Wisconsin's Private Colleges - WAICU

At the 2026 Higher Education Summit – Wisconsin, Dr. Chuck Ambrose’s session about the future of financial sustainability, he offered a compelling look at how higher education institutions must evolve in response to a fundamentally changed landscape.

Drawing on his experience as a former campus president, Dr. Ambrose of Husch Blackwell emphasized that the shift in the higher education paradigm is not temporary, but permanent, requiring leaders to rethink how they approach institutional success.

The presentation highlighted the importance of aligning policy, practice, and strategy around student-centered outcomes, while embracing data-driven decision-making. Ambrose underscored the need for new skills, tools, and leadership mindsets to enhance institutional performance and long-term sustainability.

Attendees left with a clearer understanding of how to build resilient, forward-looking models that prioritize both student success and organizational strength in an increasingly complex environment.
Hosted by the Universities of Wisconsin, Wisconsin's Private Colleges - WAICU, and Wisconsin's Technical Colleges, the event was held May 19-21 at the Memorial Union in Madison, attended by more than 260 higher education leaders from Wisconsin and nationwide.

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If there’s one thing that came through in Jon Fansmith’s Washington update at Day Two of the 2026 Higher Education Summit - Wisconsin, it’s that higher education is navigating a rapidly shifting federal landscape. Sharing insights from the American Council on Education, Fansmith walked through what’s happening right now in D.C. and what institutions should be keeping an eye on next.

A few themes emerged:
• The policy environment is changing quickly, with new federal actions and priorities taking shape.
• Colleges need to stay alert to evolving regulations that impact students, campuses, and accreditation.
• What’s happening in Washington isn’t abstract. It’s already influencing day-to-day decisions on campuses.

Fansmith stressed that this moment requires both awareness and adaptability as institutions respond to new legislative and regulatory pressures. A timely, reality-check session and an important reminder of how closely higher education is tied to what’s happening at the federal level.

Hosted by the Universities of Wisconsin, Wisconsin's Private Colleges - WAICU, and Wisconsin's Technical Colleges, the event was held May 19-21 at the Memorial Union in Madison, attended by more than 260 higher education leaders from Wisconsin and nationwide.