Short Courses Provide a Look at the Future of Higher Education

On Tuesday the NAICU Annual Meeting held several short courses for meeting attendees, below you will find a list of the courses as well as PowerPoint presentations and other handouts.

What, Me Worry?: Keys to Taking Advantage of These Uncertain Times
George Dehne, President, GDA Integrated Services
Christopher Small, Executive Vice President, GDA Integrated Services

View George Dehne's PowerPoint presentation.


Presidential Compensation in 2009: Improving Your Contract
Raymond D. Cottton, Vice President for Higher Education, ML Strategies, LLC.
Related Chronicle of Higher Education columns by Ray Cotton
Negotiating Nonsalary Benefits
Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Branding. What Is It? And Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
Elizabeth Scarborough, CEO and Partner, SimpsonScarborough

View Elizabeth Scarborough's presentation.

Trends to Track and Strategic Responses in Tough Times
Robert A. Sevier, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Stamats, Inc.

View Bob Sevier's presentation.

Inside the Yellow Ribbon Program

Keith Wilson, Director of Education Service at the Department of Veterans Affairs, gave an update to the annual meeting on the recently approved Yellow Ribbon program, which gives some post 9/11 veterans a boost in their G.I. Bill if they attend a participating independent college. Wilson described details of the program, and how campuses can get involved.

View the presentation here.

Colleges, the Country, and the Economy

The Honorable David Walker, president and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and the former U.S. Comptroller General, addressed the major fiscal and sustainability challenges facing the country and the higher education sector. Walker is the subject of a new documentary, found online at IOUSAthemovie.com.

Measuring Economic Risk Factors in an Uncertain Time

Richard Kneedler, President Emeritus of Franklin & Marshall College and higher education consultant led a town hall meeting to discuss with campus leaders their campus's level of vulnerability in the economic downturn.

Download the presentation here.

Listen to an excerpt from Dr. Kneedler's presentation.

Download the paper.

The Honorable John Warner Recognized for his Advocacy of Independent Higher Education

Former U.S. Senator John W. Warner was honored on Tuesday with the NAICU Advocacy Award. John Warner retired from the U.S. Senate in January 2009 after a remarkable career of service to our nation. Last year Warner authored a special provision to Sen. Jim Webb's new GI bill to ensure that today's veterans have the same higher education choices he had after his service in both World War II and the Korean War. Under the new Yellow Ribbon program, private colleges receive a dollar match for every scholarship dollar they provide veterans above the new GI bill's basic allowance.

The NAICU Advocacy Award was established in 1993 to recognize individuals outside of academe who have championed the cause of independent nonprofit higher education. The Advocacy Award recognizes a lifetime of service, initiative and determination.

Listen to Mark Warner's congratulatory remarks.

Listen to a excerpt from John Warner's address.

Read more about the NAICU Advocacy Award and John Warner.

The Net Generation

Diana Oblinger, president and CEO of EDUCAUSE took NAICU Annual Meeting attendees into the world of technology that students are living in.

Those graduating high school today have been exposed to the internet since childhood, and higher education needs to be aware of this world of inter connectitvity. Oblinger stressed that "it isn't about the technology, its about a mindset"

See her presentation.

Listen to audio clip.

The Yellow Ribbon Program and Private Colleges

James Wright, president of Dartmouth College, offered his views on the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, a central part of the expanded GI Bill.

Wright called on private colleges to participate in the program, saying having veterans on campus is not only the right thing to do, but is also good for both the institution and the nation. He called this confluence, "the trifecta you can't let pass you by."

According to Wright, veterans are often daunted by and don't know where to find information on how to apply to college, where disabilities are best accomadated, and how to present themselves. Most of all, they often don't know how to get started.

Wright recommends that institutions encourage veterans to apply by posting plentiful, pertinent information on their Web sites, identifying a veterans coordinator on campus, and holding forums to educate faculty.

Listen to a clip from president James Wright's speech.

Education Secretary Addresses NAICU Meeting, Calls for Cooperation

In his first appearance before a higher education association audience, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan endorsed the emphasis on education in the stimulus bill now under consideration. Duncan noted the importance of higher education as an economic force, and called for unified effort on increasing the Pell grant.

Listen to the audio recording.

Leading in an Uncertain Time

David Warren kicked off the NAICU Annual Meeting on Monday afternoon, by describing the current state of national higher education policy and encouraging attendees to continue their good work.

Listen to a clip from David Warren's remarks

If You Can't Stop Them, Join Them!

Dan Forbush joined the PR Academy to share his views on how social networks are changing college marketing, PR, and Alumni Relations. He cited his experience transitioning Skidmore College to primarily electronic communications, particularly with alumni.

After surveying active alumni, Skidmore found that most engaged alumni were using Facebook, and that in order to reach them, Skidmore would need to create an extensive Facebook presence.

Forbush detailed the steps Skidmore has taken so far, plans for the future, and other ways colleges and universities can engage their audiences on the web, including Twitter, YouTube, Yammer, Basecamp, and Flickr.

Click here to view the presentation



Jeff Selingo, editor from The Chronicle of Higher Education also presented at the PR Academy. Selingo spoke about the challenges facing higher education and the media in the coming year.

Click here to view the presentation.

Listen to a clip from Jeff Selingo's presentation.

The 2009 NAICU Annual Meeting Starts This Weekend!

The NAICU staff is ready to welcome members to the 2009 Annual Meeting, starting with the PR Academy on Sunday, February 1!

We will use this space to post updates on the conference and quick takes from the different sessions. In the links you'll find the conference schedule and information on the hotel.

Look in this space also for audio and video from the conference.

We look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC!