Gray Insights

Gray Insights

Beyond the Budget: The Data Challenges in Calculating Academic Program ROI

Measuring academic program ROI takes more than a spreadsheet. True insight comes from understanding the full picture, including shared revenue, interdisciplinary teaching, and real post-graduate outcomes. Traditional analyses often miss these nuances, leading to misguided cuts or overlooked opportunities. Discover how a comprehensive, data-informed approach can reveal the programs that drive growth and sustain institutional health.

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Gray Insights

Crossing (Off) the Delaware – to Get Better Benchmarks

Which costs are draining resources unnecessarily, and which are worth protecting? Without the right benchmarks, it is almost impossible to know. With The University of Delaware’s Cost Study (the Cost Study) ending, institutions face a gap in guidance. Discover how Gray DI delivers high-resolution benchmarks that uncover inefficiencies, highlight smarter investment opportunities, and provide the clarity needed to strengthen instructional costs, staffing, and program viability.

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Gray Insights

The Perils of Flawed Data in the Age of AI

AI can unlock powerful insights for colleges and universities—but only if it’s fueled by accurate data. Explore how outdated or incomplete inputs can quietly distort critical decisions—and why getting the data right is essential to fully realizing AI’s potential.

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Gray Insights

Rebuilding the Humanities: Innovative Interdisciplinary Majors

Once seen as relics of the past, humanities programs are quietly evolving to meet the demands of today’s students and employers. A new wave of interdisciplinary degrees is blending cultural literacy, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning with career-aligned skills in areas like digital media, public health, and social entrepreneurship. Explore how institutions are reimagining the liberal arts—not as nostalgia, but as a modern, adaptable foundation for leadership, innovation, and workforce relevance.

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Gray Insights

Agentic AI: A New Partner in Progress for Higher Education and Beyond

We’ve entered the era of Agentic AI—where systems don’t just respond to prompts but act with autonomy, intention, and adaptability. This shift opens new possibilities for learning, research, and administration in higher ed. Explore how Agentic AI works, what sets it apart, and why thoughtful integration could be a game-changer for institutions.

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Gray Insights

The AI Tutor: A Human-Centered Approach

AI tutors can be transformative—but only when built the right way. Curious what that actually takes? From avoiding AI “hallucinations” to protecting professors’ content and making sure students get real support (not shortcuts), this deep dive breaks down the must-haves for building AI that truly belongs in the classroom.

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Gray Insights

Mars: The Next Leap for Humankind

Mars is no longer just the stuff of science fiction—it’s emerging as the next grand challenge for humanity, demanding expertise far beyond rocket science. From sustainable life-support systems to interplanetary law and supply chain logistics, preparing for a future on the Red Planet calls for a truly multidisciplinary approach. With universities already launching innovative programs in space exploration, planetary science, and even Martian community simulations, the groundwork for our next giant leap is already underway.

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Gray Insights

Beyond the RCM Budget: Seeing the Real Story of Your University’s Finances

Behind every college budget lies a deeper story—one that traditional reports often miss. With tools like Gray DI’s Program Economics, academic leaders can move beyond broad revenue and expense figures to uncover what’s really driving costs, margins, and strategic opportunities at the course and program level. From identifying which courses quietly subsidize others to making precise, data-informed adjustments, this level of insight turns financial management into a powerful tool for shaping the future of higher education.

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Gray Insights

Data-Informed Decisions: Using Market Demand to Grow Academic Programs

In an era of limited resources and rising expectations, institutions must make smarter, faster decisions about which programs to grow, maintain, or retire. Explore how combining market data—like student demand, labor market alignment, and competitive benchmarks—can help identify high-potential opportunities, avoid costly missteps, and drive long-term program sustainability.

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