CONCLUSION

One of the biggest reveals of the Virtual Pacific Region Fall Series, “COVID + CRUCIBLE: HIGHER EDUCATION FACES FALL 2020”, was that in this unprecedented and challenging time, our ability to ask the right questions, iterate on possible solutions, and share successes will define what higher education (and many aspects of society) look like moving forward. The following are the core questions that emerged from the series:

● Is higher education up to the challenges of this reckoning?

● How can we leverage integrated planning for the future success of our colleges and universities?

● What role can students play in shaping the future of higher education? 

● What does putting a premium on the in-person campus experience look like?

● Where are there opportunities for adaptive re-use of campus real estate?

● What new and innovative business models are emerging?

● What role does higher education play in dismantling systemic racism?

● How do we pick up on the momentum of Black Lives Matter to affect and sustain real change?

● Where and how do we meet students where they are?

● How are institutions responding to students’ needs for mental and physical wellbeing and support services?

● How do we combat isolation and create a sense of community that is safe and welcoming, both now and in the future?

As we explore different ways to address these questions, and many more, top of mind is the promise of higher education. What is this promise? Ask ten people and you’ll get ten different answers, but common, overlapping themes emerge: access, independence, exposure, workforce readiness, expertise, innovation, equity, social justice, advanced critical thinking. For many, education is the foundation upon which an equitable democracy either falters or thrives.

Many institutions of higher education are rooted in tradition, with consensus-based and often slow approaches to change. The pandemic forced us to move quickly while bringing together diverse and cross-disciplinary perspectives. Can we pick up on this sense of urgency to help higher education pivot and stay viable as both a business and civic proposition? How do we work together—right now in this liminal moment—to turn the crucible of COVID-19 into an opportunity? How do we transform higher education to deliver on its promise?