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May 2026

Greetings,

We have completed 11 of our 12 state visits as I write this note. We will finish up the season with a visit to South Dakota in early July. While rigorous, these visits are a highlight of my year. I am especially grateful for the dinners we host in each state that bring together people from multiple sectors for conversation and connection. We are frequently told how much people value these types of gatherings.

In this edition of MHEC News, you'll read about our work with Gallup on the value of postsecondary education. It is an important initiative that will bring our member states and institutions meaningful and actionable information. You'll also read about the latest two MHEC Strategic Innovation and Impact Grants.

In early June, the MHEC Commission will meet in Indianapolis for our two-day Executive Committee Meeting. In addition to conducting regular business, we will hear from Dr. Allison Barber of Marvella Foundation, Dr. Courtney Brown from Lumina Foundation, and Ms. Teresa Lubbers from the Sagamore Institute. We'll also take a little time to visit the NCAA Hall of Champions, one of the Hoosier state's biggest attractions! Look for resources from this meeting in next month's edition of MHEC News.

As the school year comes to a close, I wish all of you a great start to summer.

With thanks,

Susan G. Heegaard

President

LATEST NEWS

MHEC Partners with Gallup on the Value of Postsecondary Education

MHEC is partnering with Gallup to provide member states with market research and insights about how Midwestern residents view the value and relevance of higher education in our region. Drawing from the recently released Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education Study, the project will help state leaders better understand the experiences and perspectives of current students, adults who stopped out before completing a credential, and adults who have not yet enrolled in postsecondary education.

The analysis will highlight regional trends related to affordability, workforce preparation, pathways for enrolling adults, and perceived outcomes of postsecondary education. Gallup will tailor the data specifically to the MHEC region, ensuring findings accurately reflect the demographics and experiences of Midwestern learners and communities.

The resulting analyses and report will provide member states with actionable information to support policy development, workforce strategies, and efforts to improve educational attainment and economic opportunity across the region. This partnership reinforces MHEC’s commitment to equipping state leaders with research and evidence that strengthen higher education outcomes for residents throughout the Midwest.

Kansas Board of Regents Awarded Strategic Impact and Innovation Grant

MHEC has awarded the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) a $250,000 grant to modernize its information technology and infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of students, institutions, and the workforce.

“This grant will allow us to improve data-driven decision-making and support student success across Kansas’ public higher education system,” said KBOR President and CEO Blake Flanders. “Investing in transformative technology solutions will position our system to better serve Kansas families and businesses. The Board is excited to continue this important work and thankful for our partnership with MHEC.”

The MHEC grant will allow KBOR to implement a suite of targeted software solutions designed to modernize internal operations and enhance service delivery. These investments will streamline critical workflows and integrate artificial intelligence capabilities, significantly reducing the time required from staff and redirecting valuable human resources toward more strategic, high-impact initiatives. The grant will also support critical improvements in cybersecurity.

“We were impressed by the forward-thinking proposal from the Kansas Board of Regents,” said Susan G. Heegaard, MHEC President. “We believe this investment will yield lasting benefits for students and institutions in Kansas and reinforce the state’s commitment to accessible, affordable, and high-quality postsecondary education.”

MHEC’s Strategic Impact and Innovation Grants support high-impact, collaborative initiatives that address state needs and that align with the MHEC’s vision to strengthen postsecondary education and advance regional economic vitality. Each of MHEC’s 12 member states can apply for a grant for up to $250,000.

Read the full announcement.

MHEC Grant Will Support Comprehensive Economic and Labor Market Analysis in Illinois

This month, MHEC also awarded an Illinois multi-partner collaborative—the State Attainment Working Group—a $250,000 Strategic Impact and Innovation Grant. The grant will support a comprehensive economic and labor market analysis to help project Illinois’ workforce needs in 2040.

The analysis will estimate future demand for workers by industry sector, degree and credential type, occupation, and region, providing a forward-looking view of the state’s talent needs to inform the state’s new postsecondary attainment goal.

“The State Attainment Working Group will set a north star for education and workforce development and provide the foundation for exploration of policies and practices that help address obstacles to equitable access to education and training,” says Deputy Governor for Education Martin Torres. “Establishing a state attainment goal informed by this economic and labor market analysis will enhance economic development, align cross-sector efforts, and expand equitable pathways for Illinoisans to earn meaningful credentials that lead to high-quality jobs and economic mobility.”

In announcing the grant, Susan G. Heegaard, MHEC President, said, “The group’s wise approach to estimate future workforce demand by industry sector, degree and credential type will not only provide an informed view of the state’s talent needs but also an approach that other states might employ."

Read the full announcement.

Several Midwest States Surpass National Benchmark for Higher Education Funding Effort

The latest update to MHEC's Interactive Dashboard shows that funding per $1,000 of personal income in the Midwest approximated the national level in 2023. For every $1,000 of personal income in the Midwest, $5.44 was allocated to higher education, compared to $5.87 nationally.

For this specific metric, a state’s overall effort to fund higher education includes state and local fiscal support for higher education per $1,000 of personal income. State and local fiscal support consists of state tax appropriations, local tax support, additional non-tax funds such as lottery revenue that support higher education, and funds appropriated to other state entities for specific higher education expenditures or benefits.

State and local appropriations in this indicator can be used for general operations, agriculture-related programs, public student aid, medical education, and support for independent institutions or students attending them. Personal income includes income received by all people from participation in production, government and business transfer payments, and government interest. 

This indicator is one way of looking at regional and state investment in higher education. MHEC's research brief on Evaluating State Funding Effort for Higher Education provides some other approaches to looking at funding for higher education across states.

Selected finance indicators are also available for MHEC states in the report State Performance Update.

Help MHEC Expand the Student Health Solutions it Offers to Higher Education Institutions

MHEC helps higher education institutions save time and money through cooperative contracts for technology and student health. Last year, the Midwest region saved more than $31.5 million using MHEC’s contracts.

MHEC is seeking to expand its student health contracts and requests input to determine new contract categories that would provide value. MHEC invites all student support stakeholders – including student health administrators, procurement and finance professionals, system offices, and risk management professionals – to participate in a brief survey to help identify new student health contract areas. Your participation in this survey will help MHEC understand which student health contract areas will bring the greatest value.

MHEC’s student health insurance contracts were established in response to requests from higher education and legislative leaders who sought a collaborative region-wide approach to supporting student health and wellness. Since 2013, MHEC has offered institutions contracts for fully insured school-sponsored plans.

MHEC’s cooperative contracts eliminate the need for institutions to conduct their own solicitation process, saving time and streamlining access to student health solutions at competitive rates. When leveraging a MHEC cooperative contract, institutions gain access to a template contract that preserves the ability for customization while still offering performance guarantees.

Thank you for your help in continuing to shape our collaborative region-wide approach to student health and wellness.

Upcoming Webinar on Licensure Compliance

Behind the Work: Uncovering the True Scope of Licensure Compliance Challenges in Higher Education

May 28, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Join us for a deep dive into the "Between the Lines, Behind the Work" survey from WCET- SAN, revealing the true scope of licensure compliance burdens for higher education institutions. Co-authors Kathryn Kerensky and Sarah Cheverton will present key findings from the report. Kris Maul will offer additional insight into the barriers institutions face, based on HELP’s work with institutions in the Midwest and beyond. Learn more and register.

Resources from Workforce Pell Webinars Available

Two recent MHEC webinars on Workforce Pell focused on one of MHEC's top priorities: supporting alignment of postsecondary education with workforce development. 

In the first webinar, Workforce Pell: An Overview, Cheryl Dowd, Senior Director of Policy Innovations at WCET and the State Authorization Network, provided an overview of the goals of the policy and the requirements states and institutions need to know.

A second webinar, Advancing Workforce Pell: Strategies for State and System Implementation, built on the first webinar to take a deeper dive into implementation in practice. The panel of presenters included Cheryl Dowd, WCET/SAN; Lynette Kuhn, Pennsylvania Department of Education; Cynthia Proctor, State University of New York (SUNY) System; Amy Shaffer, Ohio Department of Higher Education; and Leroy Wade, Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development.

Helpful resources from each of the webinars are now posted on the MHEC website event pages (see links above).

SARA Policy Resources

Clarity on SARA Policy §5.2: Essential Updates for Licensure Compliance and Enrollments

Presenter Kris Maul from Higher Education Licensure Pros helped participants gain clear insights into SARA Policy §5.2 and the impact on non-Title IV programs and non-credit offerings. Watch the webinar and view the resources.

Dual Enrollment Resources

Expanding Access to Dual Enrollment: The Role of Open Educational Resources

Presenters included Allison Buckley, SREB; Annika Many, MHEC; and Tabetha Nguyen, University of Arkansas Cossatot. Watch the webinar and view the resources.

Commissioner Appointments

Gretchen Ritter

University of Minnesota, Executive Vice President and Provost

Term: 4/22/2026 to 1/4/2027

MHEC Job Openings

MHEC is hiring for three new positions: Vice President of Finance and Administration, Communications Director, and Data Manager. Learn more on our Careers page.

State Visits Recap

Pictured: MHEC Commissioners and staff during MHEC's state visit to Michigan.

Pictured: MHEC Commissioners and staff during MHEC's state visit to Minnesota.

Pictured: MHEC Commissioners and staff during MHEC's state visit to Ohio.