Leadership in Higher Education: Emerging Paradigms in the New Millennium

1. Leadership in Higher Education: Emerging Paradigms in the New Millennium Larry D. Roper Oregon State University

2. Overview • A college education is more important today than ever before; • Need for a coordinated approach to meet changing economic demands and rising enrollment numbers and changing national needs; • Need for national leadership on this issue (in and outside higher ed. community

3. Access • No notable progress since the early 1990s • Projected college-ready population will increasingly be from first generation, low income families with little or no experience in higher education. • There is an increasing need for outreach programs and college financial planning. • It is critical to support programs that facilitate early engagement with colleges and universities • Diversity politics will influence higher ed. access agenda - mission challenge

4. Affordability • Colleges and universities have become less affordable • Lack of grant funding to cover full financial need. • Pell Grant award levels static for five years • Increased reliance on loans and work to cover costs • Explosion of alternative loan borrowing to fill remaining need

5. Funding Higher Education • A significant decrease in funding from government sources • Increased reliance on fund-raising • Public-private partnerships (economic development) • Public partnerships (increase productions of high-demand graduates)

6. Public Perception • Sticker shock, media attention on skyrocketing costs • Value of higher education clear, confusion on processes • Families unaware of financial aid or other funding mechanisms • Complexity of application discourages families from taking advantage of available assistance

7. Technology, Distant Students and On-Line Communities • Better understand the role technology plays in the lives of students • Understand the role of “virtual communities” and how those communities enhance or detract from a quality collegiate experience • Explore use of digital learning communities in ways that deepen the quality of the educational experience

8. Technology, Distant Students and On-Line Communities • Expectation of cutting edge technology in and outside the classroom • E-movement (Online courses, registration, financial aid, residential life issues, transactions) - e-mail, e-commerce and e-campus • Efficiency benefits of technology will soon be maximized

9. Learning Environments • Increased demand for interdisciplinary learning • Distance learning utilized to increase access and revenue • Increased emphasis on assessment and learning outcomes • Shift to evidence-based, results-oriented standards • Academic Integrity challenges

10. Regulatory Issues • Cost • Standards • Greater government scrutiny • Transfer of Credits • Student Tracking • Time to completion

11. Issues • Alignment of coursework and assessments • Accountability • Growing consumerism • Increasing economic impact • Competition (for faculty, top students, funding, status…) and survival • Increased importance of community colleges • Growth in proprietary education

12. Issues • Balancing dynamics of intellectualism, careerism and consumerism • Sustainability and environmental issues will increase in prominence – increased impact of “Green Industry”

13. Diversity • Hispanic population growth • Increased bi-racial and multi-racial students • Challenge to culture-specific support and access programs • Adult-student population • International student access and tracking