Small Colleges Strong Communities: Matt Lindsey President Kansas Independent College Association

Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President of Augustana College, and I’m joined by my co-host Dean Hoke, Co-Founder of Edu Alliance Group.

Dean: Today, we’re joined by Matt Lindsey, President of the Kansas Independent College Association, a role he has held since 2012. Matt represents 21 nonprofit colleges and universities across Kansas, advocating for the independent sector at both the state and federal levels and helping member institutions collaborate on issues including affordability, access, student success, and long-term sustainability.

Before joining KICA, Matt led Kansas Campus Compact and worked in public policy consulting in Washington, D.C. He was a Harry S. Truman Scholar at the University of Tulsa, where he earned degrees in economics and political science, and later earned a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

And Matt, I discovered one unusual item you don’t see every day. While working with the City of San Diego, your contributions to downtown public-private partnerships were recognized when August 25, 2005, was officially proclaimed “Matt Lindsey Day.” I think you may be the first guest we’ve had who has his own day. They must have really liked you!

Matt, welcome to Small College America.

Question 1: Matt’s Job as an Association President. Matt, you’ve led the Kansas Independent College Association since 2012. For people who may not really understand what a state independent college association president does, tell us about your role. What does a typical week look like, and how do you balance being an advocate, convener, resource—and sometimes perhaps a sounding board—for your presidents and their institutions?

Question 2: The Kansas Story. Matt, when I spoke to the KICA group in July, I told them that before preparing for that presentation, I really didn't know much about Kansas' independent-college sector. I suspect many people outside the state would be surprised to learn that KICA is one of the larger independent college associations. How has Kansas developed—and maintained—such a substantial independent-college sector?

Question 3: Collaboration While Remaining Independent. Your members are fiercely independent institutions, but small colleges increasingly need to consider shared services, consortia, joint academic programs and other partnerships. Where have you seen collaboration work particularly well in Kansas, and how much further do you think it can go?

Question 4: What Does Matt See That an Individual President Doesn’t? You have a vantage point that an individual college president doesn’t have. You’re regularly talking with leaders from your institutions and seeing enrollment, workforce, legislative and financial issues across the entire sector. What does that statewide view tell you about the condition of small private colleges that an individual president or board might not see?

Question 5: Perception of Elected Officials about Independent Colleges. Matt, I would imagine that in your role you spend considerable time with state legislators, the governor's office, and members of Kansas' congressional delegation. From those conversations, what do you think policymakers' overall impression is of independent colleges? And perhaps more importantly, what do they least understand about your institutions and the students they serve?

Question 6: Five Years From Now — The Future of Kansas Independent Colleges. Matt, let's close by looking ahead. Five years from now, when you gather the presidents of Kansas' independent colleges, what do you think this group will look like? What will the institutions that are thriving have done differently to position themselves for the future?

Possible Follow-up: If you could give your members one piece of advice today about preparing for those next five years, what would it be?

Closing

Kent: Matt, thank you for joining us and for helping us better understand Kansas’ independent colleges, the role they play in their communities, and the opportunities and challenges facing small colleges. We appreciate your perspective and your time.

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Dean: On behalf of our guest, Matt Lindsey, my co-host, Kent Barnds, and me, thank you for joining us.