Out now! Pass / Fail: The Urgent Need for Strategic Leadership in Higher Education is brought to you by Suzan Brinker, PhD, Viv’s co-founder and CEO. Learn more about the book and order below!
Higher education has arrived at a crossroads. Demographic changes, a significant student mental health crisis, and AI are just a few factors that will disrupt the industry as we know it in the next decade and beyond. Either colleges and universities figure out how to evolve alongside student needs, technology, and the labor market, or they continue to fall behind due to archaic and unenterprising processes and cultures.
What’s at stake is the loss of many institutions who have facilitated social mobility, personal growth, and more connected and meaningful lives for a century or more.
How each individual institution navigates these headwinds will depend almost entirely on the quality of its leadership. Higher ed administrators can no longer afford to just be subject matter experts in their own areas and perpetuate the silos that are so common in academia. They must understand how to connect academic product strategy, brand, enrollment, philanthropy, and culture to drive entrepreneurial initiatives and change.
It is those key areas of strategic leadership that Pass/Fail centers on. Written by seasoned higher ed strategist and marketer Dr. Suzan Brinker, the book is at once inspiring and practical, combining personal narrative with case studies from leaders at liberal arts colleges, large private universities, and public research institutions.
Early Praise
“Suzan provides a thoughtful and engaging guide on navigating the challenges of higher education enrollment. From understanding the big picture to exploring innovative strategies, she offers valuable insights for any institution looking to attract and support a diverse student body. It’s an essential read for anyone passionate about making higher education more inclusive and effective.” – Gil Rogers, founder of GR7 Marketing and Higher Ed Fractional CMO
“Higher Ed needs real tools and real talk to strategize effectively. Pass/Fail helps us do both at a time of urgent need.” – Karlyn Crowley, Provost, Ohio Wesleyan University
“Suzan Brinker, through her candid first-hand accounts of leading and supporting higher-education institutions of all types, draws us a roadmap for creating strategic plans and differentiated brands at colleges and universities. I particularly love the book’s emphasis on continual student-feedback loops, creating a sense of belonging for learners, and making collaborative decisions in an industry dotted with silos but desperate for a new path forward. Pass/Fail offers us several stepping-stones on that vital path, reigniting in its readers a belief that we can, indeed, honor our institutions’ storied pasts while moving headlong toward a bold new future. Thought-provoking, practical, candid, insightful, and validating, Pass/Fail is a must-read for higher-education employees up, down, and across the organizational chart.” – Kate Colbert, Higher-Education Marketing Consultant and Leadership Coach, and Author of Commencement: The Beginning of a New Era in Higher Education
“Every leader in higher ed needs this book! For institutions to persist over time, clear differentiation is a must, and Suzan shows us exactly how to achieve it. Using a mix of real-world examples and personal experiences in the field, Suzan taps into why we fell in love with higher education in the first place, why it still matters, and how institutions will be stronger for it. An absolute must read!”
– Vanessa Bush, Award-winning Author and Customer Success Manager at PeopleGrove
– Vanessa Bush, Award-winning Author and Customer Success Manager at PeopleGrove
Who is this book for?
This book is for higher education administrators, staff, faculty, and anyone else working at and with colleges and universities who wants to help their institution evolve into a community that understands its magic and uses that power to grow impact and enrollments.
- Higher Education Administrators: They will find strategic insights for navigating challenges like technological disruption and demographic shifts, aiding them ineffective institutional management.
- University Faculty and Academics: Faculty members can benefit from understanding broader institutional challenges and opportunities, enriching their teaching methods and engagement with students.
- Educational Policy Makers: The book offers them a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of higher education, helping inform policy decisions that can shape the future of education.
- Marketing Professionals in Higher Education: They can gain insights into effective branding and enrollment strategies in a competitive educational market.
Leaders of Online Education Platforms: They will find valuable perspectives on the future of online learning and strategies for integrating technology in education. - Education Consultants: The book provides a comprehensive view of higher education challenges and strategies, aiding consultants in offering informed advice to educational institutions.
- Graduate Students in Education Programs: These readers can gain a nuanced understanding of the field they are entering, preparing them for future roles in educational leadership.
- Prospective College Students and Parents: They can get a broader view of the higher education landscape, helping in making informed choices about college education.
International Education Professionals: The book’s insights into the global dynamics of higher education will be valuable for professionals dealing with international students or programs. - Non-Profit Organizations Focused on Education: These organizations can gain valuable insights for their initiatives, especially those aimed at inclusivity and accessibility in education.
Launch Team Benefits
Pass / Fail is scheduled to publish and ship in Fall of 2024! By pre-ordering below, you’ll be invited to join the Pre-Order Launch Team where you’ll get exclusive rewards and the opportunity to interact with me throughout my publishing journey.
All Pre-Order Launch Team members will receive:
- A physical copy (softcover, paperback) of the book when published
- Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks into the publishing process
- Early access to the introduction and some excerpts from the book, with the opportunity to review provide feedback
- Involvement in finalizing my cover and title
- Invitation to monthly Virtual Coffee Meet Ups, and more!
