MHEC Launches Research and Advisory Services Initiative
The Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) is launching a Research and Advisory Services initiative to expand institutional access to trusted research, benchmarking data, and expert consultation that supports data-informed decision-making across higher education.
This initiative responds to growing institutional demand for shared market intelligence, peer benchmarking, and advisory support related to technology strategy, procurement, governance, and digital transformation—areas where decision quality, timing, and risk management are increasingly critical. Institutions are often asked to make complex, high-stakes decisions with limited time, incomplete market visibility, and constrained staff capacity. Through a cooperative, regionally informed approach, MHEC seeks to expand access, reduce duplication of effort, and strengthen public value across higher education.
Play a Role: Share Your Input and Shape the Initiative
MHEC invites all higher education stakeholders—including technology leaders, procurement and finance professionals, academic leadership, system offices, and policy partners—to contribute by completing a brief Research and Advisory Services.
Participation helps shape the future of shared research and advisory capacity by informing priorities, identifying service needs, and guiding the initiative’s direction. Research & Advisory Services are intended to support institutional decision-makers responsible for evaluating options, managing risk, and making high-impact investments. Participation is welcomed from higher education institutions across all compact regions—including MHEC, NEBHE, SREB, and WICHE—to ensure broad sector insight.
- Estimated time: 7–10 minutes
- All responses remain confidential at the institutional level
Take the Research and Advisory Services survey.
Seeking Subject Matter Experts: Research & Advisory Workgroup (Spring 2026)
MHEC invites interested participants to indicate interest in a potential Research & Advisory Services Workgroup, anticipated for spring 2026. Interest may be expressed through the survey or by contacting MHEC directly.
The workgroup will be time-limited and execution-focused, supporting the exploration and potential development of a future competitive solicitation, should MHEC determine to proceed. The anticipated commitment includes approximately 2–3 meetings to help shape scope and requirements prior to any solicitation, followed by 3–4 meetings during the evaluation phase, including participation in finalist interviews (held in person). Meetings are typically structured over a defined spring timeframe.
At the institutional level, this effort is intended to improve decision quality, reduce duplicative analysis, and strengthen alignment between strategy, procurement, and implementation. Participants will help shape the desired solution, refine requirements, clarify questions for respondents, participate in proposal evaluations and oral interviews, and—through consensus—make award recommendations. Service on the workgroup represents a professional commitment and an opportunity to contribute expertise toward a shared regional solution that advances transparency, collaboration, and public value across higher education.
Public Notice
Consistent with MHEC’s commitment to open, fair, and competitive public procurement, any future solicitation related to Research & Advisory Services would be conducted in accordance with applicable procurement laws and best practices. If pursued, formal public notice would be published in the Illinois Procurement Bulletin for Public Institutions of Higher Education, the Minnesota State Register, and on the MHEC website, and would include instructions for prospective respondents.
This announcement is for planning and informational purposes only, does not constitute a solicitation, and does not obligate MHEC to proceed. All plans remain subject to revision or cancellation.
Questions or expressions of interest may be directed to:
Nathan Sorensen
Senior Director of Government Contracts
Midwestern Higher Education Compact
nathans@mhec.org