Cautious Optimism: AI Integration on College Campuses
NACUBO In Brief
How are higher education business officers integrating artificial intelligence into their work? Join NACUBO’s Liz Clark, vice president, policy and research, and Lindsay Wayt, senior director of business intelligence, as they discuss how AI is moving from experimentation to everyday practice across campus operations. They explore new survey insights, emerging use cases, and the opportunities and risks AI presents—from automation and data-informed decision-making to governance, ethics, and ROI. The conversation highlights how business officers can approach AI with cautious optimism while...
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Evolving Campus Culture in a Hybrid Work World
NACUBO In Brief
How can colleges and universities remain agile, student-centered, and future-focused in a rapidly changing work landscape? Join Manish Kumar, vice president for administration and finance at Bowie State University, and NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson as they discuss how hybrid work, shifting campus culture, and new technology continue to reshape higher education operations. Manish shares lessons from Bowie State’s post-pandemic transformation—from flexible work policies and reimagined campus space usage to strategic long-term planning and responsible AI adoption. Additional Resources ...
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On the Road with NACUBO President Kara Freeman
NACUBO In Brief
In this episode, NACUBO President and CEO Kara D. Freeman joins Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research, to share what she’s heard from business officers and other higher education administrations from across the country during her travels this fall. Kara brings a broad view of the challenges institutions are navigating and identifies major themes emerging across institutions—uncertain funding, rising costs, workforce pressures, and rapid digital transformation. She highlights how business officers are adapting through flexible planning, collaboration, and innovation. ...
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Washington Update: What Happens Next?
NACUBO In Brief
November 12, 2025, marked the end of the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. What happens next for higher education? In this episode, NACUBO’s Liz Clark, vice president, policy and research, and Bryan Dickson, director of student financial services and educational programs, discuss how the shutdown impacted colleges and universities and what changes are on the horizon now that the government has reopened. They discuss the FY26 budget, Workforce Pell, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, federally sponsored research, and more – and what it all means for the campus business...
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Coalition for the Common Good: Meeting a Mission, Leveraging Enrollment, and Boosting Student Success Across Two Independent Institutions
NACUBO In Brief
What happens when institutions prioritize collaboration over competition and align their missions together for the common good? Join Charlie McFarland, director, strategic affiliation initiatives, Antioch University; Jeff Nutter, chief financial officer and vice president for business affairs, Otterbein University; and NACUBO’s Liz Clark, as they discuss how and why their universities formed a separate entity—the Coalition for the Common Good, a different type of academic shared services organization that has created new pathways and opportunities for students Charlie and Jeff talk...
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Communicating Financial Stakes to Campus Faculty and Staff
NACUBO In Brief
College and university business officers know what they know, but how can they translate commonly misunderstood complex financial terms and processes – such as endowments, deferred maintenance, and funding salary and benefit rates – into something accessible for nonfinancial audiences? In this episode, Rachel Pauletti, director, higher education consulting at Forvis Mazars, joins NACUBO’s Liz Clark in a conversation about the importance of the business officer’s role in effective financial communication with campus faculty and staff. Rachel explains that faculty and staff are...
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Risk and Responsibility in the College Business Office
NACUBO In Brief
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is more than just a threat assessment; it’s a methodical organization-wide approach to making decisions about the safety and security of college and university community members – on campus and abroad. Join Bronté Burleigh-Jones, CFO, vice president, and treasurer at American University; Keesha Trim, senior director of risk management at the University of Richmond; and NACUBO’s Liz Clark as they discuss key considerations to make when implementing an integrated approach to risk management in higher education. Bronté and Keesha talk about the...
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Aligning Tuition Policies With Strategic Vision
NACUBO In Brief
When tuition policies have more exceptions than the rule or there is a need to increase student enrollment and reach new markets, it might be time for institutions to take a fresh look at—and consider modernizing—those policies. In this episode, the University System of Maryland’s Colleen Auburger, associate vice chancellor for budget analysis, and Chad Muntz, associate vice chancellor for decision support and chief analytics officer, join NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson in a conversation on how they aligned tuition policies with their strategic priorities and guiding values of accessibility...
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Employee Disengagement and Mental Health Concerns Cost More Than You Think
NACUBO In Brief
Employee disengagement and burnout don’t just affect morale; they carry real financial and human costs for institutions. In this episode, Amanda Bailey, vice president for human resources at Boston University, and Kelcey Stratton, chief behavioral health strategist at the University of Michigan, join NACUBO’s Bryan Dickson in a conversation on the hidden costs when institutions don’t prioritize mental health and employee well-being. There are institutional costs associated with employee turnover, as well as absenteeism, presenteeism, and lower engagement. Amanda and Kelcey review...
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Understanding the Latest at the Department of Education
NACUBO In Brief
There’s no shortage of news about the U.S. Department of Education these days—from an executive order proposing to eliminate the agency, to new proposals on Capitol Hill that could reshape federal aid programs, to upcoming regulatory changes. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ Karen McCarthy joins NACUBO’s Liz Clark and Bryan Dickson to explore what these developments mean for higher education institutions and staff working in financial aid and business offices. They also discuss how NASFAA and NACUBO are supporting their members through advocacy and...
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