The Biden-Harris platform unveiled during the 2020 presidential campaign suggests that higher education will be a primary focus of the new administration.

On this podcast, Terry Hartle of the American Council on Education weighs in on what might transpire come January, including attempts to double Pell Grants and make public college free for middle-income families. 

The coronavirus pandemic has created a set of historic challenges for leaders in higher education. They’ve had to respond to threats to college finances and enrollment; cut faculty, staff, programs, and sports teams; orchestrate the logistical burdens of testing for the virus; and house those infected—all while navigating the uncertainty of when and how this strange, often remote, era will end.

That might seem like enough to persuade an unusual number of college presidents to consider retiring. So far, it hasn't. 

The coronavirus has upended college admissions, forcing millions of students to learn remotely, canceling college tours and standardized testing dates, and preventing legions of students from participating in sports and other extracurricular activities.

High school seniors and those who guide them through the admissions process say the level of uncertainty and disruption is off the charts as the virus surges across the country. Many schools have shut down classrooms once again, putting more families in financial crisis and making weighty decisions about the future more fraught than ever.