Janet

The Future of Higher Education

President Obama, Secretary Duncan, Steve, Janet, Joe, Rob, Barry, Gene

Panelists from George Washington University, the University of California, and Northeastern University discussed a shifting higher education landscape defined by $80 million public health investments, a reversal of state funding reliance, and the adoption of output-based success models. The discussion highlighted critical systemic challenges, including stagnant graduation rates, a reliance on adjunct faculty, and the risk that low-income students face a "reverse digital divide" while facing restrictive new regulations. Experts concluded that to avoid obsolescence, institutions must disrupt traditional vertical integration by decoupling research, teaching, and credentialing while advocating for a unified response to federal policy changes that threaten the viability of public higher education.