This September, NACUBO will again release a list of the top five business issues confronting colleges and universities. How are the challenges evolving at different institutions? What issues may stay with us for the foreseeable future? In this lively discussion, higher education experts will examine these pressing topics and share their perspectives on the impact to campus operations and the students colleges and universities serve. The panel will also explore some potential opportunities hidden in this sea of questions.

Traditional budgeting alone is no longer enough to support today's planning challenges. Learn how institutions are integrating student, workforce, and financial data in Workday Adaptive Planning to improve enrollment forecasting, faculty demand planning, and long-range financial decision-making. Through real-world examples, presenters will demonstrate how connected planning can provide greater visibility into tuition revenue, staffing needs, workload, and future resource requirements. The session will also explore practical lessons in data governance, stakeholder engagement, change management, and implementation, along with emerging opportunities to incorporate predictive analytics and AI. You will leave with ideas for building a more agile, data-informed planning process on your own campus.

Traditional budgeting alone is no longer enough to support today's planning challenges. Learn how institutions are integrating student, workforce, and financial data in Workday Adaptive Planning to improve enrollment forecasting, faculty demand planning, and long-range financial decision-making. Through real-world examples, presenters will demonstrate how connected planning can provide greater visibility into tuition revenue, staffing needs, workload, and future resource requirements. The session will also explore practical lessons in data governance, stakeholder engagement, change management, and implementation, along with emerging opportunities to incorporate predictive analytics and AI. You will leave with ideas for building a more agile, data-informed planning process on your own campus.

At a time when higher education faces mounting financial pressures and growing expectations, planning and budgeting have become exercises in balancing competing priorities rather than finding perfect solutions. Drawing on his experience leading the University of California, Riverside through years of transformational growth and significant institutional challenges, Chancellor Emeritus Dr. Kim Wilcox will share candid reflections on the difficult decisions, trade-offs, and leadership lessons that shaped his tenure. This keynote will offer an honest look at navigating uncertainty while remaining grounded in mission, along with an optimistic perspective on how thoughtful leadership, strategic planning, and a shared sense of purpose can position institutions to thrive.

Financial transparency is critical to effective planning, resource allocation, and institutional viability. This session will explore how one institution transformed its opaque approach to financial reporting, budget governance, and continuous improvement to strengthen accountability and decision-making. The presenter will share strategies you can adapt to improve communication, engage stakeholders, and create structures that align financial resources with institutional priorities. You’ll walk away with practical ideas for empowering a culture of stewardship and informed decision-making.

As institutions explore artificial intelligence, many seek practical approaches that balance innovation, governance, and workforce development. Learn how one institution brought leadership, staff, and change management strategies together to transform AI pilots into real operational impact. This session will highlight how staff-designed AI agents improved service delivery, streamlined operations, and supported financial stewardship. Presenters will discuss strategies for identifying high-value use cases, establishing guardrails, engaging frontline staff, and scaling successful pilots. You’ll leave with actionable insights for building an AI-enabled workforce while maintaining accountability and trust.

Higher education institutions often rely on a variety of forecasts to support planning and budgeting, yet these efforts are regularly disconnected across departments and functions. Hear how one institution built a coordinated forecasting strategy that aligns assumptions, methodologies, and decision-making processes. Presenters will also discuss how change management tactics enhanced collaboration among stakeholders and contributed to a cohesive approach. You’ll walk away with practical steps to foster collaboration across units and develop an integrated framework that supports both short-term decisions and long-term sustainability.

Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), a U.S. Census dataset and companion visualization tool that connects postsecondary completions data from institutions with a national set of employment outcomes data, is becoming the premier source of data for measuring earnings and employment outcomes. In this session, panelists will provide an overview of the PSEO data and share state and institutional use cases for measuring the return on investment (ROI) of a postsecondary credential and demonstrating the value of higher education to a variety of audiences.

Administrative units are under increasing pressure to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver high-quality services. This session will explore how business officers can drive meaningful process improvements while building trust and engagement across a decentralized environment. Presenters will share adaptable approaches for identifying operational challenges, fostering collaboration, managing resistance to change, and creating a culture that values continuous improvement. You will leave with strategies to support both operational effectiveness and long-term organizational change—all while leveraging existing technology and resources.

Traditional budgeting processes often provide a limited view of future challenges and opportunities. Learn how one institution transformed its budget methodology to produce future-focused guidance. Presenters will discuss how forward-looking modeling can strengthen decision-making through enrollment forecasting, scenario analysis, multi-year planning, and risk assessment. This session will also explore the technologies, governance practices, and planning approaches used to move beyond historical reporting and toward more proactive financial management. You’ll walk away with ideas for enhancing planning capabilities at your institution.