Beyond the Quad: What’s Saving Us in Higher Ed Right Now (Spoiler: It’s You)

We’re hitting pause on our usual newsletter this week—to talk about the elephant in the room...and why your work still matters.

Friday, May 9, 2025

Higher education feels really heavy these days.

Honestly, it’s a bit of a dumpster fire. Budget cuts. Political pressure. Inclusion rollbacks. Faculty burnout and low morale.

And yet—you keep showing up. You still care. You still try. And that is meaningful.

We know how hard it is to stay hopeful in this moment, so we’re here with a simple reminder:

Your work matters. And you are not alone.
This season isn’t easy, but we’ve seen what happens when people in higher ed come together.

And we believe this with everything we’ve got: Together, we will rise.

Now more than ever, we need to unite, encourage, and inspire each other to keep going.

So we want to know—what’s keeping you going right now?

• A student’s unexpected thank you?

• A powerful conversation with a colleague?

• A reminder that what you do still makes a difference?

Tell us what’s keeping you going. Submit anonymously here

And download our free “Your Work Matters” poster as a visual reminder to share with your faculty, staff and administrators to hang around your campus.

Let’s remind each other why this work still matters, because it does. And so do you.

For uplifting stories about higher ed, check out these op-eds from our staff:

In Defense of Hope: Why Higher Education Still Matters

Finding Inspiration in Conflict: A Lifelong Peacemaker Embraces the Fight

Why I Refuse to Stay Silent: Fighting for LGBTQIA+ Rights in Higher Ed

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We know what you do is important.

You’re already receiving high-impact insights straight to your inbox—because you care deeply about this work. We're here to fuel your purpose, progress, and sense of possibility. Because together, there’s nothing we can’t do.

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Beyond the Quadcast – Unfiltered conversations with higher ed leaders who are navigating the same storms—and lighting the way forward.

Higher Ed Chat Forum – A judgment-free space to connect, ask big questions, and learn from people who get it. Skip the flights and name tags—connect with higher ed pros across the country, share challenges, swap wins, and get real-time support inside our exclusive Higher Ed Chat Forum. Your next breakthrough might just start with a message.

Actionable Toolkits – No jargon, just real strategies for real challenges—from burnout to campus climate to leadership under pressure.

Powerful Op-Eds – Brave, bold, and necessary reads from the people reshaping higher ed’s future.

🛠️ Toolkits That Actually Work
No fluff, no filler—just expert-crafted guides you can use right now. This week’s toolkit: “Crisis-Proof Your Inclusion Efforts: A Guide for Higher Education Leaders”

Perspective You Can Trust
Get early access to Beyond the Quadcast episodes for fresh conversations with higher ed leaders, and useful toolkits you can’t get anywhere else.