Over two packed days last week in Washington, DC, ACE’s Accelerating Postsecondary Value Innovation Lab convened higher education leaders from across the country to reimagine how colleges define, measure, and communicate the true value of a college degree.
Supported by the Gates Foundation, this convening marked a critical milestone in ACE’s work advancing the Postsecondary Value Framework.
More than just another gathering, the Lab was a dynamic, collaborative environment that was designed to equip attendees with the tools, partnerships, and strategies to build stronger data systems and cultures at their institutions. While the idea of postsecondary value is not new, reorienting institutional planning and decision-making around it is—making this moment both challenging and full of possibility.
ACE’s Hironao Okahana and Lindsey Myers kicked off the Lab with powerful reflections on why this work matters—especially as higher education confronts a variety of challenges while adapting to meet student needs in a rapidly changing world.
Hironao Okahana, vice president and executive director of ACE's Education Futures Lab
“We believe in the importance of data and its power to inspire and inform how we approach our work,” Okahana said.
Attendees quickly got to work. Through guided activities like “What’s My Data Story?” and “Why Statement MadLibs,” teams reflected on how data has shaped decision-making at their institutions—and what more is possible.
The Lab’s structure married imagination with practicality. During visioning sessions, participants imagined what could be possible if campuses clearly articulated their value to every student, policymaker, and community partner. They also dove into granular details, mapping out the data they had, what was missing, and what systems would need to change. Attendees tackled barriers, designed action posters, and identified which of ACE’s six levers for institutional transformation they would activate first.
The following day, picked back up with hands-on planning workshops where they refined strategic priorities, troubleshooted implementation challenges, and drafted near-term roadmaps for change. Teams engaged deeply with one another and the tools provided, bridging big-picture vision with campus-level execution.
One of the Lab’s most memorable moments came during the creative “Doodling Together” warm-up, which underscored how institutional transformation, like collaborative art, requires trust, flexibility, and shared purpose. Another highlight: the star-studded “Vote and Nosh” session, where participants celebrated big ideas by “voting” with stickers on their favorite institutional strategies.
As the Lab closed, participants didn’t just walk away with notes—they left with a plan. Each team articulated an initial step to take on campus and identified the technical assistance they’ll need from ACE in the months ahead.
This was more than a convening. It was a critical step redefining postsecondary value in ways that reflect the real aspirations—and outcomes—of today’s students.