Building Student-First Innovation in Higher Ed

Why it matters

David Schejbal, President of Excelsior University, shares insights on streamlining higher education processes while maintaining accountability.

Key takeaways

• M&A timelines need dramatic reduction: Current higher ed mergers take ~2 years; Schejbal argues they should take no more than 3 months
• Slow processes kill deals: Extended approval times can financially drain struggling institutions, making them less attractive merger partners
• Student-first approach is crucial: Success in initiatives like credit transfer depends “95% on culture, 5% on process”

The bottom line

Institutions must prioritize student needs over administrative convenience, with actions (like transfer policies) matching their student-first rhetoric.