Anchoring Institutional Strategy Around Economic Impact

Colleges and universities face growing pressure to evolve their strategies as external stakeholders—students, families, employers, legislators, and donors—demand clearer value and accountability. To remain competitive and relevant, institutions must move beyond internally driven planning and priorities and instead adopt an outside-in approach that aligns goals with the needs of key external constituencies and their local communities. Embracing this approach will better equip institutions to navigate financial headwinds, grow enrollment, diversify funding, and reinforce their public value.

In this webinar, we’ll explore how institutions can deploy an outside-in approach and become a modern anchor institution, putting regional relevance and external impact at the core of strategy and mission. We’ll share new research from EAB and host a discussion with Wichita State University President Rick Muma, whose institution exemplifies sustained, holistic commitment to external-facing strategy and regional impact. We’ll spotlight several of Wichita State’s most impactful anchor initiatives and discuss behind-the-scenes lessons on how to build and sustain momentum for this work across campus.

Attendees will learn:

• How to define and implement an outside-in strategy that aligns with external stakeholder demands and priorities
• A four-pillar framework to help target investments in high ROI areas
• Examples of high-impact anchor initiatives from Wichita State University, like career-connected educational pathways, applied learning placements, and industry- and community-aligned research partnerships
• Leadership insights from President Muma on setting and executing on an outside-in strategy

Session

Click the Register button to sign up.

Attendance is best suited for presidents, provosts, chief business officers, chiefs of staff or strategy, chief research officers, vice presidents of enrollment management, vice presidents of student affairs, vice presidents of industry partnerships, and vice presidents of external affairs.

• Tuesday, July 22, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time