A Modern Anchor Institution in Action
A case study of Wichita State University
Now more than ever, colleges and universities are facing greater pressure around relevance and accountability, and external constituencies are questioning higher education institutions’ outcomes and impact. Instead of shaping strategy based on internal interests, colleges and universities must adopt an outside-in approach that aligns their goals with the priorities of external stakeholders (students, families, employers, legislators, and donors) and the needs of their regions.
By adopting this approach, colleges and universities can transform into “modern anchor institutions” that place serving these priorities at the core of their strategy. This shift will better position institutions to navigate financial pressures, attract future students, secure revenue, and build public support.
In this report, we highlight Wichita State University (WSU) as an exemplar modern anchor institution. While many colleges and universities have made progress in one or two areas, WSU’s across-the-board adoption of an outside-in strategy and pillar-spanning investments distinguish it from other institutions. There are dozens of initiatives that WSU has pursued that contribute to its success as a modern anchor institution, and this briefing spotlights seven of the highest impact and most replicable, with each initiative mapped onto the four modern anchor institution pillars.
Cabinet leadership teams should download this case study to better understand the modern anchor institution concept and what progressive practice looks like in each area, gather inspiration for new investments their institutions could make, and proactively identify hurdles and solutions to implementation.
Four pillars of a modern anchor institution
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Build the college-going pipeline through upstream interventions
Take responsibility for providing wraparound K-12 support and flexible re-entry pathways to bolster the institution’s enrollment, community educational attainment, and regional workforce
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Reshape the academic experience to better deliver on social mobility
Implement curricular and co-curricular changes to strengthen students’ post-graduation outcomes, the institution’s value proposition, and better serve local employers and regional industries
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Drive real-world impact by scaling community-centric research
Adopt a new growth mindset oriented around practical solutions and cross-sector collaboration, thereby helping demonstrate higher ed’s value through tangible, real-world impact
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Catalyze mutually beneficial economic development
Embrace public-private partnerships at scale and directly invest in community development to boost enrollment, donations, and postgraduation job prospects along with overall quality of life
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