Hi there Reader,

Welcome back.

This week, we're digging into the intersection of institutional strategy, federal overreach, and student loan reform.

From campus data labs to billion-dollar showdowns with the federal government, the higher ed playbook is being rewritten in real time.

Let's get into it.

Rethinking the College Business Model with Matt Hendricks

Founder, Perspective Data Sciences

What if you could scan every college’s contracts, staffing levels, and pricing models—and flag costly outliers in minutes?

That’s exactly what Matt Hendricks has built.

An Economist turned data entrepreneur, Matt has quietly built the most powerful sandbox for higher ed finance we’ve seen.

And the results are jaw-dropping.

🧠 Audit + 990 + IPEDS = Your Blind Spots Exposed.​
Matt’s tool harmonizes thousands of audits, IRS 990s, and enrollment files—allowing instant comparisons on staffing, food service contracts, endowment draws, and pricing strategy.

💸 Find Hidden Millions in Under 10 Minutes.​
One campus uncovered they were paying 2.5x above median for food service. Another? 250 more staff than peers. Matt’s software makes these inefficiencies painfully obvious—and fixable.

📊 Visuals That Speak CFO.​
From net cash flow diagnostics to endowment efficiency, this isn’t your usual IR dashboard. It’s the tool your board thinks you have… but probably don’t.

​Excerpt Here.

🚨 Want a demo?​
I'm offering a handful of exclusive walkthroughs of Matt’s platform next week. I’ll personally show you how to use it to run your own benchmarks and spot inefficiencies.
⚡ Spots are limited; reply with availability next week.

Harvard Pushes Back

With over $2.2 billion in federal grants frozen, Harvard University is refusing demands from the Trump administration to overhaul its hiring, admissions, and curriculum practices.

Among the most shocking asks?

Shutting down DEI programs, disciplining pro-Palestinian protesters, and giving the feds access to admissions data through 2028.

Why it matters:

• This is a watershed moment for university governance, institutional independence, and academic freedom.
• Garber’s public refusal may set the tone for other institutions navigating the weaponization of federal funding.
• As Columbia's concessions failed to restore grants, Harvard is drawing a legal and moral line in the sand.

​Read full article →​

3. ASU+GSV & The Case for Reinvention

Higher Ed Dive's coverage of ASU+GSV offered a pulse-check on where institutional leaders, edtech firms, and funders are aligned (or not).

Key themes:

• Skepticism toward AI edtech remains, despite hype.
• Institutions are redefining ROI: less about employment rates, more about skills agility and lifelong value.
• Panelists warn: you can't innovate your way out of broken fundamentals. Business models, not just tech, must evolve.

​Read the full recap →​

4. In Case You Missed It: AI, Data & Disruption

🔹 Google's Gemini Reasoning Model Is a Glimpse at the Future of Applied AI​
The next generation of AI isn’t about chat — it’s about decision-making. Gemini sets the tone for enterprise AI beyond Silicon Valley.

🔹 The 6-Point AI Chart That Reshapes Strategic Planning​
McKinsey outlines where AI is actually saving money. Use this to validate (or challenge) your tech investments.

🔹 Data Decimation Inside the Department of Education​
In a move that's left the field reeling, 160+ data contracts were wiped out and NCES staff was slashed from over 100 to three. The future of IPEDS, College Scorecard, and the Nation’s Report Card is in jeopardy.

Thanks for reading. Share this with someone trying to connect the dots between politics, tech, and student success.

Until next week,

-Mike O’Connor

O'Connor & Associates

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