Pressure, Constraint and... Opportunity? Academic Leadership in 2026

While provosts remain confident in their roles and relationships with their presidents, resources continue to be a sticking point as they were last year, according to findings from the 2026 Inside Higher Ed/Hanover Research Survey of College and University Chief Academic Officers. Join us for a free live webcast, featuring Inside Higher Ed Senior Editor of Special Content Colleen Flaherty and a panel of experts as they explore how today's academic leaders are facing ongoing resource constraints and political pressures amidst a rapidly shifting postsecondary landscape. The webcast will cover: How chief academic officers would rate their institution’s academic health, the value of general education and the liberal arts, and what stands in the way of expanding work-integrated learning The strength of the U.S. university research enterprise over the next decade The potential impact of the planned federal accreditation overhaul on higher education AI’s return-on-investment so far, in areas such as individual employee productivity, teaching and learning, and research Can't attend the webcast? You should still register—all registrants will receive a recording of the webcast and a copy of the presentation slides. 📊 To get the most out of the webcast, download and explore the full survey results.