Episodes

Public trust in higher education is declining, and the implications for colleges, universities, accreditors, and policymakers are profound.In this episode of Accreditation Insights, we sat down with Jeremy C. Young to discuss The Trust Agenda: A Framework for Advancing Public Trust in Higher Education, a new report from the American Association of Colleges and Universities that explores why confidence in higher education has eroded and what institutional leaders can do to rebuild it.We d...

SACSCOC has released a draft revision of its Principles of Accreditation, and the proposal may represent one of the most significant shifts in accreditation philosophy in decades. The changes move beyond updating language and instead raise fundamental questionsabout what accreditation should measure, how institutions demonstrate quality, and what role accreditors should play in a rapidly changing higher education landscape.From the elimination of the Quality Enhancement Plan to increased empha...

Higher education is navigating one of the most consequential periods in its modern history. Institutions are confronting financial pressure, enrollment uncertainty, cultural shifts, governance challenges, and growing scrutiny around value and accountability.In this episode of Accreditation Insights,we sat down with Chester Haskell to explore how colleges and universities can rethink strategy, partnerships, and mission alignment in a rapidly changingenvironment.Drawing on leadership experienc...

What happens when learning no longer fits neatly inside the traditional degree model?The future of education is increasingly being shaped by workforce credentials, continuing education, employer-aligned training, and lifelong learning pathways. As that landscape expands, one question becomes critical: Who determines quality, credibility, and trust?On this episode of Accreditation Insights, our crew sat down with Casandra Blassingame, President & CEO of the Continuing Education Unit Accredita...

Artificial intelligence is already embedded in healthcare systems across the country. But here is the uncomfortable reality: most organizations lack the infrastructure to detect when that AI is failing.In this episode of Accreditation Insights, we sit down with Richard G. Greenhill, Principal and Founder of SmartSigma AI, to examine what he calls Silent Performance Failure™​, a critical and often invisible risk in AI-enabled healthcare environments.We explore:• Why AI governance is lagging ...

Accreditation is not static; it evolves alongside the industries it serves.In this episode of Accreditation Insights, my co-hosts and I sit down with Maureen Jones, the new President and CEO of the Commission on Accreditation ofHealthcare Management Education, for a timely discussion on the future ofhealthcare management education.We explore CAHME’s new standards, the strategic thinking behind theirevolution, and the growing emphasis on outcomes, workforce alignment, andinnovation. Dr. Jones a...

Accreditation is experiencing one of the most significant moments of change in recent history.Federal policy discussions, evolvingexpectations for accountability, and growing public scrutiny are reshaping how higher education demonstrates quality and value.In the latest episode of Accreditation Insights, we spoke with Dr. Nasser H. Paydar, President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), about the future of accreditation and CHEA's role in guiding the field during this impo...

Accreditation does not pause when financial pressure intensifies.In Part II of our conversation with Rebekah Mazone of FuturED on Accreditation Insights, we move beyond surface-level concerns and confront the structural questions shaping institutional viability:Are presidents and CFOs genuinely aligned around strategy and risk?Is enrollment forecasting meaningfully integrated with long-term financial planning?Are merger conversations proactive and disciplined or driven by urgency?Rebekah...

The demographic cliff is no longer theoretical; it is operational.In Part I of Accreditation Insights, Rebekah Mazone of FuturED examines what presidents, boards, and CFOs must understand now about:• Enrollment volatility• Heightened price sensitivity — even among higher-income families• Multi-year forecasting models• Automation in budgeting and reporting• Early financial warning signalsThe level of clarity and foresight shared in this discussion has the potential to prevent costly misstep...

A recent Washington Post opinion piece declared, “College accreditation is a civil rights issue.”At the same time, the U.S. Department of Education has launched rulemaking that could reshape how accreditors are recognized, and recognition determines access to more than $100 billion in federal student aid annually.In this episode of Accreditation Insights, we confront the realquestions:Is accreditation becoming political?What happens if recognition standards shift?And are institutions p...

Accreditation Insights opens its 2026 season with a timely and substantive conversation on institutional viability and accountability in higher education. This episode is sponsored by Futured Finance, whose work focuses on improving financial transparency and sustainability across the higher education sector.In this episode, we are joined by Gary Stocker, Founder of College Viability, a national consultancy dedicated to helpingcolleges and universities strengthen financial sustainability, enro...