The big picture

Presidents Forum members convene in Boston on Oct. 23–24 for in-person, strategic discussions on AI and institutional strategy, upcoming Negotiated Rulemaking, national enrollment and funding trends, and Executive Branch priorities for 2025.

Why it matters

Leaders need space to cut through noise and align on student-first action. This meeting is built for direct, president-level problem-solving that translates into campus moves and policy clarity.

What’s new

We’re expanding our collaboration network introduced earlier this year. Partners will be embedded in several Boston sessions to stress-test solutions on technology adoption and workforce readiness.

What’s next

• Post-Boston brief with actionable takeaways and model practices members can adapt on campus.
• Continued policy tracking and member input shaping the PF 2025 Policy Agenda.

The bottom line

Boston is a catalyst—not the finish line. The Forum is aligning presidents around bold, student-centered execution that moves from conversation to measurable results.

Why it matters:

At a House Education & Workforce Committee roundtable in Utah, Chair Tim Walberg and Higher Education Subcommittee Chair Burgess Owens framed Utah’s collaboration culture as a national model for aligning tax policy, school choice, and workforce development.

The big picture:

• Working Families Tax Cut touted as the largest in U.S. history, with no tax on tips or overtime, bigger child credits, and small business protections.
• Education reform centered on accountability, Pell expansion for short-term and workforce programs, and caps on grad lending to rein in tuition inflation.
• School choice momentum spotlighted Utah’s universal ESA program, with private and faith-based leaders underscoring parent-led education.

What they’re saying:

• Business voices called the tax changes a boost for small employers and frontline workers.
• Higher ed leaders stressed accountability, completion, and linking credentials to market value.
• K–12 and private school advocates framed parent choice as essential to student success.
• Workforce groups emphasized employer-aligned training and short-term credentials.

The bottom line:

Owens and Walberg cast Utah as proof-of-concept for marrying tax relief, school choice, and workforce-driven higher ed – a blueprint they want to scale nationally.

Why it matters

Major changes to student aid programs and loan limits will significantly impact higher education institutions and students, requiring preparation for implementation challenges.

Key takeaways

• Title IV changes: Workforce Pell Grant expansion and loan repayment modifications will affect students and institutions
• Loan limit overhaul: Effective July 1, 2026, Graduate PLUS loans will be eliminated (with grandfathering) and Parent PLUS loans will have hard caps ($20,500 annual, $65,000 aggregate)
• Accountability measures: New earnings accountability test represents first significant federal focus on student outcomes
• Employer benefits: Section 127 employer education assistance ($5,250) now permanent and inflation-indexed

Negotiated rulemaking update

• Recent narrowly-focused rulemaking session addressed PSLF eligibility restrictions per Trump’s executive order, with no consensus reached.
• Department of Education likely to release draft rules within 30-45 days, with potential finalization before October 2025.
• Future rulemaking may follow this faster, more targeted approach focusing on single issues.