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Higher Education Blog Series
Balancing Strategy with Execution
As colleges and universities begin a third academic year still dealing with the impacts of COVID-19, the need to find the right balance between strategy and execution amid rapid change is more important than ever.
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From Strategy to Execution: The Four A’s in Academia
The unique characteristics of academic institutions can compound the difficulties, but colleges and universities that are serious about putting their strategy into action need to face this challenge head on.
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How Desired Customer Outcomes Can Drive Innovation in Higher Ed
The process of defining desired customer outcomes requires work, and that task is made more complicated for higher ed institutions because their services are often delivered over a course of years and extend across multiple areas, including academics, student housing, campus life, and job placement.
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Customer-Centric Brand Management for Higher Ed
The focus on the customer is critical because it is the customer who defines the brand. Put simply, a college or university’s brand is what its customers—current and potential—perceive it to be. In the long run, retaining current customers and attracting new ones is far more important than maintaining the brand.
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If Students Are Customers, Are Colleges and Universities Retailers?
Sustaining Higher Ed is a monthly blog dedicated to helping college administrators and board trustees lead their organizations toward greater financial stability so they can stay on...
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A Customer-Centric Strategic Planning Process
What if colleges and universities began to think of students more as customers (which they are)? How might that transform not only the strategic planning process, but the strategic goals and initiatives of the institution?
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Strategic Planning for a Sustainable Future
Higher education is among the sectors most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As in other sectors, the pandemic has acted as an accelerant of changes that were already underway.
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Partnerships to Build and Sustain Adult Learning Programs
Look beyond universities to a wider community of partners that can help build and sustain relevant and engaging adult learning programs.
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Integrating Adult Learning into the College and University Landscape
A thoughtful approach to integrating can minimize the friction that an expanded adult learning program might generate. Read more!
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Make Room for Adult Learning
As the economic impacts of the pandemic continue to unfold, many adults will need to find work in new industries and will require new skills to do so. Read more.
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Talk with one of our experts to discuss the right path forward for your organization
Higher Education Webinars
Reimagining Higher Education Series: Tools for Reimagining Higher Education
As institutions turn their future vision into reality, they will need a toolbox that includes integrated strategic and financial planning, treasury and capital management, administrative assessment and design, academic product mix planning, and communications.
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Reimagining Higher Education Series: Strategic Options for Transformation
Administrative and curriculum redesign will be the focus of this session, with conversation focused on strategies to improve efficiencies, identify cost-sharing opportunities, and seek partners to improve both course content and the range of modalities through which it is offered.
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Reimagining Higher Education Series: Leadership and Change Management Skills
Regardless of the strategy an institution pursues, its leadership will have to cultivate and support capabilities in transparency, collaboration, alignment, and flexibility. This session focuses on tactics to build these capabilities and their central role in managing change within the institution.
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Reimagining Higher Education Series: Strategic Options for Affiliation
This session will look at affiliation options through the perspectives of organizations seeking to merge or divest their holdings, and organizations seeking new opportunities through acquisition. Topics will include possible affiliation models, cultural considerations, and other factors that influence the success of an affiliation.
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Reimagining Higher Education Series: Strategic Options for Growth
This session focuses on opportunities for revenue diversification and new program offerings, as colleges and universities seek to leverage their reputation, reimagine utilization of their assets, and expand their program offerings to respond to new needs or emerging fields of study or to reach nontraditional audiences.
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Grow and Sustain Curriculum with Online and Nontraditional Education
As the population of traditional college and university students declines, institutions must seek new opportunities to grow and diversify revenues. Watch to learn more.
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Higher Education Articles
Liquidity in Higher Education: Cash versus Investments
As cash is invested, an institution incurs more risk that cash will not be available when it is needed. Read our recommendations on balancing these risks.
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Liquidity in Higher Education: Cash Modeling Do’s and Don’ts
PART 3 OF A SUSTAINING HIGHER ED BLOG SERIES Sustaining Higher Ed is a monthly blog dedicated to helping college administrators and board trustees lead their organizations toward...
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Liquidity in Higher Education: Measures and Metrics for Budgeting and Planning
ow much cash do we have, and is it enough? Clear and coordinated responses to these questions are critical. Read more.
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Liquidity in Higher Education: Setting the Table for All Stakeholders
This is the first in a four-part series of posts designed to assist higher education CFOs as they manage and communicate their institution’s cash position. Read more!
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Financial Modeling for Your Online Product Mix Beyond the Fall 2020 Term
Almost all colleges and universities had initiated some level of activity around online education before the COVID-19 crisis struck. Read more on how to financial model for the fall and beyond.
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Optimizing the Summer 2020 Session in the Age of COVID-19
As the coronavirus continues to cloud the horizon for colleges and universities, higher education leaders find themselves needing to plan for new uncertainties. Read more.
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Interview: Eugene Sunshine on Financial Leadership in Times of Crisis
Eugene Sunshine retired from his position as Senior Vice President for Business and Finance at Northwestern University in 2014. With almost 30 years’ experience in higher education...
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Financial Modeling for an Online Fall 2020 Term
Given the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, colleges and universities are already considering that courses may need to remain remote for all or part of the fall term, and perhaps beyond. Read more.
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