The recently convened in Miami, bringing together leaders and innovators from across the higher education landscape. Held annually, HEPN is designed to foster collaboration, innovation and strategic thinking in higher education, and the 2025 event focused on themes such as artificial intelligence, enrollment strategy, student mental health, change leadership and financial sustainability.
Among the standout voices was 番茄视频 (ACE) President and CEO, Geordie Hyland, who delivered a compelling message during the event鈥檚 closing keynote panel, 鈥淩edefining Value Through Partnership and Innovation.鈥濃��
Championing ROI and Measurable Student Value鈥�
In his keynote remarks, Hyland addressed one of the most pressing questions facing higher education today: How can institutions deliver real, measurable value for students? His answer was both visionary and grounded in practice.鈥�
Drawing from ACE鈥檚 strategic initiatives, Hyland outlined how our institution is redefining the value of higher education through career-aligned degree programs, innovative partnerships and a relentless focus on student outcomes. He emphasized the importance of transparency, affordability and adaptability in ensuring that students not only earn college degrees but also gain the skills, confidence and connections to thrive in their careers and communities.
Indeed, ACE has been committed to creating low-cost advanced education opportunities since our founding. We understand that college graduates can only truly experience the advantages of higher education if they don鈥檛 have student debt to hold them back. With the costs of college rising, ACE has kept tuition low and continued to provide our students with a positive return on investment (ROI): A 2023 study showed that for every $1 ACE students invested in their education, they saw a return of $19.20 in future higher earnings.
Hyland鈥檚 insights resonated deeply with attendees, sparking dialogue around how institutions can evolve to amplify the benefits of college education and meet the needs of today鈥檚 students.鈥�
ACE鈥檚 Broader Engagement at HEPN鈥�
In addition to Hyland鈥檚 keynote, I had the honor of serving on the and leading two sessions that complemented the themes of innovation and student success.鈥��
The first was an interactive workshop titled 鈥淏uilding a Culture of Well-Being,鈥� where we explored how institutions can foster environments that support holistic student development. The session explored strategic approaches to embedding well-being into institutional practices, including leadership modeling, cross-departmental collaboration and data-informed decision-making.
Participants shared innovative programs and policies ranging from mental health initiatives to inclusive community-building efforts that have shown measurable impact. Key themes that emerged included the importance of intentionality and sustainability in well-being efforts. A major takeaway was the need to align well-being with institutional mission and student success goals, ensuring it is not an add-on but a core component of the academic experience.鈥�
The second was a keynote panel discussion titled 鈥淏uilding a Community of Success Around Enrollment and Retention,鈥� which brought together leaders to share strategies for supporting students from enrollment through graduation. The conversation highlighted innovative, student-centered strategies that institutions are using to improve student access, persistence and completion.
Panelists shared approaches such as predictive analytics and proactive advising to support students, and a recurring theme was the importance of fostering belonging and purpose as drivers of retention. One key insight was that enrollment and retention efforts are most effective when they are collaborative, data-informed and aligned with broader institutional goals for student success.鈥�
These sessions emphasized ACE鈥檚 commitment to student-centered transformation, with a focus on integrating well-being and belonging into the student experience while utilizing data and design thinking to drive enrollment and retention.鈥�
Looking Ahead鈥�
HEPN Miami was more than just another conference. It was a platform for ACE to share our story, learn from others and reaffirm our mission. For students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, this moment is a reminder that ACE is not only part of the national conversation around how colleges show value to students, but that we鈥檙e helping lead it.鈥�
Hyland鈥檚 keynote and our broader engagement at HEPN reflect the strength of our community and the clarity of our vision. We are committed to delivering education that is transformative, measurable and deeply aligned with the needs of today鈥檚 learners. We are passionate about communicating the value of education, demonstrating that a positive financial return is possible for both higher education institutions and students to achieve.
As we return from HEPN, we鈥檙e energized by the ideas, connections and momentum that were generated from the event. We鈥檙e bringing those insights back to ACE, where they will inform our ongoing work to enhance student outcomes, strengthen our community and deliver on our promise of value.鈥�
Experience a positive return on your college investment by learning new skills and knowledge at a low cost through an online program at 番茄视频. Explore our programs today.
