2020 Planning and Budgeting Forum

Presenter(s):

Ted Ruth, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Fred Stone, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Hear how one institution’s 2020 campus master plan is building upon the previous 2014 plan and subsequent update, while also addressing a 2018 strategic plan along the bold goal of growing enrollment by 50 percent. Discover how the physical campus will play an important role in helping the institution achieve that goal. Improvements to the overall campus experience as well as new and improved physical spaces will be instrumental in addressing the priority areas that make up the enrollment plan.  By carefully gathering input from campus stakeholders, the master plan will align priorities for the physical environment with the strategic plan and provide clarity for the capital plan.

Presenter(s):

Howard Teibel, Teibel Education Consulting

Nicole Trufant, University of New England

Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings, Oberlin College

Crises, replete with both complexity and change, require administrators to both lead and manage effectively. Managers need to make immediate choices and allocate resources to address urgent needs. Leaders must provide both honesty — a clear accounting of the challenges your team faces — and credible hope that collectively you and your people have the resources needed to meet the challenges you face each day. The risk of failure is great, but the work of cultivating these skills can be learned. Presenters will discuss key considerations, best practices, and lessons learned over the past few months. They will review how they stayed connected and collaborated and will share lessons that can help us collectively emerge from this experience stronger.

Presenter(s):

Chad King, University of Denver

James Rosner, University of Denver

How did one institution develop a Green Fund in 2008 to capture year end savings from electricity and natural gas utility budgets? The $1.5M fund replenished and grew to $6.5M in 2016 as a result of energy savings projects and utility budgets. In 2019, the fund was utilized to support energy efficient building systems for new capital projects. Energy projects have reduced electrical consumption by 750,000 kWh annually resulting in lowered  emissions by38 percent since 2006. The institution is now installing a solar panel installation through a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The 2.25-megawatt installation will produce more than 5 percent of DU’s electricity, accounting for 7-8 percent of DU’s energy consumption. The Green Fund and the solar PPA are key components to reaching multiple sustainability goals, including reducing on-campus electrical consumption by 500,000 kWh annually, reducing carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2025, and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.

Presenter(s):

Christopher Bever, Furman University

Michael Nicolescu, PFM Group

Financial modeling and scenario planning are a powerful combination. Thoughtfully highlighting potential future financial challenges and opportunities leads to more efficient and collaborative decision making. By considering alternative scenarios to areas such as enrollment and retention, new programs, various debt options, and endowment analysis, Furman University gained an increased confidence in the financial future of the institution. Best practices and lessons learned will be shared from years of experience developing and communicating financial models using various platforms and tools. Emphasis will be placed on how Furman University utilizes financial modeling to communicate with its senior leadership and respond to questions and new ideas as the environment is changing. Examples and considerations for making dynamic presentations to facilitate productive conversations will be shared.

Presenter(s):

Ryan Rapp, University of Missouri System

Paul Friga, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Susan Johnston, NACUBO

Susan LaPanne, Keene State College

Explore new operating models for small, medium, and large institutions as they adjust to the massive challenges facing higher education. Presenters will first summarize the traditional operating models and assumptions and then present the detailed forces requiring change, including COVID-19, the economic downturn, and social unrest. These factors are increasing the strategic and financial stress on universities and leaders are working hard to develop new short-term strategies to handle it. While the financial impacts will be quite dramatic, we should do our best to invest in core mission activities and move forward on new priorities to make overdue changes to how we deliver education and how much we charge. This panel will present ideas and engage the audience in their thoughts about making a real change to college and university operating models.

Presenter(s):

Margaret O'Connor, Harvard University

Thomas Hollister, Harvard University

Jennifer Dilts, Harvard University

Julia Falkoff, Harvard University

Review a recession playbook that offers a financial planning framework focusing on key principles, potential actions, and change management strategies for creating a resilient organization. Harvard University is now systematically incorporating downside scenario planning into these processes, and the playbook offers a consistent framework and set of principles that can be used in departments and units throughout the university. Explore guiding principles and strategic framework, as well as tips on how to create your own playbook. Presenters will share how they responded quickly and nimbly to the current crisis and implemented strategies from the playbook. Though Harvard is a complex research institution with a large endowment, this topic and the tools discussed are applicable to every institution.

Presenter(s):

Derek Freitag, PFM Group

Kevin Kuhar, PFM Group

Synario is the strategic planning software used by over 70+ higher education institutions. Our higher education team will provide insight on how they helped hundreds of financial professionals model complex problems and supported confident decisions throughout the pandemic. This session will provide examples of how Synario is being utilized to make strategic decisions surrounding capital projects, funding sources, and tuition.

Presenter(s):

Michael Noth, Indiana University System

Susan Fleener, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Michael Fowler, Indiana University System

Aimee Heeter, Indiana University

Linda Kroll, University of Notre Dame

Presenter(s):

Brian Berrellez, University of Arizona

Jeffrey Ratje, University of Arizona

The expanding universe of has vastly multiplied the world of possibilities for the progressive administrator. Measuring productivity of an academic organization, or even individual faculty members, is so opportunity-rich yet fraught with cultural dangers—that only the brave or naïve dare engage in these conversations, let alone develop a course of implementation. At one college at the University of Arizona, several transformations began during the Great Recession: severe and repetitive budget reductions, changes in leadership, and the implementation of Responsibility Center Management. The resultant challenges and changes became catalysts for the exploration of objective data to increase understanding of performance and productivity. The changes called for data-informed decision-making about mission delivery. Learn about the importance of transparency and accountability and review tips on implementation to help change organizational culture.

Presenter(s):

Curtis Gratz, Allitix

Bryan Elmore, Auburn University

Rush Sherman, Spalding University

In consistently changing times, institutions need to think proactively and plan utilizing the assumptions of today; not those of yesterday. Join a panel to discuss some of the challenges facing their institutions, the scenarios they are running, and how they are planning to address some of these challenges in preparation for the current academic and financial year. Review the operational, financial, and safety issues confronted, and the various ways institutions are connecting these plans together to best understand the impacts. Presenters will also demonstrate models that were put in place to help with the tasks. Understanding the issues, acting quickly, and proactively responding to changes can help institutions recover and position themselves for future success.