Accreditation does not pause when financial pressure intensifies.

In Part II of our conversation with Rebekah Mazone of FuturED on Accreditation Insights, we move beyond surface-level concerns and confront the structural questions shaping institutional viability:

Are presidents and CFOs genuinely aligned around strategy and risk?
Is enrollment forecasting meaningfully integrated with long-term financial planning?
Are merger conversations proactive and disciplined or driven by urgency?

Rebekah offers a grounded, forward-looking perspective on what 2026 will require from governing boards and executive teams.

The clarity and foresight shared in this discussion have the potential to prevent costly missteps and long-term institutional strain.

Leaders intent on navigating volatility with discipline should consider this essential listening! Tune in!

The demographic cliff is no longer theoretical; it is operational.

In Part I of Accreditation Insights, Rebekah Mazone of FuturED examines what presidents, boards, and CFOs must understand now about:

• Enrollment volatility• Heightened price sensitivity — even among higher-income families• Multi-year forecasting models• Automation in budgeting and reporting• Early financial warning signals

The level of clarity and foresight shared in this discussion has the potential to prevent costly missteps and long-term institutional strain.

If you serve in institutional leadership, this is practical insight you can apply immediately!

A recent Washington Post opinion piece declared, “College accreditation is a civil rights issue.”

At the same time, the U.S. Department of Education has launched rulemaking that could reshape how accreditors are recognized, and recognition determines access to more than $100 billion in federal student aid annually.

In this episode of Accreditation Insights, we confront the realquestions:

Is accreditation becoming political?

What happens if recognition standards shift?

And are institutions prepared?

This is bigger than compliance.

Join us for this thought-provoking episode!

Accreditation Insights opens its 2026 season with a timely and substantive conversation on institutional viability and accountability in higher education. This episode is sponsored by Futured Finance, whose work focuses on improving financial transparency and sustainability across the higher education sector.

In this episode, we are joined by Gary Stocker, Founder of College Viability, a national consultancy dedicated to helpingcolleges and universities strengthen financial sustainability, enrollment strategy, governance, and long-term institutional resilience. Drawing on decades of experience as a president, provost, and senior executive, Dr. Stocker offers a pragmatic and data-informed perspective on the realities facing today’s institutions.

The conversation explores several pressing issues, including the four-year graduation rate, accreditors’ transparency, accreditors' responsibilities, and whether graduation rates alone are an appropriate or sufficient indicator ofinstitutional success. Together, the discussion challenges traditional metrics and encourages a more holistic approach to assessing quality, outcomes, and long-term viability in higher education.

As we wrap up 2025, Laurie and Leamor sit down for a year-end conversation on Accreditation Insights to reflect on what really stood out in higher education and accreditation this year.

We talk about:
• Public value and accountability• Accreditation’s growing role in policy and politics• Financial sustainability and institutional viability• Changing credentials and learning models• Leadership and governance expectations• And what we’re watching as we head into 2026

We also share a bit about where the podcast is headed and why we’reexcited about what’s coming next. If you’ve been listening all year—or if you’re new to the show—this episode is a great way to close out 2025 and lookahead.

🎧 New episode available now. We’d love for you to listen, share, and join us in 2026!

On this episode of Accreditation Insights, we are honored to welcome Dr. Gina Scarboro, Executive Director of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, better known as CAAHEP. Dr. Scarboro brings a rare blend of academic leadership, clinical practice, and national service to the conversation. From her tenure as a dean and educator to her continuing role as a practicing Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant, her journey reflects a steadfast commitment to excellence in allied health education.Today, we explore how accreditation serves as a linchpin in advancing workforce readiness, interprofessional collaboration, and quality assurance across one of the broadest spectrums of health professions.

Our guest for this episode is Dr. Matthew Nehmer, President of The Colleges of Law, a mission-driven institution that has carved out a unique space in the legal education landscape through innovation, accessibility, and a strong commitment to social justice. With a career that spans strategic planning, accreditation, academic leadership, and nonprofit management, Dr. Nehmer brings a comprehensive view of how institutions can embrace change while remaining grounded in standards of excellence.

Tune in to learn how The Colleges of Law is navigating accreditation whilesimultaneously reimagining what legal education can be in the 21st century.

Are we making assessment too complex—and at what cost to academicstandards?

On this episode of Accreditation Insights, I sit down with Dr. David A. Eubanks, Assistant VP for Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness at Furman University and a former member of NACIQI.

We explore:

• Why grades may be the most overlooked yet robust accreditation evidence
• The rising cost and complexity of assessment practices
• The ethical tension between tuition revenue and academic rigor

Dr. Eubanks brings sharp analysis and thought-provoking critiques thatchallenge how we think about quality, accountability, and outcomes in higher education.

Tune in and join the conversation on how accreditation can better align withreal student learning.

This episode is sponsored by CAHIIM,proud host of the 2025 Summit on Higher Education, a premier virtual gathering on health informatics, accreditation, and innovation.