This Week in Higher Ed: Insights & Inspiration for Leaders

Welcome to your weekly digest of key developments shaping higher education. From campus closures to career readiness, these five stories offer both timely challenges and leadership opportunities.

1. Penn State’s Campus Closure Plan Spurs Community Response

Penn State’s proposal to close one campus and merge several others has triggered intense reactions from faculty, students, and regional leaders. Concerns about transparency and rural impact are central, reflecting broader pressures on institutions facing enrollment and financial headwinds.

2. Financial Aid Officers Report Ongoing Federal System Breakdowns

Financial aid administrators continue to experience critical delays and system issues with the federal FAFSA process, disrupting student support and enrollment planning. While the Department of Education works to correct these failures, institutions are navigating real-time challenges to student access.

3. Rural Religious Colleges Confront Existential Threats

Small, rural religious colleges face declining enrollment, limited endowments, and cultural shifts that challenge their missions and models. These institutions are working to stay relevant while preserving values-based education in a changing higher ed landscape.

4. High Schools Expand College and Career Readiness Through CTE

High school Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are rapidly evolving to prepare students for both college and the workforce, often with strong industry and higher ed partnerships. These innovations are building momentum around dual-purpose readiness, especially for underrepresented students.

5. Gen Z Students Are Redefining Success & Work-Life Balance

College career services are shifting to align with Gen Z’s holistic view of success, which prioritizes mental health, purpose-driven work, and flexibility. Institutions are adapting to help students define meaningful pathways that reflect today’s labor market and student values.

Leadership Corner: Reflection for the Week

As pressures mount—from fiscal constraints to cultural shifts—what does it mean to lead with clarity and care? This week’s stories remind us that institutional decisions have profound ripple effects, not only on operations but on communities, values, and student futures. How can we build more transparent processes, partner effectively with K–12 and industry, and honor the evolving priorities of our students?

• Where are your institution’s blind spots in communicating change?
• What assumptions are you making about what students want from college?
• Who needs to be at the table to ensure decisions reflect both mission and modernity?

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