Today’s senior leaders in advancement face the challenge of aligning their work to keep up with the changing landscape of higher education. We sat down with four leaders to explore big issues facing higher education.

When Chris Pipkins walks the exhibitor space at advancement conferences, he sees a wide array of products, many offered by new and unfamiliar companies. As the associate vice president for advancement information services at James Madison University in Virginia, Pipkins says he fields more calls and emails from potential vendors than he once did.

Pedro Govantes is the senior director of development at the University of Michigan and the incoming chair of CASE's Multicultural Advancement Professionals.

The University of Illinois Foundation's chatbot, silent reading parties for UCLA alumni, Minecraft graduations, virtual potlucks for advancement staff, and more.

Pedro Govantes is the senior director of development at the University of Michigan and the incoming chair of CASE's Multicultural Advancement Professionals.

Where's the proof? With growing concerns over student debt, rising tuition, and the perceived high costs of higher education, prospective students and their families are clamoring for evidence. It's a reality that's forcing institutions, long accustomed to touting their academic strengths, to emphasize career preparation, job placement, value, and return on investment.

When scrolling through Instagram, alumni might expect to see typical images on their alma mater's feed: scenic vistas of the quad, graduation caps, lattes from the campus coffee shop.

Following the U.S. elections in November 2024, the CASE Library has curated this selection of CASE content, news coverage, and commentary on how the incoming Trump Administration and new Congress are affecting the K-12, higher education, and nonprofit sectors.

Your lost alumni have become untethered, drifting away from their beloved campus, and you're not sure how to bring them back. Some don't update contact information when they relocate; others ignore your correspondence because they think you only want money. Still others might like to reconnect but don't know how or are too busy to realize they haven't heard from you.

Unhappy students arrived at Clifford Zimmerman's office, ready to speak their minds. The Northwestern University School of Law had announced that talk show host Jerry Springer would be its 2008 commencement speaker, and Zimmerman, the law school's dean, soon learned that some students and parents weren't thrilled.