Confronting the Storm: Resistance to Change and Current Attacks on Higher Education

Higher education faces increasing external pressures and diminishing public trust—creating an urgent need for institutional adaptation. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Brian Rosenberg, former president of Macalister College and author of "Whatever It Is, I'm Against It," about why resistance to change has made colleges and universities particularly vulnerable to current attacks.

Drawing on his 17 years of presidential experience and current perspective as a Harvard visiting professor, Rosenberg analyzes the economic, political, and structural factors undermining public confidence in higher education while offering candid observations about what institutional leaders must do differently to navigate this challenging landscape.

This conversation is especially relevant for presidents, trustees, and institutional leaders seeking to understand both external threats and internal barriers to necessary change.

Topics Covered:

• The multiple factors driving declining public confidence in higher education
• How political polarization and economic concerns about affordability create challenges
• Why traditional governance structures struggle to implement transformational change
• The impact of low completion rates (under 60% nationally) on public perception
• The relationship between boards and presidents during challenging periods
• Why institutions need to collaborate more effectively against external threats

Real-World Examples Discussed:

• Columbia University as a target of coordinated attacks on higher education
• Wellesley College's $100,000 comprehensive fee and its impact on public trust
• The contrast between campus protests today and those of the 1960s
• Institutions with 30% completion rates that would signal catastrophic failure in other industries
• The success of community-connected support structures at Amarillo College

Three Key Takeaways for Leadership:

• Presidents must be honest and transparent with stakeholders about institutional challenges.
• Board members have a responsibility to defend institutional mission—service is a privilege that carries obligations.
• The board-president relationship is the single most important factor in institutional effectiveness.

This episode provides thoughtful analysis for institutional leaders navigating external pressures while managing internal resistance to necessary change.

Recommended For: Presidents, trustees, board members, chief financial officers, and enrollment leaders concerned about institutional sustainability and public perception of higher education.

Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/resistance-to-change-attacks-on-higher-education/

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