Colleges face financial pressure from declining enrollment and rising costs, while students increasingly prioritize career-ready, flexible degrees. Experts suggest rethinking the traditional major in favor of customizable, modular programs that better align with workforce demands.

Thin staffing within institutions' cybersecurity and the privacy units have led to increasing workforce strain, according to this survey from EDUCAUSE.

Gen Z is leading the charge as the toolbelt generation, but the focus on skilled trades goes beyond manual work to many technology fields.

Alvernia University has created at least three new academic programs in the past year in response to regional workforce demands, President Glynis Fitzgerald says.