Forces Shaping Higher Education: Campus Challenges and Washington Demands

Liz Clark - NACUBO

Higher education leaders are navigating significant financial, operational, and policy change—and the pressures on campus are increasingly intertwined with developments in Washington. NACUBO President and CEO Kara Freeman will share highlights from the 2026 Top Five Higher Education Business Issues, exploring what business officers see as most consequential for their institutions and the strategies helping them respond.

Then, NACUBO’s Liz Clark will turn to Washington and the federal policies and political dynamics reshaping higher education. She’ll break down the latest legislative, regulatory, and administrative developments, what they mean for colleges and universities, and what to watch next.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify key financial, operational, and strategic issues affecting colleges and universities, as reflected in NACUBO’s 2026 Top Five Higher Education Business Issues.
2. Assess strategies higher education business officers are using to respond to emerging institutional challenges and changing operating conditions.
3. Explain recent federal legislative, regulatory, and administrative developments affecting colleges and universities.
4. Evaluate the potential implications of federal policy and political developments for institutional financial planning, operations, and decision-making.

CPE Available

• 1 Credit: Specialized Knowledge