January CHIPS Update

January CHIPS Update

by | Jan 16, 2025 | Innovation, Policy

Cameron Mortenson, Policy Director

The Department of Commerce officially finalized its agreement with Natcast to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC). Over the next 10 years, NSTC will execute on its strategic plan to:

  1. Extend U.S. technology leadership
  2. Reduce the time and cost to prototype
  3. Build and sustain a semiconductor workforce ecosystem

Through another announcement this week, the Department of Commerce announced $1.4 billion in funding to establish U.S. leadership in semiconductor advanced packaging and manufacturing. The funding announcement includes $1.1 Billion to the Natcast operated NSTC Prototyping and NAPMP Advanced Packaging Piloting Facility in Tempe, Arizona. The announcement also includes $300 Million for advanced substrates and research to the following organizations:

  • Absolics Inc – $100 Million to help build a glass-core packaging ecosystem.
  • Applied Materials Inc – $100 Million to develop and scale a disruptive silicon-core substrate technology for next-generation advanced packaging and 3D heterogeneous integration.
  • Arizona State University – $100 Million to support the development of the next generation of microelectronics packaging through fan-out-wafer-level-processing (FOWLP)

The Presidents Forum has been actively monitoring and engaging with CHIPS Act developments since its inception. Through regular updates and discussions, the Forum continues to track these transformative investments in American semiconductor capabilities, recognizing their critical importance to U.S. technological leadership and economic competitiveness.

Website Updates

Website Updates

by | Jan 15, 2025 | Outcomes and Accountability

The Presidents Forum has recently unveiled significant updates to their website, featuring a comprehensive new “Membership” section that clearly delineates the various partnership opportunities available. This enhanced section provides detailed information about the costs and benefits associated with three distinct membership tiers: member institutions, collaboration partners, and impact partners. The restructured membership framework demonstrates the Presidents Forum’s commitment to fostering meaningful connections and collaborative opportunities within the higher education landscape.

We encourage institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations, and nonprofit entities to explore the Presidents Forum membership opportunities. Each membership tier offers unique benefits tailored to different organizational needs and engagement levels. By joining the Presidents Forum community, organizations can contribute to shaping the future of higher education while accessing valuable resources, networking opportunities, and collaborative initiatives. Interested organizations are invited to visit the membership section to learn more about how they can become part of this dynamic community.

2025 New Years Resolutions

2025 New Years Resolutions

by | Jan 13, 2025 | Outcomes and Accountability, Video

2025 New Years Resolutions

The Big Picture

The Presidents Forum is setting ambitious goals for 2025, focusing on three core principles:

Core principles

  • Working Learners First: Supporting students balancing education with careers and family
  • Student-Centered Innovation: Every decision starts with student benefit
  • Quality & Accessibility: Breaking down barriers while maintaining standards

What’s Next

The Forum’s 2025 policy agenda includes:

  • Data reforms for better tracking student success
  • Increased military tuition assistance
  • Student-owned learning records
  • Equal treatment for remote learning
Excelsior’s Constellation strategy for developing transformative partnerships with other institutions

Excelsior’s Constellation strategy for developing transformative partnerships with other institutions

by | Jan 10, 2025 | Innovation, Outcomes and Accountability, Video

Excelsior’s Constellation strategy for developing transformative partnerships with other institutions

Big Picture

Excelsior is pioneering a constellation model of higher education partnerships to create seamless student experiences across multiple institutions.

Why it matters

Traditional partnerships and mergers in higher education are often rigid and bureaucratic. This new model aims to be more flexible and student-centric.

Key features of the constellation model:

  • Students can move between partner institutions for specific experiences
  • Includes short-term, intensive in-person programs
  • Seamless credit transfer between institutions
  • Integration with employer needs and workforce development

The bottom line:

Excelsior’s constellation model could revolutionize how institutions collaborate, offering students the flexibility to combine online learning with targeted in-person experiences.

Notice of Policy Working Group

Notice of Policy Working Group

by | Jan 9, 2025 | Policy

The Presidents Forum has taken a significant step forward in shaping higher education policy by convening a diverse working group of policy experts from its member institutions. This collaborative effort brings together experienced professionals from various colleges and universities to develop a comprehensive 2025 public policy agenda. The group’s primary focus is to address the evolving landscape of higher education and provide actionable recommendations for the incoming presidential administration.

Through a series of structured discussions and analysis sessions, the working group has identified key areas requiring attention, including data reform, a focus on student outcomes, and mode and method regulatory parity. These policy experts are leveraging their collective expertise to craft proposals that balance innovation with accountability, ensuring that higher education remains both cutting-edge and accessible.

The working group’s efforts will culminate in a detailed policy document that outlines specific recommendations for the incoming administration. These recommendations aim to strengthen the foundation of higher education while preparing for future challenges and opportunities.