Leadership in Higher
Education: Emerging
Paradigms in the New
Millennium
Larry D. Roper
Oregon State University
Overview
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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
Access
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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
Affordability
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Colleges and universities have become less
affordable
Lack of grant funding to cover full financial
need.
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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
Funding Higher Education
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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)
Public Perception
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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
Technology, Distant Students and
On-Line Communities
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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
Technology, Distant Students
and On-Line Communities
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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 ecampus
Efficiency benefits of technology will soon be
maximized
Learning Environments
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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
Regulatory Issues
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Cost
Standards
Greater government scrutiny
Transfer of Credits
Student Tracking
Time to completion
Issues
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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
Issues
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Balancing dynamics of intellectualism,
careerism and consumerism
Sustainability and environmental issues will
increase in prominence – increased impact of
“Green Industry”
Diversity
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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