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Why Did LinkedIn Get So Weird? article image. Illustration of a smartphone mounted on a tripod with the LinkedIn logo displayed on the screen. A spotlight shines from the phone, casting light on logos of other social media platforms—Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat—set against a red-orange background.

Why is LinkedIn trying to be everything to everyone?

LinkedIn is getting weirder, louder and more video-driven, but Gen Z may be the key to keeping it grounded in its original purpose.

Social Media /
By: Kellen Manning
A computer monitor displays a colorful college website featuring artwork and design. A hand holding a gold trophy reaches out from the screen, symbolizing digital excellence. The background is a soft red gradient, suggesting celebration. This image represents award-winning college websites recognized for standout design and user experience.

10 of the Best Higher Ed Websites

Great UX. Fantastic design. A strong and clear message. The institutions on this list feature those essential elements and many others.

Design & UX /
By: Josh Friedland
A speaker stands on stage at the Engage Summit 2025 in a hotel conference room, presenting in front of a branded backdrop that reads "AI Powered. People Focused." and "E25 Engage Summit." Attendees are seated in the audience, engaged and taking notes on laptops.

Adoption, agents and empathy: Notes from the 2025 Engage Summit

This year’s conference underscored the urgency and opportunity for higher education to jump on the AI train.

Edtech /
By: Kevin Renton, Madeleine Schneider, Josee Melan

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Dear Jaime: My President Won’t Budget for Rebrand Research—Now What? article image. A stylized image resembling a mailed postcard, featuring a purple frame around a photo of people collaborating over documents at a table. The scene is overlaid with subtle charts and data visuals. A circular stamp in the corner reads “Dear Jaime” with a portrait of Jaime Hunt, indicating this is part of Volt’s “Dear Jaime” advice column. A second stamp reads “Philadelphia, PA.”

My President Won’t Budget for Rebrand Research—Now What?

When leadership wants to skip a research and “content team” doesn’t capture your impact, here’s what to do.

Dear Jaime /
By: Jaime Hunt
Rebuilding Higher Ed Brand Strategy Around Purpose article image. Split-screen illustration showing two gears. On the left, a cracked, blackened gear with loose bolts and steam represents a broken or overworked system. On the right, a golden gear labeled “STRATEGY” is being carefully oiled by a watering can, symbolizing nurturing, alignment, and effective planning.

Where your brand strategy falters — and how to rebuild it.

Institutions need to fix failing brand strategies as soon as possible. Marcomm leaders need to restore cohesion across functions and regain alignment. Here’s how.

Marketing /
By: Chris Huebner
Leadership Communications Tips for Higher Ed article image. A man in a suit speaking confidently at a podium with two microphones, in front of a blurred blue backdrop at what appears to be a conference or formal event.

It’s never too early to communicate about hard decisions on campus

Between financial uncertainty and political pressure, marcomm leaders should err on the side of transparency with their audiences. Here’s how.

Social Media /
By: Paul Redfern
Higher Ed Marketing Lessons from Streamer University article image. A young woman with curly hair speaks confidently while seated in front of a laptop, framed by a ring light. She appears to be presenting or recording content, with a blurred classroom setting and students in the background.

What higher ed marketers can learn from Streamer University

Authenticity, audience sharing, social awkwardness and other takeaways for higher ed marketers from a quintessential Gen Z social media summit.

Social Media /
By: Kellen Manning
PR Writing Tips for Great Pitches article title. Person typing on a laptop with a document open on the screen, showing a partially visible letter. The setting appears to be a dimly lit workspace with papers on the desk.

It’s never been more important for PR teams to get it right

With higher ed taking hits on all sides, PR pros need to craft pitches about their schools’ academic research that journalists will actually care about. Here’s how.

Marketing /
By: Adi Gaskell
Who Gets to Speak for Science article image. A woman in a blue blazer speaks into a microphone, facing forward with a serious expression, while a man in a dark suit stands with his back turned, also facing a microphone. The background shows a blurred laboratory setting, highlighting a contrast between public speaking and scientific environments.

Female researchers are bearing the brunt of advocating for science.

When science communication is treated as invisible labor, it’s often women who do the work and get left out of the spotlight.

Marketing /
By: Adi Gaskell
Digital skills for all starts with the basics article image. A group of office workers are walking upstairs with their backs to the camera, engaged in a discussion. The image has a subtle pink to yellow glow gradient overlay with abstract circuit patterns.

Digital skills for all starts with the basics.

As AI transforms the workforce, the greatest digital need might be the most overlooked: foundational skills for everyone.

Institutional Strategy /
By: Adi Gaskell
Can’t-Miss Higher Ed Conferences for 2024-25

Can’t-Miss Higher Ed Conferences for 2025

Our tracker of virtual, in-person and hybrid higher education leadership conferences for the upcoming academic year.

Professional Development /
By: Volt
A brand-first strategy is your competitive edge article image. A collage-style image featuring a fictional university named "U University." In the center is a corkboard background with a shield emblem reading “UNIVERSITY” and “Since 1899.” Surrounding the emblem are torn paper photos: a scenic college campus with arched stone buildings, three smiling women posing together, a young woman presenting in a library, and a group of students walking energetically down steps. One torn paper segment includes text recognizing the university in the "Top College Awards of 2025."

Want a competitive edge in higher ed? Start with brand-first strategy.

When branding leads, integrated marketing communications in higher ed becomes more than coordination; it becomes a strategy with impact.

Marketing /
By: Jamie Ceman
Your school magazine matters article image. A two-page magazine spread features a stylized roadmap illustrating the journey of alumni. The dark, winding road with dashed yellow lines with small icons, such as a graduation cap, briefcase, handshake, and diploma. Two simplified human figures appear walking along the paths, symbolizing different alumni experiences. The layout combines text with visuals in a neutral and warm color palette.

Your school magazine matters.

A well-crafted school magazine can deepen alumni connections in ways broader university communications often can’t.

Marketing /
By: Katherine Primus
An image for a Dear Jaime article on DEI in higher ed marketing. A stack of orange envelopes with Jaime Hunt's image as the postal stamp. The top envelope has an image of a hand building a stack of block, and on the blocks are different words, such as diversity, inclusion, and so forth.

Help! How can I support DEI when the rules keep changing?

As higher ed DEI restrictions increase, marketers can take practical steps to support inclusion while staying within institutional guidelines.

Dear Jaime /
By: Jaime Hunt
An image for the Student Engagement article. A classroom of college students in various states of engagement, ranging from distracted and working on cell phones, to looking out the window and watching the teacher and engaging. A gauge overlay is in the middle to emphasize engagement level.

Student engagement is declining across higher ed.

As universities grapple with low student engagement, educators wonder if it is generational or a deeper systemic challenge.

Institutional Strategy /
By: May Ho
The secret to eating an elephant article image. A realistic, intricately decorated elephant-shaped cake sits on a white table, with multiple hands cutting and serving slices. The cake is covered in caramel-colored frosting with ornate piping details, resembling traditional decorative patterns. The scene is set in a formal event, with individuals dressed in suits and elegant attire. Eating the cake symbolizes breaking down the growing challenges of higher ed.

The secret to eating an elephant.

Higher education faces mounting challenges, but the key to overcoming them lies in a simple yet powerful approach—breaking down big problems into manageable steps.

Institutional Strategy /
By: Kellen Manning