The American College President Study (ACPS) 2023 Edition found that the majority of today's leaders still fit the status quo of nearly 20 years ago: white, 60-year-old men. However, the rate of women at an institution's helm has increased by almost 12% since the turn of the century.
The pipeline of traditional-age students will tighten further midway through this decade because of the drop in births during the Great Recession of 2008, forcing college leaders to compete more aggressively for fewer students.
Women and minorities are not always represented in the decision-making and implementation of on- and off-campus real estate projects. Now is the time to institutionalize diversity, equity and inclusion.
The next few years will come straight out of "Game of Thrones" for universities. Many leaders project optimism while a select few recognize a looming, existential threat.
