Presidents' Trust Symposium

A distinguished leader in higher education, Nancy Cantor is recognized nationally and internationally as an advocate for re-emphasizing the public mission of colleges and universities, both public and private, viewing them not as “ivory towers,” but as anchor institutions that collaborate with partners from all sectors of the economy to fulfill higher education’s promise as an engine of discovery, innovation, and social mobility.

Within her remarks, Cantor will reflect on that public mission in the current political and social landscape. How do presidents guide their institutions as their stakeholders—from students, faculty, and staff to alumni, donors, and elected officials—demand they take positions on global conflicts? What can they do to help reverse the ongoing decline in public confidence in higher education and the threat of entrenched social divisiveness to the future of democracy? How can they navigate their institutions through the turbulent impacts of artificial intelligence? How can they lead their campus communities in responding to the well-documented student mental health crisis? Cantor will set the tone for the day, designed to allow presidents to draw strength from a global network of peers committed to equity and excellence in liberal education.

The pandemic created, among other challenges, deficits in resources at many institutions across the country, bringing to light important questions about how to align the mission and values of an institution with its enrollment and financial needs. How can a president keep the institution true to its academic mission and position it to reach critical enrollment and revenue goals? How can a president implement necessary changes on campus to strengthen the institution?

During this session, presidents will engage in an interactive, simulation-based discussion, as an instructive and entertaining way to think about institutional strategy. Facilitators will share insights about to how to bridge academic mission and the marketplace. They will share how presidents can lead development of the student experience in ways that are both mission-aligned and pedagogically valid and, at the same time, resonant enough in student markets to position the institution to thrive sustainably. Presidents will work in small groups on a real but anonymous case study, report their findings, and have their conclusions “graded” in real-time simulations to prompt discussion and reflection.

Amid intensifying financial pressures, a growing number of institutions are creating alliances to increase efficiency, enhance academic offerings, improve student outcomes, and increase financial stability. Those alliances take many forms, including consortiums for sharing best practices, program reciprocity agreements, research collaborations, joint ventures, integrated services and programming, mergers, and acquisitions. Not all are successful in achieving their stated aims.

Within this session, presidents who have been involved in various collaborative efforts will reflect on the successes and challenges of alliances in higher education. Panelists will share insights about leading change in higher education and overcoming obstacles to successful collaborations. They will also share perspectives on how college and university leaders can contribute to successful collaborative efforts that deliver on their strategic promise and value.