UT Arlington: AI Insights and Student Success Approach

by Presidents Forum | Jul 17, 2025 | Innovation, Outcomes and Accountability

UT Arlington: AI Insights and Student Success Approach

Why it matters:

Jennifer Cowley shares how UT Arlington is approaching artificial intelligence challenges and removing institutional barriers to support diverse student populations.

AI opportunities and challenges:

Views AI as both an opportunity and challenge for higher education
Notes that workplace changes are happening “faster than what it takes to prepare a student”
Students express concern about being “AI’d out of a job”
Different adoption rates: Business programs integrating AI consistently while writing programs still determining best approaches

Removing institutional barriers:

Found over 100 different registration “holds” creating unnecessary obstacles
Eliminated most holds by requiring departments to petition to keep them
Focus on making student experience “as frictionless as possible”

NC-SARA: Streamlining Distance Education

by Presidents Forum | Jul 15, 2025 | Outcomes and Accountability, Working Learners

NC-SARA: Streamlining Distance Education

Why it matters:

NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) facilitates smoother interstate distance education by reducing regulatory barriers for institutions and students.

Key benefits:

For students: Uninterrupted education when relocating, particularly beneficial for military families
For institutions: Streamlined compliance processes and ability to offer clinical placements/internships across state lines
For states: State-led agreement providing consistent regulatory framework

Looking ahead:

NC-SARA is focusing on:

Adapting to AI developments in education
Supporting data-driven policy decisions
Helping institutions navigate complex regulatory landscapes

The bottom line:

Re-education about NC-SARA’s value is needed as leadership turnover occurs in state governments and institutions.

Future of Distance Education

by Presidents Forum | Jul 3, 2025 | Innovation, Outcomes and Accountability, Working Learners

Future of Distance Education

The Big Picture:

Three university presidents discussed how AI, personalized learning, and industry partnerships are reshaping distance education.

Why it matters

Higher education faces urgent pressure to adapt to technological changes while ensuring accessibility and addressing workforce needs in real-time.

Key insights

Skills assessment is evolving — Traditional evaluation methods are becoming obsolete as AI enables complex assessment models including virtual simulations and AI-facilitated oral exams.
Micro-credentials are gaining traction — All three presidents emphasized “stackable” and “trackable” shorter-term credentials to meet rapid upskilling needs.
Industry alignment is critical — Universities must prepare students for careers that don’t yet exist while tailoring critical thinking and communication skills to specific industry contexts.
AI can enhance human connections — “Flipping the organization” allows technology to handle logistics while educators focus on higher-order interactions.
Personalized student support — 24/7 virtual services, predictive analytics, and virtual exam proctoring are improving accessibility and outcomes.

The bottom line

Distance education’s future success hinges on balancing technological advancement with meaningful human learning experiences that prepare students for a rapidly evolving workforce.

Breaking the Time Barrier

by Presidents Forum | Jun 19, 2025 | Innovation, Outcomes and Accountability, Video

Breaking the Time Barrier

Why it matters:

Traditional higher education is constrained by fixed time periods that don’t match how people actually learn.

The big picture:

As college costs rise and student debt mounts, education leaders are reimagining a system where:

Learning is validated by demonstrating skills, not seat time
Technology enables personalized, flexible pathways
Access expands to working adults and underserved populations

Bottom line:

This transformation challenges long-held assumptions about higher education while creating more accessible, effective, and equitable learning opportunities.

NCHER Annual Conference: Highlights and Insights

by Presidents Forum | Jun 13, 2025 | Outcomes and Accountability

NCHER Annual Conference: Highlights and Insights

Why it matters:

NCHER’s Annual Conference in Nashville brought together key players in education finance to address critical challenges and opportunities in the sector.

Key themes:

Legislative updates and regulatory changes
Student loan repayment strategies
Workforce development initiatives
Private loan program evolution

The bottom line:

The conference reinforced NCHER’s role in facilitating collaboration and innovation within the higher education finance community, with a clear focus on developing comprehensive financial solutions for students.

June Executive Director Update

by Presidents Forum | Jun 6, 2025 | Outcomes and Accountability, Video

June Executive Director Update

The Key Points

The Presidents Forum is ramping up work on distance education and AI while staying active in policy matters.

Why it matters

These initiatives shape the future of higher education delivery and regulation.

The big picture

The Forum is balancing innovation in education delivery with policy engagement and regulatory compliance.

What’s next

Mid-June: Second Negotiated Rulemaking update
Late June: NACIQI update
Ongoing: Reconciliation briefs and financial aid integrity work