Our Higher Education Blogs are dedicated to helping college and university leaders improve their institutions and the business of higher education.
Our blogs and articles are published by Dr. Drumm McNaughton, CEO of The Change Leader, a higher education consulting firm. Drumm McNaughton is a renowned leader and pioneer in strategic management systems and leadership, and one of a select group with executive leadership experience in academe, nonprofits, government, and business. Over the course of his career, his change initiatives and counsel have resulted in over $500 million in revenues to organizations’ bottom line.
How to stop declining enrollment in higher ed. For generations, education has been known to be a stepping stone to attaining more significant success in life. It is a gift that extends through the different stages of life, spanning across the primary to the post-secondary and graduate levels. However, recent
Tips for Higher Ed To Survive and Recover From COVID. Higher education is in a hurricane created by the COVID-19 virus. In many respects, it is sweeping away plans for the Spring 2020 semester, even in areas where a case hasn’t been identified yet. We’re seeing on-campus classes being canceled, some
In Part 2 of Merging Higher Ed Institutions we ask the questions around what would make a merger a smart strategy. To briefly recap Part 1, the landscape in higher education continues to be rocked by change, including 1200+ closures (the majority of which were for-profits), mergers, and mega-mergers. These
The landscape in higher education that continues is its transformation (def: is being rocked by change). Between 2014 and 2019, 129 private higher education institutions closed their doors, 18 merged with other privates, and 12 reorganized to consolidate administration. Among public higher education institutions, 11 closed their doors, 20 merged,
What do you think the potential impact of Brexit on Higher Ed will be? The Change Leader, from time to time, publishes content provided by others on our team. This article, Potential Impact of Brexit on Higher Ed, was written by The Change Leader’s European team member, Dr. Albert Schram. In
Using strategic risk planning to chart your course in turbulent times for higher education institutions needs to be approached differently than just using traditional tools. As you read in last month’s blog and newsletter, higher ed is in a maturing and declining market; the indicators include enrollment is down across
Transforming Higher Ed in turbulent times may seem impossible, in “normal” times is difficult enough. Preparing for what comes next and strategically managing the transformation will make or break your institution. I am not a “doom and gloom” person – I see the good in (nearly) everyone and prefer to
In a previous blog post, I wrote about the governance crisis in Christian higher ed. Much of this has to do with how the boards of trustees at Christian colleges and universities are constituted – the majority of their members have little if any board experience (other than their church
Neg Reg 2019 to create new opportunities for universities. The U.S. Department of Education issued its “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,” which was published it in the Federal Register last week. This is a big deal as there are multiple changes coming down the pike that most universities and colleges will
The Effects of Nationalism, Politics, and Free Speech on Universities and Colleges across the country. The past few weeks have brought news of more presidential resignations – Dorothy Leland of UC Merced, Eduardo Padrón of Miami Dade College, and Karen Haynes of CSU San Marcos. These three are representative of
As the COVID pandemic swept the globe, colleges and universities have been in a rush to transform to stay financially stable. This was written before the COVID crisis but the information is now even more critical for preventing college and university closures. Another is on the verge of biting the
If you’ve wondered how Higher Ed institutions survive volatility and prevent becoming a casualty in today’s environment, you’ve come to the right place. I recently spoke at CALEM 2019 (Conference for Adult Learner Enrollment Management), which was put on by Carol Aslanian and EducationDynamics. (You can view the presentation in our
Is a governance crisis right around the corner? Higher ed finds itself at a crossroads when it comes to many things, but especially board governance. One must look no further than the daily headlines — the sexual assault at Michigan State and their (former) interim president’s (latest) comments about the
Alliances, mergers, and acquisitions in Higher Ed aren’t new, but now it’s becoming commonplace. The higher ed sector has been relatively immune (or perhaps resistant?) to change since its inception, but in the past 10-15 years, and especially since the Great Recession, multiple things have changed, forcing changes on it.
#Metoo sparked a reveal of sexual abuse in academe. Three years ago the Association of American Universities added kindling to a smoldering fire when it released a report that found that 25 percent of female undergraduate students experience sexual assault or misconduct during their time at university. The study pointed
The changing student demographics in higher education is the topic for our 10th post in The Changing Face of Higher Ed series. Despite the focus of many on research and publications, institutions of higher education wouldn’t be what they are without students. Yet in this current world, the traditional student
The growth of online education has greatly accelerated. Technology continues to make its mark on college campuses across the nation. With the rapid changes in what’s available in devices and software, leaders of higher education institutions and faculty are being forced to think creatively about how to utilize and even
This blog – the 8th in the series – looks at the changing role of faculty members in relation to curriculum, instruction, and assessment; involvement in strategic planning; and governance. If you missed The Future Role of Faculty Part 1 post, check it out. Perhaps no one is more affected
What is the future role of faculty for institutions of higher learning? Colleges and universities are not known for making rapid changes, although many who work in higher education – especially faculty members — have strong feelings about the ways others need to change. Yet with change happening so quickly
Part 6: The Future of Public Funding of Higher Ed The public funding of Higher Ed freefall began four decades ago (e.g., California’s Proposition 13), but it really took root three decades ago, as declining appropriations, soaring tuition, and broken partnerships started to become the norm. The aftermath has led
The Changing Face of Higher Ed Part 5: How is change influencing facilities maintenance and operations in higher education? Ivy-covered walls and red-brick buildings boasting large windows overlooking the commons represent the idealized perception of higher education. However, higher education leaders are finding that the beauty of these old campuses
Part 4: Student Issues Student issues are the focus of Part 4 in The Changing Face of Higher Ed Series and drills down on student issues impacting your institution’s enrollment rate. To successfully enroll and keep students, colleges and universities will need to look at a variety of factors as they move
Part 3: Improving Higher Education Governance Improve your Higher Education Governance to lift your university or college up to higher levels of success. Higher education continues to be in the hot seat. Institutional leaders are dealing with pressing challenges such as declining enrollments, unreliable federal and state funding, an aging
Let’s take a deep look at leadership accountability in higher ed and what you can do to improve your institution’s leadership. The prestige of being a top higher education leader has a definite lure. The perks of the office, the collaborative leadership style, and the constant focus on maintaining positive
The purpose of higher education is in a state of transition. What traditionally has been a stable part of Western society for so many years now must find ways to remain relevant in a time of expanding knowledge, changing societal values, and increased questioning of authority figures. Therefore, our higher
Higher education institutions must do a better job at strategic planning and environmental scanning. Many colleges and universities get pulled off track easily in today’s highly charged and quickly changing world. While colleges and universities work to stay on the leading edge of knowledge, emerging technologies can quickly make these
Higher ed budget cuts and accountability issues threaten higher education institutions worldwide. The financial challenges facing higher education institutions are immense. Many higher education leaders are in a difficult spot: declining tuition revenues and lower state allocations. The federal tax bill also threatens to slice into many higher education budgets,
What are the New Year resolutions for college and university presidents? As we embark on a new year, higher education continues to face what seems to be a perfect storm of challenges. It’s what we do to meet those challenges that will determine higher education relevance in the United States
Power and abuse in academe continue to be an issue. The charges of sexual harassment by mega-producer Harvey Weinstein have consumed the attention of the media over the past year. The tales have led to an outpouring of “Me too” by Facebook and Twitter users who have experienced unwanted advances
Is higher ed accreditation needed, or is it just a nuisance? Can there be a balance between accreditation and accountability? Higher ed accreditation has been in the news since Donald Trump took over as president (and even before), so our top higher-ed consultant decided to take a deeper look at
The polarization of Higher Education isn’t entirely new. During the 1960s, campuses became very political, but things died down for a while. The divisiveness in American society has been growing for a while, and while this deep polarization seems to be further cleaved by the latest tweets from President Trump,
There have been significant changes to Higher Ed Branding and Marketing in the last few decades. Institutions of higher education started considering the importance of marketing about 45 years ago. However, many of today’s college and university leaders still struggle with how to effectively market their institution and its programs.
Higher Ed branding is in need of focused change to reverse the trend in the declining perceptions of higher ed institutions. In today’s turbulent economic and political climate, higher education leaders are facing many challenges that they never have experienced before. Many institutions that previously have enjoyed sustained approval from
Improving higher ed enrollment management is an ever-increasing focus as colleges and universities continue to evolve. Higher education remains in many policymakers’ and key stakeholders’ crosshairs to implement organizational change. Changing student demographics and declining national and state funding compound the situation, leaving university and college leaders struggling to find
Many leaders of higher learning institutions find themselves facing a new normal that encompasses challenges with enrollment, finances, academics, and faculty. Perhaps these issues sound familiar: Decreasing and changing enrollment. Overall enrollment is dropping, partially fueled by the number of traditional college-age students declining while higher ed institutions struggle with
Student Leadership Development Programs – Higher education leaders often talk about creating the next generation of leaders. Many current efforts at colleges and universities are focused on flipped classrooms and leadership seminars. But how do we give young adults firsthand experience (instead of theoretical knowledge) of the skills and abilities
Effective University leadership traits are close to superhero level – the skills, knowledge, and experience required to be an effective leader of a higher education institution are unlike that of nearly any other profession. Traditionally, universities have looked for candidates who were steeped in the world of academia. Qualifications included
What’s the Higher Education ROI (return on investment)? In the past decade, we’ve seen an increasing emphasis on the notion of return on investment in higher education. In a world driven by the all-mighty dollar and consumerism, this emphasis is not surprising. However, it’s important to think deeply into what
The Changing Face of Higher Ed Part 2: Higher Education Leadership Today’s Higher Education leadership is living in a divisive and politicized environment. However, there is no more important time for true leaders to step into top administrative roles and help higher education move into the 21st century. Unlike what
College and university closures. According to a recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, closures of four-year, private, and not-for-profit universities and colleges in 2017 are expected to triple from the current average rate of five per year. The authors, Jamie Morley and Bill Ojile argue that imperiled institutions
Part 1: The Purpose of Higher Ed The purpose of Higher Ed is the first in The Changing Face of Higher Ed series as it’s the most important to the success and sustainability of higher education institutions. Higher education is in a state of transition. What traditionally has been a
Venture philanthropy for college and university funding is a new trend in higher education, and the following blog discusses the pros and cons of how this can help your college or university. Writing in 2012 for the American Association of University Professors, Kevin Kumashiro voices a concern that still resonates
College and university leaders are seeking to create meaningful change in higher education while continuing to face demands to be more accountable. At the national level, the U.S. Congress is considering the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity (HERO) Act, parts of which move accountability to the state level. This proposal,
Declining college enrollment numbers aren’t a cause for panic. In many ways, the 2016 election season underscored the need for more and better education. Many Americans appear to lack the foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to be able to differentiate real news from propaganda, and whole sectors of
What can nontraditional students teach Higher Ed? The changing needs of students and the potential pool of enrollees need you to accommodate their changing world. Nontraditional students can teach Higher Ed institutions how to transform to meet those needs and grow enrollment. The demographics of incoming college freshmen have shifted
Unsustainable tuition increases in Higher Ed, and out-of-control student loan debt is a hot topic in politics as well as driving down enrollment. From where will the money come to keep your institution enrollment at a sustainable level? These days, institutions of higher education are susceptible to economic uncertainty on
Universities have considered shared governance in Higher Education the “sacred cow” of institutional procedure ever since the board of directors for the American Council on Education (ACE) released a statement in October 1966 clarifying the respective roles of faculties, governing boards, and administrations. Endorsed by national associations for both boards
As academics, we believe that shared governance in higher education is the structural underpinning of the top-down, bottom-up approach that is needed for effective higher education institutions. With the rapid changes in higher education, how can shared governance continue honoring academic traditions while transforming into a higher-functioning system? Let’s look
Why Faculty Resists Competency Based Education. Faculty members traditionally thought of learning as a process of dispensing knowledge to students by means of two primary formats, lecture and text. The resulting education prepared students for the workplace only in a broad sense, leaving the instruction of specific job skills to
The tipping point of sexual assault on campus has arrived. Or has it? As the scandal-ridden 2016 election season draws to a close, Americans will be left with a number of indelible impressions. Perhaps the most disturbing of these is the “hot mike” video in which Republican candidate Donald Trump
Managing a Social Media Induced Crisis in Higher Ed Institutions Social Media induced crisis? It’s happened more times than we care to count. Some good changes have come from those crises but that doesn’t mean dealing with the crisis was easy. “Everyone is a reporter when they have a smartphone.”
