard for academic excellence and operational efficiency.

Dr. Drumm McNaughton welcomes Dr. Khoury back for part two of the series to share his insights on leading Unity Environmental University to unprecedented growth with a revolutionary and highly efficient university business model. With a background rich in guiding higher education institutions through periods of disruption, Dr. Khoury’s tenure at Unity is marked by a significant increase in enrollment, substantial budget growth, a halving of tuition fees,

February 20, 2024 June 27, 2026
Changing Higher Podcast 194- Adapting to Disruption-Unity University's Remarkable Success-Part 1 with Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Dr. Melik Khoury

Adapting to Disruption: Unity University’s Remarkable Success – Part 1:

Changing Higher Ed podcast 194 with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Dr. Melik Peter Khoury

  Transforming Higher Education Through Disruption and Growth: The Unity Environmental University Success Model In an era where higher education institutions are challenged to adapt to disruption, Dr. Melik Khoury, President of Unity Environmental University, offers an inspiring narrative of transformative growth and forward momentum in an agile and sustainable higher education business model. Steering Unity from 540 students and a $14 million budget to an impressive enrollment of over 7,500 and a budget of $58 million, Dr. Khoury has cut tuition in half and significantly reduced institutional debt. This exceptional growth, achieved amidst and in the wake of a global pandemic, illustrates a comprehensive transformation of conventional governance and operational norms in higher education. Join us as in this two-part series as Dr. Khoury elucidates how adopting a disruptive

February 13, 2024 December 11, 2025
Changing Higher Podcast 187- 2023 Higher Education Year in Review & 2024 Predictions

2023 Higher Education Year in Review and 2024 Predictions:

Changing Higher Ed Podcast 187 with Host Deborah Maue and Guest Dr. Drumm McNaughton

  Join us in our 2023 Higher Education Year in Review and Predictions for 2024. In this sixth annual year-end podcast, Deborah Maue, Aurora University Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing, takes the mic as our special host of the Changing Higher Ed podcast to interview Dr. Drumm McNaughton as they review (and grade) last year’s 2023 higher ed prognostications. The duo share their insights on 2023, discuss the unexpected developments, and what to prepare for with the higher education predictions for 2024.   Reviewing Dr. Drumm McNaughton’s Predictions for 2023 Continuing Decline in College Enrollment: A Closer Look at 2023’s Trends 2022 Prediction for 2023: College enrollment will continue to decline. Grade given by Deb Maue: A. In 2023, college enrollment continued its downward trajectory. Despite a contrasting

December 26, 2023 January 5, 2026
Changing Higher Ed Podcast 180 with Drumm McNaughton and Catherine Friday - A Global Shift in Higher Education Requires a New Business Model

A Global Shift in Higher Education Requires a New Business Model:

Changing Higher Ed Podcast 180 with Drumm McNaughton and Catherine Friday

Navigating a Global Shift in Higher Education The traditional business model of higher education is facing an unprecedented challenge on a global scale. For universities that don’t have the cushion of the Ivy League list, the stark reality of declining enrollment and soaring costs looms large. Today’s educational leaders are grappling with a landscape where class sizes have shrunk to nearly 70-80% of what they were just half a decade ago. This contraction is not a mere ebb and flow but a clarion call for a fundamental change in how these institutions operate.   Cutting costs, a go-to strategy in lean times, has reached its limits. Universities are discovering that austerity measures alone can’t bridge the gap between dwindling revenues and rising expenses. There’s a pressing need to reassess underutilized

November 7, 2023 June 10, 2026
Changing Higher Ed Podcast 179 with Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and Dr. Philomena "Philly" Mantella - Beyond Ideas- Implementing Innovative Structures in Higher Education

Beyond Ideas: Implementing Innovative Structures in Higher Education:

Changing Higher Ed Podcast 179 with Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and Dr. Philomena "Philly" Mantella

Implementing Innovative Structures Innovation in higher education is not just about generating ideas; it’s about putting those ideas into action and breaking down structural barriers that no longer serve today’s diverse demographic. In this conversation with Dr. Philly Mantella, President of Grand Valley State University, Dr. Drumm McNaughton explored how she’s spearheading innovative initiatives to create a more student-centric and business-ready higher education landscape and provide an update on her latest collaboration, REP4, which stands for Rapid Education Prototyping for Change. The REP4 Alliance is a collaboration among seven higher education institutions designed to accelerate innovation and, at the same time, provide thousands of learners with a transformative experience where they can embrace their own power to set their course and control their own learning journeys.   Innovation Beyond Ideas

October 31, 2023 June 10, 2026

Categories

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get the Latest News, Posts, and Podcasts in Our Monthly Newsletters