Oct. 12, 2026

Do Less With Less. This Is the New Normal - with Pat Pitney, Former President, University of Alaska

Key Takeaways

Pat Pitney shares leadership strategies for managing a higher education system spanning over 1,000 miles, including campuses located past the Arctic Circle.
Facing severe funding cuts, former University of Alaska President Pat Pitney explains why the new normal in higher ed requires institutions to 'do less with less' rather than attempting to 'do more with less.'
Meeting students at their exact point of need is crucial for institutional relevance, whether a student is pursuing a pilot's license or a PhD in aerospace engineering.
Navigating major financial upheaval in higher education demands a pragmatic, survival-oriented approach without losing sight of the core educational mission.

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Pat Pitney, Former President, University of Alaska

This episode is brought to you by Beyond Survival: Reporting from the Front Lines of Higher Education’s War for Relevance is a documentary account from the front lines of the most consequential upheaval in higher ed in generations!

This episode is sponsored by⁠ the MSCHE 2026 Annual Conference, where we will be podcasting live, keynoting, & facilitating a pre-conference workshop from December 9-11 in Philadelphia! Early-bird pricing ends October 12, 2026!

This episode is also sponsored by the ⁠InsightsEDU 2027⁠ Conference - focused on attracting & retaining the modern learner - where we will be podcasting live from February 23-25 in Phoenix, AZ! Use code EDUP & save $100! Early-bird pricing ends December 15, 2026!

YOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio

How do you lead a system spanning more than 1,000 miles with campuses past the Arctic Circle when 2 students in Bethel need the same education as students in Fairbanks?
Why did walking into a Hunger Games survivalist mentality with a third of state funding lost require doing less with less instead of more with less?
What makes meeting students at their point of need whether that's a pilot's license or a PhD in aerospace engineering the key to relevance?

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Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Pat Pitney?

Pat Pitney is the Former President of the University of Alaska, where she led a vast university system spanning thousands of miles and diverse geographic regions.

What does 'do less with less' mean in higher education?

Coined by Pat Pitney in the context of significant state funding reductions, it represents a realistic survival strategy where universities scale back operations and focus on core strengths rather than stretching dwindling resources to maintain unsustainable programs.

How does the University of Alaska serve students across such a vast geographic area?

The university serves diverse student populations—from remote areas like Bethel to urban centers like Fairbanks—by meeting learners directly at their point of need with tailored educational offerings.