Disruptive innovation in higher ed: Real and hopeful
With recent college and campus closures, declining enrollment demographic projections, and budget shortages in colleges and universities across the country, there is no doubt that Clayton Christensen’s prediction of “Disruptive Innovation” is happening across the Academy. Yet, for those of us who work in higher education, who pride ourselves on embracing change that benefits current and future students, we see hope in a changing landscape. Consider these developments:
- Given growing public concern, colleges at every Carnegie Classification are now seriously talking about college affordability – some states and colleges are actually doing something about this as well with challenges and growing urgency
- Institutional “merger” is no longer a dirty word in higher ed but an option that is legitimately explored and implemented
- Real focus, and resource allocation, in areas such as adult-learners, increased partnerships with industry, the integration of career and academic advising, support for low-income students – are no longer solely concepts at 2-year colleges but are perceived as important and necessary by a growing number of 4-year and graduate institutions
- On-line and hybrid programs are valued and perceived with greater acceptance for degrees
- Student enrollment – including recruitment and retention – is understood by a growing number of institutions as more than just an Admissions or Student Affairs side responsibility, but as sophisticated strategic enrollment management work that requires specialized attention and involves all campus stakeholders
Of course, changes in attitudes and practices like this are not present at every institution, in fact at many colleges and universities these continue to be significant turf and/or scapegoat struggles. However, if you work in higher ed, you won’t be surprised by this list, and your institution is likely involved with more than one item noted.
Many would agree that college curriculum and teaching are at our center and critical for successful student learning and success. And, so are – campus culture, student learning and support outside of the classroom, alumni support, and technology. It’s true that most of us might agree that higher ed is much more of a “business-model” than 20 years ago. However, with the current and growing public focus on higher education relevance and viability, perhaps a more holistic and student/community-centered model of college is evolving. A model of higher education where learning and getting a good job are both important, and worthy, goals for graduates and the communities where they live. A proto-type of higher ed where faculty, staff, and students are equal partners in ensuring a culture that fosters success for all, whether in-person or on-line modalities. An understanding that price and quality both matter and that institutions must adopt forms of higher education that increase economies-of-scale, access, flexibility, and quality and that all are important. With waning public support, higher ed must pay attention to embracing innovation and change in support of healthy, diverse, viable institutions and students. The “what” is not the hard part – it’s the “how” we do this work and manage the natural fear and resistance from stakeholders for the perceived and real losses that change will make. This is a significant challenge that also represents opportunity and hope. To exchange more ideas on the hope in current higher ed disruptive innovation and evolution, find me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-murray-jensen/.