Navigating Higher Education Challenges

Every year has its challenges in higher education, but I don’t know of any time in my professional career that has matched this past year. Since January 2025, in the United States, we’ve seen research funding cut across the sector, the gutting of the Department of Education, and federal oversight affecting many, if not all, institutions. It is likely that 2026 will also bring challenges to our lives, both personal and professional, which can feel overwhelming just thinking about. A simple approach would be to avoid thinking about it, maybe even choosing not to pay attention to the chaos that exists in the world. This may actually be a very healthy approach, especially to remove yourself from social media and the anxiety that can be a byproduct. The flaw, I think, of being completely disconnected, to sit on the sidelines, is that we become isolated from the broader community at a time when engagement may be our most powerful tool for shaping the change we want to see in our corner of the world.

An approach I’d recommend is to reflect on what you see as the most important issues at this moment in time, to be thoughtful about what opportunities exist for improvement, and, minimally, to prepare yourself for navigating choppy waters ahead. Even in situations when things feel overwhelming, like things are out of our control, I find it helpful to process what is in front of me rather than wish circumstances were different. I can’t promise answers to all of the problems we are facing in higher education and our work in college unions, but as I reflect broadly on my top three among many, hopefully I can suggest a few ideas for how to move forward. 

First, and at the top of my list, is the relevance, resilience, and potential regression of higher education. The sector is navigating an environment marked by ideological divides, an exodus of international students, loss of a liberal arts curriculum, and, most concerning, due to the significant reduction in research funding, the potential of discovery setbacks for decades. Some of this is not new information. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, seven in 10 Americans think higher education is going in the wrong direction, 55% ranked preparing students for well-paying jobs as poor, and 49% don’t think colleges do well developing students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. At the same time, the survey found general opposition to federal funding cuts to science and to health research, and 75% reported either some or a lot of trust in colleges “to do what is right.” Another poll by Quinnipiac University found that most Americans don’t agree with the Trump administration’s approach to higher education. Fifty-seven percent of respondents opposed increasing the federal government’s role in how colleges and universities operate, and 42% strongly opposed such strong involvement.

While we can’t control the amount of research funding coming to our institutions, we can promote all of the benefits higher education brings to society; with our friends, in our communities, and in our social media posts. For example, I shared Harvard University’s website on LinkedIn to highlight the impact of their research. In our college unions, we can talk about how our students, like building managers and programmers, think critically and solve problems every day in their jobs and volunteer roles. An example is the Manchester Students’ Union, which conducts extensive research and publishes reports on the student experience. While I’m not pleased by the current state of affairs, I am optimistic rather than pessimistic about the future of higher education. All of us need to be part of proudly sharing all the good that comes from the colleges and universities where we study and work.

Second on my list of concerns in this challenging world is what is needed to support the success of students. Issues such as access, mental health, belonging, and the federal government’s focus to limit DEI initiatives impact the student experience. A recent article in The New York Times quotes students about what worries them:

• “The biggest challenge is definitely financial.” 
• “I feel like for a lot of people, you have trouble finding your group of people. I feel like there is a lonelier side to it.” 
• “AI might make life easier, but it is also sort of antithetical to the idea of community and collaboration.” 
• The good news, according to a survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab is that seven in 10 students feel welcomed, valued, and supported on their campus. 

This latter point is central to the role of the college union and has been part of our ethos since the earliest unions were founded. Welcoming students, creating a sense of belonging, supporting student success, and advancing campus community are what excites us in our jobs. We take care of students, as is evident by the expansion of basic needs centers in college unions across the world. College unions can be a big part of the solution in helping students to overcome obstacles, to thrive, and to flourish during their collegiate career.

Third on my list is the hyperpolarization that exists in society and on our college campuses. I’ve been concerned about our polarized world for years, but we’ve entered into an even more extreme level, hyperpolarization. Many federal and state politicians model behavior depicting the opposing side as an enemy, lean into identity-based conflicts, and take on a hostile tone. On our college campuses, we’ve seen sensitive issues like the Israel-Gaza war, abortion, and immigration reach heightened conflicts rather than opposing sides expressing their opinions or beliefs.

So, what can we do? As individuals, the easiest thing is to embed ourselves into our own tribe, to be with those that are like-minded; there is comfort and unity as we rail against the other side. However, I don’t think we’ll see much change in society if we continue to remain so entrenched, to disregard the other side’s beliefs and rationale. One of the pillars of ACUI’s strategic plan is active dialogue, and that is where I want to challenge all of us to focus our energy. Rather than simply write off or put down others with whom we disagree, it is a lot harder to engage in difficult two-way conversations, to reflect and speak deeply about your values while actively listening to others. Active dialogue invites individuals to create a culture of open communication by learning from one another, hearing each other’s perspectives, and being heard. I think it exhibits a form of leadership distinctive from what is being practiced today, and we should all want to lead from a place of respect, understanding, and desire to do good in this world. College unions are positioned to teach and support active dialogue, to advance campus community to positively change the world.

None of us know what the year ahead looks like, but we can predict there will be some challenges, and if we look closely, opportunities for us to positively impact our campus communities. Spread the word about all the good things happening in higher education, including the skill development that students gain through the union. Lean into the role of the college union to support student belonging and success. Challenge yourself to engage with others through active dialogue. In the end, we can best position ourselves to navigate challenges that might be on the horizon by looking for opportunities that lie underneath.