Free Speech on College Campuses: Insights from FIRE's 2025 Report

Free speech on college campuses has become one of higher education's most volatile and defining challenges. In this episode, Dr. Drumm McNaughton talks with Dr. Sean Stevens, Chief Research Advisor at FIRE—the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression—about findings from FIRE's newly released College Free Speech Rankings and the state of academic freedom, the growing political pressures on universities, and how presidents and boards can protect open dialogue in today's divided climate. Topics Covered: Why FIRE expanded its mission beyond higher education and no longer stands for "Foundation for Individual Rights in Education." How FIRE's College Free Speech Rankings and Scholars Under FIRE survey measure tolerance and academic freedom nationwide. What the data shows about declining political tolerance among students and faculty. How government pressure is influencing faculty terminations and speech policies. The role of leadership in maintaining consistent, transparent free speech policies. Examples from Vanderbilt and Dartmouth showing how structured dialogue programs improve campus discourse. Three Takeaways for University Presidents and Boards: Establish and Communicate Bright Lines – Define clear speech policies and enforce them consistently across all viewpoints. Stand Firm in Times of Controversy – Uphold principles of free expression even when political or donor pressure mounts. Promote Civic Dialogue and Intellectual Diversity – Support programs that help students and faculty engage constructively across ideological divides. Read the transcript or extended show summary: https://changinghighered.com/free-speech-on-college-campuses-fire-report/ #HigherEducation #FreeSpeech #FIRE 

Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton welcomes Dr. Harrison Keller, president of the University of North Texas and former Texas commissioner of higher education. This episode of the Changing Higher Ed podcast helps higher education presidents, boards, and senior leaders rethink how to connect institutional mission with workforce readiness. It explores how institutions can better align employer partnerships, faculty innovation, and experiential learning to ensure graduates gain both economic and civic value from their degrees. Listeners will hear how the University of North Texas is translating statewide strategy into campus-level change—showing what's possible when leadership, faculty, and employers collaborate to strengthen outcomes for students and the workforce alike. Keller shares how Building a Talent Strong Texas redefined higher education's value proposition by tying attainment goals to time-to-value, graduate earnings, and measurable student outcomes. He also discusses UNT's Texas Talent Accelerator, faculty externships, and cross-campus structures that link curriculum, research, and employer engagement. Together, these efforts demonstrate how thoughtful strategy, data-informed planning, and shared governance can create lasting institutional and workforce impact. Topics Covered Measuring value through outcomes and earnings using time-to-value analysis Aligning programs with workforce needs through employer partnerships and data Texas Talent Accelerator: coordinated collaboration across institutions Faculty externships connecting academic insight and workforce practice Embedding civil dialogue and collaboration into student learning Three Key Takeaways for Leadership Use outcomes and earnings data to guide academic and financial strategy. Build employer partnerships that sustain workforce readiness. Support faculty collaboration and innovation through aligned governance and incentives. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/aligning-higher-ed-with-workforce-needs-and-student-value/ #HigherEdLeadership #StrategicPlanning #WorkforceReadiness #StudentOutcomes #HigherEducationPodcast

At one of the smallest graduate schools in the nation, a system built to serve just over a hundred students is redefining how higher education can grow. CUNY's Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism has proven that scale isn't the key to enrollment stability—structure is. By integrating admissions, student affairs, career services, and alumni engagement into one cohesive unit, the school has created a holistic enrollment strategy and management model that continuously fills its pipeline while centering student success. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Colleen Leigh, Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success at CUNY Journalism, about how this model works—and how any institution can apply its principles. They discuss how cross-departmental collaboration, empathetic leadership, and data-informed decision-making can transform student outcomes, strengthen retention, and build lasting alumni engagement. Topics Covered How CUNY Journalism unified admissions, student affairs, career services, and alumni engagement under one leadership structure What makes holistic enrollment management more sustainable than traditional recruitment-focused models How shared accountability and communication strengthen belonging and retention The role of empathy and equity in leading institutional change Why belonging—not policy—is the real driver of retention Using alumni engagement as a continuous extension of recruitment and career development How shared services allow small institutions to deliver enterprise-level results The role of data-informed and equity-driven strategies in student success How CUNY Journalism is expanding access through bilingual online and tuition-free programs What presidents and boards can learn about aligning mission, management, and measurable outcomes Three Key Takeaways for Leadership Student Success Is a System, Not a Silo Enrollment, retention, and alumni engagement are interdependent. Breaking down silos creates a self-sustaining pipeline that continuously reinforces institutional value. Data and Equity Drive Smarter Decisions Evidence without equity misses the point. Data should inform which students thrive—and equity ensures that more of them can. Empathetic Leadership Sustains Change In times of transition, empathy and communication hold institutions together. Listening builds trust, and trust drives performance. Recommended For: Presidents, boards, provosts, and senior enrollment leaders seeking sustainable systems that connect recruitment, student success, and alumni engagement across the student lifecycle. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/holistic-enrollment-strategy-and-management/ #EnrollmentStrategy #StudentSuccess #HigherEducationPodcast 

When every board discussion centers on deficits, deferred maintenance, or another "strategic realignment," higher education leaders start asking what it would take to fix the system instead of just managing decline. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Beth Martin, President of Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU), who led her institution through a complete financial and operational turnaround—eliminating institutional debt through strategic real estate use, risk planning, and sound financial governance. Martin's experience offers a rare look at what it takes to execute a true higher education turnaround. She shares how NDNU's leadership aligned governance, mission, and financial strategy to not only survive but rebuild a sustainable model focused on graduate and online growth. This conversation is especially relevant for presidents, trustees, CFOs, and institutional leaders facing financial strain, considering asset monetization, or preparing for large-scale organizational change. Topics Covered: How NDNU executed a debt-free turnaround through real estate strategy and risk planning Applying business planning and systems theory to higher education transformation Managing institutional debt while investing in academic and technological infrastructure Governance structures that enable speed, trust, and accountability during turnaround Aligning presidents, boards, and sponsoring orders in complex financial transactions Leading cultural and organizational change while maintaining mission and morale Real-World Examples Discussed: NDNU's 46-acre land transaction that retired institutional debt and funded new programs Sequencing real estate sales to support strategy instead of short-term survival Governance reform guided by a skills matrix and board-chair alignment Realigning academic programs around graduate and online learning Faculty and staff engagement during institutional transition Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: Treat land monetization as strategy, not salvage. Link every major financial decision to a defined business plan and measurable outcomes. Integrate business and risk planning into every turnaround. Build contingencies for timing, regulation, and accreditation challenges. Strengthen governance alignment. A unified president and board chair, supported by a skills-based board, determine turnaround success. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/debt-free-higher-education-turnaround-strategy-real-estate/ #HigherEdLeadership #HigherEdTurnaround   #HigherEducationPodcast

Higher education institutions are increasingly at risk from cyberattacks that threaten enrollment, accreditation, financial aid compliance, and reputation. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Brian Kelly, Chief Information Security Officer at Community Health Networks of Connecticut and former higher education CISO, about why cybersecurity must be treated as an enterprise risk—not just an IT issue. This conversation is especially relevant for presidents, trustees, and senior leaders who need to understand how cyber risk intersects with governance, strategic planning, crisis management, and accreditation readiness. Topics Covered: Why higher education is a prime target for cyberattacks How ransomware and data breaches disrupt core institutional functions The governance responsibilities of boards in overseeing cybersecurity Cyber implications for strategic planning and reputation management Why accreditation and compliance can be undermined by cyber breaches Protecting research and intellectual property from cyber threats Building a campus culture of shared cybersecurity responsibility The leadership succession gap in higher ed cybersecurity Core practices every institution should adopt during Cybersecurity Awareness Month Real-World Examples Discussed: United Healthcare and Social Security data compromises PowerSchool breach exposing minors to identity theft Target and Home Depot breaches as case studies in reputational damage F-35 design theft highlighting the value of intellectual property Scam examples including PayPal fraud, fake purchase confirmations, and LinkedIn phishing Leadership succession in action: Cathy Hubbs' retirement and Harry Hoffman's appointment Three Key Takeaways for Higher Ed Leadership: Plan for resilience, not just prevention—institutions must continue to operate during and after cyber incidents. Make cybersecurity a shared responsibility—leaders must ensure accountability across the campus community. Include cyber in board oversight—cyber risk is part of governance, enterprise risk management, and accreditation readiness. Read the transcript or extended show summary: https://changinghighered.com/cybersecurity-risk-management-in-higher-education/ #HigherEdCybersecurity #BoardGovernance #HigherEducationPodcast

Higher education institutions face strained budgets, declining enrollments, and shifting donor behavior—making fundraising a strategic priority, not just an operational function. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Bill Crouch, CEO of BrightDot and former university president, about how presidents and boards can strengthen higher education fundraising by aligning it with strategic planning. Topics Covered: Why fundraising must be integrated into institutional strategic planning The shift from the 80/20 rule to today's 95/5 donor reality The concept of "mattership" and why donors need assurance that their lives matter Eagles vs. Sparrows as a framework for donor tiers Updating the Five I's of fundraising with creativity and emotional intelligence Why presidents should dedicate two hours a week to intentional donor cultivation How boards can become fundraising multipliers through accountability and "Perk Banks" The growing importance of local impact in donor decision-making Real-World Examples Discussed: A philanthropist redirecting gifts locally to ensure her contributions "mattered most" The researcher who cried after 16 years without ever being thanked for her role in million-dollar gifts A president telling his young faculty member, "You're asking today," in a million-dollar donor meeting The lasting impression of a three-sentence handwritten note from President George H. W. Bush Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: Fundraising must be elevated into strategy, not treated as a background function. Presidents should focus time and energy on cultivating high-capacity relationships while modeling gratitude across the institution. Boards need clear expectations and creative tools to fully activate their networks and influence. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/higher-education-fundraising-and-strategic-planning-alignment/   #HigherEducationFundraising  #HigherEdStrategicPlanning  #HigherEducationPodcast

AI dashboards offer higher education boards the opportunity to boost performance to improve their institutions. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed Podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Marc Huffman, CEO of OnBoard and eSCRIBE, about how AI dashboards provide trustees with better insight into board work and support more effective board governance. This conversation is especially relevant for presidents, trustees, and board professionals seeking to strengthen board readiness and make governance more data-informed. Topics Covered: How AI dashboards consolidate board materials and surface the most important information Methods for tracking progress against institutional strategy over multiple years Ways dashboards support board secretaries and committee chairs in managing follow-ups Why boards need AI use policies and trustee training to build digital literacy The coming role of predictive analytics and benchmarking in board planning Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: AI dashboards give boards better visibility into performance trends and unfinished business. Board composition and trustee development determine how well these tools are used. Governance policies for AI create a secure, ethical framework for decision support. Read the transcript on Changing Higher Ed: https://changinghighered.com/ai-dashboards-for-higher-education-board-governance/ #BoardGovernance #AIDashboards #HigherEducationPodcast

Families are writing universities directly to ask if it's safe to send their children to the United States. Institutions are also facing longer visa backlogs and growing competition from abroad. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Roger Douglas, Dean for International Programs and Development at St. Martin's University, about how leaders can strengthen international enrollment pipelines, improve retention, and protect graduate research capacity. Topics Covered: The 23-touchpoint recruitment model that keeps students and families engaged until they commit How graduate applicants often choose the first institution to deliver admissions and aid Families' growing concerns about campus safety and how institutions can respond Why outcome-driven marketing and peer-to-peer outreach build more trust than traditional tactics The effect of shrinking U.S. research funding on graduate student pipelines Retention strategies such as host family placements, faculty check-ins, and cultural immersion Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: Presidents and trustees should engage directly with international students to understand barriers and improve the climate. Retention investments—host families, advising, and cultural programming—are as critical as recruitment for revenue stability. Boards must integrate international enrollment into institutional strategy, requiring documented plans, outcome-based marketing, and active policy advocacy. Recommended For:  Presidents, trustees, enrollment leaders, and academic administrators responsible for sustaining institutional revenue, research, and reputation through international education. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/international-student-recruiting-in-higher-education/ #HigherEducation #InternationalStudentRecruiting  #HigherEducationPodcast   

This episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast focuses on enrollment management solutions presidents and boards can use to navigate the enrollment cliff. Bill Conley and Bob Massa of Enrollment Intelligence Now join Dr. Drumm McNaughton to share practical guidance on setting realistic enrollment goals, aligning enrollment with finance, and managing institutional risk. (Part one examined the challenges; this discussion turns to the solutions.) Topics Covered: Setting realistic enrollment goals using 3–5 years of funnel data Why inflated projections undermine trust with CFOs and boards Real-time dashboards and funnel monitoring for early intervention Mission-driven messaging and authentic student/alumni voices Balancing technology and AI with hospitality and personal interaction Enrollment management as part of long-term institutional risk planning Opportunities and risks of direct admission strategies Pipeline programs, community-based partnerships, and legal/political constraints Addressing the shrinking pipeline of experienced enrollment leaders Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: Monitor funnel data in real time and act on early warning signs. Integrate enrollment management with finance and governance. Invest in scenario planning, transparency, and leadership development. Read the transcript or the extended show summary: https://changinghighered.com/enrollment-management-solutions-for-higher-ed-leaders/ #EnrollmentManagement #HigherEdLeadership #HigherEducationPodcast

Institutions face converging pressures that are reshaping enrollment management. Declining participation rates, tuition discounting that erodes net revenue, international enrollment volatility, and political mandates are forcing colleges to rethink how they attract and retain students. Enrollment management is no longer just admissions and aid — it has become a strategic system linking recruitment promises to student success and institutional stability. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Bill Conley and Bob Massa, Co-Founders of Enrollment Intelligence Now. They share how enrollment management has evolved over the past fifty years and why it now sits at the center of higher education's most pressing challenges. Topics Covered How shrinking pipelines and lower college-going rates are reshaping enrollment outcomes Why unsustainable discounting is undermining financial health The growing impact of alternative credentials and new competitors The ways international enrollment declines and political mandates compound the crisis Why enrollment management functions as an accountability system for institutions Real-World Insights The origins of enrollment management in the 1970s and how it spread Lessons from institutions that discounted themselves into financial instability How enrollment leaders balance institutional mission against market realities Key Takeaway Enrollment management has become higher education's strategic fulcrum — the point where mission and market realities meet, determining whether commitments to students translate into institutional sustainability. Recommended For: Presidents, provosts, CFOs, board members, and enrollment leaders navigating today's enrollment cliff era. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/reframing-the-enrollment-cliff-a-new-lens-on-enrollment-management/   #HigherEdLeadership #EnrollmentCliff #EnrollmentManagement #HigherEducationPodcast