With 17 years of insider experience, I specialize in enhancing university operations and strategic planning through innovative, data-driven solutions. Receive succinct, powerful insights on using analytics and artificial intelligence to streamline operations, increase ROI, and make informed strategic decisions. Ideal for C-suite aiming to do more with less and navigate the complexities of modern higher education.
AI Revolution: Why Campuses May Close (And It’s Fine)
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Hi there Reader, This week’s newsletter is a bit of a special edition... More AI volatility, new market signals for campus real estate, and the latest Harvard vs. Trump legal drama. As always: fast takes, second-order insights, and resources to help you navigate Higher Ed’s next moves. 👇 Onward: AI in Flux: New Video Tools, GPT-5 Timeline, Meta’s Talent WarsThe AI arms race keeps accelerating:
Q1 Private Equity Real Assets Report: Reading the Signals for Higher EdPitchBook’s Global Real Assets Q1 2025 Report shows steady but uneven trends across real estate, energy, and infrastructure. → Commercial RE volatility persists—valuations are sharply bifurcated between premium “experiential” campuses and underutilized sites. → Global LPs are pulling capital from REITs and recycling into value-add and distressed assets. Relevance for Higher Ed? For institutional real estate teams, endowments, and CFOs: expect heightened scrutiny on debt service, underutilized space, and campus ROI. This is the cycle where winners will double down on high-performing physical assets—and underperformers will trigger tough portfolio decisions. The Big Tech AI Bet: Charts That MatterCB Insights released its deep dive on Big Tech’s AI bets and revenue impacts. Let me save you some reading... • AI-driven revenue is up 10x YoY at leaders like Microsoft and Google. Takeaway: Smart leaders aren’t just using AI tools — they’re preparing for entire new business models powered by AI. Expect this to bleed into academic program demand, student expectations, and even budget line items by 2026. Harvard vs. Trump: The Latest Legal FrontHarvard’s ongoing legal battle with the Trump administration keeps escalating. Latest? The Education Department is now blocking new federal research grants to Harvard, while citing ideological grounds. Simultaneously, lawsuits are flying: AAUP and Harvard filed fresh legal challenges over academic freedom and First Amendment violations. Why this matters: Even “elite immunity” isn’t holding. Institutional leaders across higher ed should be tracking this—not for the headlines, but for what it signals about future federal funding risks, audit exposures, and governance challenges headed our way. The Tool Your Board Thinks You Already Have…For presidents, CFOs, and board leaders asking harder questions this budget cycle: Perspective Data Science is the fastest way I’ve seen to uncover blind spots in staffing, vendor spend, and pricing—before your auditors do. → Example sandbox here → https://lasell.perspectivedatascience.com I’ve been using it to surface 6- to 7-figure savings in less than an hour for campuses. If you want a quick walkthrough, reply—I’ll personally show you how we’re helping institutions find real margin. Til next time, -Mike O’Connor O'Connor & Associates PS: I’m also actively exploring senior leadership opportunities — Special Assistant to President / Chief of Staff roles in particular. If you know a college or university looking for someone to bring serious strategic horsepower + financial acumen to their leadership table, I’d love an intro. (Referrals appreciated.) |
Hi, I'm Mike!
With 17 years of insider experience, I specialize in enhancing university operations and strategic planning through innovative, data-driven solutions. Receive succinct, powerful insights on using analytics and artificial intelligence to streamline operations, increase ROI, and make informed strategic decisions. Ideal for C-suite aiming to do more with less and navigate the complexities of modern higher education.
Hi there Reader, The headlines don’t tell the full story—but the data and experts do. This week, we dive into political risks facing your campus narrative, why predictive AI may be your secret weapon, and what enrollment shifts by race mean for your institutional future. Candid Conversation with Nick Anderson (ACE)Higher Ed's Trust Crisis Isn’t a Marketing Problem. It's a Local ROI Problem. Nick Anderson, senior leader at the American Council on Education and longtime Washington Post...
Hi Reader, This Week’s Big Ideas: Why Small Wins > Big Visions, Türkiye’s EdTech Pivot, and the Senate’s Higher Ed Shakeup 1. Want to Thrive in the Age of AI? Think Small. Based on: Derek Sivers’ “Round” Philosophy + Kevin Kelly’s “1000 True Fans” The future won’t reward scale for scale’s sake. “To surf above the tsunami, I suggest one human-scale win at a time.” In a higher ed world that obsesses over growth, rankings, and transformation, we might need to go the other way: Build resonance...
Hi there Reader, Here are few updates on the insides, and periphery, of the Academy.... 7 Campuses. One System. A Cautionary Tale. Penn State just approved plans to close 7 of its 24 campuses. While framed as “restructuring,” the real signal here is existential: Low enrollment, mounting deficits, and diminishing local pipelines have pushed even a land-grant flagship into retreat mode. 📉 Translation?This isn’t just a rural problem or a small-school story. The ground is shifting under everyone....