In a moment when universities are pausing Ph.D. programs and reducing education to job placement metrics, this reflection makes a larger case: the value of higher education is not always transactional. Sometimes a degree does not change your title — it changes your judgment, your perspective, and your capacity to lead. If education only prepares us to do, we miss the deeper purpose of learning: to think clearly, act ethically, and become something more enduring than a résumé line.
Read MoreWe can debate labels all day, but none of them lower a student’s tuition bill. The real crisis in higher education is not what qualifies as a professional degree, it is the normalization of six-figure debt for in-state public college students. When affordability disappears, access becomes an illusion. Fixing the cost of public education is not a semantic exercise; it is a moral and economic responsibility.
Read MoreLeadership often fails not because the message is wrong, but because the method is. Governor Jeff Landry is right to question the excess and poor stewardship behind massive college coaching buyouts, especially when academic priorities struggle for funding. But by bypassing institutional leadership and intervening publicly, he undercuts governance, autonomy, and long-term credibility. The takeaway is clear: being right isn’t enough — effective leadership requires discipline in tone, timing, and process.
Read MoreHigher education has evolved beyond degrees, with noncredit certificates emerging as focused, practical alternatives for professionals seeking targeted skills. While certificates offer flexibility and immediate applicability, their quality has varied widely, creating uncertainty for students, employers, and institutions. Accrediting these programs provides guardrails, ensuring rigor, accountability, and meaningful outcomes. Properly regulated, certificates complement traditional degrees and represent a promising pathway for lifelong learning and professional growth.
Read MoreAmerican higher education is facing a reckoning after decades of ignoring mounting economic pressures. Declining enrollment, rising costs, and shrinking public funding have exposed the unsustainable financial model at many institutions. While universities have invested in high-cost amenities to compete for students, these strategies have failed to address core budget gaps. Ellen Aprill’s argument for more flexible endowment use highlights a path forward: responsible, mission-aligned spending that prioritizes long-term sustainability over outdated norms. To survive, colleges must rethink what they offer, how they fund it, and what truly serves their mission.
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