Explores the current context, role, and challenges of post-secondary education and presents options for promising pathways forward. The post-secondary educational system has undergone dramatic changes and experienced immense stress in the past two decades. Once regarded as the logical next step toward career opportunities and financial security, higher education is a subject of growing uncertainty for millions of people across the United States. It is more common than ever to question the return on investment, skyrocketing cost, and student debt burden of going to college. Prospective students, and many employers, increasingly view attending institutions of higher learning as inadequate preparation for entering the 21st century workforce. High-profile scandals financial impropriety, sexual abuse, restrictions of free speech, among others have further eroded public trust. In response to these and other challenges, leading voices are demanding strengthened accountability and measurable change. Higher Education's Road to Relevance illustrates why change is needed in post-secondary education and offers practical solutions to pressing concerns. The authors, internationally recognized experts in college-level teaching and learning innovation, draw heavily from contemporary research to provide an integrative approach for post-secondary faculty, staff, and administrators of all levels. This timely book helps readers identify the need for leadership in developing new networks and ecosystems of learning and workforce development. This valuable book will help readers: Understand the forces driving change in higher education Develop multiple pathways to create and credential self-directed learners Promote access to flexible, cost-effective, and relevant learning Adapt structures and pedagogies to address issues and overcome challenges Use an inclusive approach that extends to employers, K-12 educators, post-secondary educators, and policy-makers, among others Higher Education's Road to Relevance is a much-needed resource for college and university administrators, academic researchers, instructors and other faculty, and staff who support and interact with students.

Explores the current context, role, and challenges of post-secondary education and presents options for promising pathways forward.The post-secondary educational system has undergone dramatic changes and experienced immense stress in the past two decades. Once regarded as the logical next step toward career opportunities and financial security, higher education is a subject of growing uncertainty for millions of people across the United States. It is more common than ever to question the return on investment, skyrocketing cost, and student debt burden of going to college. Prospective students, and many employers, increasingly view attending institutions of higher learning as inadequate preparation for entering the 21st century workforce. High-profile scandals--financial impropriety, sexual abuse, restrictions of free speech, among others--have further eroded public trust. In response to these and other challenges, leading voices are demanding strengthened accountability and measurable change.Higher Education's Road to Relevance illustrates why change is needed in post-secondary education and offers practical solutions to pressing concerns. The authors, internationally recognized experts in college-level teaching and learning innovation, draw heavily from contemporary research to provide an integrative approach for post-secondary faculty, staff, and administrators of all levels. This timely book helps readers identify the need for leadership in developing new networks and ecosystems of learning and workforce development. This valuable book will help readers:* Understand the forces driving change in higher education* Develop multiple pathways to create and credential self-directed learners* Promote access to flexible, cost-effective, and relevant learning* Adapt structures and pedagogies to address issues and overcome challenges* Use an inclusive approach that extends to employers, K-12 educators, post-secondary educators, and policy-makers, among othersHigher Education's Road to Relevance is a much-needed resource for college and university administrators, academic researchers, instructors and other faculty, and staff who support and interact with students.

Acknowledgments viiAbout the Authors ixIntroduction 11 Exploring Challenges and Opportunities: Setting the Context for Change 5Introduction 6Growing Public Concern 8Radically Changing Employment Landscape 37Expanding Learner Base and Changing Learner Needs 53Conclusion 65References 662 Leveraging Complexity: Illuminating Compelling Outcomes 88Introduction 89Address the World's Political, Economic, and Social Challenges 93Reflect the Human Experience and Imagining the Future 98Respond to Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity (VUCA) 100Engage a Multigenerational and Multicultural Workforce 104Continue to Learn in a Workplace Environment 110Take Control of Their Own Career Development 113Learn to Work in Human-Robot Partnerships 116Navigate Access to Expanding Information 123Become Responsible Citizens of Their Country and the World 128Design Lives That Achieve Balance, Fulfillment, and Well-Being 131Conclusion 134References 1363 Discovering Possibilities: Designing for the Future 147Introduction 148Broaden Perspective 149Leverage What We Know about How People Learn 162Change Strategies and Seize Opportunities 168Align People, Processes, Structures, and Technology 222Conclusion 234References 2354 Charting a Path Forward: Getting Us from Here to There 251Introduction 251Embrace Disruption with an Innovative Mindset 253Employ Systems Thinking 256Engage Design Thinking 261Create Skunk Works: An Organizational Approach to Innovation 264Break the Cycle That Perpetuates Socioeconomic Gaps of Access and Success 266Reduce Administrative Redundancies 268Lessen Noise to Enhance Mobility 270Nurture Transformational Leadership 272Conclusion 276References 278Index 285