Are Universities Really Dying?

Photo via The Vendry

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In the United States, freedom of speech is absolutely paramount. The American university has been a pillar of this democratic ideal since its creation. Freedom of speech and thought flows through the halls of our beloved colleges and universities, and universities have long been molding public opinion and critical thought. 

However, in recent decades, there has been a rising discourse on the troubled state of the university as an academic and social institution. With continual change in the job market and shifting priorities in government and the economy, how can age-old institutions such as the university hold up? 

These uncertainties have only been exacerbated by the increased reliance on artificial intelligence in the workforce and academia, as well as by government efforts to limit  academic resources, such as funding projects deemed not to align with Conservative American values. The recent news cycle features titles such as “The Dark Ages are Back” or “AI companies are Eating Higher Education.” Amidst these headlines are also claims to the end of an educated public. As a recipient of a college education, like most readers, these articles concern me. 

The messaging we are experiencing in the media feels like a call to give in to desperation or worse, apathy. In a world of distraction, college students do not need any more enticement to cede their critical thinking. If intellectualism is perishing along with the basic institutions that uphold it, what is the merit of a modern college degree?

The current contentious state of higher education clearly reflects the many points of insecurity and pressure created by our rapidly changing society. With recent actions such as the repeal of affirmative action and ever increasing tuition, inequalities have become pervasive throughout American universities. However, I believe that we ought to propose an alternative to a complete breakdown of the university and the educated populace. I propose that this instability be used to forge a new path, because at the bottom line, it is an absolute necessity. 

First off, the quick, loosely regulated growth of AI and its encroachment into the academic world is concerning many educators. However, rather than the end of human intelligence, does A.I. not increase the demand for dynamic and flexible thinkers? 

Some sources suggest recognizing that A.I. will only become more prevalent in the future, rather than resisting it. The chief educational officer of the Learning Policy Institute advocates dismantling the “factory model” infrastructure still found in many components of modern education. The factory model was developed during the Industrial Revolution to prepare pupils for the (once again) rapidly changing workforce. It emphasized memorization and obedience. The creation of an accessible college education was a response to the changing demands of production under the Industrial Revolution. History has taught us that when the structural hierarchies of labor, power, and technology change drastically, educational institutions must reflect the new reality. 

Our educational system has not undergone any major reinvention since the birth of assembly-line labor and mass production. If one were to look around now, one would see a world completely altered, where ideas are the primary source of capital. In our current information-based economy, strides in artificial intelligence technology challenges the value in educating in the old way. 

The second point of concern is the government’s affronts to the liberality of education. The Trump administration began a series of education reforms shortly after Donald J. Trump took office. The Trump Administration has since produced policies such as “Eliminating Racial Indoctrination in K-12 Schools.” Policies such as this, coupled with the removal of affirmative action in university admissions, raise valid questions about how far the government is legally permitted to infringe on educational freedom and about the direction of equity in education. 

The results of the current administration’s attempts to pressure colleges financially to give in to policing of curriculum and management have been incredibly telling. Universities such as Harvard are pursuing legal action against the president’s threats, in this case over attempts to freeze 2.2 billion in research grants. Simultaneously, some institutions such as Columbia are choosing to concede to proposed terms including increased surveillance, oversight, and elimination of DEI language and programming. The varying responses of American universities to the current administration will continue to reveal who higher up on the educational ladder is truly committed to protecting students and preserving the integrity of their institutions.   

Essentially, I believe that the university is not dying; it is simply being reborn. We are on the brink of massive change, and modern educational techniques should adjust to prepare students to tackle it. When the world changes and institutions do not, they become obsolete. One thing is clear: we can not continue to follow the old path. This being so, we must forge a new one. 

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This article was edited by Brianna Leathem-Brazzini and Adam Sharqawe.