Top 8 Higher Education Trends of the Decade
ningcontentThose of us in the higher education field learned a lot during the 2000-2009 period, mainly that nothing stays the same. Things evolve at record speeds as technology develops, mindsets change, and trends take hold. Here are 8 of the biggest higher education trends I witnessed during the last decade:
Online Learning – A decade ago, the idea of earning a degree from your home computer sounded a little shady. Fast forward, and over 3.5 million people are taking online learning courses today, with most major colleges and universities offering online degree programs. The concept of “point, click, study” is officially mainstream.
High Tech Classrooms – Back in 1998 when I graduated college, I thought it was annoying that one of my professors asked us to turn in our assignments via email. What an inconvenience! Wow, how the classroom has changed! From Twittering profs and laptop carrying students, to podcast lessons and mobile apps for studying, the days of pen and paper lectures are over.
Early Admission Flip Flop – For a while there, the nation’s top colleges and universities got together and said that early admissions was a bad idea, that it was causing too much pressure among eager high schoolers. Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Stanford were among those that dropped the option in the last 10 years. But recently, the numbers show that students are more than ever relying on the binding admissions option. More pressure? Perhaps, but the early admissions debate rages on…
Study Abroad Boom – More students than ever are traveling abroad and making the world their classroom. In fact, the Institute of International Education (IIE) reports a 60 percent increase in the number of students studying outside their native country since the year 2000; the number of U.S. students going abroad increased by 150 percent. Blame it on the globalization of the business world or the proliferation of abroad programs, but chances are if you’re a student today, you’ve got a passport.
Admissions 2.0 – If you were a student in decades past, you might remember getting stacks of college viewbooks mailed to your home shortly after you took the SAT. Today’s student gets his admissions information emailed, tweeted, text messaged, and live chatted. Information overload? Maybe, but a few trees are probably being saved in the process.
Career Education Explosion – Toward the end of the 00s, as the economy got tougher, the tough went back to school to learn a trade, bulk up their resumes, or develop a new skill set to lead to a career change. Specialized training programs fulfilled the demand by offering enticing options for adult learners including flexible class hours, better financial aid opportunities, and promises of post-grad job placement.
Student Amenities – Whatever happened to 20 students sharing one dorm bathroom as a rite of passage? Check out University Business’ report “Dorms of Distinction,” and “Dining Halls of Distinction” to see which campuses are offering outrageous and awesome extras.
Overcrowded Two-Year Colleges – They’re affordable, a stepping stone to four-year degree programs and, for many, a fast track to a new career. Two-year programs saw record numbers of applicants toward the latter half of the decade, so much so that they had to turn people away.
What will the next decade bring? Only time will tell, but I can bet the things discussed on this post will be considered old school.
Article by Dawn Papandrea and courtesy of CollegeSurfing Insider.
