Higher Ed Outlook Series: Leading Strategic Partnerships
November 30, 2026Strategic partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions are becoming increasingly important tools for institutions seeking to strengthen mission delivery and long-term sustainability. Many institutions are preparing a strategy and a list of potential partners, but they may struggle to predict what the partnership will need to make it a success. While every collaboration is unique, leaders who have successfully navigated multiple strategic partnerships typically encounter similar challenges.
Join Forvis Mazars and higher education leaders for a candid conversation about what they have learned from evaluating, negotiating, and integrating new institutions. In this webinar, we’ll discuss board readiness, stakeholder communication, change management, partner evaluation criteria, post-transaction integration challenges, and practical insights for engaging with regulators, including the U.S. Department of Education.
This session is tailored for trustees, presidents, cabinet members, and other institutional leaders and offers experience-based guidance to help institutions prepare for what’s next and navigate complex transactions with greater confidence and clarity.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be able to:
- Identify governance, communication, and board readiness best practices that can help support successful strategic partnership and merger discussions.
- Examine factors that shape an institution’s value proposition to strategic partners and approaches for preparing for discussions with boards and leadership teams.
- Discuss common integration and change management challenges and apply lessons learned to help strengthen stakeholder engagement, regulatory readiness, and post-transaction execution.
CPE Information
Who’s This For
Delivery Method
Prerequisites & Advanced Preparation
None
Refund Policy
Program Level
Questions
If you have questions about this CPE program, please contact us at [email protected].
If you have concerns or would like information regarding program cancellation policies or CPE credit, contact us at [email protected].
Forvis Mazars, LLP is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
Presenters
The Community Solution Education System
The Community Solution Education System