Issue link: http://digital.corporatepress.com/i/445610
10 | january/february 2015 | Facilities Manager executive summary executive summary N ow more than ever, higher edu- cation institutions must think strategically about the future of their institutions. Today's economic and regulatory landscape remains unsettled and continues to change more rapidly every day. Similarly, educational facilities professionals must stay abreast of these broader issues to ensure the facilities organization is contributing to the greater good of the institution. As we look ahead, the following external influences will continue to impact society, the higher education industry, and ultimately all educational facilities management. • Everything is Going Digital, and Rapidly—Technology remains trans- formative and will continue to change how students learn and how institu- tions are managed. The rate and pace of change in this area will continue to accelerate exponentially. We expect to see more online learning (moving beyond MOOCs), hybrid learning, flipped classrooms, and collaborative models. These will be typical rather than supplemental. With millennial students viewing technology as ubiq- uitous, information will be more ac- cessible on a myriad of mobile devices and platforms, social networking will be used by everyone, and degrees in big data/analytics will be the norm. Or, are we already there? To survive, we need to understand and embrace the new technologies. Growth in higher education will rely on colleges and universities reaching out to students where they are located, rather than expecting students to necessarily reside on campuses. • Ensuring Education is Affordable— A college education is increasingly un- affordable for many students, let alone their parents (the statistics are well- known and abound). Student loan debt has exceeded the trillion dollar mark, and student financial aid is in peril. Although most state governments' contributions to higher education in- stitutions have stabilized, that share has seen little increase above the pre-2008 levels (before the Great Recession). Federal government's contribution remains in decline with questionable continued support of federal student aid. Both will affect public institu- tions and some private institutions as well. In the midst of this reality, we must seek to create a sustainable, yet adequate net tuition revenue base. We can expect increased scrutiny and more governmental regulation. The biggest fear is that this will lead to more cuts in funding and more intervention by government. • Rethinking the Business Model for Higher Education—Since it is becoming abundantly clear that higher education will not return to a pre-2008 level of support, the cost spiral isn't sustainable. A new busi- ness model is needed with improved accountability in all areas. Alignment of institutional strategy with budget development and performance metrics will aid in future success. Evolve or Atrophy is driving the imperative to innovate. • Heightening Competition, Both Global and Local —Higher education institutions are continuing to go glob- al, with an increased presence outside the United States and rising numbers of international students and faculty on U.S. campuses. Institutions are establishing branch campuses on every continent, as well as contracting with other nations to plan and administer programs overseas. The international economic landscape brings China and India to the forefront given their commitment to education attainment and driving the need for increased numbers of trained, highly skilled workers. In addition, the ascendance of for-profit providers will continue to influence the very nature of higher education. A Look Ahead at the External Influences Impacting Higher Education By E. Lander Medlin executive summary