Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a public debate at the ASU+GSV Summit with a longtime colleague, Ryan Craig, who sees higher education from a very different perspective than I do. We come from different backgrounds, do different work, and hold different ideas about what needs to change.
The conversation was part of The Disagreement, a podcast I highly recommend. It models something we need more of in higher ed and society: respectful disagreement. That said, it felt like an unusual time to be engaging in a debate about the value of college. The institutions I care deeply about are under fire—not just being critiqued, but in some cases actively dismantled by sweeping policy changes.
Still, this lighthearted exchange helped refocus the conversation on the core question families are asking today: Is college worth it? Are we making a smart bet? What’s the best path forward for my child—or for myself? Here’s where I land: Yes, college is absolutely worth it. But only if you understand what it really requires.
Too often, we allow students to enter college without clear guidance. They drift, unsupported. And when they graduate with debt and disappointment, we blame the institution. But in reality, what failed was the design of their experience—and the way we prepared them to navigate it.
Here’s what I tell young people and families: College is worth it—but only if you understand that you are not a passive vessel to be filled. You are responsible for creating at least half of the learning and growth you’ll leave with. Roughly 50% of the value you’ll gain will be shared inside the classroom—through lectures, assignments, and faculty interaction. The other 50%? That’s on you. It will come from what you do outside the classroom: in labs, in internships, in clubs, on teams, in late-night study groups, through office hours, and real conversations with people who challenge your thinking.
You have to go get it.
You have to activate it.
You have to build it for yourself.
Because it’s entirely possible to go through college passively—attending class, completing credits—and leave without ever discovering what you’re capable of.
College, at its best, is where you learn what your best even looks like. It should be challenging. It should stretch you. It should expose you to new ideas, new people, and new possibilities.
And if you treat it that way—if you show up and do your part—it will be worth it. Unequivocally.
Warmly,
Bridget
Network Highlights
- The UIA is thrilled to welcome Temple University as the newest member of the UIA. President John Fry joins our Board, with Jose Aviles, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, and Jodi Bailey, Vice President of Student Affairs, serving as liaisons. We look forward to learning with and from Temple as we expand our collective impact.
- The University of Utah adds Paul Kohn, Senior Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment and Student Success, as its newest UIA Liaison. He succeeds Laura Snow, whose leadership helped lay a strong foundation for Utah’s UIA engagement. Paul’s appointment brings continued momentum to the campus’s cross-functional student success efforts.
Learn with Us
- No Excuses: The Urgent Responsibility of Public Higher Education (Blog)
- Becoming the Employers We Wished Our Students Had: Brandee Popaden-Smith at the UIA National Summit (Podcast)
- Scaling What Works: A Data-Driven Blueprint for Student Success featuring Dr. Tim Renick (YouTube)
Want more? Check out all of our weekly blog posts and podcast episodes.
Must Reads
What we’re learning about this month at the UIA:
- Addressing frailty and enhancing value in higher education (Dan Greenstein)
- Creating institutional change by professionalizing department chairs (Inside Higher Ed)
- Levers for leading through change and uncertainty (IdeoU)
- Can ‘career passports’ encourage job access? (Higher Ed Dive)
- Building tomorrow's workforce for an AI-Driven economy (Milken Institute)
- America’s talent moonshot (Council on Higher Education as a Strategic Asset)
Events to Put on Your Radar
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Stuff We Love
I completely lost my voice at the ASU+GSV Summit, but I still needed to fly to Miami the next day to keynote the SACUBO conference. UIA team member Rachel has a singer in the family and shared all the best things to help with your voice when the crunch is on. Here are the things that helped me go from whisper to keynote. Save this list for when you are in a crunch!
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