AGB-MSCHE Workshop Addresses Institutional Strategic Planning

Decision makers and influencers in higher education joined the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) for a workshop on long-term strategic partnerships and private system affiliations. This was the first of six workshops MSCHE is hosting in 2020.

The workshop in Philadelphia on Feb. 13 began with Mr. Rick Beyer, AGB Senior Fellow, speaking to the consolidation trend in higher education through institutional closures, mergers and private system affiliations. For those institutions with proactive leadership there are opportunities to consider alternatives for long-term prosperity, he said.

Mr. Beyer noted that with 75 percent of college students attending two or more colleges, the transfer student segment represents a major opportunity for institutions. But for many institutions, operational changes are needed to attract, admit, and serve transfer students well.

As an institution looks to shift its priorities, accreditation through MSCHE is an enabling element said Dr. Heather F. Perfetti, MSCHE President-Elect. Dr. Perfetti highlighted how the Commission’s standards and the process of self-study can be leveraged to support innovation and institutional priorities.

Dr. Elizabeth H. Sibolski, MSCHE President, emphasized one of the overall goals that students are well-served and accreditation gives students a sense of security about the education that they receive.

When AGB is called in to work with an institution, Mr. Ken Knueven, AGB Consulting Managing Director, noted that the group conducts a situational assessment which goes hand in hand with MSCHE’s self-study process.

And while higher education is reacting to market demands such as the unbundling of classes and credits or meeting the demands of adult learners, the changes taking place on campuses are not about changing an institution’s mission. Meeting the needs of the marketplace can be done in a way that aligns with the current mission or identity of an institution Mr. Beyer affirmed.

For a complete list of MSCHE workshops, click here.