New Year, New Trends in Higher Education
2024 is here, bringing great ambitions for the new year , along with some baggage from 2023. A new year allows us to review what works and what doesn’t and effectively plan to progress in 2024.
The past year was challenging for American colleges and universities. Many institutions struggled to manage severe budget deficits, as campus strife intensified over political issues. Several prominent university presidents resigned, and a slight enrollment rebound was offset by a significant decline in the number of new first-year students, raising concerns that the decline in college attendance will likely continue.
2024 is here, bringing great ambitions for the new year , along with some baggage from 2023. A new year allows us to review what works and what doesn’t and effectively plan to progress in 2024.
The past year was challenging for American colleges and universities. Many institutions struggled to manage severe budget deficits, as campus strife intensified over political issues. Several prominent university presidents resigned, and a slight enrollment rebound was offset by a significant decline in the number of new first-year students, raising concerns that the decline in college attendance will likely continue.
While significant challenges exist, 2024 is the year of innovation and opportunity. Higher Education Institutions have the skillset, technology, and ability to make lemonade from lemons, and that ingenuity will impact the new year.
So, what will the trends for higher education be in 2024?
Admissions
College admissions policies and practices will be where a lot of action occurs in 2024. Look for an increased focus on diversity and the decline or end of legacy alum admissions. Guaranteed admission programs will increase as colleges search for ways to boost enrollments and reach students who might otherwise not be inclined to consider college.
AI on the Rise
In the past, higher education institutions have focused on how generative AI tools like ChatGPT would lead to an epidemic of student cheating. Now, college faculty are turning their attention to how AI can be used to improve teaching and personalize student learning.
Curriculum Changes
With the continued popularity of online degree programs, shortened degree programs such as “College in 3,” and life credit opportunities in graduate programs, there will be continued opportunities to pivot and adapt to the modern learner. This will be both exciting and challenging.
Finances
Unfortunately, there’s no end to the budget deficits impacting colleges since the pandemic, at least not this year. Throughout 2023, news of colleges ending academic programs, terminating faculty, or slashing spending as they tried to close significant gaps between revenues and expenses was more common than not. Budget woes and lower enrollment will impact the 2024 school year. However, that also means various strategies will be put in place to prevent this.
Innovation
With challenges such as lower enrollment and budget deficits, colleges and universities will likely add or enlarge college preparation and bridge programs to persuade more students to enroll. Vo-tech and dual enrollment programs will grow, bringing additional community partnerships and ingenuity opportunities.
The silver lining for 2024 is innovation and endless opportunities throughout Higher Education
Written By: Meredith Biesinger
Professional Writer/ Education Specialist
Meredith Biesinger is a licensed dyslexia therapist in Mississippi, in addition to being an experienced classroom teacher and K-12 administrator. Meredith also works as a consultant, where she bridges the bridge the gap between K-12 school districts and ed-tech organizations. With a passion for literacy, she is also a professional writer and syndicated author. With a M.Ed in Educational Leadership and a B.S. in English Education and Creative Writing, she has had rich and diverse opportunities to teach students and education professionals in different parts of the country as well as overseas.
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