Jeff Selingo’s recent Next Office Hour webinar explored the evolution of regional universities. As the “demographic cliff,” the decline of traditional 18-year-old students in higher education, starts to impact enrollment, panelists examined the challenges—and opportunities—of redefining how and whom these institutions serve.
This candid conversation featured higher education leaders who understand firsthand the importance of regional universities, and how they have adapted to continue serving their communities.
Speakers included:
Charles “Chuck” L. Welch, President, American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
Ora H. Pescovitz, President, Oakland University
Richard Helldobler, President, William Paterson University
The panelists provided practical insights to help regional universities remain the school of choice for their regions by expanding access to working adults through flexible online and hybrid modalities and support systems. Watch the recording to learn more.
Student ROI segment and resources
In the central interview segment, Aswani K. Volety, Chancellor, University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Fernando Bleichmar, CEO, Risepoint, discussed the importance of delivering high student ROI in a fast-changing job market, as well as how UNCW has delivered exceptional student ROI without sacrificing quality.
For more on this topic, review the 2025 Student ROI report, an independent analysis by Ipsos of the student ROI of Risepoint-supported programs.
