Top Five Concerns in Higher Education Today Presented by Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, President Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges April 4, 2019

Issue #1 Cost of Higher Education

Issue #2 Shifting Student Demographics

Students of Tomorrow Decrease in recent high school graduates (especially in Northeast, Midwest and West) Increase in minority student enrollment Increase in Part-time students Increase in first generation students Focus on job preparation and making money

Issue #3 Leadership Development

Recruitment Challenges Graying of faculty Economy keeps them working; more expensive Salaries of adjunct and non-tenure track faculty are low Changing roles of faculty---teacher, researcher, preceptor, TA, non- tenure Administrators are all same age and retiring at same time Need to ‘grow your own’ is greater

Issue #4 Use of Data in Decision Making

Data Easier to accomplish with data analytics More personalized course delivery and advising Student achievement Decision making for Budgeting Number of classes offered Number of faculty needed

Issue #5 Stackable Credentials vs Degrees

options Competency based education Collection of badges and credentials vs college degree OR comprising college degree Learning from MOOCs, YouTube and other technology platforms

What else??

Student Success Is The Goal

Contact Information Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, President SACSCOC bwheelan@sacscoc.org www.sacscoc.org 404.679.4512