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 community of leaders designing the future of higher education through accountable innovation. The focus is on access, quality, mobility, affordability, and outcomes for nontraditional learners.

What to watch:

The Forum plans to accelerate impact this year by advancing a student-centered policy agenda, deepening collaboration across member institutions, and prioritizing meaningful in-person work that translates strategy into action.

Bottom line:

This is a call for presidential leadership that moves from reacting to change to shaping it, with students as the clear priority.