NACUBO In Brief

What role does professional development play in helping higher education leaders navigate increasingly challenging environments? NACUBO's Randy Roberson, vice president for leadership development, joins Liz Clark and Bryan Dickson in a conversation about NACUBO's education programs for 2026. They discuss how member-driven content, policy expertise, business partner insights, and peer learning come together across conferences, forums, and online programs. This episode highlights how NACUBO programming helps business officers turn complexity into clarity, build community, and lead their institutions with confidence. Additional Resources

• Connect with Liz on LinkedIn
• Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
• Connect with Randy on LinkedIn
• Learn about Bursar Fundamentals (February 12, 2026)
• Learn about the Endowment Leadership Series (February 17 – March 12, 2026)
• Learn about the Student Financial Services Conference (March 8 – 10, 2026)
• Check out the Higher Education Accounting Forum (April 13 – 15, 2026)
• Check out the NACUBO Annual Meeting (July 18 – 21, 2026)
• Check out the NACUBO Events page for forthcoming information on:
  • Planning, Budgeting, and Analytics Forum (October 5 – 7, 2026)
  • Tax Forum (October 25 – 27, 2026)
• Check out NACUBO's other podcasts!
  • Career Conversations
  • CBO Speaks

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 planning strategically for the future. Additional Resources

• Connect with Liz on LinkedIn
• Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn
• Check out the 5 Things Business Officers Can Do to Support AI Use
• Read more about the AI survey report
• Learn more with the Actionable Insights for AI Series (May 12—26)
• Check out NACUBO's webpage on Artificial Intelligence in the Business Office
• Check out NACUBO's other podcasts!
  • Career Conversations
  • CBO Speaks

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

• Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Manish and Bowie State
• Read NACUBO's coverage on Supporting and Maintaining the Workforce, from NACUBO's Top 5 Higher Education Business Issues of 2025
• Check out NACUBO's other podcasts!
  • Career Conversations
  • CBO Speaks

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. Additional Resources

• Connect with Liz on LinkedIn
• Connect with Kara on LinkedIn
• Read NACUBO's Top 5 Higher Education Business Issues of 2025
• Use NACUBO's More Is Possible With Higher Education to amplify the value of higher education
• Check out the NACUBO Student Success Hub
• Check out NACUBO's other podcasts!
  • Career Conversations
  • CBO Speaks

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 office. Additional Resources

• Connect with Liz on LinkedIn
• Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn
• Read more NACUBO coverage on these topics:
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
  • Sponsored Research
  • Liz's Shutdown Story "Many Questions Remain Unanswered Despite End of Shutdown"
• Check out NACUBO's other podcasts!
  • Career Conversations
  • CBO Speaks

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 about shared governance, shared resources, faculty buy-in, and the coalition's overall impact on enrollment and how it is clearing pathways for student success and completion at both Antioch University and Otterbein University. They also discuss a dedication to promoting the common good, including democracy, social justice, equity, inclusion, and engaged global citizenship. Additional Resources

• Connect with Liz on LinkedIn
• Connect with Charlie on LinkedIn
• Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn
• Learn about Coalition for the Common Good
• Check out NACUBO's other podcasts!
  • Career Conversations
  • CBO Speaks

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