Speaker: Phil Hill, Higher Ed Market Analyst

As the dust settles on major federal policy shifts — including new student loan limits, program-level accountability measures, accreditation reforms, and DOJ digital accessibility requirements under ADA Title II — higher education leaders face a transformed operating environment. These changes (many of which take effect in 2026) coincide with intensifying demographic pressures, enrollment shifts, and the need to realign revenues and expenses.

This session will examine the emerging “new normal” at a strategic level: key trends reshaping the sector, how institutions are adapting to regulatory realities, and the challenges and opportunities they present. You’ll gain practical insights to navigate uncertainty, strengthen institutional resilience, and position your campus for sustainable success in a more constrained and competitive landscape.

Who should attend: Leaders who understand that today’s regulatory, demographic, and financial shifts are redefining the rules of institutional strategy — and that resilience now depends on adapting faster, planning smarter, and leading with clarity.

Speaker: Dr. Nathan Grawe, Author and Higher Ed Economist, Carleton College

Most institutional strategic plans are built on the dangerous assumption of eventual growth. But with matriculation rates already down 10% and the demographic cliff looming, that assumption is now a liability. Higher education is facing a permanent contraction, and “business as usual” is the fastest way to fail.

In this session, renowned economist Dr. Nathan Grawe examines the systemic shifts hollowing out the enrollment funnel, offering a clear-eyed, data-driven wake-up call exposing the economic and political forces shrinking the student pipeline for both two- and four-year institutions. This isn’t just a trend analysis; it is a high-stakes roadmap for how you can absorb the coming disruption and build a sustainable model that can thrive in a post-growth reality.

Who should attend: Leaders who realize that surviving the “fall” requires a total reimagining of institutional policy and purpose.

After years of mounting demographic pressure, regulatory scrutiny, and shifting student demand, higher education is now confronting the financial consequences head-on. Long-standing assumptions about enrollment growth, tuition dependence, program viability, and institutional resilience are being tested in ways many leaders can no longer afford to ignore.

This session will explore the economic realities reshaping the sector, from revenue compression and rising operating costs to increased competition and changing expectations from students, families, and policymakers. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the structural financial pressures facing institutions today, why incremental adjustments are no longer enough, and what leaders must recognize to make sound decisions in a far less forgiving environment.

Who should attend: Leaders who recognize that demographic, regulatory, and market disruption are no longer abstract threats, but financial realities demanding sharper strategy, harder choices, and a more sustainable path forward.

Speakers: Dan Antonson, AVP Data and Analytics, Collegis Education, and Wes Catlett-Miller, Sr. Director Strategy and Innovation, Collegis Education

AI-readiness isn’t just about adopting new tools — it’s about rethinking how data, technology, and human systems work together. Systems Thinking helps us see the big picture: how technology, data, and teams interact within complex systems, exposing leverage points for meaningful change. Design Thinking turns those insights into action: creating solutions that are tested, refined, and grounded in real human experiences.

This interactive session brings both disciplines together to help institutions break down silos, integrate data-informed design into strategy, and make innovation tangible. Through real-world examples and guided frameworks, participants will leave with a shared model for applying Systems and Design Thinking to build adaptable, data-enabled infrastructures that support sustainable innovation and accelerate digital transformation.

Who should attend: Leaders who know that meaningful AI transformation requires more than new technology—it demands rethinking the systems, behaviors, and decision-making structures that shape how innovation actually takes hold.

Speaker: Kim Fahey, President and CEO, Collegis Education

Technology was meant to create efficiency, insight, and scale, but for many institutions, the stack has become harder to manage, more expensive to sustain, and less capable of supporting strategic priorities. As financial pressure increases and expectations for agility rise, leaders should assess whether their current infrastructure delivers value or creates drag across the institution. In this session, you’ll learn how to assess the real business value of your technology environment, identify where ROI is falling short, and examine how legacy systems, fragmented platforms, and underused tools may be limiting performance, innovation, and adaptability. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how to evaluate infrastructure not just as a technical necessity, but as a strategic lever, and why standing still may now be the costliest option of all.

Who should attend: Leaders responsible for institutional strategy, operations, technology, or transformation who need to understand whether their current infrastructure is enabling progress or becoming a barrier to performance, agility, and long-term sustainability.

The most urgent challenges in higher education are rarely solved in isolation. When institutions face similar pressures, one of the most valuable assets in the room is the experience of peers already navigating them. This interactive, facilitated working session brings leaders together for a structured exchange on shared problems, tested approaches, and actionable outcomes. It creates space for candid conversation and practical problem-solving that turns peer insight into operational momentum. You will leave with clearer ideas for operationalizing success that are relevant, realistic, and scalable, and gain a practical perspective from leaders facing many of the same institutional realities.

Who should attend: Leaders who believe that some of higher education’s toughest challenges are best addressed through candid peer exchange, practical problem-solving, and strategies grounded in what is already working across the sector.