In many ways, the past two years revealed the best of higher education. The strength, adaptability and resilience of our students were on full display. We also saw the kindness and generosity of faculty, staff and administrators as they helped each other grapple with new realities that were impossible to ignore. And from my perspective, the clarity of purpose and leadership of presidents has never been more visible.
Successfully navigating the rocky terrain of the past 20 months showed us just how much we’re capable of. We deserve the strength and confidence earned from this experience, and we’ll need to draw upon these resources when facing the challenges ahead.
One challenge top of mind right now is figuring out how to better serve and support our adult students (especially the low-income, first generation, and students of color). We have heard this message for the past decade, but Covid added new urgency by upending the lives and careers of millions of workers, many of whom need reskilling, upskilling, or the tools to pivot entirely to a new field. This new social imperative, along with the demographic realities of fewer “traditional” age students and a declining birth rate, is finally pushing us to rethink and redesign what and how we support the 36 million Americans who have some college, no degree.
Stepping up to serve the needs of adult learners does not mean serving them leftovers. They don’t just want an occasional night class, a prepackaged MBA, or the mixed experience of “allowing” a class to be broadcast on Zoom. How we listen to, learn from, and design for adult learners demands careful thought and attention. As we continue to transition back toward normal, we can’t afford to miss the opportunity of this moment when change and adaptation are the norm. Let’s leverage the newfound skills, confidence and adaptability gained from the past two years to rethink and redesign how we serve our students -- at whatever age they come to us.
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