As vaccines become more available, the pandemic recedes, and colleges plan for a fall return-to-campus, academic leaders must begin to assess what the post-pandemic college looks like. Many of the shifts during the pandemic and remote-learning could (and should) remain, while others can be slowly phased out.
The Academic Enterprise:Futurist and senior scholar at Georgetown University Bryan Alexander predicts a bumpy ride that could include intensive campus testing for Covid-19, heavier teaching burdens, college closures, and possible layoffs.
The Student Experience:Gen Z has been deeply affected by the pandemic and the national reckoning over racial violence as they face a tough job market and increased mental-health issues, as explored with higher-education reporterKarin Fischer.
Enrollment:Colleges are facing increased challenges to survive in a hyper-competitive recruitment race, according toCornell B. LeSane II, the vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions at Allegheny College.
The Business Models of Colleges: The pandemic gives academe the push it needs to plan for a more sustainable future, as argued by Rick Staisloff, founder of the consulting firm rpk GROUP.
