Colleges have a responsibility to keep their communities safe, and technology has an important role in doing that. But safety becomes something different when surveillance begins to influence what students and faculty feel comfortable saying. A healthy campus does not require agreement; it requires the freedom to question, challenge, listen, and disagree respectfully. The best universities use technology to protect people without creating an environment where people are afraid to express ideas.
Read MoreGreat advancement strategy begins with understanding people, not assumptions. The National Alumni Survey is providing one of the most comprehensive looks yet at what alumni actually think, value, and expect from their institutions. Its early findings reinforce a simple but powerful truth: graduates who feel informed, connected, and genuinely known are far more likely to become engaged donors. The future of university philanthropy may depend less on asking better questions and more on listening better.
Read MorePublic universities are under mounting pressure as state funding declines and operational costs climb, leaving students to shoulder rising tuition and fees. The challenge is clear: can these institutions keep being “everything to everyone”? Streamlining through strategic specialization—focusing each campus on its strengths and reducing duplication—offers a path forward. But the real test lies in overcoming political resistance, where local pride and jobs often outweigh efficiency.
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