Huron's Social Alliance

Our goal is to collaborate with resource-constrained institutions committed to equity and access. Huron believes that higher education is an engine of economic and social mobility — and that all students, regardless of income, deserve a quality experience. Huron’s social alliance aims to support these institutions that share this passion.

Motivated by our passion for education as an engine of economic and community growth, Huron’s social alliance brings services and solutions to resource-constrained institutions as they prepare students to thrive after graduation. We aim to help colleges and universities enhance student success, especially for low-income students, supporting improved institutional performance and sharing learnings across the higher education sector.

Huron’s social alliance is our corporate commitment to being part of the solution to address the need for broader educational access. The program focuses on establishing project-based consulting with colleges and universities that meet the following selection criteria:

Defined project scope and investment: Huron will provide a consulting team for a six-to-12-week project, co-designed with the institution, and described in a project agreement.
Institutional characteristics: A social alliance institution has a strong and demonstrated commitment to student success, retention, and equality of opportunity and institutional access, regardless of student background. While each prospective institution will be reviewed based on its unique conditions, we expect that markers of this commitment would include a student body of which at least 40% are eligible for Pell Grants.
Thought leadership: A social alliance institution will agree to share lessons learned, processes and findings from the initiative. Huron will take the lead in developing thought leadership materials and will ensure that confidential institutional information is protected. All thought leadership materials will be reviewed and approved by the institution.

In each of Huron’s social alliance projects, we will collaborate with institutional leaders to define a high-value engagement appropriately scaled to meet the shared Huron and client investment. Each project is led by Huron experts and staffed by the same professional consultants who serve our extensive client base. Huron’s fees are reduced and fixed for the duration of the project.

Featured Insights

How We Can Help
Growth and Innovation Enablement

Growth and Innovation Enablement

Enabling growth and innovation requires institutions to rethink their business models and problem-solve to better anticipate and manage market disruptions, especially within the mission of increasing equity and access. As a strategic adviser, Huron will empower institutions to think about the relationship between current and future business models and social responsibility as it pertains to delivering value to historically marginalized students.
Dynamic Student Strategy

Dynamic Student Strategy

Leading institutions have a student strategy that embraces innovative solutions to promote success for all students regardless of their background. Huron can help define an integrated recruitment, financial aid, retention and student services approach that connects processes and information across student-facing functional areas to help ensure student success.
Academic Portfolio Evaluation

Academic Portfolio Evaluation

With nearly half of expenditures dedicated to academic programming and support, leaders must think critically about their portfolio and the impact on increasing equity and access. To meet evolving student demographics and support historically marginalized students, Huron can help college leaders forecast demand and align it with capacity across the academic portfolio while also focusing on student needs and expectations.
Strategic Alliance Strategy

Strategic Alliance Strategy

Both the rate of institutional consolidations and the need for strategic partnerships in education are rapidly increasing. One element of successful strategic alliances can be a common commitment to equity and access. Huron helps assess strategic options and proactively plan for and execute mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and joint ventures while also aligning institutions’ social commitments.
Strategic Technology Plan

Strategic Technology Plan

Leveraging technology solutions and services in an effective manner can be an important component of an institution’s plan to increase access and enhance the student experience for all. Huron can help institutions prioritize technology needs, propose realistic budget-based sequencing of new investments, and detail organizational and operational changes to make the most of existing and new platforms.
Institutional Budget Model

Institutional Budget Model

Refining the budget model to help an institution better steward and report on the flow of funds, Huron will encourage the optimal use of limited resources and help prepare for financial sustainability.

For more information about Huron’s social alliance or to inquire about whether your institution fits our criteria, please email huronsocialalliance@hcg.com.