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walking into university

Telling our stories about the value of higher education

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Welcome

Discover the Next

The stories about institutions—about alumni accomplishments, vibrant student life, outcomes of research and discovery projects launched on campus, and the communities that have been strengthened—are vital to shining a light on the immense value that colleges and universities bring to our world.

Through Discover the Next, higher education institutions have a common way to build their voice and volume in showcasing the roles they play in educating and developing leaders, artists, scientists, teachers, healthcare professionals, visionaries, and other agents of change the world needs. When institutions speak through a branded, coordinated front, the impact grows.

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Discover the Next

Discover the Next, an initiative generously funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is a joint project of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the American Council on Education (ACE), and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB). This campaign will enable colleges and universities to share and reinforce among their audiences the many benefits that they have on individual lives, communities, and society as a whole.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is the global nonprofit association dedicated to educational advancement professionals—in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing, and advancement services—who share the goal of championing education to transform lives and society.

The American Council on Education is a membership organization that mobilizes the higher education community to shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality practice. As the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities, our strength lies in our diverse membership of more than 1,700 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations in America and abroad. ACE is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting institutions: two-year and four-year, public and private.

The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges is the premier membership organization that strengthens higher education governing boards and the strategic roles they serve within their organizations. Through our vast library of resources, educational events, and consulting services, and with 100 years of experience, we empower 40,000 AGB members from more than 2,000 institutions and foundations to navigate complex issues, implement leading practices, streamline operations, and govern with confidence. AGB is the trusted resource for board members, chief executives, and key administrators on higher education governance and leadership.

key statistics

Perceptions About Higher Education

80
Percent of Americans who feel comfortable recommending higher education to a child or close relative. (New America, 2021)
82
Percent of Americans that say states should spend more tax dollars on education opportunities after high school to make them more affordable. (New America, 2021)
4
Rank of higher education when asked how much confidence the public has in 16 major institutions in American society, higher education ranks behind military, small business, and police. (Gallup, 2018)
5
Times increased chances of moving out of poverty by going to college. (Postsecondary Value Commission, 2021)

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The Time is Now to Discover the Next

Find stories of individual accomplishments that also collectively strengthen higher education as a sector. Personal stories and narratives of how institutions are making the world better, building trust and engagement—the cornerstone of what the Discover the Next campaign is all about. Take a look at recent examples:

January 23, 2023
“Ursinus Votes” Nears End of Semester-Long Registration Efforts
January 23, 2023
The Way Forward
January 23, 2023
Alaska Native Success
January 23, 2023
MTSU history alumnus secures Nashville historical marker for icon Bettie Page
January 23, 2023
Miami Dade College Announces Eight New Apprenticeship Programs
January 23, 2023
CCCS Colleges Offer “Second Chance” for Students in Prison
January 23, 2023
Affinity Student Success Centers Open at Cal State East Bay
January 23, 2023
Self-taught Academic Coach Helps 123K Followers Learn to Study
January 23, 2023
No One Left Behind

Read more stories >

We're Supported by Colleges and Universities Everywhere

Alamo Colleges Disctrict
Grambling State University
CalPoly Pomona
California State University Bakersfield
Dalhouse University
Edmonds College
Fort Lewis College
Resno Pacific University
Indiana University
Monroe Community College
Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth
Rochester Institute of Technology
SH
Tuskegee University
University of Rochester
University of Nebraska System
University of Pittsburgh
University of Glasgow
University of San Diego
Virginia Commonwealth University
Westminster College
Weber State University

Meet the institutions >

Studies have shown that the value of higher education resonates most strongly within messages and stories that center on the four primary areas below. These four areas represent what college alumni, parents, prospective students, and others who pay attention to higher education see as the most tangible benefits of the college experience.  Dig in to find story themes and examples in each area that can help you demonstrate the impact at your own institution.

SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION

Advances in medical science and research being done at our colleges and universities have improved the lives of millions of people.

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ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT

A strong and growing economy and workforce is the direct result of the research and development work being done on campuses nationwide.

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PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT

Whether it results in a certificate, a diploma, an advanced degree—or simply a new interest—time at a college or university is well spent.

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COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Colleges and universities bring people together through sporting events, volunteer opportunities, and many other connection points.

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Testimonials

What People Are Saying About Higher Education

Ted Mitchell
As the country learns how to build itself back, the surest remedy for income inequality is postsecondary education. Numerous studies have demonstrated the impact that a college degree has on earnings and vaulting graduates into the middle class. The best way to vaccinate more Americans against long-term unemployment and economic instability is to find ways to expand access to postsecondary education and training to all those who have the talent and drive to benefit from it.
Ted Mitchell
President, American Council on Education
Mary Gresch
Higher education changes lives, individually, and for generations. And now, when a pandemic and its clearly inequitable impacts have never made our case more clear, it has the power to address society's vexing ills through groundbreaking research, tie people deeply in community through lifetimes of shared work and experiences, and provide individuals with knowledge and tools to support a lifetime of responsible global citizenship.  It needs the support of philanthropists, taxpayers, governments and business and societal leaders to do so.
Mary Gresch
Senior Vice President for University Advancement, University of Washington
Henry Stoever
Higher education has the power to change lives. Many college and universities, and the governing boards that oversee them, are focused on delivering equitable student success through consequential policies, practices, and resources to ensure desired outcomes for all students. Through the Discover the Next campaign, higher education’s champions have an opportunity to showcase the genuine, humbling power of postsecondary education, and reinforce its impact and value for all individuals and for society.
Henry Stoever
President and CEO, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB)
Postsecondary Value Commission
Students experience postsecondary value when provided equitable access and support to complete quality, affordable credentials that offer economic mobility and prepare them to advance racial and economic justice in our society.
Postsecondary Value Commission
Sue Cunningham
Discover the Next provides the platform and mechanism to amplify the successes communicated by individual educational institutions through assimilating their stories from across the USA and the globe. Through this important initiative, generously supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we are partnering with colleges and universities in their work to communicate the immense and beneficial impact that they provide in myriad ways including: individual achievement, economic advancement, scientific innovation, and community connection. Education transforms lives and societies and, through Discover the Next, we are committed to getting that message out to the world more loudly and clearly.
Sue Cunningham
President and CEO, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education

Getting Involved Is Easier Than You Think

We are looking for the stories that are generated in lecture halls, research labs, and event venues on campuses, but often don’t receive the wide exposure they deserve. Discover the Next provides an accessible platform to house and organize those stories, and enable them to be shared and celebrated with a broader audience. Join this campaign, and your participation in utilizing these assets will amplify these messages and be added to the voices of other institutions that transform lives and society.

Download our toolkit to get started, and sign up to gain access to tools that will help you build your own institution’s story and build trust in higher education as a whole.

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THE TIME IS NOW TO DISCOVER THE NEXT

We can make a difference – together

    • About Discover The Next

      Discover the Next will develop messaging and spark conversations in support of the value of postsecondary education.

    • Stories to Discover

      • “Ursinus Votes” Nears End of Semester-Long Registration Efforts
      • The Way Forward
      • Alaska Native Success
    • Get in Touch

      Questions on Discover the Next or need help with the website?

      Contact CASE:
      T: +1-202-328-CASE [2273]
      E: discoverthenext@case.org

    Copyright 2022. Discover The Next