Blogs

Antioch University's Mission-Driven Approach

Graduate Programs with Purpose: Antioch University’s National Model for Mission-Driven Learning with Social Impact

Flexible Graduate Programs with Purpose: Antioch University’s Mission-Driven Approach Antioch University’s flexible online and low-residency graduate programs are designed for mission-driven professionals and offered in blended formats through the AU Multi-Campus/National-School model. AU programs emphasize social justice and empower graduate students—in all fields—to become change makers not just degree earners.

Read More »
Lake Erie Campus- Embedded Advisor

Lake Erie College’s Repositioning: Rooted in Input, Ready for Action

We write today to give a 30,000-foot overview of Lake Erie College’s academic and branding repositioning effort, which launched with remarkable speed and intention. We want to share our positive experience to assist other colleges undertaking similar work amidst the pressing circumstances squeezing many tuition-driven universities today. A Partnership with

Read More »
Embedded Advisor-Few Short- and Mid-Term Strategic Priorities & Investment Areas

A Step-by-Step Guide to Using an Embedded Advisor for Strategic College Positioning: A Success Story from Lake Erie College

Leaders of today’s tuition-driven colleges and universities are increasingly called to develop strategic positioning plans that tackle issues directly affecting their institutions. Key among those issues are declining student enrollment, growing public skepticism, and intensifying financial challenges.  One way to accelerate the creation of such a plan without compromising the

Read More »
Cracking the Glass Ceiling & Scaling the Glass Cliff

Cracking the Glass Ceiling & Scaling the Glass Cliff

You may have met, seen, read about, or watched her on the news. Who is she? She is the university’s new president, the leader of an Ivy League university, or even the top candidate for the U.S. presidency. She’s the first or one of the few women to hold the

Read More »
Critical Information Consumption Funnel

Ten Ways for Higher Education Leaders to Meet and Define This Moment

Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with university leaders across the country—strategic thinkers and doers who are steering their institutions through today’s blustery headwinds. As these colleagues work to implement bold structural and cultural campus changes, they often ask a similar question: “What can I, as

Read More »
Experiential Adult Education

Experiential Adult Education: Living and Practicing Democracy in Higher Learning

Reimagining Higher Education for Democracy  To address the urgent challenges of our times—climate change, humanitarian crises, political polarization, democratic diminishment, and global disruption—the primary aim of American higher education must go far beyond career preparation. To meet this moment, educators must use the curriculum, the campus, and their community relationships

Read More »
Comprehensive Donor Engagement Strategy by Lori Varlotta

University Presidents Need to Be Strong Fundraisers

Why Fundraising Matters Now More Than Ever Being a university president is not just about overseeing campus operations. With declining state support in most parts of the country, federal grants in question, and ever-increasing personnel costs, presidents need to bring in extramural money to support their college’s mission. All of

Read More »
The Journey Continues - Lori Varlotta

President Varlotta’s Leadership: Success, Transition, and Next Steps

Steering Cal Lutheran Towards Long-Term Success Within the first 18 months of her presidency, Dr. Varlotta addressed several pressing issues. She navigated Cal Lutheran through its immediate financial crisis; got the University off the WSCUC Notice of Concern; and led the creation of the university’s inaugural DEIJ Division and Strategic

Read More »