MHEC March 2025 News
Greetings from MHEC,
As MHEC continues our visits to member states, I am impressed at the innovation underway and deep commitment to student success in higher education. We acknowledge that there is great uncertainty, particularly at the federal level, and we will do our best to monitor and provide steady, timely, and accurate guidance for our member states.
Two of the most frequently mentioned topics in our visits are changes in student enrollment and interest in dual enrollment. For the latter, please see below for details of MHEC's upcoming state policy workshop on this topic.
This edition is also full of important information about AI in contracts, mental health of college students, upcoming convenings, and more!
Susan G. Heegaard
President
MHEC Strategic Updates
Driving cost savings & business solutions
AI in MHEC Contracts: Fostering Student Success
Institutions increasingly are asking MHEC if we have contracts for artificial intelligence (AI), and we are pleased to share exciting developments on this front.
AI is reshaping higher education, providing institutions with smarter tools to support students, streamline operations, and drive informed decision-making. Many of MHEC’s existing cooperative contracts already integrate AI-driven solutions to enhance academic support, offer real-time assistance, and personalize learning experiences. For example, MHEC’s Next Generation Higher Education ERP System of Systems features contracts for vendors that automate critical processes in student information, financial aid, and advising, reducing administrative burdens and allowing institutions to focus more on student success.
The Data Analytics for Student Success contracts also leverage AI-powered predictive analytics to identify at-risk students and implement timely interventions that improve retention and graduation rates.
Our contracts are flexible over the seven years to incorporate new technologies into the offering as they are developed. As MHEC continues to conduct RFP cycles to explore new and renew existing contracts, we will ensure that vendor proposals include AI solutions to meet the needs of the institutions we serve. Collaboration with experts from throughout the Midwest region helps make sure MHEC’s AI solutions evolve with educational trends, advancements in technology, and organizational readiness to deploy these solutions.
For OpenAI tools such as ChatGPT, the market is young and quickly changing, as new companies compete and explore different pricing models. When the market settles down and pricing models stabilize, MHEC will explore contract opportunities in this area.
For more information, contact Nathan Sorensen, Senior Director of Government Contracts, or visit MHEC Technology Contracts.
Help Shape Future of MHEC's Insurance Programs
MHEC is exploring new ways it might use its wholly owned captive insurance company, Stone Arch, to support insurance needs in the Midwest. Developed in 2021, Stone Arch supported MHEC's Master Property Insurance Program that ran from 1994–2023. With that program now concluded, MHEC would like input on other areas to consider. Please take a moment to complete this brief survey. We also encourage you to share it with a risk management leader in your office or institution who is experienced in this area. If you have questions, please contact Breanne Hegg, Vice President of Programs and Contracts.
Take the brief survey here to inform future of MHEC insurance programs
MHEC Convenes Tech Leaders Throughout Region
Attendees at this year's Technologies Community conference, "Maximizing the Ops," explored four key areas: effective operations, strategic opportunities, improved optics in communicating IT value, and maintaining optimism amid challenging circumstances. Discussions also focused on practical AI implementations already in use at member institutions, as well as collaborative, shared approaches to service delivery, particularly in AI infrastructure and security services.
Several concrete initiatives emerged. The community will investigate: 1) establishing an AI policy repository with contributions from member institutions; 2) developing a shared services framework with templates for agreements; 3) creating curated training resources for AI implementation; and, 4) hosting monthly "Ask Me Anything" sessions for ongoing knowledge sharing.
The conference is a testimony to the power of convening diverse institutional perspectives to address common challenges and leverage collective expertise in pursuit of practical solutions that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance student success across the Midwest region.
Policy & Research
College Students Frequently Cite Time and Cost as Barriers to Mental Health Treatment
The latest update to MHEC's Interactive Dashboard introduces a measure of treatment barriers in its new series of indicators that gauge the mental health of college students at selected institutions in the Midwest. Students may experience three types of barriers to accessing treatment: (a) beliefs and attitudes related to stigma, self-reliance, or treatment efficacy; (b) structural and resource issues such as cost and scheduling; and (c) a lack of perceived need despite meeting clinical criteria.[1] In 2023-24, among students who were currently experiencing moderate to severe anxiety or depression at public four-year institutions, the top five reasons for not using mental health services were time constraints (36%), financial concerns (29%), a preference to deal with issues on one’s own (26%), not sure where to go (20%), and no need for service (19%).
Understanding the specific mix of treatment barriers on college campuses can help institutions develop targeted strategies to improve access, such as expanding telehealth counseling services, providing flexible scheduling and after-hours care, and implementing stigma-reduction and peer support programs.
This indicator uses data from the Health Minds Study survey to show the percentage of students reporting reasons for not receiving mental health counseling, therapy, or medication in the past year, or in the case of students reporting some past-year treatment, reasons why they received fewer services than they would have otherwise received. The indicator is shown for students who experienced moderate or severe depression (PHQ-9) or anxiety (GAD-7) during the past two weeks. In 2024, 12,689 public four-year students responded to the survey, representing twelve public four-year institutions across six Midwest states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, and Ohio. This indicator was developed as part of a collaboration between MHEC and the Healthy Minds Network.
[1] Samlan, H., Shetty, A., & McWhirter, E. H. (2020). Gender and Racial-Ethnic Differences in Treatment Barriers among College Students with Suicidal Ideation. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 35(3), 272–289.
Developing collaborative solutions to regional issues
MHEC to Host Dual Enrollment State Policy Workshop
MHEC will host the 2025 Midwestern Dual Enrollment State Policy Workshop July 29-30 in Chicago as part of a broader strategy to strengthen dual enrollment programs across the region. This event will bring together a wide range of leaders and stakeholders to explore promising practices to connect K-12 and postsecondary education through evidence-informed policy initiatives. By fostering collaboration at all levels, MHEC aims to ensure that states have the policies, resources, and partnerships needed to create more cohesive and impactful educational pathways.
In alignment with MHEC’s strategic priorities, dual enrollment is a key strategy states can use to address educational and economic goals. By allowing students to earn college credits while they are still in high school and at a reduced tuition rate, dual enrollment programs accelerate learning pathways, reduce college costs, and increase college participation and completion rates. In turn, this provides a pipeline of better prepared students who are more likely to pursue postsecondary education and career-ready graduates who can meet the emerging needs of regional industries.
The state policy workshop aims to deepen state and regional understanding of dual enrollment opportunities by sharing data, research, and best practices to strengthen cooperation and foster innovation in this space. This initiative underscores MHEC’s vision of dual enrollment as not just an educational opportunity, but a long-term investment in regional economic vitality.
In addition to this workshop, MHEC will also host a webinar series on recent research on dual enrollment, connect participants to share ideas and challenges in meeting the demand for properly credentialed dual enrollment instructors, and publish a quarterly newsletter for the Midwestern dual enrollment community.
Convenings
Dual Enrollment
Access to and Success in Dual Enrollment Courses in Indiana and North Carolina
March 19, 1 p.m. CT. | REGISTER
Concurrent Enrollment (CE) Instructors and the Fallout of the Higher Learning Commission CE Credentialing Clarification
April 10 at 1 p.m. CT. | REGISTER
GCQ Upgraded: New Features and Insights
April 24 at 1 p.m. CT. | REGISTER
FAFSA
Two States, One Mission: FAFSA Completion Insights from IA & NE
April 14 at 2 p.m. CT. | REGISTER
Professional Licensure
Navigating Professional and Occupational Licensure Requirements: What Community and Technical Colleges Need to Know
April 23 at 1 p.m. CT. | REGISTER
Preparing for NC-SARA Policy Changes: Essential Insights for Professional Licensure Programs
May 21 at 11 a.m. CT. | REGISTER
Creative Commons webinar: post-event resources | VIEW
State Visits
Upcoming Visits
- Illinois – March 19
- Indiana – April 1
- Ohio – April 2
- Minnesota – April 9
Recent Visits
Over the past three weeks, MHEC staff were grateful to spend time in Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin with MHEC Commissioners and state higher education leaders and policymakers (pictured below)
Commissioner News
New Commissioners
Tammie DeVooght (WI)
Sen. André Jacque (WI)
Rep. Jessica Hanson (MN)
Reappointed Commissioners
Rep. Katie Stuart (IL)
Sen. Omar Fateh (MN)
Rep. Tom Young (OH)
Articles and Resources of Interest
Transfer Enrollments Continue to Rise
Inside Higher Education | March 5, 2025
What the Education Dept.'s Job Cuts Could Mean for Financial Aid
The Chronicle for Higher Education | March 12, 2025
Filling the Pipeline: Higher Education’s Role in Preparing Future Leaders
ICMA | February 26, 2025
The Impact Of Open Educational Resources On Higher Education In 2025
eLearning Industry | February 10, 2025