Eduventures Summit 2025 is just one week away—we look forward to seeing you in Chicago! 

This is not just another year. Higher education is embattled and politicized as never before. Summit does not hide from politics, but we keep our eyes on long-term trends and higher education fundamentals while tackling the topics of the day.  

Now is not the time to sit back. The time for shock is over.  

Read on for highlights of our Summit 2025 agenda.  

Don’t Worry … Be Prepared 

There is risk in overdoing the college confidence crisis. Just as surveys of college leaders juxtapose the sorry state of “other colleges” with the health of the respondent’s institution, Americans may say they have lost confidence in higher education generally, but they still send their kids (or enroll themselves) at a trusted local or national brand.  

But there is also risk in business as usual. High school graduate numbers are going in the wrong direction as are college-going rates. Degree alternatives are mounting. If your institution is not a public flagship or an online giant, the road ahead is rocky. With federal funding now a political bargaining chip and Congress pushing for schools to pay back outstanding student debt, even flagships and giants may need a new playbook.  

Whether shoring up demand, diversifying enrollment, rationalizing programming, strengthening outcomes (and perception of outcomes), or combating politicization, higher education leaders have their work cut out for them.  

That’s where Eduventures Summit comes in. In two days, we will cover a lot of ground: 

Traditional Age Undergraduate Enrollment 

• Kim Reid, Principal Analyst at Eduventures, will analyze how prospective students perceive college and university brands, and how institutional leaders can stand out.  
• A panel of enrollment vice presidents (Aurora University, University of Texas, San Antonio) and CEOs (College Vine, Element 451) will get real about where AI is (and is not) gaining traction in the admissions office.  
• Drawing back the curtain on Alpha Gen—the successors to Gen Z now enrolling in high school—Clint! Runge, an expert on marketing to young adults, will give his take on tomorrow’s targets.  
• Americus Reed, professor of marketing at The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, will unpack what other industries can teach higher education about brand loyalty.  
• Valencia Koker of City Year, the feted K12 student mentoring program, will share stories of young lives transformed for mentees and mentors (typically high school or college students) alike. This learning model holds lessons for growing the college pipeline and helping undergraduates launch careers post-graduation.  

Non-Traditional Students. Adult learners—particularly those with some credit but no degree—may prove essential if institutions are to avoid falling off the “demographic cliff.”  

• But—as yours truly, Richard Garrett, Chief Research Officer, will share in my keynote—adult undergraduate enrollment collapsed over the past decade. Can colleges win back this market? There are positive signs but also unresolved issues.  
• A panel of three pioneers of reduced-credit bachelor’s degrees (BYU Idaho, Johnson & Wales University, Northwood University) will make the case for shorter programs (and what that means for the four-year degree). 
• Kathleen deLaski, founder of the Education Design Lab and author of “Who Needs College Anymore?” will argue that investment in non-degree programming is vital to revive the postsecondary access agenda and heal partisan divisions (and how this is an opportunity for colleges and universities).  

Managing the Political Climate. In turbulent times, cool heads are needed. Jonathan Martin, Politics Bureau Chief at Politico and former national political correspondent at the New York Times, has seen this and other administrations up close. As we emerge from the early days of President Trump’s second term, Jonathan Martin will discuss how college leaders can sift symbolism from substance and get back on the front foot.  

The Power of Dignity. The opening keynote on the final day of Summit will be delivered by Tim Shriver, nephew of President Kennedy, former public-school teacher, and chairman of the Special Olympics. In 2022, Tim Shriver launched The Dignity Index to highlight the deterioration of public discourse and foster renewed respect across racial, religious, and political lines. What does this mean for higher education in what some are calling a post-DEI, post-affirmative action era? 

But Wait, There’s More… 

Other Summit 2025 highlights include: 

• Breakouts. As well as stellar keynotes, we will host multiple breakout sessions. Go deep on everything from bachelor’s degree ROI to AI-proofing your master’s portfolio and scaling online enrollment to balancing yield and melt in traditional age admissions.  
• Eduventures 2025 Innovation Awards. From another strong applicant pool, we have selected this year’s winners. Hear why these initiatives, from an array of institutions, made the grade.  

The Bottom Line 

These are far from normal times for higher education. The unthinkable is everywhere.  

The U.S. Department of Education has fired half its staff. Federal research agencies are reeling from draconian cuts, and some topics have been declared off-limits. Harvard University, emblematic of the preeminence of American higher education, is caught in a political battle of wills.  

But—away from the feverish headlines and as some positive enrollment numbers remind us—higher education still has a good story to tell. Telling that story anew is part of the solution, but there remain uncomfortable questions about who college is for and what the experience should be.  

Eduventures Summit will enhance your storytelling but also help unpack those tough questions.  Colleges and universities will always be vital. Colleges and universities have leverage and staying power. Colleges and universities know how to balance continuity and change. All the stress and strain will lead to something new. 

See you in Chicago!