Accreditation Insights opens its 2026 season with a timely and substantive conversation on institutional viability and accountability in higher education. This episode is sponsored by Futured Finance, whose work focuses on improving financial transparency and sustainability across the higher education sector.

In this episode, we are joined by Gary Stocker, Founder of College Viability, a national consultancy dedicated to helpingcolleges and universities strengthen financial sustainability, enrollment strategy, governance, and long-term institutional resilience. Drawing on decades of experience as a president, provost, and senior executive, Dr. Stocker offers a pragmatic and data-informed perspective on the realities facing today’s institutions.

The conversation explores several pressing issues, including the four-year graduation rate, accreditors’ transparency, accreditors' responsibilities, and whether graduation rates alone are an appropriate or sufficient indicator ofinstitutional success. Together, the discussion challenges traditional metrics and encourages a more holistic approach to assessing quality, outcomes, and long-term viability in higher education.

As we wrap up 2025, Laurie and Leamor sit down for a year-end conversation on Accreditation Insights to reflect on what really stood out in higher education and accreditation this year.

We talk about:
• Public value and accountability• Accreditation’s growing role in policy and politics• Financial sustainability and institutional viability• Changing credentials and learning models• Leadership and governance expectations• And what we’re watching as we head into 2026

We also share a bit about where the podcast is headed and why we’reexcited about what’s coming next. If you’ve been listening all year—or if you’re new to the show—this episode is a great way to close out 2025 and lookahead.

🎧 New episode available now. We’d love for you to listen, share, and join us in 2026!

On this episode of Accreditation Insights, we are honored to welcome Dr. Gina Scarboro, Executive Director of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, better known as CAAHEP. Dr. Scarboro brings a rare blend of academic leadership, clinical practice, and national service to the conversation. From her tenure as a dean and educator to her continuing role as a practicing Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant, her journey reflects a steadfast commitment to excellence in allied health education.Today, we explore how accreditation serves as a linchpin in advancing workforce readiness, interprofessional collaboration, and quality assurance across one of the broadest spectrums of health professions.