Join experts as they provide a detailed overview of what to expect in this year’s compliance supplement, highlighting key updates and important shifts. They will also examine how recent shifts in Washington may, or may not, be influencing single audits and what that means for institutions navigating the evolving landscape

Higher education faces heightened cyber risk, requiring a shift from prevention alone to a more resilient, institution-wide approach. This session will present a roadmap for building cybersecurity resilience, including elevating cybersecurity to a board-level priority within enterprise risk management, key questions boards should be asking, and adoption of a Zero Trust approach. Presenters will examine strengthening the human element through continuous, role-based training and strategies to address the cybersecurity skills gap. The session will also explore how generative AI can act as both a tool and a threat, with recommendations for a Responsible AI governance framework to manage privacy, academic integrity, and security risks. The session will conclude with holistic resilience practices, including tested incident response plans, leadership tabletop exercises, third-party risk management, and frameworks for demonstrating security ROI.

2025 was a busy year in Washington. During this session, panelists will present updates of importance for colleges and universities and provide compliance recommendations.

As consolidation accelerates in higher education, mergers, acquisitions, and closures bring complex accounting and reporting issues. Key considerations include purchase price allocations, stub-period audits, liquidation accounting, Perkins loan close-outs, transfers of restricted net assets, teach-out costs, professional and legal fees, severance plans, and more. This session will review the M&A landscape and applicable guidance under FASB and GASB. Presenters will share practical lessons from recent or ongoing transactions, including compliance with U.S. Department of Education and accreditor reporting. Villanova’s controller will also offer insight from overseeing a wind-down at Cabrini University, spanning both acquiring and acquired perspectives.

GASB Statement No. 103, Reporting Model Improvements, takes effect for fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and introduces changes especially important for public colleges and universities. Updates include revised definitions of operating and nonoperating revenues and expenses, new requirements for reporting subsidies received and provided, and a new income statement section and performance measure. The statement also significantly revises MD&A, major component unit reporting, and the treatment of extraordinary and special items. This session will share real implementation experience, focusing on the most significant challenges for higher education institutions and practical strategies for addressing them.

Governmental Accounting Standards Board staff will discuss GASB’s ongoing research, standards expected to be released, and authoritative guidance for recently released pronouncements.

Financial Accounting Standards Board staff will discuss projects in process, the work of the Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee, and authoritative guidance for recently released standards that affect colleges and universities.

As colleges and universities face persistent workforce constraints and rising expectations, AI is moving from experimentation to essential infrastructure. During this session, speakers will address where AI is truly delivering value: helping institutions do more with limited capacity, strengthening business and financial operations, and enabling data-informed decisions. Hear how leaders are investing in AI and supporting employees throughout the change.

Using a campus case study, this session will cover the approach to optimizing procurement, key discoveries, operating results, cost savings, and how they communicated across campus throughout the process.