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 critical stakeholders in strategic planning, thus, not giving them a full understanding of at least the operating model and high-level revenues and expenses would be a disservice. They can bring interesting thoughts to the table – especially once they have all the information.   Additional Resources

• Connect with Liz on LinkedIn
• Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn
• Check out NACUBO’s Strategic Higher Education Finance and Planning Course
• Learn about Forvis Mazars’ Higher Education Financial Literacy Training
• Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts!
  • Career Conversations
  • CBO Speaks

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 shared responsibility in ensuring ERM plans are always ready to meet the moment and how to communicate ERM strategies to the broader community. Bronté also shares the mindful approach her campus took in conducting a risk analysis on whether to arm or not arm the campus police department – showcasing how a thoughtful ERM process can set a standard for future decision-making.   Additional Resources

• Connect with Liz on LinkedIn
• Connect with Keesha on LinkedIn
• Learn about University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA)
• Check out URMIA’s Annual Conference, Oct 12-16
• Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts!
  • Career Conversations
  • CBO Speaks

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 and affordability.   Chad and Colleen discuss how they built a workplan with considerations for timing, impacts, and risks, and the importance of engaging with stakeholder groups in a meaningful and manageable way to get feedback. They also share how equity and access were addressed and offer advice for other institutions exploring a realignment of tuition policies with long-term strategic planning.   Additional Resources

• Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
• Connect with Chad on LinkedIn
• Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn
• Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts!
  • Career Conversations
  • CBO Speaks

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 healthcare data and share how their institutions are aligning policies and programs to meet the evolving needs of faculty and staff. They also share how business officers can think holistically about cost, culture, and impact, and why well-being should remain part of financial sustainability conversations.   Additional Resources

• Read this Surgeon General Publication on Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being
• Read more on Employee Engagement Strategies: Fixing the World's $8.8 Trillion Problem
• Read more about Addressing Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being With Purpose - Huron
• Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn
• Connect with Kelcey on LinkedIn
• Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn

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 engagement.   Additional Resources:

• Read the latest NACUBO news
• Follow NASFAA on LinkedIn
• Connect with Liz Clark on LinkedIn
• Connect with Bryan Dickson on LinkedIn
• Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts!
  • Career Conversations
  • CBO Speaks

April 30 marked the first 100 days President Trump’s second term in the White House. Executive orders and federal agency upheavals have created new challenges and much uncertainty for colleges and universities. On Capitol Hill, House budget and tax proposals include a number of policy ideas that are adding to concerns. NACUBO’s Liz Clark and Ashley Jackson discuss these issues and advocacy efforts NACUBO has taken on behalf of its members.   Additional Resources:

• Read the latest NACUBO news
• Register for the next NACUBO Washington Update
• Connect with Ashley Jackson on LinkedIn
• Connect with Liz Clark on LinkedIn

The fifth edition of the National Profile of Higher Education Chief Business Officers, released last year, offers crucial insights into the career paths, responsibilities, and aspirations of CBOs across the country. In this special crossover episode between CBO Speaks and NACUBO in Brief, host Donna Schiele and NACUBO's Bryan Dickson explore the Profile's findings with Nicole Long, chief financial officer and vice president of finance and administration at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, and Peter Elliott, vice president for administrative services at South Florida State College in Avon Park, Florida.   The Profile examines key demographic trends in higher education leadership, revealing significant progress in diversity while highlighting areas still needing improvement. Long and Elliott provide valuable context around the study's findings on career pathways, succession planning, and evolving skill requirements. Their discussion emphasizes how the CBO role continues to expand beyond traditional financial oversight, with increasing focus on data analytics, new business models, and strategic planning - areas that require intentional development of future leaders.   Join us for an insightful discussion about:

• Key findings from the 2024 CBO Profile, including demographic shifts and emerging trends
• Essential skills for modern CBOs, including strategic planning and change management
• The importance of succession planning and developing future leaders
• How the role of CBO continues to evolve and expand beyond traditional financial responsibilities
• Strategies for attracting diverse talent to CBO positions

The 2024 National Profile of Higher Education Chief Business Officers provides crucial insights into the changing nature of the profession, revealing how the role continues to expand beyond traditional financial oversight to encompass strategic planning, data analytics, and comprehensive institutional leadership. This discussion brings these findings to life through the experiences of current CBOs, offering valuable perspective for institutions and leaders working to develop the next generation of higher education business officers.   Links

• Learn more about the National Profile of Higher Education Chief Business Officers
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
• Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn
• Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
• Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts!
  • Career Conversations
  • CBO Speaks

Executive orders and memos issued during President Trump’s first weeks back in the White House have elevated risk and uncertainty for colleges and universities. A leaked list of House budget and tax proposals includes a number of alarming policy ideas, and it is unclear how, or if, the Congress will be able to fund the federal government after March 14. NACUBO’s Liz Clark and Ashley Jackson discuss these issues and advocacy efforts NACUBO has taken on behalf of its members.   Links & Notes

• NACUBO Letter to Congress on 2025 Priorities (January 31, 2025)
• NACUBO Statement on Federal Funding Freeze
• Catch up on news from NACUBO
• Register for NACUBO’s February 11, 2025 Washington Update
• Connect with Ashley Jackson on LinkedIn
• Connect with Liz Clark on LinkedIn

Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts!

• Career Conversations
• CBO Speaks

Dr. Ruth Johnston, vice president of NACUBO Consulting joins Liz Clark to talk about NACUBO Consulting. Ruth talks about the expertise, experience, and leadership abilities NACUBO consultants bring to each engagement. She also discusses some of the top issues for which institutions are seeking solutions. Ruth also explains how NACUBO Consultants are integrating tools available from NACUBO such as the Student Success Hub, resources developed by NACUBO’s analytics team, and more.   Links & Notes

• Learn more about NACUBO Consulting
• Connect with Ruth Johnston on LinkedIn
• Access the NACUBO Student Success Hub
• Explore additional analytics resources from NACUBO
• Discover Higher Education’s Top 5 Business Issues of 2024

La Toya Hart, Ph.D., assistant vice president, institutional research, planning and effectiveness, at Jackson State University and Lindsay Wayt, Ph.D., senior director, analytics, at NACUBO join Liz Clark to talk about the new Change With Analytics Playbook, a comprehensive resource designed to support institutions in creating a culture and capacity for strategic data use. The free resource contains 16 “plays” for data leaders to follow in order to make significant progress on their institution’s analytics goals.   Links & Notes

• Access the Change with Analytics Playbook
• Connect with La Toya on LinkedIn
• Connect with Lindsay on Linked In
• Explore additional analytics resources from NACUBO