How to Be Proactive in a Rapidly Changing, Complex, and Evolving Higher Education Landscape

As colleges and universities continue to rise above the challenges brought on by the pandemic five years ago, it has become clear that the new normal for higher education demands more than resilience—it requires strategic foresight and proactive leadership. Institutions today must navigate shifting policies, demographic changes, public sentiment, natural disasters, economic pressures, compliance mandates, safety concerns, talent turnover, operational efficiency demands, and increasing pressure for measurable results.

Is your institution prepared to proactively face these challenges, knowing that disruption is not just possible but highly probable?

• Will your strategic plan ensure financial sustainability if events on the scale of the pandemic disrupt your revenue streams?
• Does your current enrollment strategy include innovative approaches to capture new market share despite declining numbers of prospective students?
• Is your institution leveraging artificial intelligence to drive innovation and efficiency?
• Does your academic master plan align with program demand, employer talent needs, and student success outcomes?
• Can your organization prioritize limited resources effectively and use data to inform critical budget decisions?
• Do your stakeholders understand that your institution’s reputation and competitive standing depend on academic innovation, excellence, community engagement, and student success—achieved through accountability, continuous improvement, campus engagement, agility, and clear prioritization?

If your answer isn’t a confident “YES!”, it’s time to act. Consider investing two days at RNL’s Strategic Planning Executive Forum (April 1–2, Chicago).

Building a foundation for strategic planning in two days

RNL quite literally wrote the book—three of them, in fact—on Strategic Enrollment Planning. For decades, RNL has guided institutions in transforming their approach and achieving their missions through a proven, data-informed strategic planning framework.

Today, institutions discover that this framework goes beyond enrollment—it is adaptable to address every facet of university and college operations, including institutional culture, financial health, academic excellence, technology integration, student success, community engagement, branding, and institutional value. This approach aligns your institution’s goals with the realities of the evolving higher education landscape, ensuring long-term enrollment success and financial sustainability.

While many institutions simply set goals and outline steps, true strategic planning thrives at the intersection of creativity, critical thinking, data analysis, and action. The RNL Strategic Planning Forum is designed to elevate your institution’s capacity by focusing on essential, foundational steps:

• Analyzing your institution’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT)
• Identifying key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Fostering a data-informed decision-making culture
• Developing actionable strategy plans with clear accountability and measurable ROI
• Establishing prioritization protocols by assessing risk, resistance, and required effort
• Implementing, managing, and refreshing dynamic strategic plans through effective dashboards and processes

What to expect at the forum

The forum offers practical case studies and shared experiences from transformation leaders. Sessions will highlight best practices in areas such as:

• Strategic enrollment planning
• Institutional strategic planning
• Academic program revitalization

Breakout sessions will cater to specific institutional needs—whether from two-year colleges, four-year public universities, or private institutions—offering space to share best practices and tackle unique challenges.

Institutional assessment with expert guidance

Your leadership team will have the opportunity to complete a strategy assessment and receive live feedback from RNL experts with decades of higher education experience in:

• Marketing and market research
• Recruitment and financial aid strategy
• Student success initiatives
• Academic program planning
• Online learning and delivery models
• Advancement and venture philanthropy
• Artificial intelligence applications in higher education

Discussion and collaboration are at the heart of this event. You’ll dive into critical areas of strategic planning while engaging with industry experts, higher education leaders, and peers from other campuses. This will spark meaningful conversations within your own team, setting the stage for momentum and change.

RNL Strategic Planning ExecutiveForum: A history of driving enrollment and revenue success

Many institutions that have participated in this event have seen transformative results, including:

• Record-breaking enrollment growth
• Enhanced student outcomes
• Millions in additional revenue generation
• Stronger community engagement
• Streamlined operations and improved efficiency

Equip your institution for future-focused success

Empower your institution with actionable insights, dynamic strategies, and the tools necessary for growth, resilience, and meaningful impact in today’s higher education environment.

See the agenda and register for the Forum today. Bring your leadership team and ignite the discussions that will drive action and measurable results for your institution’s future. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more impactful event to propel your institution forward.