How Cross-Sector Partnerships Help Adult Learners Return, Persist, and Complete Degrees

With over 41 million adults in the U.S. holding some college credit but no degree, colleges and universities are under pressure to implement effective adult learner enrollment strategies. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Malik Brown, President and CEO of Graduate Philadelphia, about how institutions can re-engage students who have stopped out through cross-sector partnerships that support enrollment, retention, and degree completion.

Drawing on their real-world experience in higher education and workforce development, McNaughton and Brown discuss how adult learners face unique barriers—including affordability, caregiving responsibilities, and outdated enrollment systems—and how intermediaries like nonprofits and employers can play a crucial role in supporting their return to college. The episode outlines practical, replicable strategies that institutional leaders can adopt to build sustainable pipelines for adult learner success.

This conversation is especially valuable for higher ed presidents, provosts, and enrollment leaders tasked with addressing demographic shifts and declining enrollments while aligning with workforce and community needs.

Topics Covered:

• The economic and social reasons over 41 million Americans have stopped out

• Why adult learners need support from application through graduation

• How partnerships with nonprofits, employers, and funders extend institutional capacity

• The importance of stackable credentials aligned to labor market needs

• Why re-enrollment strategies must include systems changes and credit articulation

• Reducing friction in the application, financial aid, and credit transfer processes

Real-World Examples Discussed:

• Graduate Philadelphia’s intermediary role connecting students, colleges, and employers

• How employers can provide scheduling flexibility and tuition assistance

• Use of workforce credentials as an on-ramp to degrees

• Models for credit articulation and co-governed partnerships

• Community-based navigation support that increases persistence and completion

Three Key Takeaways for Leadership:

1. Build integrated partnerships that extend institutional reach. Nonprofits, workforce boards, and employers provide essential wraparound services that help adult learners succeed.

2. Design stackable pathways that start with workforce credentials. These programs allow adults to earn income and confidence while progressing toward a degree.

3. Fix enrollment systems that weren’t built for adults. From transcript access to unpaid balances, institutions must streamline re-entry to remove avoidable barriers.

This episode provides a framework for institutional leaders seeking actionable strategies to re-enroll adult learners and support them through to graduation.

Recommended For:
Presidents, provosts, chief enrollment officers, board members, continuing education leaders, and workforce development professionals focused on adult learners and institutional sustainability.

Read the transcript:
https://changinghighered.com/adult-learner-enrollment-completion-partnerships/

#AdultLearners #HigherEdEnrollment #WorkforcePartnerships #HigherEducationPodcast #DegreeCompletion #ChangingHigherEd

Higher education leaders are searching for better ways to engage students, improve retention, and close equity gaps—especially in the wake of COVID-related learning disruptions. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Justin Shaffer, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Teaching Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. They discuss Dr. Shaffer’s book, High Structure Course Design, which offers a proven framework for transforming student outcomes.

High structure course design—built on clarity, repetition, feedback, and engagement—originated in STEM education but is now widely recognized as effective across disciplines. This approach doesn't water down rigor; it scaffolds the learning process so students at all levels can succeed. The result: better retention, higher achievement, and greater equity in academic outcomes.

This conversation is especially relevant for institutional leaders seeking to scale evidence-based instructional practices and boost institutional performance.

Topics Covered:

• Why many students struggle in gateway courses and what faculty can do differently

• The long-term effects of post-COVID learning disruptions on student readiness

• Three structural layers that drive student engagement and retention

• Four foundational principles that support learning across all disciplines

• How high structure pedagogy closes equity gaps without lowering standards

• The undervalued impact of teaching-focused faculty on student success

• Infrastructure and leadership decisions that enable faculty innovation

• How structured courses also improve career readiness and workforce outcomes

Real-World Examples:

• 40–60% failure rates improved through course redesign

• A biology field course that teaches both science and professional skills

• Centers for teaching and learning that support faculty-wide improvements

Three Takeaways for Leadership:

1. Course design is one of the most powerful and underused levers for retention and equity.

2. Teaching-focused faculty are essential institutional assets and must be supported.

3. Scalable infrastructure for instructional quality is not optional—it’s a strategic necessity.

Recommended For:
Presidents, provosts, academic leaders, board members, and faculty development directors who want scalable ways to boost student success and institutional outcomes.

Read the transcript:
https://changinghighered.com/high-structure-course-design-for-student-engagement-retention-and-success/

#HigherEdLeadership #RetentionStrategies #StudentSuccess

Shared services and consolidation strategies are helping struggling small colleges stabilize operations, reduce costs, and pursue sustainable growth—without compromising institutional identity or student outcomes. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, host Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Jason Duggan, CEO of Thesis Elements, about how these approaches are being used to help small colleges strengthen efficiency and financial sustainability.

Drawing on his experience helping small colleges modernize their operations through cloud-based student information systems, Duggan explores how shared services, academic partnerships, and digital transformation are enabling institutions to manage costs and expand capacity. He also offers insights into how leadership teams and boards are approaching these strategies in the current financial and demographic environment.

This conversation is especially relevant for presidents, trustees, and senior leadership teams evaluating whether shared services or consolidation strategies could support their institution’s long-term mission and sustainability.

Topics Covered:

• The financial and operational pressures driving small colleges to explore shared services and consolidation

• How administrative shared services are helping reduce overhead and improve service quality

• Strategic approaches to institutional consolidation and how they can support enrollment and operational goals

• Academic resource-sharing models and their role in expanding offerings while managing instructional costs

• Innovative financial and academic strategies to strengthen institutional resilience

• The role of cloud-based systems and digital transformation in supporting shared services and operational agility

• How presidents and boards are facilitating leadership conversations about shared services and consolidation

• Key considerations for aligning shared services and consolidation initiatives with institutional mission and values

Three Key Takeaways for Leadership:

1. Clarify institutional mission and target audience to guide strategic planning and resource allocation.

2. Prioritize student success and retention as core drivers of institutional resilience.

3. Evaluate shared services and consolidation strategies as potential options for improving efficiency and long-term sustainability.

This episode offers valuable insights for institutional leaders exploring new operational models to support their mission and navigate today’s higher education landscape.

Recommended For: Presidents, trustees, board members, chief financial officers, provosts, and senior administrative leaders focused on institutional sustainability and operational strategy.

Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/shared-services-and-consolidation-strategies-for-small-colleges/

#HigherEdLeadership #SharedServices #ConsolidationStrategies #HigherEducationPodcast

While higher education leaders often cite leadership development as a priority, few institutions treat it as a teachable, measurable skill. In this episode of Changing Higher Ed®, host Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Scott Cowen about why leadership education should be integrated into the academic curriculum—and how institutions can implement it effectively.

President Emeritus of Tulane University, Cowen shares insights from leading the university through Hurricane Katrina and from his new book, Lead and Succeed, which outlines strategies to develop leadership skills in students and early-career professionals. He dispels the “born leader” myth and offers a framework for embedding leadership development at every level of the institution.

This conversation is especially relevant for presidents, trustees, and academic leaders seeking to build leadership capacity across campus.

Topics Covered:

• Why higher education often fails to treat leadership as a strategic priority

• How to embed leadership development into the academic curriculum

• Emotional intelligence and the behavioral traits of effective leaders

• Leadership lessons from Tulane’s post-Katrina recovery

• Creating institutional systems that reinforce leadership behaviors

• The role of succession planning in long-term institutional health

Real-World Examples Discussed:

• Tulane University’s relocation to Houston and Cowen’s daily crisis communication strategy

• The development of a for-credit leadership course and workbook, Lead and Succeed

• Mentorship from Dr. Norman Francis, president of Xavier University for 50 years

• Cowen’s “thinking out loud” email updates during crises at Tulane and Case Western

• Scaling structured leadership practices across institutions

Three Key Takeaways for Leadership:

1. Formalize leadership education. Establish structured academic courses with measurable outcomes. Integrate mentoring and reflection into the curriculum to build leadership competencies.

2. Develop repeatable crisis leadership practices. Use structured daily meetings and transparent communications to align institutional response during disruption.

3. Implement strategic succession planning. Treat leadership transitions as long-term planning initiatives. Build internal pipelines and normalize leadership exits to support institutional continuity.

This episode offers a practical framework for establishing a leadership-ready culture in higher education academic curricula.

Recommended For: Presidents, provosts, deans, academic affairs leaders, trustees, and student success strategists.

Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/leadership-development-academic-curriculum-design-in-higher-ed/

#HigherEdLeadership #AcademicCurriculum #StudentDevelopment #LeadershipEducation #HigherEducationPodcast

Higher education’s approach to DEI is under fire—from political pressure, public skepticism, and internal fatigue. But abandoning DEI isn’t the only option.

In this episode of Changing Higher Ed®, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Columbia Law professor Susan Sturm about how higher ed institutions can continue to drive inclusive institutional change—without relying on traditional DEI frameworks that may no longer be viable.

Sturm, author of What Might Be: Confronting Racism to Transform Our Institutions, reframes DEI as a long-term, systems-level strategy rooted in leadership, trust, and organizational learning. She introduces the concept of “full participation,” where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive and contribute to the institution’s mission—and outlines the leadership mindsets and practices necessary to build that reality.

Through examples from UMBC, Columbia, and court systems, Sturm shows how change begins with local experimentation, paradox navigation, and support for “organizational catalysts” who bridge across roles and perspectives. She also explores how discomfort, conflict, and even failure can become engines for cultural learning—if leaders are willing to embrace vulnerability and complexity.

Topics Covered:

• Why current DEI models fall short in higher education

• The paradox of racial salience and its impact on reform

• How institutions can foster “full participation”

• Why local experimentation drives scalable change

• The role of discomfort and rupture in institutional learning

• How to resource and support internal change agents

• What boards and presidents must do to align DEI with strategy

Three Key Takeaways for Leadership:

1. Train leaders to recognize and hold paradox—not resolve it

2. Invest in internal catalysts who can bridge across silos and groups

3. Reframe DEI as mission-aligned infrastructure, not add-on programming

Recommended For:
Presidents, provosts, board members, DEI officers, and change leaders looking to move beyond check-the-box diversity efforts and create meaningful, sustainable institutional change.

Transcript: https://changinghighered.com/dei-is-off-the-table-how-higher-ed-can-still-drive-institutional-change/

#HigherEdLeadership #HigherEdChangeManagement #HigherEducationPodcast #DEI

Higher education is facing a growing disconnect between traditional academic pathways and the needs of today’s learners and employers. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Kathleen deLaski, founder of Education Design Lab and author of Who Needs College Anymore?, about how institutions can realign academic programs to better serve nontraditional students and meet workforce demands.

Drawing from her experience supporting over 1,200 colleges and regional systems, deLaski explores how modular credentials, skills-based learning, and short-term pathways can make higher education more accessible and valuable to adult learners. The conversation highlights how institutions can use design thinking, industry data, and step-ladder credentialing to connect academic outcomes to employment opportunities—without abandoning their core mission.

This episode is especially relevant for presidents, trustees, and academic leaders tasked with redesigning programs and structures to improve learner outcomes, increase enrollment, and strengthen workforce relevance.

Topics Covered:

• The rise of nontraditional students and the failures of a degree-first model

• How institutions can implement skills-based learning and credential transparency

• Examples of how colleges like Western Governors University are aligning learning with job market demands

• The importance of employer engagement in curriculum design

• Why internal silos and legacy structures hinder meaningful innovation

• How to use step-ladder pathways to improve access, confidence, and long-term outcomes

Real-World Examples Discussed:

• Western Governors University’s use of skills profiles tied to labor market data

• How community colleges are building modular micro-pathways in partnership with employers

• The impact of state policy and funding shifts (e.g., Virginia, Colorado, Texas) on institutional priorities

Three Key Takeaways for Higher Ed Leadership:

1. Aligning academic programs with workforce needs requires intentional curriculum design and employer input.

2. Modular, stackable credentials offer nontraditional students realistic entry points and long-term pathways to degrees.

3. Institutional structures must adapt to support new models—program redesign alone is not enough.

This episode offers actionable insight for institutional leaders committed to expanding access, improving workforce outcomes, and strengthening institutional sustainability.

Recommended For:
Presidents, provosts, trustees, academic planners, workforce and career pathway leaders, and board members addressing enrollment challenges and labor market alignment.

Read the transcript on our website:
https://changinghighered.com/align-academic-programs-with-workforce-needs-serve-nontraditional-students/

#HigherEdLeadership #AcademicRedesign #WorkforceAlignment #NontraditionalStudents #HigherEducationPodcast

Higher education faces increasing external pressures and diminishing public trust—creating an urgent need for institutional adaptation. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Brian Rosenberg, former president of Macalister College and author of "Whatever It Is, I'm Against It," about why resistance to change has made colleges and universities particularly vulnerable to current attacks.

Drawing on his 17 years of presidential experience and current perspective as a Harvard visiting professor, Rosenberg analyzes the economic, political, and structural factors undermining public confidence in higher education while offering candid observations about what institutional leaders must do differently to navigate this challenging landscape.

This conversation is especially relevant for presidents, trustees, and institutional leaders seeking to understand both external threats and internal barriers to necessary change.

Topics Covered:

• The multiple factors driving declining public confidence in higher education
• How political polarization and economic concerns about affordability create challenges
• Why traditional governance structures struggle to implement transformational change
• The impact of low completion rates (under 60% nationally) on public perception
• The relationship between boards and presidents during challenging periods
• Why institutions need to collaborate more effectively against external threats

Real-World Examples Discussed:

• Columbia University as a target of coordinated attacks on higher education
• Wellesley College's $100,000 comprehensive fee and its impact on public trust
• The contrast between campus protests today and those of the 1960s
• Institutions with 30% completion rates that would signal catastrophic failure in other industries
• The success of community-connected support structures at Amarillo College

Three Key Takeaways for Leadership:

• Presidents must be honest and transparent with stakeholders about institutional challenges.
  
  
• Board members have a responsibility to defend institutional mission—service is a privilege that carries obligations.
  
  
• The board-president relationship is the single most important factor in institutional effectiveness.
  
  

This episode provides thoughtful analysis for institutional leaders navigating external pressures while managing internal resistance to necessary change.

Recommended For: Presidents, trustees, board members, chief financial officers, and enrollment leaders concerned about institutional sustainability and public perception of higher education.

Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/resistance-to-change-attacks-on-higher-education/

#HigherEdLeadership #InstitutionalChange #BoardGovernance #HigherEducationPodcast

Strategic affiliation in higher education offers an alternative path for institutional sustainability—one that maintains mission and autonomy while accessing shared infrastructure and support. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Matt Nehmer, President of The Colleges of Law, about his institution’s affiliation with The Community Solution Education System (TCS) and what other leaders should know before pursuing similar strategies.

Drawing on his experience as both a college president and former system executive, Nehmer shares how the affiliation was structured, how accreditation and compliance were handled, and what shared services have allowed The Colleges of Law to professionalize operations without sacrificing identity.

This conversation is especially relevant for presidents, trustees, and institutional leaders considering affiliation models to improve long-term viability.

Topics Covered:

• Why The Colleges of Law pursued affiliation before it became a necessity

• The dual-board governance structure that balances autonomy and accountability

• How legal safeguards protected institutional assets during transition

• Shared services provided through The Community Solutions system and how they’re managed

• Accreditation coordination with WASC and the implications of a system model

• Academic collaboration across system institutions without curriculum loss

• Leadership communication and the president’s role in system-level engagement

Real-World Examples Discussed:

• Asset protection using a legacy nonprofit entity

• Cross-listed family law course shared with affiliated institutions

• Accreditation contingency planning in case of system dissolution

• Strategic planning coordination across multiple colleges

Three Key Takeaways for Leadership:

• Presidents must actively educate stakeholders about how system affiliation works.

• Legal and governance structures matter—protect assets and clarify responsibilities.

• Affiliation doesn’t require cultural compromise; it enables operational focus.

This episode provides practical insights for institutions exploring strategic affiliation as a pathway to long-term resilience without sacrificing independence.

Recommended For:
Presidents, trustees, board members, general counsel, provosts, and system executives considering affiliation or system alignment models in higher education.

Read the transcript:
https://changinghighered.com/strategic-affiliation-in-higher-education/

#HigherEdLeadership #StrategicAffiliation #Governance #HigherEducationPodcast