Specific Threats Now Facing Higher Education

The victory of Donald J. Trump in this year's polls has sent Americans, especially those in the educational sector, scampering for safety. This political upset is expected to greatly affect the future not only of education in America but also of the country in general. Americans and even immigrants are now worried about the effects of Trump presidency to higher education, a sector that has already been placed in jeopardy but previous government policies and which is in urgent need of reforms.

Trump's campaign did not focus much on higher education but the sector is now monitoring what the Republicans will do considering that the president-elect will surely support their initiatives in both Houses of Congress. Republicans have traditionally espoused predictable values that lean towards spending less on almost everything except defense. The challenges faced by each institution vary but the higher education sector is now faced with the challenge of uncertainty.

Huffington Post said the Presidents Institute Conference has served as a forum where college presidents discuss the various issues faced by the higher education sector. The challenge is greater now that that the traditional financial support provided by the Federal government to colleges is being questioned for a variety of reasons. One of those is the huge debt incurred by students compared to their employability given the economic challenges being faced by the country today.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has identified the threats to higher education today including the effects to liberal arts of the growing focus on career education, lesser federal support and increased dependence on private banks for students loans as well as the challenge of reducing the cost of college education. The sector is also faced with the challenge of addressing the high percentage of defaults in students loans, the reduction of international college students and the existence of undocumented students.

Higher Education summarized the problem of higher education as a deficit of opportunity and learning. Everyone will agree that not all are given the opportunity to avail of higher education and this is considered a deficit in opportunity. And as to those who get the chance to go to College, there is a deficit in learning because not all realize what they aspired to learn.