Triaging Our Talent

Higher ed must prioritize retaining and attracting top talent. Here’s how to do that.

By: Jaime Hunt
featured-image

I recently posted on Twitter about the glut of colleagues and friends at institutions across the country that are leaving higher education for other industries. It touched a nerve. Scores of people shared their reasons for leaving – or considering leaving – higher education. It’s worth pondering the reasons our colleagues are departing this field. Is this “the grass is greener” at work – The Great Resignation hitting higher ed – or is it something more distinct systemic within higher ed?

The mission of higher education drives many of us in this profession. Whether we are passionate about the transformative impact of higher education or believe the quest for knowledge is a noble pursuit, we genuinely care about our students and our campus communities. We believe we are working toward a common good, that our work has value and meaning, and that the challenges that come with working in a complex university environment are exceeded by the enormous value we believe our work has.

That said, after nearly two years of pandemic disruption, I hear again and again that people are considering turning to corporate America, joining a consultancy, or hanging out their own shingle. Compounding the impact of the Covid response, many campuses have laid off workers or instituted hiring freezes, resulting in the remaining staff taking on more work for no additional pay. Meanwhile, many corporations are thriving – and are able to offer salaries and perks that are hard to compete with at a university. To top it off, many other industries are offering workers fully remote opportunities – something that appeals to many and is often not possible due to the nature of higher education and its historical resistance to change.

How can we stop this hemorrhaging of talent? 

Be flexible. Consider adaptable work schedules that accommodate individuals’ unique personal needs, hybrid work arrangements for those who don’t need to be on campus every day, and fully remote options for those who perform work that can be done from anywhere. Approach your team’s schedule with an eye on creating balance on an individual level rather than ascribing one approach to all.

Identify paths for advancement. Providing your team with a clear path for professional advancement is critically important. Some people are comfortable – and even prefer – to stay in the same role for their career; however, many people crave opportunities for advancement and professional growth. Identify clear career paths so everyone understands what it takes to grow at your university so team members don’t have to leave to advance.

Advocate for financial rewards. Pizza parties, doughnut days, and team-building exercises are important, but money talks. When you have the opportunity, advocate for salary increases and/or bonuses – especially for those who go above and beyond. Find out if your institution has a mechanism for rewarding great work outside of the typical cost-of-living increases. If financial bonuses are simply not an option, can you fund professional development opportunities? These things may not trump stock options or a serious salary increase, but they can be a boost to morale that might keep the search firms from successfully poaching your talent.

Recognize that people are weary. The pandemic has been exhausting. In addition to the everyday stress of life, we are balancing worries about family and friends and others in our communities who refuse to be vaccinated, loved ones who are immunocompromised, and young children who aren’t eligible for the vaccine. The calculus of our daily lives has been altered dramatically. On top of it all, Covid-related logistical and communications work is piled on top of regular workloads, extending the workday long into the evening. People are tired. This is not the time to invent new busywork. Innovation is important – perhaps now more than ever. But a careful balance should be struck between what is important and mission critical and what would be “nice” to accomplish.  This is especially important for offices that have staff shortages. We need to stop asking people to do double and triple duty and then reacting with surprise when they depart our organizations.

The work of higher education is incredibly fulfilling. We are impacting the lives of thousands of people, introducing new knowledge into the world, and solving some of the world’s biggest challenges. The energy of our students, the commitment of our faculty, and the dedication of our staff is inspiring. Universities run on people power. We cannot let our best and brightest leave this field without a fight. We need to do everything in our power to attract and retain talent to maintain the excellence of our institutions.

Listen

Jaime Hunt

Jaime Hunt

Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Miami University

In her 17 years working in higher education, Jaime has been part of four university rebrandings and helped to develop integrated marketing communications models at two institutions.


Newsletter Sign up!

Stay current in digital strategy, brand amplification, design thinking and more.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Redefining Alumni Relationships: What do they want from you? article image. A split image showing two engaging moments at an event. On the left, a woman with short gray hair smiles warmly while holding a glass and wearing a name badge. On the right, a man with short gray hair laughs joyfully while playing a card game with others.

Redefining alumni relationships: What do they want from you?

Universities are finding new ways to engage alumni, while balancing traditional experiences and addressing challenges like negative publicity.

Donor & Alumni Relations /
By: Alissa Carr
Grid of iconic college and university logos featuring institutions like Harvard, Tuskegee University, Stanford, SCAD, Michigan State, Temple University, Princeton, University of Florida, RISD, MICA, Notre Dame, and the University of Texas. The logos are displayed on a white grid background.

10 Iconic College Logos: Design, History and Stories That Stick

From crimson crests to Spartan helmets, these college logos do more than look good—they tell unforgettable stories of identity and legacy.

Marketing & Branding /
By: Sean Daly
"The NIL Top 10: Who are the highest-paid college athletes?" article image displaying a collage of six college athletes across different sports, each wearing their team uniforms and caught in action. The top row includes a basketball player from North Carolina dribbling the ball, a gymnast on the floor mid-performance, and a football player from Colorado gesturing with his hands after a game. The bottom row shows a Duke basketball player preparing to take a shot, another football player from Colorado looking focused, and an Alabama basketball player pointing confidently.

The NIL Top 10: Who are the highest-paid college athletes?

Growing collective contracts and sponsorship deals have university athletes — both men and women — raking in record paydays.

Marketing & Branding /
By: Chris Kudialis
Redefining Alumni Relationships: What do they want from you? article image. A split image showing two engaging moments at an event. On the left, a woman with short gray hair smiles warmly while holding a glass and wearing a name badge. On the right, a man with short gray hair laughs joyfully while playing a card game with others.

Redefining alumni relationships: What do they want from you?

Universities are finding new ways to engage alumni, while balancing traditional experiences and addressing challenges like negative publicity.

Donor & Alumni Relations /
By: Alissa Carr
Grid of iconic college and university logos featuring institutions like Harvard, Tuskegee University, Stanford, SCAD, Michigan State, Temple University, Princeton, University of Florida, RISD, MICA, Notre Dame, and the University of Texas. The logos are displayed on a white grid background.

10 Iconic College Logos: Design, History and Stories That Stick

From crimson crests to Spartan helmets, these college logos do more than look good—they tell unforgettable stories of identity and legacy.

Marketing & Branding /
By: Sean Daly
"The NIL Top 10: Who are the highest-paid college athletes?" article image displaying a collage of six college athletes across different sports, each wearing their team uniforms and caught in action. The top row includes a basketball player from North Carolina dribbling the ball, a gymnast on the floor mid-performance, and a football player from Colorado gesturing with his hands after a game. The bottom row shows a Duke basketball player preparing to take a shot, another football player from Colorado looking focused, and an Alabama basketball player pointing confidently.

The NIL Top 10: Who are the highest-paid college athletes?

Growing collective contracts and sponsorship deals have university athletes — both men and women — raking in record paydays.

Marketing & Branding /
By: Chris Kudialis