Get Down to College Business

Hosted by Sarah Holtan, PhD

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Oct 2026

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Welcome to Get Down to College Business. We will identify strategies that could make the difference between keeping university doors open and closing them for good. I'm pulling in business experts and higher ed leaders to debate the merits of strategies that could save the future of higher ed. You will leave feeling empowered with new ideas to reimagine how you approach the business of college to support the cause of the affordable college experience. Visit us at highlevelleadership.com, read our blog and join our email list to get connected. Follow us and leave a positive review on your favorite podcast app. I'm your host, Sarah Holtan, PhD. Let's Get Down to College Business.

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October 27, 202630 min

Adapting to Graduate Enrollment Trends

Graduate education is entering a new financial reality, and colleges may have to change faster than they expected. With new federal borrowing limits reshaping how students finance advanced degrees, Sarah Holtan, PhD sits down with Chris Lewis, Ed.D., Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan-Flint, to examine what these changes could mean for graduate enrollment. The challenge goes far beyond financial aid. Prospective students are scrutinizing total cost, career return, flexibility, and how quickly they can finish. For colleges and universities, that puts new pressure on program design, pricing, recruitment, and the way institutions communicate value. Chris explains which programs may be most vulnerable, the enrollment indicators leaders should be watching, and why simply pushing students toward private loans may create new problems instead of solving the affordability issue. The bigger question for higher ed: Will institutions adapt before students force them to? Episode Highlights: 10:26 - You have to look at those programs that are longer, they're higher cost, they require students to reduce their employment, and then ultimately understand that the challenge isn't simply tuition. 14:35 - What I do think that we're seeing right now anyways in graduate education is that there's a much stronger focus on price, return on investment, time to completion, and flexibility. 17:30 - I think I'd put some effort on institutional grants, employer partnerships, paid experiential opportunities, assistantships, scholarships, and more flexible program design ahead of simply replacing the federal debt with private debt. 24:20 - A policy applied equally can still have very different consequences depending on a student's financial circumstances. Sarah Holtan, PhD LinkedIn Chris Lewis, Ed.D. LinkedIn University of Michigan-Flint

October 13, 202630 min

The ROI of Relationships with Chancellor Bennie L. Harris, PhD

What if the real secret to running a successful university isn’t hidden in spreadsheets or campus blueprints, but in the way leaders build relationships? Sarah Holtan, PhD sits down with Dr. Bennie L. Harris, Chancellor of the University of South Carolina Upstate, to reveal why systems-thinking alone won't save higher ed—and why humility, listening, and authentic connection are the true game changers. Leadership isn’t just about making the tough calls; it’s about modeling the value of social capital with trustees, faculty, and students. Ever wondered how you can make unpopular decisions—like sunsetting a program—without losing the trust you’ve worked so hard to earn? This episode spotlights the art (and sometimes science) of protecting relationships through clear communication and compassion. Episode Highlights 07:28 - I often talk about my role as a chancellor is not just leading the institution, but I'm also leading the enterprise and I'm also leading the environment outside of the enterprise. 09:55 - Just remember, your most important job is the one that's in front of you right now. But I can help give you the capacity to be the next president of another institution, to be a vice president of another institution, etc., if that's what your aspiration— often people love it here so much that they decide they don't want to leave. 21:45 - During my journey, I learned that the most valuable people in acquiring resources for the institutions from donors and other external sources are our faculty and our students. I put them in front of them and let them do their work. 28:69 - So the point I'm making and saying, when I make a difficult decision, it's typically I've talked about it for a while before I have to pull the trigger. Sarah Holtan, PhD LinkedIn Bennie L. Harris, PhD Podcast Website Youtube

September 22, 202636 min

Building a Media Brand that Doesn't Suck with Greg Jackson

Ever wondered why most academic research never leaves the ivory tower? Sarah Holtan, PhD brings on Greg Jackson, host of “History That Doesn’t Suck,” to pull back the curtain on how he shifted from professor to one of podcasting’s biggest history voices. Most faculty might assume a side project will never become a business. Greg’s story proves otherwise and sparks a bigger question: What if academic expertise could truly reach the world (and not just five people at a conference)? Could your classroom skills start a media brand or even change the way people learn? Stick around as Greg Jackson unpacks the hard lessons, boundaries, and business realities behind his top-10 podcast and what that means for higher ed’s future. Episode Highlights: 08:08 - I feel a burden with every single one because I know how many people are going to understand American history from me. And that is, it's truly a burden. It's pressure to, not that I didn't always do rigorous research, right? But it really, I feel it in a very heavy way. 17:35 - But for me, I think the success of HTDS is because I wasn't trying to get big. I wasn't trying to start a brand. I was and still am just so excited about my field, about the story of America and the importance of Americans knowing and understanding their story and understanding civics. 21:40 - And that's all part of what gave me the confidence to initially take that very terrifying step. I remember being so excited and terrified as I saw downloads, you know, creep up to like the hundreds per day. And that same feeling came again when it started hitting thousands per day and so on and so forth. 29:03 - If it takes off and you keep that faculty member on good terms, Well, great. You've got the affiliation, and the affiliation that comes via that professor simply being an extra university. You pull that faculty member into the university infrastructure. Well, now you've just overcomplicated everything. And now if that professor says something, you're a little more liable. Sarah Holtan, PhD LinkedIn Greg Jackson Website

August 11, 202634 min

Walsh College: Built for What's Next with Suzy Siegle, EdD, JDD [Part 2]

Today, “is a degree still worth it?” isn’t just a casual question; it's the heart of every college, professional, and parent conversation. Tuition keeps rising, AI is disrupting entire industries, and prospective students are laser-focused on whether that diploma actually pays off. Doubt is everywhere, but so are new opportunities if you know where to look. What if education isn’t just about lifetime earnings, but about who you become along the way? And in an AI-driven, fast-changing world, what’s actually the smartest way to invest in yourself now? Curious why some degrees are skyrocketing in ROI while others lag and how colleges like Walsh are adjusting for the future? Want to know how personal transformation, freedom, and community still set higher ed apart in the age of AI? Hear from Walsh College President Suzy Siegle about the ROI debate, AI’s disruption, and the irreplaceable value of lifelong learning. Episode Highlights: 04:49 - Not every degree is going to see the same return on investment...our MBA was a 933% return. Our doctoral, 1,202%, and our technology program, 780%. So that is great data for us to confidently speak to prospective students about the return. 09:49 - What is more valuable is the human being that you become through the process of learning, having to be challenged, persevering through a difficult class— statistics, anyone?— having to learn how to get along with different faculty and peer personalities for group projects. 24:50 - AI, by the way, will drive all this. It'll not only drive the marketing funnel to help people learn about these opportunities, but it will drive the learning experience. 30:53 - Now incorporating the use of Excel wasn't necessarily having to teach the fundamentals of debits and credits, that's there. That's the deep roots of the curriculum. It was teaching them how to use a tool that the business world is saying they need. Sarah Holtan, PhD LinkedIn Suzy Siegle, EdD, JDD LinkedIn Apply Now at Walsh College Professional Development Programs

June 15, 202628 min

Walsh College: Built for What's Next with Suzy Siegle, EdD, JDD

Higher ed is facing a pivotal question: can colleges keep up with the workforce as AI and tech reshape every career? Sarah Holtan, PhD welcomes Suzy Siegle, EdD, JDD to talk straight about what working professionals really need. Spoiler: It's not another generic degree. When jobs are shifting overnight and skills lose their value just as fast, Walsh College listens to industry and adapts, offering stackable AI certificates, flexible programs, and practical ROI. Feel like your career is stuck unless you master the latest disruption? Wondering if online learning really delivers connection and value? Or want to know how colleges can still be relevant for adult learners? Stick around as they break down how Walsh College responds to change, serves real students, and makes education work for working people. Episode Highlights: 07:24 - It's always been part of our mission to prepare graduates for successful careers in an education that's rich in theory, but also application and professional practice so that they can hit the ground running. 16:33 - So if we didn't prepare them on how to do a Zoom meeting, how to stand, how to sit, how to interact, then they're going to go into their workplace and think, wait a minute, all I know how to do is be in person. And this is not always in person. 17:36 - I know to compete in the world, I'm going to need a master's like a Walsh, where you have a great ROI. Or I'm going to need an AI certificate stacked to a Master's. And I want to learn how to learn in the remote environment because I have to collaborate on teams that way anyway at work. 26:17 - Higher education is uniquely poised to deliver the learning and the skills that the professions need in the world. Sarah Holtan, PhD LinkedIn Suzy Siegle, EdD, JDD LinkedIn Apply Now at Walsh College Professional Development Programs

June 9, 202626 min

A Corporate Approach to Strategic Planning Mark Blegen, PhD

What if spending years on strategic planning is holding your college back? Sarah Holtan, PhD and Mark Blegen, PhD, President of Linfield University, get candid about why nimble, corporate-inspired strategic plans may be the lifeline small colleges need right now. Forget hundred-page binders. Dr. Blegen shares how focusing on a sharp budget, culture check, and clear priorities powers real change. Most schools compete with lookalike programs and struggle to differentiate. Dr. Blegen's “quick win” plan insists on honest data discussions and measurable results. No more chasing every trend or funding aimless pet projects. Think your institution could handle tough conversations about cutting old programs to focus on what matters most? What’s the secret to building real momentum without watering everything down? Listen in as Dr. Blegen explains his approach to strategic planning that keeps culture and results front and center. Episode Highlights: 02:46 - I think a lot of strategic plans fail because the leaders don't understand the culture and what they're stepping into, and they try to do too much too quickly, or we're just not paying attention to where the institution is in terms of culture. 07:07 - I don't want this laundry list of priorities that we will gather and we will listen and we will talk and we will hear and we discuss. But at the end of the day, I'm going to take all that information and sit down and name the priorities. 12:48 - I was very clear with our community that over the holiday break, I was going to sit down and write the framework to write to sit down and say, here's what I heard, here's what I believe our opportunities are, and here's what I think our priority should be. 25:34 - Just listen because you learn so much when you do that and it's really going to inform your process. Sarah Holtan, PhD LinkedIn Mark Blegen, PhD LinkedIn Website

May 26, 202627 min

The Cost of No Confidence with Chuck Ambrose, EdD

What really happens when college faculty take a no confidence vote in their president? Sarah sits down with Dr. Chuck Ambrose—author, consultant, and former president—to pull back the curtain on the hard and hidden costs of campus leadership crises. If you think it’s all about a president’s payout, think again. Instability sends shockwaves through campus culture, hitting enrollment, fundraising, and even faculty morale in ways most never see coming. Are you wondering how an internal vote can actually change the financial health and student success at your institution? Listen to Dr. Chuck Ambrose explain the true impact of no confidence votes—and what every campus leader needs to know. Episode Highlights: 04:00 - At the same time, there are cases where, whether it's moral turpitude or as we used to define it, kind of don't self inflict pain, where leaders as humans make bad decisions and reflect poorly on the institution, cause reputational damage and has generated a no confidence vote. 11:59 - You take 15 people on a campus and ask them what shared governance means. Each one of them is going to have a different definition. And we don't teach it. And if we don't teach it, we don't model it. If we don't model it, then how can we say recommit to shared governance if we even have just a hard time defining it? 18:36 - There's just no way higher ed can present a sustainable future and continue to offer as many programs and as many majors in the same modalities that we've offered. 21:48 - If I were going to do one more, it would certainly be more transparency, everything driven off, especially within the private sector, primarily cash and liquidity so that people really understood and then owned. Sarah Holtan, PhD LinkedIn Chuck Ambrose, EdD LinkedIn Book Podcast

May 12, 202634 min

The Impact of Grade Inflation with Angela Walmsley, PhD

Sarah Holtan, PhD sits down with Angela Walmsley, PhD, educational consultant and founder of Interactive College Prep, to ask the uncomfortable question: what does it really mean when almost everyone gets an A? In an era where students arrive at college with sky-high GPAs and even higher expectations, Angela exposes how inflated grades muddle admissions, challenge professors, and create a ripple effect in university support systems. Behind those “perfect” transcripts, are students actually prepared for college-level work? Tune in to find out how grade inflation impacts AP exams, college admissions, and even the way professors approach their jobs. Ever wondered why so many students with straight A's stumble as soon as they hit campus and what’s being done about it? Listen to hear Angela Walmsley reveal what’s happening beneath the surface. Episode Highlights: 04:15 - The average GPA in American high schools has risen from 2.6 in 1985 to 3.1 in 2020. In colleges, it’s gone from 2.8 to nearly 3.2. And today, A’s are the most common grade—even at institutions like Harvard, where 60% of grades awarded are now A’s. 10:26 - [Angela referenced the National Board. This should be the College Board.] High GPAs often don’t reflect true mastery or college readiness. We’re seeing increasing gaps between classroom grades and standardized test/exam results, fueling confusion in college admissions and creating challenges for first-year students. 27:32 - Professors face increasing pressure to give higher grades due to course evaluations and student expectations. Support services on campuses are feeling the ripple effects, with a rising need for remedial courses and tutoring, particularly in math and writing. Sarah Holtan, PhD LinkedIn Angela Walmsley, PhD LinkedIn Website

April 28, 202644 min

Building Academic Programs and Processes for AI with David Schippers

What if your college degree became outdated before you even graduated? On this episode, Sarah Holtan, PhD brings Dave Schippers, Sc.D., CISSP to the table to call out the uncomfortable truth: higher education cannot keep up with the breakneck pace of AI. If you think AI is just another gadget for faculty, think again. Dr. Schippers explains how AI is a socio-technological force rethinking everything from how students learn to what skills employers will demand tomorrow. Will universities survive if they cling to old mindsets? What does an AI-literate faculty actually look like and are your professors ready? Tune in for real-world examples, new staffing models, and a few honest wake-up calls. Episode Highlights: 09:24 - The groups that I'm working with, a lot of what I'm doing when I bring AI into the classroom is I make them use it in on a cognitive learning level and I also have them interact with it in a way that challenges their beliefs and their perceptions. So it in essence basically makes them self-evaluate their own thoughts on particular subjects 12:22 - So because it wasn't a human giving the feedback, they didn't assume that there was an emotional facet to that. So they actually did some self reflection and said, oh, yeah, I guess this is correct. 17:24 - The sooner we realize that this is potentially can happen, the more we're going to look to go, well, how can we stay ahead of it? How can we figure out how to leverage it in ways that are beneficial both to us so us being our institution and to the students that we serve? 28:44 - I think higher ed needs to stop looking at what is needed now. And I think they need to start partnering with what does the market anticipate their needs within the next six to 12 months. Sarah Holtan, PhD LinkedIn David Schipper, Sc.D., CISSP LinkedIn Book Website

April 14, 202639 min

The ROI of a Strong Campus Master Plan with Lora Strigens

Get ready to be inspired by Lora Strigens, Vice-President for Planning and Facilities and University Architect at Marquette University, as she shares her expertise in leading over $300 million in capital projects in under a decade. Discover how campus planning at Marquette University follows a strategic approach, encompassing broad themes to ensure the best outcomes for stakeholders. Lora emphasizes the importance of engaging with both on-campus and external stakeholders, asking thoughtful questions to enable their impactful contributions. Explore the unique challenges and benefits of being an urban institution, from community connections to ensuring student safety. Learn the art of balancing multiple priorities with limited funds and executing integrated planning within set timelines. Find out about the key components of successful investment in new or renovated facilities as Lora sheds light on measuring success using both qualitative and quantitative metrics. Get insights on building a culture of strategic planning and execution of big ideas to ensure the viability and success of educational institutions. Listen to the episode and be inspired to transform campus planning and create thriving educational environments! Episode Highlights: 03:59 - Master planning is how do you engage people in a meaningful way, and so I think that beginning part where you're identifying the key stakeholders and you're bringing them into the fold and thinking about not just what general questions we can ask, but what are the questions that we can ask where people can feel like they're really having an impact? And then as we move forward with the planning process, how can you reflect back what you've heard from those people and share how their input and their experiences have actually made a difference, and how the plan manifests itself. 12:35 - I think that thoughtful planning that's continuous and integrated where it takes into account what are the academic growth goals and research growth goals, where are we at from an operation standpoint, talking closely with facilities, IT security to understand where are those pain points and where are the investments required there, as well as working with our advancement team who handles our fundraising and donor engagement, to understand what's that landscape looking like, and using all of those points to help inform how we might move things forward. 28:10 - The biggest challenge is probably, like you said, it's getting your head around all of the different aspects you need to be thinking about as you're approaching planning, whether that's the strategic plan or the master plan, and not being overwhelmed by that to a point that you get into a paralysis that you're not making decisions or you're not able to move things forward. Contact Sarah Holtan, PhD LinkedIn Websit e Lora Strigens LinkedIn Website

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