Dismissing the value of a college degree has become a national pastime. Everyone from Silicon Valley to Capitol Hill is jockeying to land the hardest punch on higher education.

Colleges and universities may need to overhaul some foundational processes in order to unlock a new era of skills-based learning in higher ed, says Jeff Dinski, chief strategy and corporate development officer at Ellucian, on the "The University Business Podcast."

As health organizations are canceling summer internships—some citing "national unforeseen budget cuts" as the cause—students are worried about getting the research experience critical to their majors and careers.

Institutions are contracting due to a variety of pressures, and this report believes staff cuts can lighten their budgets without hurting quality.