1. Forces of Change in U.S. Higher Education
Presentation By
John F. Ebersole
Associate Provost & Dean
Extended Education
Boston University
And
President
University Continuing Education Association (UCEA)
July 2002
Puebla, Mexico

2. My Perspective Limited to U.S. 18 Years in Higher Education
Four Institutions
Two Private
Two Public
Dean/Assoc. Provost Positions
Non-Traditional Focus
11 Years in UCEA

3. My Institution “America’s Most International” Private, Research Focus
30,000 Students
3,000 Faculty
Established in 1839 as a Religious Institution
Home to such Nobel Prize Winners as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Elie Wiesel

4. Forces for Change Economics Technology Globalization Demographics
Expectations
Competition

5. Economics Rising Costs Decreasing Public Support
Factors of Competition
Declining Traditional Markets (Regional)
Decreasing Public Support
Increasing Emphasis on Self-Support & New Revenue Sources
Business Skills of Growing Value
[Ronald Ehrenberg, “Tuition Rising”]

6. Technology “Dancing with the Devil”
Hardware, Software, Training, Organizational Needs
Part of Curricula
High Cost of Providing
Short Use Life
Means of Delivery
On-Campus
Off-Campus

7. Globalization Curricular Change Study Abroad International Demand
Portability of Credits and Credentials
Distance Learning Opportunity
Non-Tariff Barriers

8. Demographics Only 27% of U.S. Students now Fit “Traditional” Label
Older Students
Demand for Credentials and Access Beyond Undergraduate Experience
Growing Immigrant Population
Two-thirds of High School Graduates go to College
Half of all Higher Education Enrollments are Part-Time
Fastest Growing Group = Over 35

9. Expectations By Students By Parents By Faculty By Employers
Services
Facilities
By Parents
By Faculty
By Employers
By Politicians

10. Competition From Abroad (Emergence of “International Institutions”)
For-Profit Providers
Corporate “Universities”
Virtual Providers

11. The Response From Teaching to Learning New Initiatives Consolidation
Differentiation

12. Today’s Structure of Higher Education
Research Universities
Four-Year Colleges
Two-Year Colleges
For-Profit Colleges
Profession-Related and Specialized Institutions
Tomorrow’s Structure (in addition)
Software and Hardware Co’s
Telecom Providers
Information Service Co’s
Entertainment Companies
Corporations and Govt. Agencies

13. A New Taxonomy Brand-Name Providers Mass-Providers
Convenience Providers
* Zemsky & Massey

14. Looking Ahead Alliances & Mergers The “Open” Model
Certification of Knowledge
Diversification

15. Further Reading “A University for the 21st Century”
James J. Duderstadt
University of Michigan Press