Chalk and Compass is a nonprofit advising and education service delivering thoughtful, hands-on strategy for creative and mission-driven institutions, grounded in data and guided by relationships.
Chalk and Compass emerged from two simple ideas.
Chalk represents teaching, learning, creativity, and the everyday work of education. It evokes classrooms, studios, critiques, and the countless conversations where ideas take shape. It speaks to the academic mission that sits at the heart of colleges, universities, and cultural institutions.
Compass represents direction. Not certainty, but navigation. Higher education is facing enormous challenges and opportunities, and institutions need thoughtful ways to understand where they are, where they want to go, and how to get there.
Both chalk and a compass are analog, hand-held tools. They require a human touch. They are simple, adaptable, and responsive to the task at hand.
That reflects how we believe advising should work.
At Chalk and Compass, we use sophisticated methods but we apply them in a deeply human way. Unlike large consulting firms built around standardized solutions and rotating teams, our approach is intentionally small, collaborative, and tailored to the unique realities of each institution.
You'll know your advisor. More importantly, your advisor will know you.
We'll understand your mission, your culture, your challenges, and your aspirations before recommending a path forward. We know that while data can reveal patterns, meaningful strategy emerges from context, relationships, and trust.
As former academic leaders whose careers have lived at the intersection of academic affairs, enrollment management, assessment, research, and social geography, we've learned that the most effective solutions rarely come from following a predetermined map. They come from understanding the landscape, listening carefully, and charting a course together.
Our Services
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We help institutions ask the right questions and answer them with clarity. From enrollment trend forecasting to audience segmentation and perception studies, we deliver custom research rooted in disciplinary context and designed for actionable strategy.
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We work alongside faculty and academic leaders to develop new programs, revise curricula, and support cross-disciplinary design that’s both forward-looking and pedagogically sound. From idea to implementation, we center your mission and your students.
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Good assessment tells a story. We translate data into meaningful insights that strengthen student learning, support faculty development, and meet accreditation goals. Whether you're building outcomes from scratch or refreshing tired rubrics, we can help you align intention with impact.
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For many small institutions, building and strengthening an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and research oversight can be challenging. We offer practical, right-sized support from policies, training, and protocol review. We make research governance efficient, effective, and researcher-friendly.
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Space tells the story. Our GIS-informed analytics visualize institutional patterns, student movement, recruitment yield, resource access, and layering data across geographies to reveal new opportunities. We turn maps into strategy.
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Need a steady hand in a time of transition? Our network of seasoned academic leaders can step in as interim department chairs, deans, vice presidents, or executive consultants. We prioritize care, clarity, and community, ensuring continuity while you plan what’s next.
Our Courses
Tools, Insights, and Conversations for
Art and Design Institutions
Our online learning series offers engaging, accessible sessions designed for academic leaders, faculty, and staff navigating change in higher education. From data-informed decision-making and curriculum design to GIS mapping, assessment strategies, and leadership best practices, each session blends practical tools with human-centered insight. Join us to learn, question, and build alongside a community of curious, mission-driven educators.