The Presidents Forum is heading back to Washington, D.C. on March 24-25 for our annual advocacy meeting! Last year’s gathering was a tremendous success, bringing together the most forward-thinking educational leaders from across the country to advance higher education policy. Meetings included productive conversations with Under Secretary James Kvaal, the Department of Defense, Congress members, and the National Governors Association.

This year, we’re building on that momentum with high-impact meetings scheduled with congressional leadership, staffers, executive agencies, the National Conference of State Legislators, and the National Governors Association. Our presidents will be advocating for our key commitments:

• Students First
• Access for All
• Accountable Innovation
• Empowering Working Learners
• Value-Driven Education
• Parity Across Modalities
• Accountability

The 2025 meeting offers invaluable peer-to-peer networking opportunities and a chance to share our innovative vision for the future of higher education with policymakers.

We can’t wait to see what our collective voice will accomplish in D.C.

Why it matters

The Presidents Forum drives major change projects in higher education, focusing on increasing access and improving education quality.

The big picture

Two significant initiatives showcase their impact:

• NC-SARA: Established oversight for distance education across state lines
• “Disagree Better”: Partnership with National Governors Association to address national discourse

Bottom line

The President’s Forum continues to demonstrate its commitment to driving meaningful change in higher education, with lasting impact for students across the nation.

The big picture:

Microcredentials are transforming career advancement opportunities in today’s rapidly evolving job market.

Why it matters:

Professionals can now upskill quickly and affordably, meeting industry demands without committing to full degree programs.

The bottom line:

Microcredentials offer a flexible, efficient path for career advancement, allowing professionals to stay competitive in their fields while maintaining work-life balance.

The big picture:

The Presidents Forum facilitates crucial peer-to-peer connections among presidents, offering a confidential space for leadership discussions and networking.

Key benefits:

• Direct peer contact through private contact list
• Safe environment for candid discussions
• Access to trusted collaboration partners

Bottom line:

The forum creates a community where presidents can build meaningful relationships and share insights that strengthen their leadership capabilities.

By Scott Pulsipher, President of Western Governors University

AI’s real potential rests in its ability to dramatically personalize learning such that every individual has an equal probability of success. But for all its hype, few institutions successfully implemented artificial intelligence tools in 2024 and those that did mostly used it to refine existing practices, for instance using the tech to develop teaching materials and exams rather than leveraging its capacity to fundamentally change education.

If institutions aren’t careful, advances in AI could help fuel their disruption as students increasingly embrace AI as a learning tool and discover they don’t need a formal education to pick up new skills. To avoid becoming a relic of the past, it’s incumbent on faculty and institutions to consider how they might implement tech to fundamentally reimagine how students consume content, engage anyone to enable learning, and effectively attain and demonstrate mastery.

Read the full insights here.