Photo: Akilah Townsend/The New York Times

Born and raised in the Jim Crow South, Walter Massey often felt torn between his love of physics and a pull to contribute to the struggle for racial equity in America.

That conviction would shape his career. Massey thrust himself into supporting Black students at a time when colleges around the country were adjusting to court-ordered integration. He bolstered education at underserved high schools to better prepare aspiring Black scientists for the rigor of college. And he helped establish the National Society of Black Physicists, which has grown to support thousands of students and professionals in the field.

From the emergence of generative AI to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn affirmative action, countless changes are raising major questions that strike at the very core of higher education. What is the value of a degree in today's economy? How do new technologies impact learning and instruction? Can institutions stay true to their mission and maintain their diversity and equity goals given new rules and regulations?

Those questions are creating a new reality for colleges and universities, forcing many to prioritize agility and adaptation.

Alexandra Aranda considers her time as a freshman at Texas A&M University a resounding success. But as she heads into her sophomore year, her future may not be so certain.

Aranda’s ability to continue her studies relies on a single form: the FAFSA—the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. She is among millions of students worried about their ability to attend college in the fall since they don’t know how much financial help—if any—they’ll receive.