Capital Planning in a Time of Complexity: Navigating What’s Now and What’s Next

Jennifer Lundy - Gannon University
Matt Rankin - First American Education Finance

Higher education leaders are managing an increasingly complex mix of pressures—from aging infrastructure and evolving academic models to shifting demographics, cyber threats, and institutional mergers. In this interactive session, panelists will share how their institutions are rethinking capital planning in response to today’s realities while staying focused on long-term mission and sustainability. This high-level discussion will offer diverse campus perspectives on balancing short- and long-term priorities, aligning stakeholders, and making progress amid uncertainty.

Learning Objectives

1. Recognize the external and internal forces shaping capital planning decisions across higher education.
2. Explore strategies institutions are using to align capital planning with mission, risk, and long-term sustainability.
3. Understand how cross-functional collaboration can strengthen planning, budgeting, and project execution.
4. Identify ways to remain agile and responsive in the face of demographic shifts, digital transformation, and financial pressures.

CPE Available

• 1 Credit: Finance