As a biologist and president of Millersville University, I often view our approach to inclusive education to the biodiversity of an ecosystem: A campus flourishes when it is composed of students from different backgrounds, cultures and abilities.
There is value in taking the long view. Although academia has plenty of valid causes for concern, I also believe the next generation of university leaders has many reasons for optimism.
To bolster enrollment and help working adult learners overcome the obstacles impeding their educational goals, academia and the business sector must take proactive and collaborative action.
Researchers can put themselves in the best possible position for whatever their next step will be, whether they stay on an academic trajectory or go beyond it.
Despite contending with tight budgets, many institutions are getting creative in their approach to interjecting campuses with impactful learning spaces.
Cost remains the primary barrier, according to Terra Dotta’s 2024 Voice of the Students survey report. But universities have an opportunity to alleviate student concerns and offer a smooth, equitable travel experience.
It’s no secret that many institutions are facing enrollment challenges. The institutions who are aggressively re-evaluating their business model and prioritizing innovation above all else have a leg up on their competition.
Institutions prefer to measure returns on investment in terms of revenue received or savings realized, but traditional metrics cannot capture the decreased stress levels and improved performance of students who get the exact guidance they need exactly when they need it.
With the sustained shift towards online and blended learning models in the post-pandemic world, the education landscape is ripe for innovation that can accommodate formal and informal learning methodologies.
It’s time for schools to radically change their structure. Otherwise, our institutions will not survive, a loss that has catastrophic implications for the future of millions of underserved young people and for our nation.
