Friday Follow Up

With federal policy shifts in motion, what do higher ed leaders need to prepare for now? How will changes in funding, accreditation, and workforce alignment affect institutions in the years ahead? And most importantly—how can universities respond strategically rather than reacting to regulatory uncertainty? This session cuts through the noise to deliver real-time insights and predictions on the policies, priorities, and politics that will impact institutions in the year ahead.

Postsecondary is continually awash in nontraditional offerings that threaten to upend the industry, from massive open online courses to boot camps. None have succeeded. With the advent of accessible AI, WGU Labs has embarked on a moonshot: a degree for the cost of a gym membership. Will this ultimately transform the postsecondary landscape? More importantly, will students buy it this time? In this debate, leading voices in AI-EdTech, higher ed, and media will discuss whether continued innovations will gain the traction needed to upend the system - or if history will continue to repeat itself.

This session brings together Goldie Blumenstyk (The Chronicle of Higher Education), Phil Hill (Phil Hill & Associates), and Stephanie Hall (Student Borrower Protection Center) for a riveting conversation on how much regulation is needed in today’s rapidly evolving landscape—and who really holds the reins of power. From federal policy to private industry influence, the panel will explore the key forces shaping online higher education, the balance between innovation and oversight, and what it all means for institutions, students, and the future of learning.