Editor's Note: This article is republished from LinkedIn with permission from the author and AACRAO member who attended and posted live from the SEM 2024 Conference. The text below the byline is republished in its entirety with minor alterations for readability, such as punctuation and the removal of emojis and hashtags at the end.
By Asaf Wolff, Senior Vice President of Growth & Experience, University of the People
Ok, so - What Does Trump Mean for Higher Education?!?
Today at noon, in the final session of the AACRAO #SEM2024 conference, Doug Lederman, co-founder of Inside Higher Ed, presented and discussed with Jack Miner what lies ahead for higher ed following the election results. His insights gave a clear sense of the challenges and shifting priorities for the sector:
Trust and Access in Crisis: Public confidence in higher education has plummeted—from 57% to just 36%— since Trump's last win, with many rural and low-income Americans, core voters for the new administration, feeling shut out from higher ed. Restoring trust and expanding access could be critical for institutions moving forward.
Relax, please! Higher Education Not a Central Focus: While higher ed may face some new policies, it likely won’t be a major focus for this administration. Federal budget cuts to financial aid or higher ed funding seem unlikely to gain serious traction, providing some stability in an otherwise unpredictable landscape. Department of Education will not be shut down…
Policy Shifts and State Influence: With bipartisan cooperation challenging in a divided government, policy-making on higher ed is increasingly shifting to the states. Federal action may roll back Biden policies on debt relief and for-profit colleges while also targeting Title IX changes. Location will play a larger role in how institutions are regulated as red and blue states diverge.
Key Priorities coming our way:
- Immigration and International Students: Policy changes could tighten restrictions, potentially impacting international enrollment and DACA students’ futures.
- Accreditation: Rhetoric around “firing radical left accreditors” suggests a push for new accreditors and “real standards,” but tangible changes remain unclear.
- Workforce Preparation: There’s likely to be an emphasis on apprenticeships and nontraditional credentials, with workforce-ready skills taking priority over traditional degrees.
DEI and Free Speech: Congressional scrutiny of DEI initiatives and free speech on campuses could increase, leading to potential restrictions or policy shifts in federal support.
The Idea of a Free Online University: The administration has proposed a free online public university. However, I just want to mention that UoPeople is already delivering on this vision by providing tuition-free, accessible education worldwide…just saying.
Doug closed with a stark reminder: Higher ed could see “neglect” more than direct attack. But the growing perception that college is “not for” key groups—rural, low-income, male students—is a major challenge. It’s a call to action to make higher education relevant, accessible, and trusted again.