Learning Resources

Webinar Recordings

Published
December 2, 2020

5 Questions About the Future of Higher Education

By: James Downey, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary | Nicholas Santilli, Society for College and University Planning

Join Jim Downey, vice president of planning and institutional effectiveness at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and Nick Santilli, SCUP’s senior director of learning, as they use SCUP’s Fall 2020 Trends for Higher Education report to explore “What If?” questions in a practical format that will allow your team to pinpoint areas for institutional advancement.

Abstract: There are a multitude of internal and external forces that impact higher education, but how can you be intentional about examining and understanding these trends? From demographic shifts to political charges to social movements, the evolving economy and technology, regular environmental scanning will inform decisions around your strategic plan development or plan implementation.

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

Trends Outside Higher Education | Fall 2020

How is the world outside your institution changing? While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact every aspect of our lives, other trends and forces are worth watching. This issue broadly explores trends outside higher education.

Abstract: We’ve organized Trends using STEEP: Social, Technology, Economic, Environmental, and Political. Each trend includes a brief trend summary, a footnoted source, and discussion questions to help you analyze and act on the trend.

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

Webinar Recordings

Published
August 20, 2020

Creating a More Adaptive Institution in the Wake of COVID-19

By: Moderators: Elliot Felix, Founder & CEO, brightspot; Adam Griff, Managing Director, brightspot | Presenters: Shawna Dark, Chief Academic Technology Officer & Executive Director, Research, Teaching, and Learning, University of California, Berkeley; Cedric Howard, Vice President for Enrollment & Student Services, SUNY Fredonia; Marla Love, Senior Associate Dean of Students, Diversity and Equity, Cornell University; Rick Straka, Vice President of Finance and Administration, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Lora Strigens, Vice-President for Planning and Facilities Management, Marquette University

This interactive panel discussion will bring together different institutions’ perspectives from facilities, technology, student services, and finance to understand the impact of COVID-19 on institutions and their student experience. The discussion will be organized in three parts, each with a prompt to inform the discussion, a poll to take the pulse of the audience, and an open discussion among panelists.

Abstract: How can colleges and universities become more adaptive in the wake of COVID-19? This interactive panel discussion will bring together different institutions’ perspectives from facilities, technology, student services, and finance to understand the impact of COVID-19 on institutions and their student experience.

Institutions Mentioned: University of California-Berkeley, SUNY at Fredonia, Cornell University, Minnesota State University-Mankato, Marquette University
Planning Types: Campus Planning, Academic Planning, Resource Planning, Student Affairs Planning
Tags: Adaptable Plans, Budget / Finance, COVID-19, Learning Technology, Online Learning, Response Planning, Student Services

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

Collection: Linking Resource Allocation to Planning and Assessment

Integrated planning is important, but it's not enough—plans must be linked to budgeting and assessment in order to create real change and progress. This collection of SCUP resources will help you learn how to link these three essential processes.

Abstract: If you want to ensure planning makes a real difference for your college or university, one of the best things to do is link it to resource allocation and assessment processes. It's also one of the hardest things to do.

This collection of SCUP resources will help advance the connections between planning, budgeting, and assessment at your institution. It includes:

An adaptable framework one university used to link assessment, strategic planning, and budgeting
Four models for linking budgeting and planning, each based on the budget model your institution employs
A step-by-step outline for developing a linked planning and budgeting process
Advice for linking planning to a decentralized budgeting model

Planning Types: Resource Planning
Tags: Assessment / Analytics, Budget / Finance, Resource Allocation

Member Price:
Free | Login

Non-Member Price:
$40

Conference Recordings

Published
July 24, 2020

2020 Annual Conference | July 2020

Addressing the Financial Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Larry Goldstein, President, Campus Strategies, LLC

Join us to discuss short-term, medium-term, and long-term approaches to retrenchment and find out which solutions can most benefit your institution in this time of financial uncertainty.

Abstract: Effectively managing the financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to institutional survival. This session will focus on retrenchment and even delve into the taboo issue of financial exigency; there are numerous factors to consider when carving up a budget and, if not done carefully, retrenchment can permanently damage an institution. Join us to discuss short-term, medium-term, and long-term approaches to retrenchment and find out which solutions can most benefit your institution in this time of financial uncertainty.

Planning Types: Resource Planning
Tags: Budget / Finance, COVID-19, SCUP 2020 Annual Conference

Member Price:
$35 | Login

Non-Member Price:
$50

Academic Deans Reveal Their Leadership Styles

Annual Budgeting Becomes an Exercise in How Authority is Enacted

By: Nathan Harris

Academic deans adopt one of three approaches when developing the annual budget report for their colleges: distributed authorship, delegated authorship, or dominated authorship. Depending on the approach they select, deans can include and collaborate with their senior teams—or exclude, ignore, and alienate them. Their choice demonstrates how they lead.

From Volume 48 Number 4 | July–September 2020

Abstract: Few studies have investigated how academic deans enact their authority in Responsibility Center Budgeting (RCB), despite its widespread adoption. In this article I explore findings from a study that investigated how deans crafted a confidential annual budget report at an American university. Ultimately, deans adopted one of three approaches to crafting the report: delegating, distributing, or dominating authorship. Deans who distributed authorship collaborated with their senior teams to establish a shared sense of priorities for their colleges. In contrast deans who delegated and dominated authorship ignored and alienated members of their senior team during the budget review, engendering confusion and frustration.

Planning Types: Resource Planning
Tags: Budget / Finance, Budget Planning, Leadership, Original Research, Responsibility Center Management

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Trends: Canada 2020

This special issue of Trends focuses on the forces and events affecting Canadian higher education. Our guest editors contributed observations, trends, and insights based on their work within Canadian colleges and universities.

Abstract: We’ve organized Trends using STEEP: Social, Technology, Economic, Environmental, and Political. Each trend includes a brief trend summary, a footnoted source, and discussion questions to help you analyze and act on the trend.

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Free | Login

Non-Member Price:
$40

Can You Trust Your Eyes?

Learn How to Minimize Misinterpretation of Data Reports and Visualizations

By: Karen L. Webber

Volumes of data are available to administrators to support decision-making. But that doesn’t mean that what’s been presented is accurate. When data are misused or misconstrued, senior leaders at higher education institutions may make the wrong conclusions, ineffective policies may be enacted, and students may not be successful in completing their academic goals.

From Volume 48 Number 2 | January–March 2020

Abstract: Data analytics related to student and institutional performance have evolved quite rapidly—and continue to advance—as the field of data science captures more attention across the higher education sector. And while data-informed decisions can help institutional leaders achieve their goals, there are increasing examples of analyses or visualizations that, when presented without the proper framework, result in misinterpretation and inaccurate conclusions. Context is critical, and erroneous deductions may lead to decisions that adversely affect student performance, program development, and policy changes.

Planning Types: Academic Planning, Strategic Planning, Strategic Enrollment Management Planning, Resource Planning, Institutional Effectiveness Planning
Tags: Assessment / Analytics, Data, Decision Making

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Member-only Resource

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Trends Inside Higher Education | Spring 2020

The pace of change keeps speeding up. This issue focuses on forces and changes directly impacting higher education, now and in the future.

Abstract: From new learning technologies to upcoming legislation, the focus is on what’s next for colleges and universities, with questions that can help your institution keep up with change.

We’ve organized Trends using STEEP: Social, Technology, Economic, Environmental, and Political. Each trend includes a brief trend summary, a footnoted source, and discussion questions to help you analyze and act on the trend.

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

What If?

5 Questions About the Future of Higher Education

By: James Downey, Vice President for Planning & Institutional Effectiveness, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary | Nicholas Santilli, Senior Director of Learning Strategy, SCUP, and Former Provost, John Carroll University

Two SCUP leaders use SCUP’s Trends for Higher Education report to explore five “What If?” questions, breaking down big trends and exploring how these trends might impact higher education.

Abstract: There are many internal and external forces that impact higher education; how can you be intentional about examining and understanding these trends? From demographic shifts, politics, and social movements to the evolving economy and new technologies, regular environmental scanning can help your institution make better, more strategic decisions—both in planning and day-to-day.

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

Planning Types

Challenges