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Grvitas
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  • Higher Education
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  • Advisors' Blog

higher Education

Academic Strategy with Operational Discipline

Gravitas helps colleges, academic departments, and educational nonprofits tackle today’s institutional challenges with clarity and precision. From curriculum modernization to faculty onboarding, we combine policy fluency, governance experience, and hands-on academic leadership to strengthen both mission and execution.

We understand the complexity of higher education—from accreditation requirements and committee dynamics to faculty politics and student outcomes. Our approach is grounded in academic reality, not bureaucratic theory.

Our Higher Education Services:

Curriculum Design & Program Modernization

Governance Reform & Committee Optimization

Curriculum Design & Program Modernization

We evaluate outdated programs and guide faculty through redesign—ensuring offerings align with workforce demands, institutional priorities, and accreditation standards. We also assist in building new programs from the ground up.

Accreditation Preparation & Documentation

Governance Reform & Committee Optimization

Curriculum Design & Program Modernization

Whether preparing for initial accreditation or renewal, we help institutions compile required documentation, identify gaps, and align processes with accreditor expectations. We streamline the self-study process without cutting corners.

Governance Reform & Committee Optimization

Governance Reform & Committee Optimization

Governance Reform & Committee Optimization

We help academic units clarify decision-making structures, rewrite outdated bylaws, and improve committee performance. If your shared governance feels dysfunctional, we’ll fix the structure—not just the symptoms.

Faculty Onboarding & Mentorship Frameworks

Leadership Coaching for Department Chairs & Academic Admins

Governance Reform & Committee Optimization

New faculty shouldn’t have to figure it out on their own. We design onboarding processes that integrate hires into institutional culture, clarify expectations, and connect them with meaningful support.

Leadership Coaching for Department Chairs & Academic Admins

Leadership Coaching for Department Chairs & Academic Admins

Leadership Coaching for Department Chairs & Academic Admins

We provide structured coaching to department chairs, deans, and other academic leaders—focusing on communication, conflict management, delegation, and strategic planning.

Institutional Communications & Stakeholder Alignment

Leadership Coaching for Department Chairs & Academic Admins

Leadership Coaching for Department Chairs & Academic Admins

We support presidents, provosts, and board members in crafting clear messaging for faculty, students, donors, and the community—especially during times of change or institutional transition.

Community Engagement & Enrollment Strategy

Community Engagement & Enrollment Strategy

Community Engagement & Enrollment Strategy

We help schools build stronger pipelines through community partnerships, feeder school outreach, and mission-aligned recruitment strategies that support enrollment goals.

What Sets Us APart:

Academic Experience Without Ivory Tower Blind Spots

Academic Experience Without Ivory Tower Blind Spots

Academic Experience Without Ivory Tower Blind Spots

Our consultants are active or former instructors, not detached analysts. We’ve served on curriculum committees, taught under tight budgets, and navigated the politics of both small colleges and large institutions.

Policy-Focused with Practical Delivery

Academic Experience Without Ivory Tower Blind Spots

Academic Experience Without Ivory Tower Blind Spots

We understand FERPA, Title IX, SACSCOC, HLC, and the alphabet soup of compliance. But more importantly, we know how to translate those requirements into clean processes that faculty and staff can actually follow.

Specialized Focus on Mission-Driven Institutions

Specialized Focus on Mission-Driven Institutions

Specialized Focus on Mission-Driven Institutions

We work extensively with community colleges, private liberal arts colleges, and educational nonprofits—understanding the unique governance, budgetary, and cultural challenges they face.

No Platitudes. Just Plans.

Specialized Focus on Mission-Driven Institutions

Specialized Focus on Mission-Driven Institutions

You won’t get buzzwords or campus consulting fluff. You’ll get structured recommendations, realistic timelines, and support that respects both academic culture and operational demands.

Head of Higher Education Strategy

Dr. Shelley Barkley, EdD

Dr. Barkley is a seasoned community college executive with over a decade of leadership in academic strategy, student affairs, and institutional effectiveness. Currently Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at John Wood Community College and former Dean at Sauk Valley Community College, she has also served as President of the Illinois Council for Community College Administrators. Dr. Barkley holds a doctorate in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University and an MS in Human Development from Northern Illinois University. At Gravitas, she leads higher education strategy engagements, helping institutions align mission, operations, and student outcomes with clarity and impact.

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