*This agenda is subject to change.
Vice Presidents Track (Invitation Only)
March 15, 2026
Sponsored by 
Innovation, Thought Leadership, and Long-Term Success
9:30 - 9:35 AM
Opening Comments
(Joint Session With Presidents Track Participants and ELI Alumni)
Rufus Glasper, President and CEO, League for Innovation in the Community College
9:35 - 10:35 AM
Navigating Upheaval on Four Fronts: Building Community College Agility for a Defining Moment
(Joint Session With Presidents Track Participants and ELI Alumni)
Tara Zirkel, Ed.D., Director, Strategic Research, EAB
Higher education is entering one of the most turbulent periods in modern history. Institutions are facing simultaneous shocks to revenues; rising expenses across every operational category; and heightened expectations from policymakers, students, families, and the public. The result is a sector under unprecedented strain, where long-standing practices can no longer absorb the pressure and leaders must navigate a rapidly shifting landscape on multiple fronts. In this session, EAB will debut its 2025-2026 State of the Sector analysis, framed around the four areas that upheaval is reshaping institutional strategy:
- External accountability, where political scrutiny and performance expectations are accelerating
- Financial sustainability, where synchronized cost and revenue pressures are rewriting the rules of viability
- Market relevance, where AI-driven labor market shifts and return on investment (ROI) skepticism demand new programmatic and enrollment strategies
- Institutional agility, where the speed and complexity of change require new operating models and leadership approaches
Drawing on national research, campus case studies, and analysis of emerging trends, this session will help presidents and senior executives understand the forces reshaping the sector and identify strategic priorities for navigating volatility with confidence. Participants will leave with a clearer picture of where the market is heading, why the current moment is fundamentally different from past disruptions, and what steps institutions can take now to position themselves for resilience and long-term success.
10:35 - 10:45 AM
Break
10:45 - 11:45 AM
Unpacking the Crisis of Confidence in Higher Education
(Joint Session With Presidents Track Participants and ELI Alumni)
Logan Morris, Associate Director, Research Advisory Services, EAB
As enrollment leaders navigate steep demographic shifts and declining college-going rates, growing skepticism about the value and ROI of a degree has intensified the pressures facing colleges and universities. These converging forces pose significant risks to institutional sustainability and heighten the urgency for strategic, data-informed action.
This session will explore the drivers behind the crisis of public confidence in higher education and outline innovative, practical strategies that campus executives can employ to strengthen enrollment outcomes and institutional resilience. Through evidence-based insights and examples from institutions that have successfully adapted to these challenges, participants will gain a deeper understanding of where the value narrative is breaking down and how leaders can reclaim it.
Participants will:
- Examine the root causes of declining public trust in higher education and the implications for institutional enrollment.
- Explore strategies for strengthening engagement with prospective students and families through clearer, value-centered communication.
- Learn from institutional examples that have addressed enrollment headwinds and begun to future-proof their campus against demographic and market volatility.
- Identify proactive approaches to advancing institutional messaging around employment outcomes, student success, and long-term value.
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch (Provided)
12:30 - 3:00 PM
Navigating the Next Chapter for Community Colleges
Jennifer Bradley, Ph.D., Vice President, Academic Affairs, Kirkwood Community College; Calvin Gantt, Ed.D., Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Belonging, and Executive Director, Downtown Campus, Monroe Community College; Mickey McCloud, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Johnson County Community College; Karen Miller, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Student Success, Cuyahoga Community College; Teresa Ong, M.A., Vice President, Workforce Innovation and Economic Development, Foothill College
Community colleges are entering a period of profound transition—one defined by rapid technological change, shifting public expectations, and fundamental questions about institutional identity. This facilitated, interactive discussion is designed to engage vice presidents directly as practitioners whose insights are essential to understanding what challenges matter most and how they are playing out on the ground. The discussion will center on three interrelated problem areas shaping the next decade of community colleges:
- The rapid evolution of AI and emerging technologies is transforming academic and administrative work, yet many colleges face gaps in infrastructure, staff capacity, and policy frameworks needed for responsible and effective adoption.
- Amid societal change and increasing competition, community colleges are experiencing declining public confidence and an increasingly unclear value proposition, complicating efforts to attract and retain students seeking education that is both meaningful and market responsive.
- Evolving student needs, policy shifts, and new educational providers are prompting fundamental questions about the role, mission, and identity of community colleges within the broader higher education ecosystem.
Rather than presenting predetermined solutions, this session centers on dialogue. Participants will be asked to weigh in on the relevance, urgency, and impact of these challenges from their own institutional perspectives, share how they are experiencing these issues locally, and reflect on where current strategies are falling short or showing promise. The conversation will help participants as well as the League better understand priority areas for leadership attention, future programming, and collective action, while giving vice presidents a structured space to learn from one another and shape the agenda moving forward.
3:00 - 3:15 PM
Closing Comments
Cynthia Wilson, Ed.D., Vice President, Learning, and Chief Impact Officer, League for Innovation in the Community College
The Innovations Conference Sunday General Session begins at 3:30 PM. Refer to the event schedule for more information.
