Imagine a vibrant campus, once buzzing with creativity and artistic passion, now grappling with the harsh realities of budget cuts and empty classrooms—a scene unfolding at Columbia College Chicago this year. This renowned institution, celebrated for its arts and media programs, finds itself in a
Imagine a dedicated teacher, with years of shaping young minds under their belt, suddenly facing the stark possibility of losing their livelihood due to decisions beyond their control. In the Amphitheater Public Schools district in Tucson, Arizona, this scenario is becoming all too real as a
In a candid conversation, Ethan Blaine speaks with Camille Faivre, an education management expert who helps universities redesign open and e-learning programs. Drawing on a decade of systemwide program reviews and hands-on turnaround work after the pandemic, she explains how Florida’s public
A week that spliced policy engineering with campus politics told a single story: U.S. higher education reshaped itself in real time as oversight migrated, money surged, demand zigged, and governance met the courtroom, and the ripple effects reached budgets, pipelines, and norms in one sweep. The
From diploma dividend to early-career drag: why this moment matters and what this roundup probes Graduation used to be a launchpad that practically guaranteed momentum, yet today the runway looks crowded and the lift takes longer to arrive for many new degree holders. A chorus of voices—from labor
Ethan, thanks for having me. I’ve spent the post-pandemic years helping presidents and boards redesign programs, budgets, and digital delivery under mounting financial and demographic strain. The big themes we’ll unpack today are unmistakable: closures cluster where tuition dependence is high and
