1. Institutional Viability, Accountability, and Outcomes: Rethinking Graduation Rates and Accreditor Responsibility

<p>Accreditation Insights opens its 2026 season with a timely and substantive conversation on institutional viability and accountability in higher education. This episode is <strong>sponsored by Futured Finance</strong>, whose work focuses on improving financial transparency and sustainability across the higher education sector.</p><p>In this episode, we are joined by <strong>Gary Stocker</strong>, 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.</p><p>The conversation explores several pressing issues, including the four-year graduation rate, accreditors’ transparency, accreditors&#39; 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.</p>