Reframing Financial Conversations: Kalamazoo Valley Community College CBO Brian Lueth on Resource Allocation and Student Impact

CBO Speaks

Brian Lueth is vice president for finance and business at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In this episode, Lueth joins our host Donna Schiele to talk about his journey from public accounting to higher education, the importance of effective communication in conveying financial information, and strategies for maintaining affordability and access for students. "I always try to start the conversation not with a ‘no’. I think that's easy for the CFOs to be pigeonholed into that person that always says ‘no’, and sticking to the budget and those types of things," Lueth says. He emphasizes the importance of reframing conversations to focus on how resources are allocated and the impact of initiatives on students. "I always try to reframe the conversation with, ‘Let's see if we can figure it out, let's see if we can talk about how we are allocating resources.’" Lueth goes on to talk about the value of listening to understand, being transparent, and learning from failures as critical qualities for managing the business side of higher education. He also discusses the potential for community colleges to fill the gap in the changing landscape of higher education, particularly in terms of affordability, shorter time to credentials, and alignment with industry needs. Join us for a conversation with Brian Lueth as he talks about the financial challenges facing community colleges, the role of data governance in promoting equitable student outcomes, and his advice for aspiring leaders in higher education finance. Links

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