NACUBO 2023 Annual Meeting

Attendance at this session is limited to higher education attendees. No sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, or media representatives are permitted to attend.

What does the future hold for community colleges? Connect with community college colleagues to discuss business and financial management issues in this interactive session. Share your thoughts about today’s challenges and tomorrow’s uncertainties.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss challenges and solutions facing community colleges today
• Outline new approaches to handling issues at community colleges
• Solve problems germane to community colleges

CPE Available

• 0.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

Attendance at this session is limited to higher education attendees. No sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, or media representatives are permitted to attend.

What does the future hold for comprehensive and doctoral institutions? Connect with comprehensive and doctoral institutions to discuss business and financial management issues in this interactive session. Share your thoughts about today’s challenges and tomorrow’s uncertainties.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss challenges and solutions facing comprehensive and doctoral institutions today
• Outline new approaches to handling issues at comprehensive and doctoral institutions
• Solve problems germane to comprehensive and doctoral institutions

CPE Available

• 0.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

Attendance at this session is limited to higher education attendees. No sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, or media representatives are permitted to attend.

What does the future hold for research universities? Connect with research university colleagues to discuss business and financial management issues in this interactive session. Share your thoughts about today’s challenges and tomorrow’s uncertainties.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss challenges and solutions facing research universities today
• Outline new approaches to handling issues at research universities
• Solve problems germane to research universities

CPE Available

• 0.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

Attendance at this session is limited to higher education attendees. No sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, or media representatives are permitted to attend.

What does the future hold for small institutions? Connect with small institution colleagues to discuss business and financial management issues in this interactive session. Share your thoughts about today’s challenges and tomorrow’s uncertainties.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss challenges and solutions facing small institutions today
• Outline new approaches to handling issues at small institutions
• Solve problems germane to small institutions

CPE Available

• 0.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

Attendance at this session is limited to higher education attendees. No sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, or media representatives are permitted to attend.

Ranging from course sharing to full-on mergers and acquisitions, multiple institutions have moved toward shared administrative and academic services to increase efficiency and effectiveness over the last several years. Much of this work has been pioneered within public university systems. This roundtable discussion will focus on lessons learned by system CFOs who have been leading this work in their systems, efforts by the National Association of System Heads to leverage the “Power of Systems,” and what the future may look like for multi-institutional collaborations.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss challenges and solutions facing system business officers today
• Outline new approaches to handling issues in higher education systems
• Solve problems germane to system business officers

CPE Available

• 0.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

Although enrollment decline has slowed recently, the path back to pre-pandemic enrollment levels is growing further out of reach. In this session, you will hear from a distinguished panel of CFOs on how they found themselves at a crossroads searching for and ultimately developing creative solutions to break the enrollment cliff cycle. Learn the steps each campus took, including aligning technology investments to campus initiatives and meeting the needs of underserved students.

Speakers

• Philip Laube, assistant to the president for special projects and investments, Muskingum University 
• Edward Patrick, vice president - finance and administration, Washington College
• Matt Loecke, executive vice president, Apogee

Learning Objectives

• Assess your IT service delivery model and hiring practices to operate at the speed of the internet
• Build a plan for visionary IT leadership to drive transformation
• Compete for technical talent and determine what to keep in-house versus what to outsource 

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

The odds are good that your employee onboarding experience could use a boost. The University of Virginia (UVA) recently implemented a bot designed to delight newly-hired employees and help create efficiencies for the human resources department—with machine learning and artificial intelligence. Speakers will discuss the story of Cavbot, UVA’s virtual assistant, and the role that machine learning plays in providing 24/7 personalized support to newly hired employees. Panelists will demonstrate, with data, the positive impact Cavbot has had on employee satisfaction and engagement as well as the efficiencies gained through process automation. 

Speakers

• Michael Latsko, chief human resources officer, Arizona State University
• Adam Weikel, associate vice president of human resources, University of Virginia 
• Gail Babes, managing director, Ernst & Young
• Sean Jackson, managing director, Ernst & Young

Learning Objectives

• Describe the importance of gaining leadership and stakeholder trust and support for disruptive process and technology changes
• Discuss how a human-centered design approach, experimentation, rapid iterations with emerging technologies, and setting quality control standards can help establish a solid foundation for automation
• Design a process to begin the journey with intelligent automation
• Explain the importance of reporting and analytics that describe the value delivered by AI

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Information Technology

Employee recruitment and retention continue to be tremendous challenges in a very competitive job market, and for some institutions, essential student services and core campus operations are in jeopardy. This session will highlight current and emerging U.S. and higher education workforce challenges and offer examples of ways higher ed leaders can recruit, retain, and engage the talent needed now and into the future. Explore strategies chief business officers and chief human resource officers are using to recruit and retain employees.

Speakers

• Lynne Adams, chief human resources officer, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Kathy Dettloff, vice president for administration and finance, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Ed Kania, vice president for business and finance and treasurer, Rollins College
• David Zajchowski, director, human resources, Rollins College
• Andy Brantley, president and CEO, College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR)

Learning Objectives

• Outline national and higher education recruitment and retention data
• Discuss recruitment and retention strategies and solutions being used by both higher education and private sector organizations
• Describe the importance of the chief business officer and chief human resources officer relationship and identify ways to strengthen that partnership

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Personnel/Human Resources

Join seasoned university general counsel for a discussion of select hot topics in higher education law this year. They will discuss the complicated legal issues raised by the new rules around NIL (name, image and likeness) in college athletics, the state of play with respect to third-party servicers and online program management in light of the February 15, Dear Colleague Letter from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights that greatly expanded the definition of who constitutes a third-party servicer. Panelists will also address Title IX regulations and the status of race in admissions.

Speakers

• Youndy Cook, vice president and general counsel, University of Central Florida
• Vee Leonard, vice president and general counsel, Florida Gulf Coast University
• Ona Alston Dosunmu, president and CEO, National Association of College and University Attorneys

Learning Objectives

• Discuss legal issues related to NIL in college athletics, including how these changes can impact the business operations of colleges and universities
• Describe the impact of the new definition of third-party servicers and its potential impact on the business operations of colleges and universities
• Provide a timely update of top legal issues facing colleges and universities, including Title IX and race in admissions
• Consider how business officers and legal counsel can best collaborate to support success across the institution

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Business Law

In 2021, NACUBO was awarded $3.8 million in grants to create tools and resources that will produce financially sustainable and equitable student outcomes. In this session, panelists from participating institutions will share insights into how they are leveraging the tools and resources they helped to design, and how those tools and resources are linked to the improved student outcomes they expect to achieve. Panelists will discuss their experiences related to one of the following areas of focus: data to inform decisions; financial resource optimization; and student-centered planning, processes, and budgeting. 

Speakers

• Christopher Calvert, vice president for finance, chief financial officer, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
• Leslie Jamison, chief financial officer, Atlantic Cape Community College
• Amber Randolph, senior vice chancellor for administration, economic development and chief financial officer, Rutgers University – Newark
• Scott Stenmark, vice president for finance and administration, chief financial officer, North Park University
• Kelli Rainey, senior director of grants management, NACUBO

Learning Objectives

• Discuss approaches that peers are using to strengthen the role of the business office to strategically support student outcomes
• Identify opportunities to generate and support data analysis, data usage, and institution-wide awareness of budget outcomes and impacts
• List inputs and outputs that support planning, budgeting, prioritization, and allocation

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

Intercollegiate athletics has evolved dramatically in recent years with COVID-19-related impacts; new name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights; and a Supreme Court decision that altered previous limits to benefits for student-athletes. Even more recently, Division One is experiencing conference realignment and NCAA governance transformation. Further, the higher education landscape is shifting with new enrollment challenges and decreasing state funding, driving further complexity into the funding model of intercollegiate athletics. These changes have required leaders to balance mission-focused and financial objectives with the nimbleness of action that is required to meet continued changes in intercollegiate athletics.

Speakers

• Harlan Sands, former president, Cleveland State University
• Kevin White, vice president, director of athletics (emeritus), Duke University
• Tim Walsh, managing director, Huron

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the most pressing challenges to college athletic department financial models
• Identify management strategies to navigate new and recurring financial pressures related to intercollegiate athletics
• Assess institutional athletics portfolios in order to recognize the strategic benefits to articulate the full value they bring to the institution
• Outline strategies to evaluate and prioritize various programmatic investment opportunities

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

Explore findings from Inside Higher Ed's latest annual survey of college and university business officers, which will be published in conjunction with the NACUBO 2023 Annual Meeting. Editor Doug Lederman and three CBOs will present and analyze key takeaways with time for audience questions.

Speakers

• Panel of CBOs
• Doug Lederman, editor, Inside Higher Ed 

Learning Objectives

• Discuss peer perspectives on common, timely issues facing colleges and universities
• Apply trends and best practices from campuses around the country to your unique situation
• List top-of-mind issues facing today’s CBOs

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

12–12:15 pm

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) changed the landscape for colleges and universities seeking to invest in becoming more energy efficient while offsetting some of the cost. This session will offer a brief overview of pertinent energy efficiency incentives available to higher education and delve deeper into significant changes to the Section 179D deduction for energy efficient commercial construction. The session will also offer a view from Washington and offer insights into the potential for future changes to 179D.

Speaker

• Neil Gavigan, policy and advocacy manager, NACUBO

Learning Objectives

• Identify what energy efficiency incentives in the IRA are available to higher education institutions
• Explain how the IRA dramatically re-worked Section 179D by tying an increased reward to new labor requirements

12:20–12:35 pm

For the past 30 years, executives and strategic plans have called for a culture of data-informed decisions. Why has this shift not been achieved? Is it that data governance is too restrictive, that accurate data does not exist, or that we are just unable to see it is there? Learn what it means to have a data-informed culture and the elements needed to foster one. This Snapshot session will feature a unique structure that will provide attendees with a sample starting point. Come ready to reflect and identify next steps in your journey to foster a data-informed culture.

Speaker

• Anthony Airhart, associate dean, finance and administration, University of Colorado – AMC

Learning Objectives

• Define the features of a data-informed culture in higher education
• Identify areas of progress and gaps in the journey to fostering a data-informed culture
• Apply lessons learned to enhance the organizational structure at your institution

12:40–12:55 pm 

In 2019, the Denver City Council voted unanimously to implement a phased minimum wage increase in the City and County of Denver. While Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU) was not legally obligated to raise their minimum wage as a state institution, doing so was determined to be the best decision for their student employees despite a large impact on departmental budgets, especially in several key high-impact programs such as peer mentoring, paid internships, and call center support staff. This presentation will explore how and why MSU made and implemented this decision. Discover how minimum wage increases can have less-tangible benefits that might outweigh or balance the financial cost to an institution.

Speaker

• Chris Harder, senior fiscal operations manager for student affairs, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Learning Objectives

• Find information on current and potential minimum wage increases in your area
• Use knowledge of the populations you are serving to assist in decision-making around wage increases as related to departmental budgets
• Positively frame the less-tangible benefits of minimum wage increases to your colleagues 

1–1:15 pm

NEIU For You is a scholarship program at Northeastern Illinois University that promotes access, affordability, and student success. The program was created to increase financial support for students with the highest demonstrated need. In this session, the presenters will share the inspiration and process for creating and establishing the program, the eligibility criteria and goals, and the impact to date. They will highlight how they reinvested resources, how the program aligns with the university’s mission, and how it ultimately promotes equity for its students. Participants will be invited to discuss similar programs at their institutions. 

Speakers

• Manish Kumar, vice president for finance and administration, Northeastern Illinois University
• Diana Valdez, associate director of business services, Northeastern Illinois University

Learning Objectives

• Analyze student demographics, evaluate student acquisition cost, and compare them with programs such as NEIU for You
• Connect mission and fiscal resources at your institution
• Identify how a scholarship program may align with your institution’s equity, diversity, and inclusion goals

1:20–1:35 pm

A career-focused woman before kids, the presenter for this session has first-hand experience with the daily internal struggle between wanting to climb the organizational ladder, while wanting to be a present and attentive parent. Key topics such as mom guilt, childcare, the 5 am fever dilemma, hybrid work schedules, appropriating childhood experiences, and more will help shape a discussion where attendees can talk openly about their struggles, setbacks, and successes when coping with dueling priorities.

Speaker

• Melissa Hogarty, assistant vice president, finance and administration, Stony Brook University, associate director of business services, Northeastern Illinois University

Learning Objectives

• Define personal hardships and acknowledge a network of others with similar experiences
• Describe coping mechanisms and methods of finding resources
• Demonstrate empathy towards working parents

1:40–1:55 pm

Hear about Virginia Commonwealth University’s experience with building and maintaining career communities—an innovative, cost-effective, and inclusive means of accelerating staff career development at colleges and universities. Career communities foster inclusion, facilitate learning and competency development, and deploy internal resources to support career growth. This session will define staff career communities, share VCU’s initial launch experience, outline resources required, and articulate the benefits institutions can achieve through their implementation.

Speaker

• Warren Mays, institutional technology analyst, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Beverly Walker, program manager for career development, Virginia Commonwealth University

Learning Objectives

• Develop a proposal for implementation of career communities at their institution
• List the benefits of launching career communities
• Discuss how career communities support diverse, equitable, and inclusive career development

The pandemic forced many into an experiment in remote teaching and working, and some institutions recognized this moment as an opportunity to rethink how they use their space to better support their workforce. Join a conversation with colleagues from The New School and University at Buffalo as they share how they analyzed employee perspectives and fiscal realities brought on by the pandemic to create new approaches to space utilization. The presenters will provide an overview of their real estate landscape and decision-making practices related to redesigning existing spaces, redefining work modes, and revisiting long-held traditions in space allocation in academia. They will also cover lessons learned, their approach to change management, and the current state of these initiatives.

Speaker

• Lisa Bonner, chief of staff and assistant vice president for business and operations, The New School
• Laura Hubbard, vice president for finance and administration, The University at Buffalo
• Tokumbo Shobowale, executive vice president for business and operations, The New School, program manager for career development, Virginia Commonwealth University

Learning Objectives

• Develop a framework to consider the non-traditional use of campus space, use space more efficient and effectively, and identify real estate opportunities within your institution
• Evaluate the ways hybrid and remote-first work can provide opportunities to reassess space needs
• Assess the ways your institution is addressing the changing needs of students and employees in terms of proximity, collaboration, and both online and physical spaces

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Personnel/Human Resources

A 2022 survey of higher education professionals conducted by The Chronicle of Higher Education and Huron found that 77% of respondents felt that the appeal of working in higher education is lower than it was one year ago. This session will explore the shifting employment value proposition (EVP) and suggest tactics to optimize both employee engagement and financial outcomes. Panelists will introduce a framework for the employment value proposition across the dimensions of compensation, benefits, work content, work environment, affiliation/connection, and learning and growth. They will also share data that shows how the balance of these factors is shifting as private sector employers provide greater benefits and expanded flexibility. The university presenters will explain practices they have implemented, and the results they achieved related to recruitment, retention, and advancement.

Speakers

• Bryce Drew, manager of compensation, University of Mississippi
• Margaret E. Sova McCabe, senior advisor for strategic projects and professor of law, University of Arkansas
• Kurt Dorschel, senior director, Huron
• Jeremy Helsel, director, Huron, executive vice president for business and operations, The New School, program manager for career development, Virginia Commonwealth University

Learning Objectives

• Identify specific talent management practices that may need to change to ensure an effective, continuous workforce
• Evaluate your institution’s current EVP and its investment
• Define the need to change the balance of the EVP components to compete for talent going forward

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Personnel/Human Resources

Cultivating strategic relationships with small businesses and those owned and operated by minorities, women, and other diverse populations provides more culturally authentic products, increases opportunity for community members, and drives valuable local business growth and economic impact. This session will share proven strategies and innovative examples of how M/WBE partners, businesses, and universities work together to strengthen the supply chain, empower community suppliers, advance entrepreneurial potential, and achieve sustainability, community relations, and diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. We will also discuss how cultivating relationships with BIPOC farmers offers a new approach to achieving economic equity, while honoring our regional heritage.

Speakers

• TBD

Learning Objectives

• Collaboratively share and discuss strategies to integrate local and M/WBE businesses, products, and services into dining or other campus programs
• Engage with local BIPOC farmers in collaboration with dining partners to advance authentic local recipes, increase purchases for BIPOC farmers, and support opportunities for economic equity through local food systems.
• Consider and evaluate strategies for implementing similar supplier programs on their campuses

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Behavioral Ethics

Workplace retirement plans are essential to helping employees achieve a secure retirement. But savings and investment behaviors vary greatly across many populations, with women and people of color often falling behind. To help close these retirement gaps, TIAA has developed a means to assess retirement readiness and plan benefit usage for employees. In this session, discover how you can examine critical plan behaviors among different cohorts, which will reveal opportunities to promote equity and inclusion in retirement planning among your staff and colleagues.  

Speakers

• Naomi Proshan, senior director, TIAA Advice Solutions

Learning Objectives

• Outline the critical behaviors needed to improve retirement success
• Discuss the current gender gap and other demographic gaps in retirement plan usage
• Implement new tactics and strategies to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion within the business office

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Personnel/Human Resources

Post-pandemic chief financial officers must help their institutions thrive despite a possible economic downturn, the disappearance of HEERF funds, and the ever-nearing enrollment cliff. There are two choices for charting a path forward: face the data head on or run from it. This conversation will focus on ways business officers must embrace data to overcome the stigma of the “budget blocker” given the challenging financial landscape ahead. Presenters will discuss how they have homed in on benchmarked labor cost data to identify and unlock investments in strategic, under-resourced areas of their institutions. They will also cover how they have creatively leveraged the relationship between student employment and student success to further support institutional efficiencies and financial sustainability.

Speakers

• Kelli Shomaker, vice president for business and finance and chief financial officer, Auburn University
• Adam Tate, executive director of finance, University of Alabama
• Darren Catalano, chief executive officer, HelioCampus

Learning Objectives

• Use key data sources to initiate conversations around strategic planning and resource investments and allocation
• Identify new pathways to achieve financial sustainability in a data-informed, people-first approach
• Discuss student employment opportunities and their impact on student engagement, with a broader lens toward student success outcomes

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Personnel/Human Resources

During the pandemic, institutions were able to quickly leverage technology to adapt to new conditions and challenges. How can CBOs and CIOs use the same agility and innovation to address higher education’s business challenges? EDUCAUSE’s Top 10 IT Issues revealed themes that may help leaders see opportunities for leveraging technology: leading with wisdom, the ultra-intelligent institution, and everything is anywhere. Panelists will share how CBOs and CIOs are partnering to use technology to navigate NACUBO’s Top 5 Business Issues: workforce, student needs, technology infrastructure, economic climate, and resource constraints.

Speakers

• Sharon Blanton, vice president for operations, The College of New Jersey
• Dwayne Pinkney, executive vice president for finance and administration, Indiana University
• Jack Suess, vice president of IT, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Cole Clark, managing director, higher education, Deloitte

Learning Objectives

• Recognize opportunities for using technology to address business challenges
• Develop strategies for leveraging technology to support institutional priorities
• Evaluate digital and technology strategies and approaches

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Information Technology

Where do things stand for higher education halfway through the first term of the Biden Administration? How will a divided Congress affect the administration’s agenda? Hear timely updates from the nation’s capital including recent rulemaking efforts at the Department of Education and other federal agencies. You’ll also learn about advocacy action items for the higher education community, and notable action within Congress and the federal agencies.

Speakers

• Bryan Dickson, director, student financial services and educational programs, NACUBO
• Ashley Jackson, director, government affairs, NACUBO

Learning Objectives

• Explain what the federal appropriations and other legislation affecting higher education imply for your institution and why Congress allocates money in the ways that it does
• Discuss the latest legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments impacting higher education and hear what influences lawmakers to legislate in particular ways
• Act as a better advocate for your campus with federal policymakers

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

Attracting strong applicants and increasing enrollment are top priorities for nearly every higher education institution. With students and families questioning the value of postsecondary education and downward pressures on enrollment, the current enrollment environment is a challenging one. In this session, you will hear how two institutions—a small, private institution and a large state university—have successfully overhauled their enrollment management strategies to meet institutional needs. Presenters will share real-world, creative solutions and will discuss how they leveraged their personal strengths and perspectives to enroll students from their local communities and beyond.

Speakers

• Fabrizio D’Aloisio, associate vice provost for enrollment management and executive director of undergraduate admissions, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Kevin O’Sullivan, senior vice president of enrollment management and student affairs, Iona University
• Rob Bielby, managing director, Huron

Learning Objectives

• Identify challenges impacting higher education enrollment trends
• Compare enrollment management approaches that have led to improved outcomes at different institution types
• List strategies that can assist with future problem-solving and enrollment management

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

How can business offices better understand the financial aid process and timeline? How can we help our financial aid colleagues better understand our role in the student accounts office? With students demanding exceptional customer service, silos within institutions cannot exist—especially when it comes to the finances of students and families. Panelists will walk attendees through the financial aid process—beginning with the FAFSA and moving towards a zero-balance on a student's ledger account. You’ll also discover the differences in departmental operations that can impact the awarding of aid to our students, gain a better understanding of the complex regulatory environment governing these key functions on campus, and learn how effective partnerships can ensure a success story for your students and your student accounts receivable operations.

Speakers

• Daniel Barkowitz, assistant vice president, office of student financial assistance and student employment, University of Miami
• Brandon Cline-Taskey, director, university business office, James Madison University
• Kristy Harner, director, student financial services, Lee University
• Francisco Valines, director of financial aid, Florida International University

Learning Objectives

• Describe the financial aid process and how student accounts can be a reliable partner
• Outline how each office and its policies may impact the other
• List ways to resolve the barriers that can impact student success

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

Implementing an equity framework and lens is an incredible tool that will strengthen your team's equity muscle and ensure finance and administrative policies and processes are focused on equity. This session will cover how Salt Lake Community College developed and implemented their own Equity Compass. Using their experience, the presenters will share how their finance and business services division has taken the lead on questioning the college’s long-held practices and policies and has begun the shared journey of reviewing how their practices impact students. Hear the advantages of using an equity framework on your campus and the challenges you might encounter when implementing a similar tool.  

Speakers

• Juone L. Kadiri, vice president of equity, inclusion, and transformation, Salt Lake Community College
• Chris Martin, vice president for finance and administration, chief finance officer, Salt Lake Community College

Learning Objectives

• Implement an equity framework to review financial and business practices and policies 
• Lead discussions with your team to identify areas of inequity and unconscious bias that may be baked into long-held practices and policies
• Engage campus leaders in discussions about conducting equity reviews  

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

Following the pursuit of increased wages, employees cited opportunities for remote work and more flexible hours as the most common reasons for seeking new employment in a 2022 survey by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. Shaped by an institution’s unique cultural position and strategic goals, these increasingly nuanced policies can make political, social, and economic statements. This session will discuss the framework for developing a remote policy within the continuum of external implications. Attendees will learn how to engage leadership in constructive discussions to better address internal, external, and regulatory demands.

Speakers

• Joel Levenson, assistant vice president for tax, payables and procurement, University of Central Florida
• Michael Plater, vice president and higher education practice lead, Kelly Education
• Jeremy Van Kley, higher education sales consultant, Kelly Educatio

Learning Objectives

• Illustrate the definitive statements an institution's remote work policy can make
• Examine external factors that influence your institution's remote work policy
• Lead constructive conversations with leadership regarding your institution's remote work policy

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Personnel/Human Resources

Colleges and universities host large quantities of personal and research data and often have legacy or outdated systems, making them prime targets for cyber and ransomware attacks. In fact, ransomware attacks on higher education institutions doubled between 2019 and 2020, with the threat continuing to grow at this pace into 2023. Aside from the financial impact, cyber-attacks can lead to negative media coverage, lawsuits, mistrust, and reputational damage. This panel will cover lessons learned from Stevens Institute of Technology’s experience with a ransomware attack in 2019. The presenters will also discuss cyber and ransomware trends, legal and insurance considerations, and best practices for protecting your data.

Speakers

• Lou Mayer, chief finance officer, vice president of finance and treasurer, Stevens Institute of Technology
• Tej Patel, vice president for information technology and chief information officer, Stevens Institute of Technology
• Adam Bulava, executive director, attack simulation & firmwide resiliency testing, J.P. Morgan

Learning Objectives

• Discuss current cyber and ransomware attack trends
• List important ways to enhance your campus information security program and best practices to ensure your vendors and business partners are protected
• Outline steps your institution can take if impacted by a cyber/ransomware attack

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Information Technology

More than $2 trillion has been invested in college and university retirement plans to date. Those assets—and the institutions that hold them—will continue to be subject to evolving regulations and legislation, shifting workforce demographics, and the continued challenge of attracting and retaining a diverse talent pool. Headwinds include increased costs, litigation, regulatory updates, and a significant population of older employees who are unprepared or reluctant to retire. Yet, there are sound steps institutions can take to prudently manage these valuable benefits and improve the experience for their staff and faculty. Panelists will discuss how to evaluate and prepare your institution’s retirement benefits for the future and key steps to help your institution manage its data and implement internal controls. You’ll also learn some best practices for managing plan administration, getting ahead of industry changes, and dealing with the recent profusion of new services and technologies.

Speakers

• Barry Harte, vice president for finance and operations and treasurer, Marymount University
• Maria Krupin, vice president, finance and administration, The Culinary Institute of America
• Beryl Ball, principal, CAPTRUST
• Karen S. Casillas, vice president, financial advisor, CAPTRUST
• David Levine, principal, co-chair plan sponsor practice, Groom Law Group, Chartered

Learning Objectives

• Discuss employee demographic shifts and the headwinds that may be forcing changes to your retirement benefits and investments
• List roadblocks to changing and improving fiduciary governance
• Implement changes to your retirement plan components and governance structure to be best positioned for the near future

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Personnel/Human Resources

This session will explore ways to create a framework for how leaders from facilities, business and finance, and campus planning can collaborate to move an institution from a siloed approach to an integrated model of planning. This model seeks to integrate with other key planning activities occurring on the campus that, when activated and realized, will transform how an institution reaches its potential.

Speakers

• E. Lander Medlin, president and CEO, APPA-Leadership in Educational Facilities 
• Mike Moss, president, Society for College and University Planning 
• Pete Zuraw, vice president market strategy and development, Gordian 
• Jim Hundrieser, vice president, consulting and business development, NACUBO

Learning Objectives

• Use the framework's guidelines to stimulate engaged and collaborative discussion to prioritize campus programs/facilities and decision-making
• Assess how your institution collectively manages facilities, finance, and planning actions as either a lagging response or a leading planning element
• Discuss your campus facilities infrastructure in terms of embodied debt, risk exposure, future program compatibility, and adaptability

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Personnel/Human Resources

Coming out of the Great Recession, Wofford College adopted a strategic plan that focused on revitalizing its curriculum, growing its revenue, improving its physical plant, and increasing enrollment by 2024. With a record Fall 2022 entering class, the College surpassed its strategic goal and has seen successive years of net tuition growth through moderate annual tuition increases and planned, regular increases in freshman discounting. Using this success as a framework, this session will examine relevant pricing, discounting, and enrollment statistics, as well as the importance of teamwork. The session will also include group discussions on revenue budgeting, marketing, recruiting, and student success efforts. 

Speakers

• Christopher Gardner, chief financial officer, Wofford College
• Brand Stille, vice president for enrollment, Wofford College
• Bill Hall, founder and president, Applied Policy Research, Inc.

Learning Objectives

• Identify how to set an aggressive, yet achievable, enrollment goal as a long-term objective centered on student success
• Describe ways to break down “silos” between divisions – academics, student life, development, finance, enrollment management
• Understand the importance of investing in marketing, facilities, data analytics, and financial aid

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

The University of Louisiana System (ULS) is the largest higher education system in Louisiana. Enrollment challenges, flat state appropriations, and increasing expenses have created a compelling case for change. ULS was staring down the projected enrollment cliff, potential funding gaps, and uneven state support—and wanted to take action to address looming challenges—so they partnered with Deloitte’s Higher Education practice to identify opportunities for sustainable, transformative solutions. Using a model that looked at recent trends to project potential future financial performance, ULS and Deloitte identified 24 opportunities to proactively mitigate challenges, and created a framework centered on strategic aspirations.

Speakers

• Cami Geisman, vice president for external affairs, University of Louisiana System
• Jim Henderson, president and CEO, University of Louisiana System
• Julia Wysocki, senior manager, higher education, Deloitte Consulting

Learning Objectives

• Use financial modeling and projections to establish a data-informed baseline and assess opportunities and the related financial, operational, and service impacts to develop a prioritized, actionable roadmap
• Facilitate a culture of dialogue and innovation, grounded in mission-fulfillment, to create transformative change
• Engage a broad set of diverse stakeholders to facilitate transparency, buy-in, adoption, and continued momentum

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

Student success continues to be top of mind across higher education. Factors such as declining enrollment, increasing operating costs, and meeting student needs in a resource-constrained environment are propelling institutional leaders to revisit their business models and make transformative changes. A growing number of institutions are turning to bold actions—campus redesign or closure, optimized footprints, strategic integrations, and/or institutional mergers—in their quest to achieve fiscal sustainability that balances mission-critical objectives. Explore how strategic transformation can advance your institution and harness opportunities to effectively implement a student-centered, impactful institutional transformation that drives optimal collaboration and alignment.

Speakers

• Lorraine Bernotsky, executive vice president and provost, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and executive on loan, acting president of Pennsylvania Western University
• Leslie Brunelli, executive vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer, Washington State University
• Robert Cramer, vice chancellor for finance and administration, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Sharon Minnich, executive vice chancellor, administration and finance, Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education
• Christine Smith, managing director, higher education, Baker Tilly US, LLP

Learning Objectives

• Identify key questions leaders should ask when assessing the need, building the case, and designing the strategy for transformational change to ensure sustainability
• Anticipate and determine how to overcome barriers that institutions may experience while planning, designing, and implementing a significant shift in strategy, differentiation focus and/or operation model
• Define specific frameworks and opportunities to realign strategy and operationalize differentiation to achieve student success, improve outcomes, and support the institution’s mission and community’s needs

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

As inflation hits record levels, higher education business model challenges will be significant. Developing capital planning, opportunities for revenue enhancement and reallocation, and debt strategies are needed to address rising building costs, wages, and interest rates. This session will explore expected and potential areas of unexpected inflation; how to communicate the effects of inflation to various stakeholders, including the Board, academic units, and students; and actions that can mitigate the impact of more significant inflation going forward.

Speakers

• Eric Bymaster, associate vice chancellor for finance and treasury, Vanderbilt University
• Chris Cowen, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Cornell University
• Jim Costello, managing director, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Learning Objectives

• Prepare for the future by understanding the changing expectations in higher education risk management
• Discuss some ways to navigate the demands of a changing global community
• Consider the potential impact of flexible work arrangements, hiring methods, long-term financial concerns, and talent decline

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

Hear how finance and treasury leadership can leverage new rating agency requirements, including ESG and DEI themes, to develop a higher education specific template. Presenters will walk through the process and related collection and centralization of credit information. Both the rating presentation and resulting materials can be used as a tool to educate senior leadership and new or junior staff. The result: better informed stakeholders and more inclusive decision-making. 

Speakers

• Jee He Kim, associate vice president for finance and administration, The University of Chicago
• Laura Powell, managing director, Jefferies

Learning Objectives

• Create rating agency presentations that respond to relevant and emerging metrics
• Gather and incorporate ESG content from sources throughout the institution
• Design a multi-purpose presentation that meets both external and internal needs

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

Many industries and their workforces adapted in unexpected ways because of the pandemic. Skills are evolving rapidly in higher education, notably a more holistic management of risks. This session will look into the crystal ball to explore how the key skills established by the University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA) may change over the next two decades considering intergenerational shifts occurring in the workforce. The presenters will discuss URMIA Core Competencies as prefaced by the URMIA Core Competencies paper, which defines expertise at various levels of professional experience using knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors.

Speakers

• Barbara A. Davey, insurance and financial risk manager, University of Notre Dame  
• Julie L. Groves, director, risk services, Wake Forest University   
• Kathy Hargis, associate vice president of risk management and compliance, Lipscomb University  
• Margaret Tungseth, vice president and chief operating officer, Loras College  
• Jean Demchak, global education leader, Marsh  

Learning Objectives

• Prepare for the future by understanding the changing expectations in higher education risk management
• Discuss some ways to navigate the demands of a changing global community
• Consider the potential impact of flexible work arrangements, hiring methods, long-term financial concerns, and talent decline

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

11:50 am–12:20 pm

The NACUBO Tuition Discounting Study (TDS) Online Benchmarking Tool, developed in partnership with Hanover Research, allows NACUBO members at private nonprofit colleges and universities the opportunity to compare their tuition discount rates, net revenue rates, and other TDS data with self-selected peer institutions. This demonstration will show you how to access the tool, how to use it, and how you might incorporate it into your discounting, institutional financial aid, and net tuition revenue strategies.

Speakers

• Kathleen Masterson, assistant director of research and policy analysis, NACUBO
• Ken Redd, senior director of research and policy analysis, NACUBO

Learning Objectives

• Discuss new trends in discount rates and other institutional aid indicators from the 2022 NACUBO Tuition Discounting Study
• Use the TDS tool to compare your institution's discounting rates and other measures of institutional grant aid performance with participating peer institutions
• Outline ways you can use the tool to improve your school’s institutional grant aid strategy and performance

CPE Available

• 0.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

12:25–12:55 pm

As institutions continue to facilitate data-informed decision-making through public and restricted visual and statistical analytical tools, it is paramount that fairness, accountability, and transparency are represented throughout the design phase. This session will cover the partnership between the University System of Georgia and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government to produce cutting-edge statistical and visual analyses for institutional effectiveness and educational outreach. The session will also include a tour of the visualizations the team built using Microsoft’s Power BI. 

Speakers

• Angela Bell, vice chancellor of research and policy analysis, University System of Georgia
• Scott J. King, scientific computing professional specialist, University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government

Learning Objectives

• Identify potential challenges when building data tools for public consumption
• Describe the importance of strong collaborative partners for projects involving robust data
• Compare and contrast visualization options for similar tools

CPE Available

• 0.5 credits
• Information Technology

1–1:30 pm

Could staff use data on student debt to drive better aid allocation strategies, student satisfaction, and retention outcomes? This session will dive into how stakeholders at Berry College implemented an analytics program that made it easy for teams across campus to glean insights from centrally stored, properly governed, validated data. Hear how various departments are using data to not only improve strategic decision-making initiatives with a focus on evaluating how changes in financial aid impacted student borrowing, but also provide a way to identify enrolled students with “excessive” debt and increase their likelihood of remaining enrolled at the institution. 

Speakers

• Penny Evans-Plants, chief information officer, Berry College
• Zach Sherwin, director of enterprise analytics, Berry College
• Carlos Avalos, product manager, Jenzabar

Learning Objectives

• Illustrate how colleges and universities can use data on student debt to improve enrollment and retention rates
• Implement a data governance strategy that makes information readily available to decision-makers without compromising its integrity or security
• Identify ways to operationalize projections of student debt at graduation, especially among those that may be taking on excessive debt

CPE Available

• 0.5 credits
• Finance

1:35–2:05 pm

Student academic success is greatly improved when students can access their required course materials early in each term and at the best possible prices. Over the last three to four years, inclusive and equitable access programs have been improving student success by broadening access to and lowering costs of course materials. This session will provide the latest data on how these new programs are developing and succeeding at institutions of all types and sizes, while preserving academic freedom for faculty.

Speaker

• Jon Bibo, CEO, Independent College Bookstore Association (ICBA)

Learning Objectives

• Evaluate whether inclusive access or equitable access course materials programs are right for their campuses
• Assess the potential savings for students that can be achieved by implementing these types of programs
• Define the differences in the various programs and begin a process to review the appropriateness of the programs for their campus

CPE Available

• 0.5 credits
• Specialized Knowledge

Our governing board members come to us from a variety of backgrounds, but rarely does that history include experience with higher education finance and budgeting. This session shares best practices for engaging with and educating governing board members—collectively and individually—on the key areas of higher education finance. Review examples of approaches used to help when boards are working together and when there are differing opinions on the direction of financial strategies. The presenters will also examine approaches to creating budget presentations and working within the confines of open meeting law to help each board member feel confident in the process and their role as fiduciaries.

Speakers

• Sarah Garcia, interim vice president for finance and business affairs/controller, North Idaho College
• Chris Martin, vice president for finance and administration, chief finance officer, Salt Lake Community College

Learning Objectives

• Develop and deliver training to help board members collectively and individually grow their understanding of higher education finance and budgeting
• Create an annual plan for engaging the board in budget development and financial stewardship
• Facilitate conversations with the board to define their shared goals and focus for the institution's finances

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

Leaders want to build data-informed cultures, but many often aren’t sure what steps to take. NACUBO, in collaboration with AIR and EDUCAUSE, received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop an action-focused guide to help institutions answer the call-to-action in The Joint Statement of Analytics (changewithanalytics.com). Our emerging guide features resources to assist colleges and universities in their analytics journeys. Institutional IR, IT, and business professionals will share how they are leveraging a draft of the guide, and attendees will be encouraged to offer feedback to inform the final draft, which will be released in 2024. 

Speakers

• Brett Carroll, vice president for finance and chief financial officer, Mercy College
• Maria Cruzet, executive director, financial planning and academic operations, Mercy College
• Matthew Presser, assistant vice president of institutional research and innovation, Mercy College
• Camille Shelley, chief information officer, Mercy College
• Tait Kellogg, principal, The Evaluation Coach

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the importance of collaboration in building a data-informed culture
• Evaluate analytics resource activities
• Determine what action steps are appropriate for your institution

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Information Technology

How can a college or university strategically approach risk management in a way that prioritizes critical risks in this strained resource environment? This session will cover strategies to balance risk management resources across strategic, financial, and liability risks. The presenters will also share planning and budgeting strategies that help appropriately address risk areas. To highlight leading liability risks, they will combine real examples with claims trends from the last seven years to offer actionable insights for assessing and mitigating common vulnerabilities. This session will also poll audience members to compare their top risks and offer the opportunity for them to share their approaches to splitting resources across many areas of risk.

Speakers

• Sytovia Dunn, director of budget and risk management, Clark Atlanta University
• Justin Kollinger, senior risk management consultant, United Educators

Learning Objectives

• Prioritize critical liability risks supported by higher ed trends from the last seven years
• Assess and resolve common vulnerabilities for critical liability risks
• Balance the need to manage strategic and liability risks

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Management Services

Henderson State University emerged from years of deficit spending and declining enrollment to restore financial integrity and build a college that works for all students by joining the Arkansas State University System and receiving a $6 million advance from the State of Arkansas. During this session, the presenters will review the cash budget techniques used to establish financial exigency and strategic actions taken to restore financial integrity, including cash management strategies, shared services, contract renegotiations with vendors, academic restructuring, payroll containment, and the implementation of an ERP system.

Speakers

• Russ Hannah, chief financial officer, Arkansas State University
• Bernadette Hinkle, vice chancellor for finance and administration, Henderson State University

Learning Objectives

• Describe the structural deficits that impact decisions to merge with a university system
• Define financial exigency and recognize financial tools for survival
• Explain how a modified cash budget can be used to present cash position

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

Are you concerned about the current and future financial vitality of your institution? Do your board and leadership talk meaningfully about their concerns, but take little action to address those concerns? This session provides insights key administrators can use to strategically assess the strength of their institution’s business model, recognize whether they are approaching an inflection point, and consider timely alternatives or specific actions they can take to move forward with a process that will maintain or return to financial sustainability.

Speakers

• Rebecca Vasquez-Skillings, vice president for finance and administration, Oberlin College
• Stephen Golding, board chair, Washington College; senior consultant, AGB
• Art Snyder, president emeritus, Indiana Tech, senior fellow, NACUBO
• Henry Stoever, president and CEO, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB)
• Dave Capitano, higher education practice leader, Baker Tilly

Learning Objectives

• Discuss key questions and actions institutional leaders should take when assessing the need, building the case, and designing the strategy for transformational change to meet financial needs to ensure institutional sustainability
• List ways to anticipate and overcome barriers institutions may experience while planning, designing and implementing a significant shift in strategy, differentiation focus and/or operation model
• Highlight specific action steps your institution can take to remain (or return to) financially sustainable

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

Higher education financials will likely continue to face headwinds in the years ahead, causing institutions to dig deep and determine a path to sustainability. It is critical that CFOs and their teams understand the various non-tuition revenue streams, particularly within auxiliaries, that are available to higher education institutions and how to optimize them. What should be insourced versus outsourced? What auxiliary functions have adequate scale? Is there an opportunity to explore auxiliary functions as well as administrative areas? Is UBIT something to be avoided or positively embraced? This session will address these questions and others around the use of auxiliaries as an opportunity to deliver financial sustainability.

Speakers

• Bill Dracos, deputy chief operating officer, Georgia Tech Research Institute
• William Guerrero, vice president of finance and chief financial officer, University of Bridgeport
• Matt Unterman, practice leader and principal, Higher Education Advisory Services, Grant Thornton LLP

Learning Objectives

• Identify ways in which non-tuition revenue can support financial sustainability
• Describe the factors to successfully identify, enhance, and roll out improvements to non-tuition revenue
• Understand UBIT rules from a business and mission perspective

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

The University of Virginia aims to be the best public university by 2030, and one of the very best in the world. To help reach this goal, they recently completed a multi-year Finance Strategic Transformation (FST) initiative. FST represented a complete transformation of the finance function at the University, adopting new business processes, implementing modern systems, and preparing staff throughout the institution to operate in a new environment. This session will discuss what it took to produce the desired results—a modern finance function and an inclusive culture where people challenge the “we’ve always operated that way” mindset and aim to continuously improve the performance of the academic enterprise. The presenters will also share best practices for leading transformation efforts in a large, complex, and decentralized university.

Speakers

• Melody Bianchetto, vice president of finance (retired), University of Virginia
• James Gorman, managing director strategic initiatives, University of Virginia
• Cole Clark, managing director, higher education, Deloitte
• Jim Kemp, managing director, Deloitte Consulting, LLP

Learning Objectives

• Employ engagement strategies designed to strengthen partnerships and gain commitment to change
• Discuss an approach to maximizing the value of investments in modern administrative information systems through transformation of policy, process, and workflow
• Identify governance structures that promote a culture of inclusion and commitment to continuous improvement throughout the institution

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

GASB is continually generating new standards and updating authoritative guidance. During this session, the presenters will review new guidance, recently implemented standards, and standards in the pipeline. They will also spend some time discussing NACUBO’s recent advisory on accounting and reporting for tuition and fee discounts.

Speakers

• Sue Menditto, senior director, accounting policy, NACUBO
• Chris Leach, accounting policy analyst, NACUBO

Learning Objectives

• Explain GASB requirements
• Discuss the cross-campus collaboration needed for new and upcoming accounting standards
• Outline the timing of upcoming guidance and ways to react and prepare

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Accounting (Governmental)

While data and analytics are improving reporting and compliance, they have largely failed to provide a significant return on investment for student success, organizational change, or institutional resiliency. To remain resilient in the face of those challenges, higher education institutions need to develop analytics strategies that go far beyond current solutions that help institutions meet reporting requirements and explain problems that have already happened. Learn how Notre Dame is using analytics to build institutional resilience with modern data and analytics approaches.  

Speakers

• Linda Kroll, Associate Vice President for Finance, The University of Notre Dame 
• Jean Vock, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs and Chief Finance Officer, University of Nevada Las Vegas 
• Mark Hampton, Executive Education Advisor, Amazon Web Services 

Learning Objectives

• Define modern data and analytics approaches (terms, techniques, tools) your institution can apply to its key challenges 
• Chart the steps of your own analytics journey using real world examples and best practices gleaned from across higher education 
• Apply self-paced training materials and hands-on workshops to explore effective practices and tools in a higher education context

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Information Technology

Today, responsible investing strategies are on the minds of many individual retirement plan participants. These investing tactics, sometimes also referred to as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) options, allow investors to align their ethical principles with their financial goals. Plan participants can build portfolios that meet their financial needs and provide for a better world. This session will cover the history of responsible investing, current issues that are driving investor demand, and the selection and monitoring of ESG investments within retirement plan menus.  

Speakers

• Sam Hodas, managing director, Nuveen ESG strategy, Nuveen 
• Drew Krepelka, managing director, senior investment strategist, TIAA

Learning Objectives

• Discuss how environmental and social concerns are transforming investors’ behaviors and campus communities
• Describe how offering these options can be one way for institutions to meet their sustainability challenges
• Examine and evaluate ESG investing opportunities and their potential global and economic impact

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

This corporate showcase is presented by

Now more than ever, endowments and foundations must closely examine their investment advisory relationships to mitigate institutional risks while improving outcomes. Effectively benchmarking your investment advisors will help your institution determine your best overall fit and provide clarity about how unique needs and service models compare. In this session, you will discover best practices for evaluating advisory firm durability. You will also learn how to incorporate data-driven decision-making to manage your oversight responsibilities, align vendors with your culture and mission, engage donors, and assure your costs match the value received.  

Speakers

• Richard Sobieray, senior vice president, financial strategy and administrative services, and chief financial officer, University of South Florida
• Kenneth Souza, senior director of investments, University of South Florida Foundation
• Eric Bailey, principal and head of endowments and foundations, CAPTRUST
• Karen S. Casillas, vice president and financial advisor, CAPTRUST
• Jim Scheinberg, managing partner and expert witness, North Pier Search Consulting 

Learning Objectives

• Discover and implement best practices in benchmarking critical components for endowment and foundation investment advisors  
• Design prudent metrics and processes to evaluate fees, services, governance, and other factors involved in investment performance
• Learn how to garner stakeholder approval, address roadblocks, implement changes, and communicate strategically throughout the benchmarking process

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

Higher education debt and treasury professionals must build resilient balance sheets with enough flexibility to pursue strategic initiatives—all during a time of rising interest rates and market volatility. During this session, speakers will discuss the advantages of scale and how using an internal central bank can foster budget predictability, optimize liquidity, and insulate capital plans from rising interest rates. They will also address age old questions of whether to pay off debt, private placement versus capital markets, and how to allocate capital costs across a campus to promote budget accountability and predictability.

Speakers

• Wayne Magdziarz, senior vice president, chief financial officer and chief business officer, Loyola University Chicago
• Drew Smith, treasurer, University of Michigan
• Michael Osborn, vice president, senior credit officer, Moody's Investors Service

Learning Objectives

• Articulate varying strategies to help optimize your institution's balance sheet in a time of rising interest rates and market volatility
• Demonstrate an acumen for varying debt and treasury strategies and assess if they are appropriate for your institution
• Refine your debt and treasury operation to aid investment for tomorrow while preserving strength and resiliency today

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

Many universities have implemented internal lending programs which they use to manage internal and external debt. These programs can reduce interest rate risk by establishing debt management tools that provide uniform lending rates and terms. During this interactive session, finance leaders from two institutions will discuss how their universities use internal lending programs to effectively manage financial resources and reduce risk. 

Speakers

• Marnie Matthews, assistant vice president for finance and controller, Wake Forest University
• Brian Smith, assistant vice president for finance, University of Michigan
• Mary Ellen Wriedt, director, S&P Global

Learning Objectives

• Explain how internal lending programs are formed and operate
• Assess whether an internal lending program is an optimal and efficient tool for your institution
• Recognize available resources to help in the creation of an internal lending program

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

Join members of NACUBO’s Tax Council for this discussion of NACUBO’s work on tax issues, developments impacting colleges and universities, and the outlook for future legislative and regulatory efforts which might affect higher education. Using a “topic tournament” format, the presenters will discuss timely tax issues of greatest interest to the audience. 

Speakers

• Angie Leahy, associate vice chancellor for finance and controller, Washington University in St. Louis
• Joel Levenson, assistant vice president: tax, payables & procurement, University of Central Florida

Learning Objectives

• Discuss recent developments in campus tax administration and compliance
• Identify tax measures for future congressional consideration that could affect your campus
• Enhance your institution’s advocacy voice in Washington

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Taxes

The application of blockchain creates new financing opportunities and, as the technology grows, it will likely transform bond issuance. This session will address how Michigan State University’s blockchain project got started and gained momentum. The presenters will focus on the RFP process, blockchain education, securing internal acceptance, blockchain fundamentals, market reaction, and what it means for future bond financings.

Speakers

• Lisa A. Frace, senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, Michigan State University
• Jeff Rayis, assistant vice president, treasury and financial management, Michigan State University
• Mustafa Al Niama, vice president global banking and markets and digital assets, Goldman Sachs
• Diana Hoadley, managing director and head of higher education and non-profit finance, Goldman Sachs

Learning Objectives

• Evaluate blockchain use at your institution
• Establish blockchain project goals and gain executive support
• Identify strategic and capable partners to assist with blockchain implementations

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Information Technology

To fully leverage data for decision-making, higher education professionals need to ensure data and processes are aligned to support performance. In this session, fiscal leaders from Emory School of Medicine will share how they transformed their data and processes to positively change the trajectory of the organization’s financial position and equipped them to navigate challenges. Presenters will walk through their change management journey—discussing the catalysts for their transformation, the steps they took to reengineer processes, and the data and reporting that empowered better decision-making. They will also highlight the importance of user feedback throughout their journey.  

Speakers

• Beth Boatwright, chief financial officer, Emory School of Medicine  
• Ann Uher, senior director of accounting and analytics, Emory School of Medicine  
• Justin Martin, senior director, product management, higher education, Syntellis Performance Solutions 

Learning Objectives

• Identify key steps for transforming data and financial processes  
• Determine the value of adopting this approach for various stakeholders  
• Employ best practices for implementing new financial risk mitigation strategies  

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

Data-informed decision-making is critical in higher education, but institutions often need to navigate challenges related to institutional culture and capacity before being able to fully leverage data and analytics. In this interactive session, participants will identify the most pressing barriers to data-informed decision-making. Session facilitators will lead participants in a game of Analytics Bingo to identify potential solutions to their data and analytics challenges. During the game, you will also learn about NACUBO resources that can help with these efforts while networking with your colleagues. 

Speakers

• Jackie Agustin, manager, analytics and research, NACUBO
• Lindsay Wayt, senior director, analytics, NACUBO 

Learning Objectives

• Identify cultural and capacity-related barriers to the use of analytics in higher education 
• Determine action steps to address data and analytics challenges 
• Develop a network of colleagues who are also building data-informed cultures at their institutions 

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Information Technology

Hear ways to best convey your institution’s financial story. Panelists will provide observations, insights, and recommendations for effectively communicating financial information via audited financial statements for both public and private institutions. Topics will include institutional aid, accounting policies, restrictions, governing board designations, disclosures and/or MD&A, operating performance, programmatic expenses, and endowment information. 

Speakers

• Chris Leach, accounting policy analyst, NACUBO
• Sue Menditto, senior director, accounting policy, NACUBO

Learning Objectives

• Define allowable reporting flexibility
• Differentiate between functions and programmatic activities
• Explain how readers may digest financial information

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

High performing teams are diverse and inclusive while also reflecting certain characteristics. This lively session will discuss these characteristics and show how to create a high performing, engaged team. Attendees will explore what creates the trust that allows others to work together effectively, how to gain true commitment to a purpose, what skills are required to manage conflict productively, and much more. Learn how you can create and lead a highly effective team.

Speakers

• Gregg Goldman, chief financial officer and senior vice president, Hillspire, and former vice chancellor and chief financial officer, University of California Los Angeles
• George Myers, president, Effectiveness Institute

Learning Objectives

• Explain the characteristics of highly engaged teams 
• Describe the difference between trust and respect 
• Identify the necessary skills for managing conflict 
• Create an informed action plan to develop a high-performing team  

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Personal Development

Many institutions need to move from an incremental budgeting process to an all funds budget to accomplish their strategic plans. Other institutions have been resistant to critically looking at the cost of operating the academic enterprise. Efficiencies can be found by monitoring class sizes, teaching loads, and program array. Leaders need plans and resources for effectively monitoring new programs to ensure they are meeting planned outcomes and for closing out programs if expected projections are not being met. This session will explore ideas around how to improve resource allocation through all funds budgeting, program and course offerings, and operational efficiency.  

Speakers

• R. Lorraine Bernotsky, executive vice president and provost, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and executive on loan, acting president of Pennsylvania Western University
• Leslie Brunelli, executive vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer, Washington State University
• Diane Goddard, chief financial officer emerita, University of Kansas, NACUBO Consultant
• Jim Hundrieser, vice president for consulting, NACUBO

Learning Objectives

• Design an institution-specific framework for implementing new strategies that shift from incremental budgeting
• Outline strategies your institution can use to assess your course offerings or program array to result in positive financial contribution
• Create ways to monitor and measure outcomes linked to a stronger business model

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance

Using data collected from the first two cohorts of NACUBO’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), this session will explore original data and feedback from up-and-coming talent. Data focused on ELP participants’ development experience and what they identified they need to further grow their careers. Designed to have a workshop feel, this session is intended for managers who need to deepen their focus on developing their teams, especially their key talent. The presenters will offer data, provide tips and techniques for creating development plans, and assist attendees with drafting tentative development plans.   

Speakers

• Mark Saine, managing director, strategic leadership solutions, TIAA Institute  
• Christine Simone, director, leadership development, NACUBO  

Learning Objectives

• Identify the ways that creating specific, customized development plans can be beneficial to both the staff member and to the institution 
• Produce tentative development plans to share with key talent 
• Practice holding development conversations with team members 

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Personnel/Human Resources

“Will you accept cryptocurrency for payment?” College and university development and business officers frequently hear this question from their donors and stakeholders. Though price volatility has weakened valuations, alumni and donors remain eager to make cryptocurrency contributions when advantageous. At the same time, families and students are demanding more payment options for tuition and fees, including cryptocurrency. In this session, speakers will discuss how higher education institutions are uniquely positioned in the emerging cryptocurrency space and why colleges and universities should recognize cryptocurrency as a business imperative.   

Speakers

• Nancy Antunes, assistant vice president for finance, Bentley University
• Michelle Bolger, vice president for financial operations and controller, University of Illinois Foundation
• Jeff Rayis, assistant vice president, treasury and financial management, Michigan State University
• David Garcia, national treasury sales group executive, J.P. Morgan

Learning Objectives

• Identify and weigh the key risks, costs, and benefits associated with cryptocurrency acceptance, including key differences between donations and payments
• Recognize common concerns from key constituencies, including board members, auditors, and presidents, arising from cryptocurrency acceptance
• Evaluate opportunities and understand policy and procedural considerations

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Information Technology

The Department of Labor’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) would increase the salary level for employees to qualify for the so-called “white collar” exemptions under the Fair Labor Standard Act’s (FLSA) overtime pay requirements. This session will address what’s included in the final rule, possible challenges to the rule, compliance and communication strategies, budget implications and possible morale and productivity issues.

Speaker

• Josh Ulman, managing partner, Ulman Public Policy

Learning Objectives

• Explain key elements of the new overtime regulations
• Navigate the compliance timeline
• Discuss the professional areas most likely to be affected
• Execute the steps colleges and universities must take to ensure compliance

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Personnel/Human Resources

We in higher education often like to decouple student enrollment from tuition dollars. Unfortunately for small private institutions without robust endowments, the reality is that revenue is tuition driven. So how do you tie student enrollment to tuition goals to make sound financial decisions in real time? Hear how one institution was able to rework their tuition model from one based on discounts to one based on credit hour generation. The presenters will show how this model can be tied directly to student enrollment through dashboards. They will also explore common challenges facing institutions and how this modeling can help address those challenges to move toward financial stability.  

Speaker

• Dr. Melik Peter Khoury, president and chief executive officer, Unity College , national treasury sales group executive, JP Morgan

Learning Objectives

• Implement credit hours as a basis for your revenue budget 
• Directly tie budgets to an institution’s census numbers, growth heuristics, and key performance indicators 
• Obtain the necessary data to make informed decisions on areas of budget allocations  

CPE Available

• 1.5 credits
• Finance