As a recovering administrator, I don’t spend as much time on campus as I used to. Then, I seemed to spend all of my time on campus. And one of my many roles was being the “Dean of Darkness” – responsible for the campuses after regular business hours. As a community college, we offered classes weeknights and on Saturdays, but my role normally became relevant after 5:00 pm and before 8:00 am. I’d be called to campus for a wide variety of reasons. Things got easier when we created a police department – then I just got a lot of phone calls.
Now, when I am on campus, it feels very different. As I review various sources each week to identify relevant articles to share with you, I have come across a growing number of “New Normal” articles – describing the many changes we are experiencing in higher education. As we think about the “new normal” on our various campuses, faculty being less present on campus is a “new normal”. Between the growth of online learning and the pandemic, faculty have become enamored of working from home. Some institutions continue to allow telecommuting for administrators as well, so the halls just seem empty much of the time. And it is easier to get a parking place closer to the buildings.
Other “New Normal” realities for our campuses include:
- Declining traditional student enrollment – be sure to check out Knocking at the College Door 11th Edition from WICHE – more than 4 decades of longitudinal data tracking by state, mapping the demographic and enrollment changes of K-12 – the current edition forecasts out to 2037.
- Budget cuts/staff cuts/consolidations/closures
- The AI Revolution – and the anti-AI Rebellion
- Leadership change – lots of it!
- Massive impacts from changes in Washington DC to funding/policies/regulations
- For community colleges especially, the rise of Workforce Education
- Rapidly evolving accreditation and the new ROI debate: is higher education still relevant?
- Sustainability – our reliance on tuition and fees as well as bonds (for some) and legislative support (for others) is no longer sustainable
- IT issues - cybersecurity – evolving Edtech – tech access – AI
Each of these present threats to our individual organizations/higher education – but there are also opportunities galore. Community colleges have always been viewed as the most agile providers of higher education, and to be honest, we are all going to have to embrace change. Institutions that do will remain relevant to the 21st Century economy, but will likely operate under a different model of accreditation, will utilize alternative credentials blended with degrees and certificates, and will offer education in a multitude of flexible formats. Those institutions that don’t, will struggle to survive. As Clayton Christensen predicted 15 years ago, half of all institutions will close.
Recommended Reading
Belonging by design: practical ways to support adult learners in hybrid and asynchronous classes, eCampus News
For many adult learners, logging into a hybrid or asynchronous course is not the beginning of their day. It may come after a full shift at work, after helping children with homework, after managing caregiving responsibilities, or after years away from formal schooling.
What is FAFSA fraud, and why is Congress working to stamp it out?, Inside Higher Ed
So-called ghost students have been stealing financial aid for at least a decade. Now the Department of Education and Congress are trying to curb the schemes.
The AI literacy gap no one expected, Campus Technology
Familiarity with generative AI is not the same as literacy. While Gen Z may be advanced at generating quick outputs or using free LLMs for surface-level tasks, they need to develop critical thinking, communication, and analysis skills
Why the old enrollment playbook no longer works, eCampus News
The future of higher education belongs to institutions that define clear priorities, align mission with financial reality, and integrate decisions into something sustainable
Graduates are already fed up with the new Industrial Revolution, University Business Magazine
Recent graduates are sounding off on their disdain for artificial intelligence as automation slowly erodes the entry-level job market. Despite this fear, most employers are demanding that new hires be well-versed in AI. Over the next two years, 75% of business leaders expect non-technical employees to be moderately proficient in AI, according to a survey from HiBob, an HR and payroll system.
Can microcredentials drive new demand for higher ed?, University Business Magazine
A new Coursera survey of more than 3,500 respondents worldwide found broad support for embedding industry-recognized credentials into degree pathways as institutions face mounting pressure to improve career outcomes and adapt curricula more quickly.
Video of the Week
The right way to use AI in college: from the professor’s view
