NACUBO In Brief

NACUBO Distance Learning

What economic trends today will set the stage for the future? How will legislative actions impact student financial aid? What accounting policy or reporting changes are on the horizon? Navigating the business of higher education institutions requires knowledge about a variety of issues—from finance to campus security.

  • 22 minutes 18 seconds
    Not Boring at All: The Real Work of Higher Ed Accounting
    "We like to say we're not boring people, but we get excited about boring things," reflects NACUBO's Sue Menditto, senior director for accounting policy. In this episode, she joins Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research, to discuss higher education accounting, Sue's decades-long career contributing to accounting policy standards, and the evolution of the Higher Education Accounting Forum. From AI and workforce trends to financial reporting and policy shifts, they explore how the field has expanded beyond transactions to strategic decision-making. The conversation highlights the critical role of accounting professionals as translators, advisors, and leaders—and why this community continues to come together year after year. Additional Resources
    6 April 2026, 7:00 am
  • 21 minutes 51 seconds
    Hurry Up and Wait: What's Next in Washington
    What's happening in Washington, DC, and what does it mean for higher education? Join NACUBO's Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research, and Bryan Dickson, director, education policy, as they unpack what's moving in Washington—and what's still pending. They discuss federal funding updates, the outlook for student aid and research, and what to watch from the White House, including the FY27 budget request and potential changes to Uniform Guidance. The conversation also highlights fast-developing Department of Education regulations and other emerging issues, offering a timely snapshot of the higher education policy landscape. Additional Resources
    23 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 19 minutes 53 seconds
    Measuring Efficiency in Student Accounts
    NACUBO's Bryan Dickson, director, education policy, and Kat Masterson, assistant director for research and policy analysis, join Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research, to discuss the Student Financial Services Benchmarking Report—one of the most practical tools offered by NACUBO's research team. From operational performance and financial risk to staffing trends, the study collects and standardizes data from institutions nationwide, enabling participants to benchmark against peers and track their own progress over time. The conversation highlights how these quantitative insights help campuses evaluate the efficiency of student account operations and strengthen service to students and families. Additional Resources
    9 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 23 minutes 23 seconds
    Endowments: Highlights from the NACUBO-Commonfund Study
    How are college and university endowments performing? NACUBO's Ken Redd, senior director for research and policy analysis, and Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research, explore findings from the 2025 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments, including investment returns, spending trends, charitable gifts, and student-managed funds. Beyond the numbers, they also discuss the study's core purpose: educating policymakers, the public, business partners, and NACUBO members about how endowments work, how funds are stewarded, and the practices that guide long-term management and governance in support of student success. Additional Resources
    23 February 2026, 7:00 am
  • 27 minutes 27 seconds
    Inside NACUBO's Spring Learning Opportunities
    What role does professional development play in helping higher education leaders navigate increasingly challenging environments? NACUBO's Randy Roberson, vice president for leadership development, joins Liz Clark and Bryan Dickson in a conversation about NACUBO's education programs for 2026. They discuss how member-driven content, policy expertise, business partner insights, and peer learning come together across conferences, forums, and online programs. This episode highlights how NACUBO programming helps business officers turn complexity into clarity, build community, and lead their institutions with confidence. Additional Resources
    9 February 2026, 7:00 am
  • 29 minutes 21 seconds
    Cautious Optimism: AI Integration on College Campuses
    How are higher education business officers integrating artificial intelligence into their work? Join NACUBO's Liz Clark, vice president, policy and research, and Lindsay Wayt, senior director of business intelligence, as they discuss how AI is moving from experimentation to everyday practice across campus operations. They explore new survey insights, emerging use cases, and the opportunities and risks AI presents—from automation and data-informed decision-making to governance, ethics, and ROI. The conversation highlights how business officers can approach AI with cautious optimism while planning strategically for the future. Additional Resources
    26 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • 19 minutes 1 second
    Evolving Campus Culture in a Hybrid Work World
    How can colleges and universities remain agile, student-centered, and future-focused in a rapidly changing work landscape? Join Manish Kumar, vice president for administration and finance at Bowie State University, and NACUBO's Bryan Dickson as they discuss how hybrid work, shifting campus culture, and new technology continue to reshape higher education operations. Manish shares lessons from Bowie State's post-pandemic transformation—from flexible work policies and reimagined campus space usage to strategic long-term planning and responsible AI adoption. Additional Resources
    15 December 2025, 8:00 am
  • 17 minutes
    On the Road with NACUBO President Kara Freeman
    In this episode, NACUBO President and CEO Kara D. Freeman joins Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research, to share what she's heard from business officers and other higher education administrations from across the country during her travels this fall. Kara brings a broad view of the challenges institutions are navigating and identifies major themes emerging across institutions—uncertain funding, rising costs, workforce pressures, and rapid digital transformation. She highlights how business officers are adapting through flexible planning, collaboration, and innovation. Additional Resources
    1 December 2025, 8:00 am
  • 26 minutes 50 seconds
    Washington Update: What Happens Next?
    November 12, 2025, marked the end of the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. What happens next for higher education? In this episode, NACUBO's Liz Clark, vice president, policy and research, and Bryan Dickson, director of student financial services and educational programs, discuss how the shutdown impacted colleges and universities and what changes are on the horizon now that the government has reopened. They discuss the FY26 budget, Workforce Pell, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, federally sponsored research, and more – and what it all means for the campus business office. Additional Resources
    17 November 2025, 8:00 am
  • 23 minutes 4 seconds
    Coalition for the Common Good: Meeting a Mission, Leveraging Enrollment, and Boosting Student Success Across Two Independent Institutions
    What happens when institutions prioritize collaboration over competition and align their missions together for the common good? Join Charlie McFarland, director, strategic affiliation initiatives, Antioch University; Jeff Nutter, chief financial officer and vice president for business affairs, Otterbein University; and NACUBO's Liz Clark, as they discuss how and why their universities formed a separate entity—the Coalition for the Common Good, a different type of academic shared services organization that has created new pathways and opportunities for students Charlie and Jeff talk about shared governance, shared resources, faculty buy-in, and the coalition's overall impact on enrollment and how it is clearing pathways for student success and completion at both Antioch University and Otterbein University. They also discuss a dedication to promoting the common good, including democracy, social justice, equity, inclusion, and engaged global citizenship. Additional Resources
    3 November 2025, 7:00 am
  • 26 minutes 35 seconds
    Communicating Financial Stakes to Campus Faculty and Staff
    College and university business officers know what they know, but how can they translate commonly misunderstood complex financial terms and processes – such as endowments, deferred maintenance, and funding salary and benefit rates – into something accessible for nonfinancial audiences? In this episode, Rachel Pauletti, director, higher education consulting at Forvis Mazars, joins NACUBO's Liz Clark in a conversation about the importance of the business officer's role in effective financial communication with campus faculty and staff. Rachel explains that faculty and staff are critical stakeholders in strategic planning, thus, not giving them a full understanding of at least the operating model and high-level revenues and expenses would be a disservice. They can bring interesting thoughts to the table – especially once they have all the information. Additional Resources
    20 October 2025, 7:00 am
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