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.
🚨 Higher Ed’s $50B Crisis: What Columbia’s Funding Battle Means for You...
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Reader, Higher education is facing a perfect storm.... Rising costs, AI disruption, and now, direct political intervention into university operations. This week, we’re breaking down: 🚨 The $5B Funding Battle Over Columbia University The Trump administration has launched an unprecedented federal funding review into Columbia over its response to campus protests. If the administration follows through on its threat to cut funding, the impact could redefine the federal-university relationship—with ripple effects for every institution receiving federal dollars. Meta takeaway? Universities need to be prepared for direct federal scrutiny, especially on issues of campus governance, free speech, and civil rights enforcement. ​Read the Chronicle breakdown​ 💰 The Endowment Tax Hike: Who Really Pays? A new proposal seeks to increase the endowment tax on elite universities—raising questions about how institutions will adapt.
The takeaway? Institutions should be proactively shaping the narrative on their economic and societal contributions... Before policymakers dictate the terms. 📢 Read More​ 🎙️ Inside the Mind of the powerful Dr. Robbyn Wacker How do you align institutional strategy with student & workforce needs—and avoid the strategic plan becoming a wish list? Why AI isn’t just a tool, but a leadership challenge—and what top universities are doing about it. T he future of higher ed’s business model—how partnerships, revenue diversification, and new education models are shaping what’s next. The takeaway? Universities that can translate mission into action—and adapt to rapidly shifting external pressures—will lead the next era of higher ed. ​Listen to the Full Conversation; Clip​ 🔎 Final Thought:​ Higher ed is at a crossroads. Federal scrutiny, AI adoption, and business model shifts are no longer theoretical—they’re here. The institutions that embrace data-driven agility and policy foresight will thrive. The ones that assume business as usual will be in for a rough decade. 📢 Let’s talk about how your institution can stay ahead. ​Schedule a conversation.​ -Mike O’Connor O'Connor & Associates |
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, Higher Ed’s Financial Model Is Cracking—Fast. From rising tuition thresholds to deep federal cuts, higher education’s financial landscape is shifting beneath our feet. Institutions that don’t adapt will struggle to survive. 🚨 What’s Inside This Week: Harvard raises its tuition-free threshold: What it signals for the sector. Ben Kennedy’s latest insights: The hard truths about financial sustainability. Federal layoffs gut the Education Department—what it means for data and...
Hi there Reader, Most universities are misaligned—and it’s costing them. I sat down with Ben Kennedy, CEO of Kennedy & Company, to talk about the real financial risks facing colleges today. Key Takeaways: Our pricing model is broken – Schools at 75% tuition discounting can’t sustain it. Yet most don’t have a plan to stop the bleeding. Your brand is your lifeline – If students think your institution is struggling, they won’t enroll. The wrong cost-cutting decisions make that perception...
Hi there Reader, The Exhaustion Epidemic in Higher Education A recent Chronicle article highlights a pervasive sense of burnout among faculty and staff in higher education. Key findings include: Overextended Faculty: Professors, like Celeste Chamberland at Roosevelt University, juggle numerous roles—from committee memberships to student advisement—leading to unsustainable workloads. Administrative Overload: The increasing administrative demands detract from core educational responsibilities,...