The Power of Trust: Collaboration Will Help Us Solve Our Big Challenges

One of the greatest privileges of my work is standing between institutions, watching leaders wrestle with the same challenges and push toward bold goals they could never achieve alone. That perspective has taught me an important lesson: collaboration isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity. But collaboration is hard. Higher ed often defaults to working in silos—not by choice, but by conditioning. We are constantly told we’re competing for students, for funding, for research dollars, for rankings and recognition. That mindset gets in the way of solving real problems. And that’s a problem higher education can’t afford. The most urgent issues we face—student success, public trust, AI, and the future of work—can’t be solved in isolation.

What We’ve Learned About High-Impact Collaboration

After a decade of facilitating collaboration across institutions, we’ve learned what makes it work—and what gets in the way. Here’s what you can take back to your own work: 

1. Collaboration only works when there is trust. The most valuable thing we’ve built at the UIA isn’t the solutions, resources, or visibility—it’s trust. Without it, people hold back, fearing competition or judgment. With it, they share openly and solve problems faster. Ask yourself: Where does my campus need more trust? What relationships need to be supported?
2. You need the right space for real conversations. Traditional convenings are often too big, too broad, and filled with tradeoffs that prevent meaningful dialogue. The best collaboration happens in small, intentionally designed spaces where people can be candid and vulnerable. Ask yourself: What conversations need to happen on my campus? What spaces need to be created for them? 
3. The best collaborations focus on shared challenges—not just shared identity. Similarity alone doesn’t drive change. What matters is aligning around problems you can’t solve alone and goals that would be impossible without others.

A Model for Meaningful Leadership Conversations

At our recent Presidents, Chancellors, and Provosts’ Retreat, we saw firsthand what happens when these lessons are applied: leaders cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters. They tackled the big questions that keep us all up at night:

• How do we rebuild public trust in higher education? Instead of debating or dismissing concerns, trust is earned through real action. How can we address affordability, career outcomes, and open discourse with meaningful change that strengthens our institutions?
• How do we protect and advance critical research amid increasing attacks? How can we be more transparent about the work required to drive discovery and innovation—communicating its value without defensiveness?
• How can our campuses take fundamental responsibility for our states’ long-term outcomes in an AI-driven economy? As the landscape shifts, how do we ensure universities lead in preparing students and states for the future of work?

I won’t share the details of these private conversations, but I will say this: The leadership higher education needs is already here. It’s coming from leaders working in trusted spaces, stepping up to these challenges—not just in words, but in action.If there’s one takeaway, let it be this: Collaboration isn’t optional—it’s essential. In a highly siloed sector, partnership can seem like a luxury. But in reality, trust, collaboration, and bold solutions are the only way forward. When we step outside our silos, build trust, and tackle the challenges that truly demand partnership, we move faster and go farther. Where does our sector need more collaboration? What shared solutions do you wish existed for our shared challenges?