2024’s Top 5 Higher Ed Questions: Insights to Guide Your Strategy

Each year, our short-term research team dives into thousands of pressing questions from higher education institutions worldwide. From navigating AI to developing effective budget strategies, our researchers find the answers in 10 days or less. We pull insights from a variety of sources – our own research, external data, and consultations with subject matter experts – to ensure our partner institutions have the information they need to succeed.

Here’s a look at the five most popular questions from the last year (2024) and why you need to be addressing them now.

Question #1: What’s the best AI use policy for my school?

As AI technology transforms education, higher ed leaders are racing to establish responsible AI use policies. Without clear guidelines, AI can bring both opportunities and risks, leaving institutions open to misuse or privacy issues. Unfortunately, there’s no right answer here since AI continues to evolve rapidly; but, there are four components leaders should consider for a sound AI policy.

1. Define allowable uses for generative AI tools across academic and operational contexts.
2. Clarify data-sharing rules to protect sensitive information.
3. Promote licensed and institutionally supported AI tools that have clear guidelines for use.
4. Educate faculty and students on AI’s limitations and weaknesses to foster critical engagement.

Update your acceptable use policy

Question #2: How are institutions utilizing real estate to cut costs?

Campus spaces are losing their central role as student needs and work habits continue to change. Unsteady enrollment, hybrid learning, and remote work reshaped how students, faculty, and staff use campus facilities. The shift has left many institutions with more space than they need and higher operating costs than they can sustain.

To address these challenges, leaders are turning to real estate strategies to cut operational costs, tighten their budgets, and even generate revenue. For example, selling unused or non-core campus properties or exiting a lease consolidates campus spaces and offers immediate cost savings.

Read the cost containment compendium

Question #3: How do we create an actionable strategic plan?

Institutions are skilled at crafting ambitious strategic plans, but these plans tend to be riddled with buzzwords. They want to cater to all stakeholders and often result in too lofty promises that are hard to keep or act on. So how can higher ed leaders create actionable strategic plans?

An essential step in creating actionable strategic plans is setting SMART targets – goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. SMART targets help teams clarify their strategic vision and break it into manageable, measurable objectives, fostering alignment across stakeholders. By focusing on these clear and attainable benchmarks, institutions can move beyond lofty promises and track progress in a way that supports sustained implementation and long-term success.

Embed agility and action into your institutional strategy

Question #4: How can my institution plan and budget effectively in an unstable financial landscape?

The last few years have been financially tough for higher education institutions. A perfect storm of financial pressures has impacted all universities, regardless of standing or region. Rising inflation, escalating operational costs, and declining enrollment are just some of leaders’ financial challenges leaders.

Institutions are adopting a “leaner but stronger” approach by streamlining operations and aligning resources with market realities. For example, universities can implement a three-month hold open period to enable strategic reorganization, outsource auxiliary tasks, and decommission underutilized buildings to eliminate millions in deferred maintenance costs. Deliberate steps like these build resilience and sustainability, demonstrating that a leaner, more focused operational model can position them for long-term success.

Adopt a leaner but stronger approach

Question #5: How can we better prepare students for success in and beyond college?

The need for student support services continues to grow. The biggest impacts of unfinished learning in K-12 education haven’t even hit college campuses yet; elementary school students impacted by the pandemic are not on pace to recover academically before they arrive at college. These students aren’t just academically behind – they’re lagging in socioemotional development, financial literacy, and career readiness.

Closing these gaps won’t happen overnight, but a cross-campus approach is necessary when thinking about these topics. A coordinated effort across academic affairs, enrollment management, and student affairs with buy-in from chief financial officers can create a strategic approach to determine the level of support institutions can provide.

Tackle the student readiness challenge