A futurist who concentrates on higher education believes there are a number of “outside forces” that will likely re-shape higher ed as we know it.
Bryan Alexander was a speaker at the Western Interstate Compact for Higher Education meeting in Bismarck. He said one of the big trends is the change in demographics. Alexander said the population is aging – and the number of high school students who attend college is starting to decline.
"In fact, the total number of students enrolled in higher education has gone down for the past six years," Alexander said in an interview. "That's a really frightening thing, since most colleges depend on tuition to stay alive."
Alexander said that's why we're seeing a spate of closures and threatened closures around the country.
Another factor is the rise in wholly online learning – and Alexander said that changes how people think about college campuses.
"I think of movie theaters," Alexander said. "It used to be, you go to movie theaters and sit in some rickety chairs, and make do with what you can see. But since the VCR and Netflix and DVDs, now movie theaters have to compete with what we can have in our living rooms, or on our phones."
Alexander said theaters are adding reclining seats, better sound, and other amenities to try and compete. And he said you're now seeing that on college campuses.
"Some schools are reinvesting in campus amenities, from new dorms and learning centers to climbing walls," Alexander said.
And Alexander said some colleges are re-thinking pedagogy.
"If I can take a class online, that's fantastic," Alexander said. "If I have to be in a room, what can be done to maximize the experience?"
Alexander said that's what higher ed has to rethink right now.
"This is a great time for imagination," Alexander said. "It is the 21st century. We have to act like it."
