Peak higher ed : how to survive the looming academic crisis / Bryan Alexander.
| Author/creator | Alexander, Bryan, 1967- author. |
| Format | Electronic |
| Publication | Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2026. |
| Copyright Date | ©2026 |
| Description | 1 online resource (xiii, 195 pages) |
| Supplemental Content | EBSCOhost |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Peak higher education, the first decade -- Forces pushing academia further downslope -- After the consensus shattered -- Automation comes for the campus -- The anthropocene is here, ready or not -- Academia and the struggle for humanity's future -- Managed descent -- Climbing back to peak. |
| Abstract | "Mapping out the strategic future of higher education. Over the past decade, American colleges and universities have seen enrollment decline, campuses close, programs cut, faculty and staff laid off, and public confidence erode. In 'Peak Higher Ed', futurist Bryan Alexander forecasts what the next decade might hold if we continue down this path. He argues that the United States has passed its high-water mark for postsecondary education and now faces a critical turning point. How will higher ed institutions respond to this wave of change and crisis? Combining data-driven research with scenario modeling, Alexander outlines a powerful framework for understanding what led to this moment: declining birthrates, surging student debt, rising tuition, shifting political winds, and growing skepticism about the value of a college degree. He maps out how these forces, if left unchecked, could continue to reshape academia by shrinking its footprint, narrowing its mission, and jeopardizing its role in addressing the planet's most pressing challenges, from climate change to artificial intelligence. Alexander explores how institutions might adapt or recover, presenting two possible futures: a path of managed descent and a more hopeful course of reinvention. 'Peak Higher Ed' examines the fraying of the "college for all" consensus, the long shadow of pandemic-era disruptions, and the political polarization that has placed universities in the crosshairs. Written for educators, policymakers, students, and anyone invested in the future of higher learning, this book offers a deeply informed, unflinching look at the road ahead and the choices that will determine whether colleges and universities retreat from their peak or rise to a new one."-- Publisher's website. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographic references and index. |
| Source of description | Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (EBSCOhost, viewed April 2, 2026). |
| Issued in other form | Print version: Alexander, Bryan, 1967- Peak higher ed. Baltimore, MD : Johns Hopkins University Press, [2026] 9781421454702 |
| ISBN | 9781421454719 (ebook) |
| ISBN | 1421454718 (ebook) |
| ISBN | (hardcover) |
| ISBN | (hardcover) |
| Stock number | 7C887B12-90D7-4764-9A53-0C04A385C5A0 OverDrive, Inc. http://www.overdrive.com |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |