Two college presidents recently joined MARKETview’s Jim Day for a candid conversation on the Disrupted State of Higher Ed. While a wide range of ideas for addressing the current challenges within the industry were covered, we’ve compiled the following selection of excerpts from the discussion.
Read on to see what President Rebecca Ehretsman from Wartburg College and President Robin Baker from George Fox University had to say on these topics:
Communication Breakdown
Students, faculty, trustees, alumni, and more all view the challenges of higher ed through different lenses. This makes getting each campus constituency aligned in how to address common goals a delicate dance for presidents and other high-level institutional leaders. So as much as delivering one unilateral edict would be nice, it often leads to some groups feeling unheard. Strengthening relationships with audiences by tailoring the message can be a smart strategy.
Says President Ehretsman:
“I use the term “code switching” to describe communication being receiver oriented and ensuring that it is geared towards the specific people you are communicating with. I believe that before you can communicate with anyone, you need to work on building trust with those constituencies.”
Rebecca Ehretsman, President, Wartburg College
An Evidence-Based Approach
Both presidents emphasized that everything they do is ultimately about serving students and that real-time data is key to sustaining their mission. Customized, advanced analytics also provide the nimbleness and ability to execute on data-driven strategies in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape. Lastly, data accuracy is imperative when addressing various stakeholders around KPIs and other assessments, ensuring all parties get the complete story and that everyone understands if they are succeeding or not.
Says President Baker:
“We have a data analytics team that’s at the center of all our conversations. MARKETview has also been instrumental in opening new windows into our applicant pools, our deposit pools, and how they compare to other groups across the nation … helping us identify how we might serve specific students in our pool more effectively.”
Robin Baker, President, George Fox University
The Value of Distributive Leadership
In these trying times for higher ed, every member of leadership – from Board members to mid-level managers – must be directly responsible for creating and fulfilling strategic vision for the future of their institution. This includes not just understanding their assigned benchmarks and metrics for success, but more importantly, using data to measure how well the plan is working. For presidents, recognizing and utilizing the skillsets of those around them is a bigger part of their job than ever.
Says President Ehretsman:
“We’re no longer in a time where boards can be ceremonial, where they come to campus to be wined, dined, and shown lovely PowerPoints of all the things we’re doing well. We need them to be in the work and make strategic decisions with us.”
Rebecca Ehretsman, President, Wartburg College
FAFSA Delays
With the value of a college education already heavily scrutinized by families, what message does the FAFSA delay send … especially for vulnerable students and populations? It’s yet another barrier that makes them think that maybe college isn’t the right path. Institutions are equally bewildered as past predictors of student behavior can no longer be trusted. When it comes to disruption, the continuing FAFSA delays are creating massive uncertainty for all parties involved.
Says President Baker:
“I’m a historian, and we usually study the past because we think that, to some extent, it influences the future. But increasingly because of the way in which our society is being disrupted, past indicators are not always useful. And that seems to be particularly the case with FAFSA.”
Robin Baker, President, George Fox University
A Sense of Belonging
Making students feel welcome along with celebrating who they are, and their differences, matters greatly to this generation. Plus, the abrupt change to a new environment can be especially difficult for a demographic that spends so much time in virtual worlds, which makes attending to their mental health a bigger consideration. Finding ways to create authentic relationships, such as hosting dinners or making yourself more approachable on campus and other inclusive behaviors has become paramount.
Says President Ehretsman:
“I walk every morning with my dog. He’s a fun little fuzzy creature that, from my perspective, breaks down barriers between students and “the president” who may seem not normal or not human. It’s a wonderful way to interact with students in a very authentic way.”
Rebecca Ehretsman, President, Wartburg College
Thank you for reading our post! We hope you found these professional perspectives helpful in navigating disruption on your campus. Keep in mind that these are just a few snippets from a much larger conversation that touched on several other hot-button issues.
Check out the full webinar recording for insights on how you can address the current state of the higher ed profession.
Webinar RECORDING
The Disrupted State of Higher Ed: How College Presidents Are Confronting Change
Learn how the presidents from two institutions are addressing and overcoming a variety of disrupting factors across higher education.