What’s Next in Federal Rulemaking
Why it matters: Three major negotiated rulemakings are moving forward at the same time, each with significant implications for institutions and students. The big picture: Alex Ricci of NCHER outlines where things stand with RISE, AHEAD, and the newly announced AIM...
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Recent Stories
Amplifying Faculty With AI
Why it matters: Many institutions are using AI to improve efficiency, automate grading, and reduce administrative workload. That is only part of the opportunity. The big picture: Rajen Sheth, CEO of Kyron Learning, argues that the real value of AI lies in amplifying...
The Policy Mismatch: Student-First Means Adult-First
By Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, President, University of Maryland Global Campus For decades, public policy has been guided by an image of higher education that no longer reflects reality. Too often, decision-making assumes an 18-year-old student who moves into a dormitory,...
Shared Language for Skills-Based Hiring
Why it matters: The skills required for most jobs are changing at an accelerating pace. LinkedIn data shows that by 2030, 70% of the skills used in many roles will differ from today. That shift is reshaping hiring, education, and workforce policy. The big picture:...
Hybrid Models for Today’s Learners
Why it matters: Online education is no longer a differentiator. After the pandemic, flexibility is expected. What students increasingly want is flexibility paired with meaningful, hands-on experience that prepares them for work. The big picture: David Schejbal of...
Preparing a Policy Agenda Built for Today’s Learners
Why it matters: Higher education policy directly shapes access, affordability, and quality for working adults, military-affiliated learners, and other students balancing education with work and family. The big picture: The Presidents Forum approaches policy from a...
What IPEDS Fall 2024 Data Says About Enrollment and Online Learning
Why it matters: IPEDS is the most reliable national snapshot of higher education enrollment. Unlike survey-based estimates, it is reported by institutions tied to Title IV, consistent over time, and detailed enough to analyze market structure and trends. The big...
Jonathan Woods Joins the Presidents Forum as Military and Workforce Education Policy Fellow
Dr. Jonathan Woods has joined the Presidents Forum as the Military and Workforce Education Policy Fellow. He brings more than 25 years of experience across military service, federal education systems, and workforce-aligned learning, with deep expertise in voluntary...
Amy Glynn Joins the Presidents Forum as Policy & Innovation Fellow
Amy Glynn has joined the Presidents Forum as a Policy & Innovation Fellow, a role designed to expand the Forum’s policy capacity and strengthen connections between institutional practice and national higher education conversations. She brings nearly 20 years of...
Rooted and Relevant: Rebuilding the Adult Learner Ecosystem
By: Justin Lonon America’s economic future hinges on a simple truth: postsecondary credentials are becoming increasingly more relevant. Yet tens of millions of adults remain stranded — without degrees, without pathways and without support. By 2031, 72% of jobs will...
How AI is Changing Public Comment Analysis
Why it matters: Public comments play a real role in shaping federal regulations, but the volume and complexity of those comments make them difficult for institutions to engage with effectively. Thousands of submissions can overwhelm even experienced policy teams. The...
Rethinking Rigor in a System Built on Barriers
Why it matters: Higher education often treats difficulty as evidence of rigor. Over time, that has led institutions to defend complexity and friction, even when those obstacles do little to improve learning or student outcomes. The big picture: Making college easier...
The Learners Workforce Pell Is Meant to Reach
The big picture: Unlike traditional Pell, Workforce Pell targets people already in the workforce or seeking to reenter it. Many are not enrolled anywhere today because long-term programs were never a viable option. Short-term credentials can work for these learners,...
Leading Higher Education Forward in the Year Ahead
Why it matters: Higher education is not in a temporary disruption. It is at a structural inflection point that requires presidents to build new systems that match how learners actually live, work, and learn. The big picture: The Presidents Forum positions itself as a...
Measuring What Students Can Actually Do
The big idea: Technology, especially AI, is making assessment easier, more authentic, and more scalable for adult learners by shifting the focus from seat time to demonstrated skills. Why it matters: Assessment is where most learning friction lives. When done poorly,...
How AI Turned Public Comments Into Policy Insight
Why it matters: Public comment processes shape federal policy, but volume has made them hard to use. AI is changing that. What happened: Analyst Phil Hill used AI tools to analyze all 1,124 public comments submitted to the Department of Education ahead of negotiated...
How WGU’s LERs Power Smarter Pathways for Every Learner
By Scott Pulispher, Western Governors University At WGU, we believe that education must be designed to benefit individuals first and foremost by connecting them with opportunity. After all, when individuals thrive, workforce strength, economic vitality and innovation...
Making Education Work for Working Learners
Q&A with Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, President, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) The question of higher education’s value is front and center for today’s learners andemployers. How is UMGC improving outcomes for adults in the workforce and military? Today,...
Dual Enrollment That Delivers
Weber State shows what early-college innovation can deliver. Their dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment programs give high school students access to real college courses for just $5/credit—and a faster, more affordable path to opportunity. Why it matters: Early...
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