The University Business Podcast

The Impending Federal Student Loan Drought - Can Institutional Loans Provide Relief?

In the wake of major shifts in Title IV borrowing limits, higher education institutions face an urgent imperative: rethinking how graduate and professional students finance their education. With the removal of Grad Plus loans, the federal "shock absorbers" that once bridged the gap between federal aid and the cost of attendance are disappearing.
This timely podcast episode explores the impending "student loan drought" and the emerging necessity for institutions to build robust, mission-aligned institutional loan programs. Our guest, Lori Harton, explains why financing is no longer just a back-office financial aid issue—it is a critical enrollment strategy that will determine which institutions preserve access and maintain enrollment stability over the next decade.
What You’ll Learn – The Institutional Lending Strategy:
The Policy Shift: Understanding the new caps on graduate, professional, and Parent PLUS loans and why the federal landscape is becoming more restrictive.
The "Canyon" Gap: How to analyze your institution’s specific funding gaps, especially in high-cost professional pathways like medicine and law.
Breaking Misconceptions: Debunking the myth that institutional loans are inherently reckless, and recognizing why they require a collaborative approach across enrollment, finance, and compliance.
Strategic Design: How to price loans based on mission rather than margin, and how to wrap support services around the debt to ensure student success.
Borrower Experience: Positioning financing as a tool for success rather than a penalty, and leveraging technology to manage the full life cycle of a loan.
When federal options fall short, institutions cannot afford to be reactive. The risk is no longer just about making loans—the risk is doing nothing and acting surprised when enrollment softens. From risk management to personalized student support, this episode provides a roadmap for turning a financial challenge into an institutional strength.
Podcast Guest
Lori HartungRegional ExecutiveECSI
For more information on navigating these changes in student financial services, visit https://home.ecsi.net/solutions/servicingselect

Ep. 21: Reframing quality in a changing credential economy

The growth of micro‑credentials, short‑term certificates and alternative learning pathways has created new options for students and new pressures for institutions.
 

Ep. 20: Why completion is not enough for community colleges

One Million Degrees CEO Aarti Dhupelia explains why community colleges must invest more in helping students transition into careers to deliver real economic mobility.

Ep. 19: Leading the liberal arts in the age of AI

With guest Gregor Thuswaldner, provost of La Roche University (Penn.).

Ep. 18: Reintroducing diversity in 2026

Paullette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, joins the podcast to discuss what it takes to recapture the narrative around DEI initiatives—and perhaps even appeal to members who’ve historically denounced it.

Ep. 17: The fundamentals of a successful merger

In an era defined by mounting financial pressure in higher education, the question is no longer if a merger or acquisition might be necessary, but what makes a merger successful.

Ep.16: How academic leaders can fend off "chairflation"

As department chairs face rising costs and stagnant budgets, some are turning to uplift faculty morale and support students.

The Staffing Squeeze: How Campus Staff Are Staying Afloat

Podcast DescriptionAcross higher education, administrative teams are feeling the impact of reduced staffing, rising workloads, and unrelenting student expectations. From financial aid and billing to registration and support services, institutions are grappling with how to maintain high service levels under increasingly constrained conditions.In this podcast, we take a closer look at the staffing crisis in higher ed—and how some institutions are navigating these pressures by embracing scalable operational models and new approaches to support .
Key Takeaways
The top drivers behind staff burnout and operational strain in student services offices
Why traditional staffing models may no longer meet today’s demands
Strategies for scaling your team during peak times without increasing headcount
What to consider when evaluating third-party support for student-facing functions
Speaker Information
Ryan AudusVice President of Product Strategy, ECSI
 
Ryan Audus is the Vice President of Product Strategy for Global Payments higher education solutions, ECSI and TouchNet. In his role, Ryan is responsible for product strategy, pricing, research, and technology requirements prioritization. Ryan began his career in higher education technology in 2001 in product management with TouchNet. Since then, Ryan has worn several hats, including manager of product management, director of business development, and security and compliance administrator. Earlier in his career, Ryan worked for SportVision as a multimedia producer. Ryan also led Product Management for PopStar Networks, a digital signage solution provider. Ryan is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education.
 

Ep. 15: How microcredentials are fueling community college growth

Lisa Larson, CEO of the Education Design Lab, uncovers how the burgeoning world of microcredentials is reshaping higher education by connecting learning directly to the demands of the modern workforce.

Ep.14: Here's how to better focus community colleges around the student

Hana Lahr from the Community College Research Center shows us how community colleges are boosting their completion rates by tailoring their operations around the part-time student balancing work, kids and finances.