Today, NCHEMS President Brian Prescott and Vice President @sarah-pingel.bsky.social are attending the Mississippi Institution of Higher Learning's Board meeting. Thank you, Alcorn State University, for your hospitality and for hosting this meeting!

🚨New from NCHEMS, with support from @stradaeducation.bsky.social: When federal financial aid infrastructure is disrupted, states and students pay the price. Our new report examines what that looks like and what needs to change. Read now: tinyurl.com/25xec9vu #HigherEd #FinancialAid #StatePolicy

ICYMI: A projected 4.6M worker gap is coming, and Cooperative Extension's nearly 100M education contacts are an underleveraged part of the answer. Read our brief to learn how CPL and skills validation can recognize Extension learning so it counts toward careers and credentials: tinyurl.com/bdf5dkfu

ICYMI: Workforce Pell expands opportunity. State systems will determine whether students can actually access it. Read our blog on what states need to do next and why the window for those decisions is now. nchems.org/workforce-pe... #HigherEd #FinancialAid #WorkforcePell #StatePolicy

In partnership with @stradaeducation.bsky.social, enrollment management leaders, financial aid admins, & student advocates developed the Student-Centered Enrollment Management Principles. NCHEMS Vice President @sarah-pingel.bsky.social breaks down why they matter. Explore now: tinyurl.com/2wypu7xf

Two years of research. Five partner institutions. One clear finding: Extension is underutilized. Our new report examines what it takes for Cooperative Extension to fully serve as a driver of rural development, and what's getting in the way. Read now: tinyurl.com/ythvzcje

Two years in the making: our report on Cooperative Extension as a Transformative Intermediary in Rural Development is out now. Thanks for Ascendium Education Group for their support to make this work possible. Dive in today: tinyurl.com/ythvzcje #HigherEd #CooperativeExtension #WorkforceDevelopment

State policy choices shape what Cooperative Extension can and can’t do for workforce development, rural communities, and higher ed strategy. That variation has real consequences. Explore our brief to see what your state should consider: tinyurl.com/5np54a2n. #HigherEd #CooperativeExtension #SHEEOs

Workforce Pell expands federal aid into short-term credentials. But state aid systems weren't built for this, & the gap is bigger than most realize. In a recent blog, we detailed what our review of 381 state programs found & what it would actually take to bridge it: tinyurl.com/4he9jcfm #HigherEd

🚨New Brief: Cooperative Extension is in every state, but often missing from higher ed strategy. This brief explores how statutory framing and funding shape its role. Must read from SHEEOs and policymakers: tinyurl.com/wzvp8re5 #HigherEd #CooperativeExtension #StatePolicy #HigherEdPolicy

College-going rates of recent high school graduates have been trending downward over many years, though there are signs of recent improvement. Do you know what your state's trends are, and how your state compares to others? Explore this helpful tool today: nchems.org/college-rate... #HigherEd

What does recognizing Extension learning look like? In our new blog with the University of Maine Extension, we find out the answer. Check out this blog that highlights a successful approach to recognizing Extension learning: tinyurl.com/47n56kff #HigherEd #CooperativeExtension #SuccessStories

Workforce Pell expands opportunity, but will state aid systems keep up? Our new blog breaks down what states must consider. A must-read for state policymakers & aid administrators. nchems.org/workforce-pe... #HigherEd #StatePolicy #FinancialAid #HigherEdPolicy #WorkforceCredentials #StudentAid

How do states serve students with shrinking enrollment & existing infrastructure? NCHEMS President Brian Prescott weighs in on the rise of "systemness 2.0" in this recent @chronicle.com article. Check out the full article now: www.chronicle.com/article/publ... #HigherEd #Systemness #CollegeAccess

How does “rural” get defined? What does that definition mean for college funding? Our dashboard lets you explore rurality definitions, enrollment, and state & local funding for public institutions. Check out this tool now: nchems.org/rural-defini... #HigherEd #Rurality #StateFunding #HigherEdFunding

NCHEMS is pleased that our governance research and engagement helped inform action at the University of Hawaiʻi. Read more now: Read more now: www.hawaii.edu/news/2026/02... Learn more about NCHEMS' work with the University of Hawaiʻi System: nchems.org/project/univ... #HigherEd

Cooperative Extension services ~100 million people, helping them learn real, in-demand skills. The challenge now? Making sure Extension learning counts. Our brief explores pathways to credit and career advancement. Read now: tinyurl.com/5np54a2n #HigherEd #CooperativeExtension #Workforce

Earlier this month, we were excited to host our Board of Directors. During this meeting, our Board met with our NCHEMS team, discussed important changes, and explored possible new policy initiatives. Thanks to our Board for their time and continued leadership! #HigherEd #BoardofDirectors

The workforce gap is real & growing. #CooperativeExtension serves millions of learners, but structural barriers & lack of alignment keep that learning from counting toward credit or careers. Explore how skills validation, policy coordination, & infrastructure can change it: tinyurl.com/5np54a2n

Millions learn through Cooperative Extension programs, but their skills often go unrecognized. Our new brief examines pathways for noncredit learning to academic credit and career mobility. Read now: tinyurl.com/5np54a2n #HigherEd #CooperativeExtension #WorkforceDevelopment #Policy #StatePolicy

Direct admissions can simplify college entry for students, but it should be paired with thoughtful design. Our new blog highlights what states need to consider if they adopt direct admissions policies. Read now: tinyurl.com/mv92z5vv #HigherEd #Policy #Admissions #CollegeAccess #Enrollment

Where can policymakers and researchers get answers on higher ed trends? Our resource, HigherEdInfo, was meant to be a hub for providing info that policymakers need to make sound, data-informed decisions. Learn about HigherEdInfo or submit a data request today: tinyurl.com/ysp9t6ft #HigherEducation

New blog series: we examine how community colleges & Cooperative Extension can partner more intentionally to support climate resilience & rural workforce needs. Thanks FoundationCCC for collaborating on the series & @luminafoundation.bsky.social for their support. Read now: tinyurl.com/4eu5j7z3

How can state policy respond to declining enrollment? @crainsdetroit.bsky.social features insights from NCHEMS President Brian Prescott and Vice President @sarah-pingel.bsky.social on how postsecondary governance plays a role. Read now: tinyurl.com/4py8xc82 #HigherEd #Policy #EnrollmentDeclines

ICYMI: NCHEMS' inaugural Annual Report highlights how we help leaders turn data into strategy for higher education. Explore our work to learn the story of evidence, collaboration, and statewide impact. Read now: tinyurl.com/ytkc9zba #HigherEd #AnnualReport #Strategy #HigherEdPolicy

ICYMI: Our blog shows why Cooperative Extension belongs in statewide higher ed strategy. Key takeaways: Extension boosts rural workforce efforts, brings local insight, and strengthens pathways from education to employment. Read now: tinyurl.com/mpdh8n8p #HigherEd #Extension #Policy #Workforce

NCHEMS Senior Associates Louisa Hunkerstorm and Nancy Stalowski joined the @completecollege.bsky.social Annual Convening this week, focused on data-driven strategies that strengthen student pathways and completion. hanks to CCA — and the M&T Bank Stadium reception was a great bonus! #HigherEd

ICYMI: Our blog unpacks the report we created for the American Association of Community Colleges, highlighting how community colleges can use data and foresight to thrive amid change. Check out the insights and full blog: tinyurl.com/2xdsun8y #HigherEd #CommunityColleges #Strategy

Last month, we hosted an in-person meeting in TN with our advisory group and working group sites for our project. Great discussions on rural #HigherEd and workforce development through Cooperative Extension. Thanks to all who joined and to the Rutherford County Extension office for your hospitality.

ICYMI: Our blog with Education Commission of the States breaks down how states fund public higher education. State funding models shape access, affordability, & outcomes in higher ed. Revisit our blog to explore: tinyurl.com/4bz2fkzh #HigherEd #PostsecondaryFunding #Funding

Funding and governance shape how Cooperative Extension supports rural resilience. Earlier this year, we released a study that explores this matter. Read our study, Shaping Community Impact: tinyurl.com/4e23h3yn *Go to resources to download the study. #HigherEd #RuralDevelopment #Extension

Community colleges are navigating rapid change. Resilient by Design, a report prepared by NCHEMS and published by the American Association of Community Colleges, offers a roadmap for navigating what’s ahead. Explore the toolkits to help campus leaders plan for change: tinyurl.com/m4nkm26m #HigherEd

The numbers tell our story: 20 projects, 17 reports, and countless insights. Explore NCHEMS’ annual report to learn how we turn evidence into a story of impact. Read now: tinyurl.com/bde7ajf3 #HigherEd #AnnualReport #Strategy

A lot can happen in a year. Our inaugural annual report captures the impact behind the numbers and the people who make it possible. See highlights from a year of evidence-driven projects across 13 states and explore the full report: tinyurl.com/bde7ajf3 #HigherEd #Strategy #Policy #AnnualReport

Cooperative Extension is an overlooked asset in state higher education strategy. Our latest NCHEMS blog explores how stronger alignment can support attainment and workforce goals statewide. Read more: tinyurl.com/mpdh8n8p #HigherEd #Strategy #CooperativeExtension #RuralEducation #SHEEOs

Federal uncertainty shouldn’t put students’ aid at risk. With support from Strada Education Foundation, NCHEMS is launching a new project aimed at helping states strengthen and modernize their aid policies while keeping them student-centered. Learn more: tinyurl.com/3srwp72t #HigherEd #FinancialAid

How states fund #HigherEd shapes access, affordability & performance. Our new blog, co-authored with Education Commission of the States unpacks the updated 50-State Comparsion: Postsecondary Funding and what it reveals about state priorities. Explore the blog: tinyurl.com/4bz2fkzh #Funding

Community colleges are at a turning point. Our latest blog highlights a new NCHEMS report released by the American Association of Community Colleges, which lays out the urgent challenges ahead and how leaders can respond. Read the blog: tinyurl.com/2xdsun8y and then the report. #HigherEd

We are excited to welcome the newest member of our team, Nancy Stalowski, Ed.D, as a senior associate! Check out our blog and learn why Nancy is an amazing addition to our team: tinyurl.com/57nej5z4 #HigherEd #NewNCHEMSStaff #NewHire

NCHEMS collaborated with NC-SARA to support the research and data analysis of a newly updated report detailing the cost savings associated with SARA participation for colleges and universities. Explore the full report now: nc-sara.org/sara-cost-sa.... #HigherEd #HigherEdFunding #Funding #SARA

Our Board of Directors and President met last week at the University of North Texas. Board Meetings are key to reflecting, planning, and advancing our mission. Many thanks to UNT for hosting us and welcoming our Board on campus. #HigherEd #NCHEMSOnTheMove #BoardMeeting #Strategy

ICYMI: Extension services are essential to rural workforce and economic development. Our report, Shaping Community Impact, looks at how funding and governance shape their contributions. Catch up here: tinyurl.com/47em5a2v #HigherEd #Extension #RuralFunding

How do states fund higher education? The answer isn’t simple, but the data tells the story. In partnership with Education Commission of the States, we helped them update their 50-State Comparison on postsecondary education funding. How does your state funding compare? tinyurl.com/n9see9jx #HigherEd

NCHEMS showed up at @sheeoed.bsky.social’s 2025 Higher Ed Policy Conference! Our team participated in sessions on state funding (The Base Strikes Back) and balancing mission & money (Fiscal Responsibility & Mission). Always grateful to connect and share insights!

Looking for answers on higher ed trends? HigherEdInfo was built to give policymakers the data they need to make sound, evidence-based decisions. Explore what was featured, how it shifted, and request the state-level insights you want today: nchems.org/our-work/hig... #HigherEd

For years, higher ed has focused on reengaging “some college, no degree” adults, leaving 60M with no college experience off the map. This is the untapped talent pool states can’t afford to ignore. Here’s why they matter & how to reach them: tinyurl.com/m6ttbdub #HigherEd #AdultLearners

We partnered with Education Commission of the States on the update of the 50-State Comparison: Postsecondary Education Funding.It breaks down budget processes, funding models, and what drives allocations, giving essential insights for policy leaders. Read now: tinyurl.com/n9see9jx #HigherEd #Funding

Uncertainty is the only certainty. In Part III of our blog series, NCHEMS shares how institutions can use scenario modeling to make smarter financial decisions without guesswork. Read now: tinyurl.com/5t39zsn #HigherEd #HigherEdFinance #StategicPlanning

Part I looked at why academic program finances matter. Part II explores how to measure their impact, with practical metrics from our work with South Dakota. Learn how to measure financial impact now: tinyurl.com/m9h4p332 #HigherEd #HigherEdFinances #InstitutionalFinances

Rural communities are evolving, so must the institutions designed to serve them. NCHEMS Vice President @sarah-pingel.bsky.social and Research Associate @artemiocardenas.bsky.social call for bold shifts in land grant universities & Extension in Change magazine. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....