For Presidents, Necessity Breeds Innovation

"“Necessity is the mother of invention,” said Kevin Doyle, president and CEO of Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, which is now offering an alternative pathway for learners without bachelor's degrees, based on a robust set of credit for prior learning (CPL) requirements. “The time is clearly ripe for innovation, not just because of the federal policy environment but also economic pressures, industry needs, uncertainties about AI's impact on the workforce, and the proliferation of online learning options.”"

"Risk and innovation were twin themes in Inside Higher Ed's 2026 Survey of College and University Presidents with Hanover Research. While presidents (N=430) identified financial volatility (45 percent) and political interference (43 percent) as the fastest-growing risks facing their institutions, they also described an increasingly dynamic, adaptive sector. Looking ahead to 2030, nearly half of presidents (48 percent) said AI will have the greatest impact on higher education, while 45 percent pointed to cost and financial model pressures-with private nonprofit institution presidents especially concerned about the latter."

"At the same time, virtually all presidents and their institutions are evolving their education models in some way: Seven in 10 are considering adding or expanding short-term credentials aligned with employer needs over the next three years, six in 10 are exploring structured microcredential pathways and more than a third each are pursuing apprenticeship-based pathways, cooperative and other wor"

Financial volatility and political interference are growing risks for higher education institutions. Presidents expect AI to have the greatest impact by 2030 and also anticipate strong pressure from costs and financial models, especially among private nonprofit institutions. Institutions are evolving education models through multiple approaches, including adding or expanding short-term credentials aligned with employer needs, exploring structured microcredential pathways, and pursuing apprenticeship-based and cooperative pathways. Some leaders are also creating alternative routes for learners without bachelor’s degrees by using robust credit for prior learning requirements. Innovation is framed as necessary due to federal policy shifts, economic pressures, industry needs, uncertainty about AI’s effects on the workforce, and the growth of online learning options.

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