CONFERENCE SESSIONS

The Power of Organizational Wellbeing & Succession Planning
Alexis Coonan, Gallagher
Laura Bridges, Independent Colleges of Indiana
Amy Koch, Marian University
Lacey Robinson, Gallagher
8:00am - 9:00am
Higher Ed is facing a future with significant change. 58% of employees are in the later stages of their career (ages 45+) and almost half of institutions saw turnover of over 15%.

During this panel, we will discuss today's landscape and recommendations for tomorrow. Our panelists will first review the current workforce and retirement readiness. Next, we'll discuss strategies to retain your top talent, minimize turnover, and how succession planning will play a pivotal role in your retention strategy and continuity of your institution. We'll close with recommendations on how to attract talent with benefits, compensation, and wellbeing. Your people strategy will be essential for your organizational wellbeing.

During this session, we'll intertwine data from some of Gallagher's largest benchmarking and insights surveys. Then we'll hear from a panel of higher ed leaders and Gallagher experts, on what they're seeing in the industry and what they're doing on campus.

Paradigm Shift: A Discussion of Risk Factors for Closure and Financial Instability
Rachel Pauletti, Forvis Mazars LLP
Monica Markovich, Holy Cross College
Jerry White, Cottey College
Kevin Honigford, Franklin College
8:00am - 9:00am
This session will cover current models for predicting institutional closure and discuss regulatory practices that are intended to assess financial risk. Recently closed institutions will be used as case studies for conducting an evaluation of the efficacy of various models, ultimately highlighting their limitations. This session will draw heavily on audience participation by asking attendees to share their own practices for tracking their institution's financial health and their insights into the metrics that all institutions should be using to measure their financial health. 

Aligning Program and Curriculum Offering with Student Demand and Financial Objectives
Mark Volpatti, Valparaiso University
Katie Hagen, RPK Group
Mike Lisac, JPMorgan Chase Bank
Autumn Anfang, St. Norbert College
8:00am - 9:00am
An increasing number of institutions are taking a close look at their offerings through the lens of student outcomes as well as ROI.  In some cases, the reviews result in the challenging reality of cutting programs that are not delivering value for learners and/or the institution.  However, often times opportunities to reinvent programs and invest in new programs with strong outcomes are discovered. This session will cover resources available, different approaches to a curriculum review, and lessons learned.

Introduction to College and University Business Office - Part III
Marty Mickey, National Louis University
Bob Swanson, Bowling Green State University
Nancy Combs, Grinnell College
Jill Schunk, E&I Cooperative Services
9:10am - 10:10am
This session would be Part III in a three-part introductory series or sessions designed for new personnel to the college and university business.  This session would focus on Endowment Funds (including reviewing Corpus, UPMIFA, Spendable Accounts and spending rate, Permanent vs. Term vs. Quasi, Underwater, Tracking performance) as well as Grant Accounting and Revenue Recognition (including topics such as Exchange transactions, Conditional vs. Unconditional receipts, With and without donor restrictions, Pledge or grant and differences in which revenue is recognized, Advancement accounting vs. Business office accounting, Indirect cost rates, Accounts Payable and Purchasing, etc.).

Continuous Improvement in Higher Ed - Tapping into Untapped Potential
Craig Alexander, University of Kansas
9:10am - 10:10am
Higher education organizations are at a critical inflection point in their existence. We are facing a declining high school population and the percentage of that population who thinks higher education is extremely valuable is declining. In a world of silos and rigid "we have always done it this way" sentiment, we need active grass root movements to counter the culture and change the way we have done things to find efficiency, effectiveness, and cost savings. For our presentation, we will give a layout of our experience in rolling this out to our University of Kansas partners.  As with any change initiative, building trust with your audience is imperative because if they don't trust you to respond and act on their suggestions the change is dead in the water.  We plan to share how we are utilizing transparency and follow-through to build that trust.  And finally, we plan to highlight the other key components of success including executive sponsorship, supervisor impacts and recognition.

Optimizing Educational and Financial Returns Through Strategic Facility Investments
Thomas Huberty, Trane Technologies
Erik Guenard, University of Wisconsin- Stout
Xuedong (David) Ding, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin- Stout
9:10am - 10:10am
Explore tools and incentives available to improve financial return on investments while promoting energy efficiency and sustainability in support of social goals. 

9:10am - 10:10am

Improving equity and outcomes in higher education is essential for promoting economic mobility. Campus-wide Access programs are gaining increasing popularity nationwide, reducing barriers to education by ensuring every student on a college campus can access their course materials by the first day of class. 

Campus-wide Access programs are about more than efficient textbook delivery; research shows that they improve outcomes and retention rates, all while driving significant student savings.

How do higher education leaders implement and evolve an Access program that meets key success goals--across finance, operations, auxiliary services, and academic initiatives? In this session, we’ll speak with Purdue Northwest, a campus that recently launched an ambitious Access program for all students to hear early results and track learnings.

Indy 500 - The World's Largest Sporting Event Couldn't Happen Without College Students
Ellen Saul, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Michael Kaltenmark, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
1:30pm - 2:30pm
The Indianapolis 500 is the world’s largest single-day sporting event.  The success of the greatest spectacle in racing depends largely on teamwork, cooperation and the utilization of a strong cadre of college students and graduate employees.  Two Senior executives of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will provide information on some of the key strategies, lessons learned and obstacles overcome in conjunction with putting on such a tremendous event, while also discussing how important it is for an employer of their size to have a strong pipeline of part-time and full-time college students and graduates as part of their teams.

The State of Financial Preparedness in a Diverse America
Shelly Eweka, TIAA
1:30pm - 2:30pm
When it comes to retirement, there is a lot for Americans to consider. There are big-picture decisions like when to retire and what to do in retirement. But there are also tactical decisions with significant implications—when to start saving, how to save and how much to save. This presentation will shed light on how Americans across demographic groups are making these decisions, and what people’s attitudes and experiences today suggest for our nation’s financial future.

The Coming Wave: Generation Alpha Student Life Needs
Alejandro J. Medina, BHDP Architecture
Clair Knapp, Manchester University
10:45am - 11:45pm
With only 5 years until they enroll in Higher Education, it is time to start planning for the coming wave: Generation Alpha. In the presentation, we will present research looking at past generation trends, societal and world events that shaped previous students' life needs, and how we can use that as a predictive model for the needs of Generation Alpha. By understanding their future needs, Business Officers can start financial planning for future capital projects.

Finance Leadership Confidential - Real Life Career Stories and Navigating Industry Opportunities
John Summers-Miller, Chartwells Higher Education
10:45am - 11:45pm
This session will feature John Summers-Miller, CFO, Chartwells Higher Education, and campus finance leaders, sharing their remarkable career paths and insights on building transferable skills for finance professionals. The session will inspire, equip and captivate by sharing personal experiences, offering a panoramic view, and delve into essential skills that finance professionals can cultivate to accelerate career growth, such as financial acumen, strategic thinking, leadership, and effective communication.  We will candidly discuss obstacles encountered and the strategies employed to overcome them. Attendees will glean practical insights on managing risk, turning challenges into growth opportunities, mentorship, networking, and leveraging skills and experiences.

Higher Education Accounting and Tax Issues and Traps for the Unwary
Karen Gries, CPA; Baker Tilly
Rebekah Martin, CPA;  Baker Tilly
10:45am - 11:45pm
This dynamic interactive session will address both accounting and tax issues and trends encountered by higher education institutions - both public and private. The session will be presented in a manner to enlist audience participation through an interactive game-show format to allow for learning and engagement from both the presenters and attendees. Key tax and accounting issues impacting colleges and universities such as unrelated business income (UBI), alternative investments, state tax compliance, financial sustainability, accounting pronouncements and more will be covered during the session. Attendees will shape the discussion based on their interest in various topics through their active participation. 

Driving Financial Excellence: NACUBO Forges the Future of Student-Centered Strategic Finance
Terri Dautcher, NACUBO
10:45am - 11:45pm
What does it mean to center students in strategic financial activities? How can chief business officers (CBOs) and other financial leaders play a material role in the improvement of student outcomes? This session will answer these questions and share examples of student-centered strategic finance practices. Attendees will learn about a multi-year NACUBO project of practice that presents a model for improving student outcomes through analytics, planning, budgeting, and resource allocation practices. Moreover, this session will offer a view to the evolving roles of the CBO as champions of fair and consistent student outcomes that align with strategic and operational goals.

2024 FASB Accounting Update
Chester Moyer, RubinBrown LLP
Corey Robinson, RubinBrown LLP
1:15pm - 2:15pm
Attendees will learn about recent FASB requirements, identify practical impacts of the changes, and anticipate changes that are on the FASB technical agenda.

GASB Update
Shea Bryant, Michigan State University
Brian Greko, Plante Moran
Katie Thornton, Plante Moran
1:15pm - 2:15pm
We will begin by having the experts at Plante Moran provide an overview of the accounting rules prescribed by GASB 101, specific examples of how the GASB 101 calculations are expected to function, and other broad concerns that the industry will need to consider. We will then take a deep dive of the early implementation efforts at Michigan State University (MSU). This discussion will include an overview of the team that has been assembled to assist with the implementation, an overview of all compensated absence programs at MSU, and a detailed description of the changes that will be necessary under GASB 101. As part of this discussion, we will provide a proposed approach to estimating future usage of compensated absences which is arguably the most "controversial" piece of this new standard. We will then wrap up with an overview of the impact to financial reporting and an action plan for other universities to get started on the implementation.

Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity - Benefits, Challenges and How to Stay Ahead
James Carpp, Rehmann
1:15pm - 2:15pm
As organizations increasingly depend on technology to carry out their daily operations, so, too, does their risk of falling victim to cyberattacks. The explosion of artificial intelligence is accelerating that risk, making it infinitely easier and faster for hackers to create more sophisticated cyber threats, realistic phishing emails, convincing deepfake videos, and massive malware deployments to name just a few.  How can the average organization prepare for the potential surge of AI-driven attacks? In this engaging presentation, cybersecurity expert James Carpp will explore the role of AI in cybersecurity, shedding light on the challenges it presents and even the potential benefits it brings. Additionally, he'll share critical steps organizations should take to stay informed about the latest advancements in AI and cybersecurity - after all its a journey not a destination. 

How to Host a Banker Day: Bankers Everywhere All at Once at Your Place
Lauren Scott Briningstool, Michigan State University
Rebecca Barber, Michigan State University
1:15pm - 2:15pm
With a new CFO on board and new financial strategies being implemented, Michigan State University needed an innovative and comprehensive means to engage the banking community. Spartan Banker Day was a magnet event for bankers and exceeded expectations for them and the University. The program offered a full day of MSU introductions, strategic plan presentations, tours, student interactions and an athletic event. Feedback from the event included "Banker Day was a great event. Everything was planned perfectly and the content from speakers/tours was exceptional. This should be a yearly event! I appreciate you including me.

Maximizing Employee Potential
Ben Lennander, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
2:30pm - 3:30pm
With over 50 million people quitting their jobs in 2022, creating a positive work environment and being an outstanding supervisor are critical for retaining talent. This workshop will provide you with practical tools and principles to achieve these goals. You'll learn how to create an empowered work environment, develop leadership skills, and facilitate employee growth and development. Drawing from 15 years of leadership experience, the session will include a blend of real-world stories, proven strategies, and actionable insights. Join this session and discover how to unleash your employees' potential and foster a workplace culture that drives success.

How a Provost and her Team Was Able to Realign Existing People, Process, and Infrastructure for Student Success
Ann Fulop, Eureka College
Laurie Panu, Apogee
2:30pm - 3:30pm
Provost Ann Fulop from Eureka College will share her journey to improve the culture and experience on campus for not only students but faculty and staff as well. Eureka was experiencing staffing challenges, inefficiencies in their systems and processes and an aging technology infrastructure. Follow Ann through her journey as she built and implemented a business case to realign staff, eliminate technical debt and put her campus on a path to a predictable budget within her IT organization.  

Shifting the Mindset from College-ready students to Student-ready Spaces
Yogen Solanki, Design Collaborative
2:30pm - 3:30pm
We do all that we can to prepare students for higher education but what if campuses prepared their spaces better for students? In particular, what if campuses focused on how to help first-generation students as they approach a whole new world of living and learning on their own? There are certainly ways to better prepare and accommodate students through campus spaces, and the key to accomplishing this is accessibility. Instead of accessibility in the traditional sense, we are referring to three areas of accessibility that can make your campus student-ready and give students their best chance at succeeding. These three areas of accessibility will help bring students to campus, allow students to have all of the resources they need in the most efficient way on campus, and meet the emotional needs of students as they navigate their higher education journey. When your campus becomes accessible and student-ready, you are setting your organization and your students up for success.