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            The Latest News from HCM Strategists   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏   ͏
        
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      <h2 style="color:inherit;margin:1.414em 0 .5em;font-weight:400;line-height:1.25em;font-size:1.953125em;mso-line-height-alt:1.953125em;margin-top:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.02em;text-align:center;"><strong>Our Mid-Year Update</strong></h2><p style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" class="">As we reach the midpoint of the year and move through the heart of summer, we're energized by the momentum behind our work—welcoming new team members and launching client initiatives that are helping reshape postsecondary education to be more affordable, accessible, and valuable.</p><p style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;height:1.618em;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" class=""></p><p style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" class="">It's also a natural time to reflect on the progress we've made and look ahead to what’s next. This mid-year update offers a snapshot of how our work—and the work of our clients and partners—is responding to the evolving higher education landscape. Even amid heightened uncertainty, shifting federal-state partnerships, and changes in federal investment and oversight, we see new opportunities to support our clients in advancing student-centered solutions that drive systems-level change.</p><p style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;height:1.618em;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" class=""></p><p style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" class="">Our focus remains clear: to ensure higher education provides a reliable path to economic prosperity for all learners. We’re proud to work alongside partners at the center of transformative policy change—those working to strengthen systems and improve outcomes for today’s learners. With foresight, deep expertise, and agility, we remain committed to developing forward-thinking policy solutions that are grounded in student needs and aligned with workforce demands to the benefit of our nation’s economic future.</p><p style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;height:1.618em;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" class=""></p><p style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" class="">In community,</p><p style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" class="">Kristin Hultquist &amp; Martha Snyder, HCM Partners </p>
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<h3 class="section-item-title" style="font-weight:400;line-height:1.25em;font-size:1.5625em;mso-line-height-alt:1.5625em;margin-top:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:0em;margin:0 0 11px 0;color:#313131;"><a class="title-link" href="https://hcmstrategists.com/news-updates/celebrating-the-promotion-of-dr-kelley-ditzel?ss_source=sscampaigns&amp;ss_campaign_id=6850376295b655099fe47c30&amp;ss_email_id=686bfcdd1cd0287c903506e9&amp;ss_campaign_name=Summer+Brief%3A+News+%26+Notes+from+HCM+Strategists&amp;ss_campaign_sent_date=2025-07-07T16%3A59%3A18Z" style="color:#313131;text-decoration:none;"><span class="title-link-text" style="font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;margin:0;color:#313131;">Celebrating the Promotion of Dr. Kelley Ditzel to Senior Advisor</span></a></h3>



<div class="section-caption-text" style="margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;"><p class="" style="font-size:1em;line-height:1.618em;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;color:#313131;">We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Dr. Kelley Ditzel to Senior Adviser at HCM Strategists. Since joining us as a consultant and Senior Affiliate, she has strengthened our firm’s ability to serve clients through her deep commitment to increasing degree completion among underserved populations, including students of color, those from rural communities, and others facing systemic barriers to higher education.</p></div>


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<h3 class="section-item-title" style="font-weight:400;line-height:1.25em;font-size:1.5625em;mso-line-height-alt:1.5625em;margin-top:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:0em;margin:0 0 11px 0;color:#313131;"><a class="title-link" href="https://hcmstrategists.com/news-updates/welcome-madeline-price?ss_source=sscampaigns&amp;ss_campaign_id=6850376295b655099fe47c30&amp;ss_email_id=686bfcdd1cd0287c903506e9&amp;ss_campaign_name=Summer+Brief%3A+News+%26+Notes+from+HCM+Strategists&amp;ss_campaign_sent_date=2025-07-07T16%3A59%3A18Z" style="color:#313131;text-decoration:none;"><span class="title-link-text" style="font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;margin:0;color:#313131;">A New Voice for 2025: Madeline Price Joins the HCM Team</span></a></h3>



<div class="section-caption-text" style="margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;"><p class="" style="font-size:1em;line-height:1.618em;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;color:#313131;">HCM welcomes Madeline Price as our new Director of State Policy &amp; Strategy. Madeline brings to HCM deep expertise in K-12 and postsecondary finance, nondegree credentials, and education pathways that lead to economic opportunity and prosperity. Driven by a strong belief in the power of state leadership to create lasting change, she is committed to identifying and advancing state policy solutions that transform students’ lives through education.</p></div>


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<h3 class="section-item-title" style="font-weight:400;line-height:1.25em;font-size:1.5625em;mso-line-height-alt:1.5625em;margin-top:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:0em;margin:0 0 11px 0;color:#313131;"><a class="title-link" href="https://hcmstrategists.com/news-updates/new-senior-affiliates?ss_source=sscampaigns&amp;ss_campaign_id=6850376295b655099fe47c30&amp;ss_email_id=686bfcdd1cd0287c903506e9&amp;ss_campaign_name=Summer+Brief%3A+News+%26+Notes+from+HCM+Strategists&amp;ss_campaign_sent_date=2025-07-07T16%3A59%3A18Z" style="color:#313131;text-decoration:none;"><span class="title-link-text" style="font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;margin:0;color:#313131;">Introducing Two New Senior Affiliates to Our Policy Team</span></a></h3>



<div class="section-caption-text" style="margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;"><p class="" style="font-size:1em;line-height:1.618em;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;color:#313131;">HCM welcomes two new Senior Affiliates to our team: Dr. Autumn Blanchard and John Fischer. Senior Affiliates are practitioner-experts that collaborate closely with HCM to support client work, develop new partnerships, and expand the firm’s reach and impact.</p></div>


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      <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><h3 style="margin:1.414em 0 .5em;font-weight:400;line-height:1.25em;font-size:1.5625em;mso-line-height-alt:1.5625em;margin-top:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:0em;color:#313131;">Say Hello to Our Summer Fellows, Gus &amp; Rachel!</h3><p class="" style="font-size:1em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;color:#313131;">Please join us in giving a warm HCM welcome to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelrivas89/" rel="nofollow" style="color:#de6202 !important;"><strong>Rachel Rivas</strong></a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-gus-gluek/" rel="nofollow" style="color:#de6202 !important;"><strong>Louis (Gus) Gluek</strong></a>. We're excited to have these two rising policy professionals join our&nbsp;team as they help advance our efforts to reimagine a postsecondary ecosystem that is more accountable, equitable, and focused on student success strategies and outcomes.<br><br>🌟 <a href="https://hcmstrategists.com/news-updates/hcm-welcomes-rachel-rivas-policy-fellow?ss_source=sscampaigns&amp;ss_campaign_id=6850376295b655099fe47c30&amp;ss_email_id=686bfcdd1cd0287c903506e9&amp;ss_campaign_name=Summer+Brief%3A+News+%26+Notes+from+HCM+Strategists&amp;ss_campaign_sent_date=2025-07-07T16%3A59%3A18Z" rel="nofollow" style="color:#de6202 !important;">Get to know more about Rachel</a><br>🌟<a href="https://hcmstrategists.com/news-updates/hcm-welcomes-gus-gluek-policy-fellow?ss_source=sscampaigns&amp;ss_campaign_id=6850376295b655099fe47c30&amp;ss_email_id=686bfcdd1cd0287c903506e9&amp;ss_campaign_name=Summer+Brief%3A+News+%26+Notes+from+HCM+Strategists&amp;ss_campaign_sent_date=2025-07-07T16%3A59%3A18Z" rel="nofollow" style="color:#de6202 !important;"> Get to know more about Gus</a></p></div>
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      <p class="" style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;">How can state funding formulas drive better outcomes for students and the workforce? In the second brief of our state finance policy series, we dive into how states are adjusting their higher ed funding strategies—like incentivizing specific degree programs—to reflect real costs, advance policy goals, and meet labor market demands. See how value, adequacy, and equity are shaping the future of postsecondary investment.</p>
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<div class="section-caption-text" style="margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;"><p class="" style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;line-height:1.618em;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;">Student parents face unique challenges—but they’re also key to a stronger workforce and more resilient communities. In partnership with national experts and on behalf of Scholarship America, we developed a three-part policy brief series to guide institutions and policymakers in supporting these learners through emergency aid and strategic policy change. Discover what it takes to help student parents stay on track and succeed.</p></div>


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<h3 class="section-item-title" style="color:inherit;font-weight:400;line-height:1.25em;font-size:1.5625em;mso-line-height-alt:1.5625em;margin-top:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:0em;margin:0 0 11px 0;"><a class="title-link" href="https://hcmstrategists.com/news-updates/hcm-celebrates-25-years-of-impact-amp-leadership-at-lumina-foundation?ss_source=sscampaigns&amp;ss_campaign_id=6850376295b655099fe47c30&amp;ss_email_id=686bfcdd1cd0287c903506e9&amp;ss_campaign_name=Summer+Brief%3A+News+%26+Notes+from+HCM+Strategists&amp;ss_campaign_sent_date=2025-07-07T16%3A59%3A18Z" style="color:#313131;text-decoration:none;"><span class="title-link-text" style="font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;margin:0;color:#313131;">HCM Celebrates 25 Years of Impact &amp; Leadership at Lumina Foundation</span></a></h3>



<div class="section-caption-text" style="margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;"><p class="" style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;line-height:1.618em;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;">We’re reflecting on 25 years of Lumina Foundation’s transformative leadership and meaningful impact in state policy and higher education reform. HCM Strategists has been proud to partner with Lumina for state impact since the inception of Strategy Labs in 2010, and to continue managing it as an incubator for state leadership and a catalyst for higher education policy innovation.</p></div>


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<h3 class="section-item-title" style="color:inherit;font-weight:400;line-height:1.25em;font-size:1.5625em;mso-line-height-alt:1.5625em;margin-top:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:0em;margin:0 0 11px 0;"><a class="title-link" href="https://hcmstrategists.com/news-updates/how-microcredentials-are-revolutionizing-the-higher-education-business-model?ss_source=sscampaigns&amp;ss_campaign_id=6850376295b655099fe47c30&amp;ss_email_id=686bfcdd1cd0287c903506e9&amp;ss_campaign_name=Summer+Brief%3A+News+%26+Notes+from+HCM+Strategists&amp;ss_campaign_sent_date=2025-07-07T16%3A59%3A18Z" style="color:#313131;text-decoration:none;"><span class="title-link-text" style="font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;margin:0;color:#313131;">How Microcredentials Are Revolutionizing the Higher-Education Business Model</span></a></h3>



<div class="section-caption-text" style="margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;"><p class="" style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;">Authored by HCM Strategists for the Manhattan Institute, this higher ed issue brief offers recommendations for higher education board members to rethink their approach to today’s students and evolving educational trends.</p><p style="color:inherit;font-size:1em;font-weight:normal;font-family:'Segoe UI', Candara, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;margin:11px 0 22px 0;position:relative;line-height:24.64px;margin-top:1rem;margin-bottom:1rem;" class="">Focusing on the integration of high-quality microcredentials in universities to better serve students who are increasingly looking beyond the traditional four-year degree model, we examine the shifts in learning methods and information access—disrupting the conventional higher education business model— and how trustees must take the lead to help their universities adapt. </p></div>


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