How BYU-Pathway Worldwide Is Making Education Affordable Globally

by Presidents Forum | Aug 29, 2025 | Outcomes and Accountability, Underserved Communities, Working Learners

How BYU-Pathway Worldwide Is Making Education Affordable Globally

Why it matters:

BYU-Pathway Worldwide has reduced degree costs to as little as $300 in Africa, making higher education accessible to 80,000+ students globally, with 40% in Africa.

The big picture:

Traditional higher education models aren’t serving adult learners who need immediate career relevance and can’t afford high tuition.

How they did it:

Certificate-first model: Three certificates + general education = degree
Three-year degrees: Eliminated unnecessary elective credits
Peer mentoring: Hiring international students as mentors at locally appropriate wages

The bottom line:

BYU-Pathway shows that radical affordability in higher education is possible through structural innovation, even without the church subsidy that supports their lowest price points.

Extending Faculty Reach with AI

by Presidents Forum | Aug 28, 2025 | Innovation, Outcomes and Accountability

Extending Faculty Reach with AI

Why it matters:

Rajen Sheth, CEO of Kyron Learning and former Google leader, sees AI as a way to authentically extend faculty capabilities and make higher education more accessible to underserved populations.

Key insights:

Faculty concerns addressed: While AI adoption faces resistance, Kyron focuses on building trust by designing tools that extend faculty reach rather than replace them.
Learning vs. answering: Kyron differentiates from consumer AI by focusing on conceptual understanding rather than just providing answers.
Expanding access: Sheth sees opportunity to increase bachelor’s degree attainment beyond current levels, driving prosperity through educational innovation.

What’s next:

Kyron aims to implement AI thoughtfully, avoiding approaches that could “poison” education’s relationship with emerging technology.

Janet Spriggs: Access, Success, and Student-Centered Leadership

by Presidents Forum | Aug 20, 2025 | Outcomes and Accountability

Janet Spriggs: Access, Success, and Student-Centered Leadership

Why it matters

Forsyth Tech President Janet Spriggs brings a unique perspective to higher education leadership: she started as a community college student herself. That experience shapes her belief that access, student success, and economic mobility must remain at the heart of community colleges.

The big picture

Spriggs’ leadership philosophy is grounded in leading from within—working alongside faculty, staff, and students to co-design systems that truly serve learners. Under her guidance, Forsyth Tech has focused on three priorities:

Access: Ensuring higher education is available to every student within reach.
Success: Supporting students beyond enrollment—making sure they persist, complete, and thrive.
Outcomes: Connecting credentials to meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages.

How they’re doing it

Building strong partnerships with K–12 schools, universities, and employers.
Co-developing workforce programs with industry leaders to ensure graduates have in-demand skills.
Embedding human-centered design to shape schedules, services, and supports around today’s students.

The bottom line

Spriggs believes higher ed should change lives, families, and communities, not just grant credentials.

2025 NSTC Symposium to Convene Leaders in AI and Semiconductors

by Presidents Forum | Aug 18, 2025 | Policy

Registration is now open for the 2025 National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) Symposium, taking place September 15-16 in Austin, TX. This event represents a significant opportunity for academic leaders to engage with the latest semiconductor industry developments.

Key Highlights:

Keynote Speakers Announced: The symposium will feature two powerful keynotes focused on the intersection of AI and semiconductor technology:
- Day 1: “The Engine Behind Generative AI: A Decade of GPU Innovation”
- Day 2: “From Silicon to Superintelligence: Building AI Infrastructure for the AGI Era”
Comprehensive Agenda: The event features 30+ sessions covering critical areas:
- NSTC program updates across Research, Workforce, Design Enablement, Facilities, and Investment Fund
- Technical sessions on edge computing, advanced packaging, memory, photonics, and more
- Discussions with semiconductor investors and successful startups
- Introduction of the new Analog Mixed-Signal Community of Action working group
Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry leaders, academics, investors, workforce experts, and policymakers to explore collaboration possibilities relevant to higher education institutions.
Funding Insights: Discover new investment and funding opportunities that could benefit academic research and workforce development initiatives.

This event aligns with the Presidents Forum’s interests in supporting semiconductor education and research initiatives. We encourage members to consider participating to strengthen connections between higher education and this critical industry.

Matching Aptitude to Opportunity

by Presidents Forum | Aug 15, 2025 | Video, Working Learners

Matching Aptitude to Opportunity

The big picture:

Many working learners land in programs that don’t fit and stop out, sometimes multiple times.

Why it matters:

Aligning education with natural aptitudes boosts persistence, completion, and job readiness while filling talent gaps in tech, manufacturing, finance, engineering.

What’s needed:

Measure aptitudes early
Expand real-world exposure
Connect programs to careers
Honor prior learning
Show clear personal ROI

Bottom line:

When learners see a path that fits who they are, they stick, finish, and thrive.