Larry D. Lauer

This past week has involved me in deep discussions about the dramatically changing higher education marketplace.  As I will be engaged in more conversations this coming week, I have made a list of “talking points.” Here is what I have so far:

1. Legislatures all over the United States are cutting back their funding, and many people think this trend is permanent; 2. As a result, public institutions are raising tuition, a situation which will alter the dynamics of the entire market; 3. Private institutions receive public funds for research and financial aid, all of which is also being cut back; 4. The public-private “dual system” of higher education is blurring, with many publics threatening to become private; Some already receive as little as 8% of their support from their states.

While all this is taking place in the U.S., our entire industry is at the same time becoming international… a dynamic that is changing the marketplace even more. So I add these points to my list:

1. Many governments around the world are cutting overall support as well, while others are investing heavily, and selectively; 2. Some of these focus on science and technology superiority; 3 Others focus on great student access and career education, (many think to the detriment of the liberal arts); 4. A few others only support a handful of institutions with a single goal of scoring high in world rankings;  5. World rankings focus almost exclusively on research and publishing, penalizing smaller high quality institutions; 6. For-profit institutions are expanding in the U.S. and abroad, gaining more market share and further changing enrollment dynamics.

All this is bringing university advancement more front and center, and changing the way this profession works.  So I add these talking points as well:

1. Fund raising is becoming a truly international endeavor, with foreign development officers coming more often to the U.S, and vice versa; 2. Student migration is shifting, bringing more student recruiters from other countries to U.S. high schools; 3. Faculty positions are becoming more international in their mobility and travel expectations; 4. Institutions are seeking more international students in order to provide a more global campus experience; 5. Finding global partners, and expanding student international experiences, is becoming a major focus of more and more administrations.

All of these forces are coming upon us simultaneously, producing the “sea change” we are experiencing. These changes are bringing new opportunities for  advancement professionals, but they also bring huge new demands and challenges.  Hopefully addressing these talking points will also provide a guide for our professional development as we prepare ourselves to help lead the way.