3 Trends in Higher Education Predicted for 2024

After a turbulent 2023, here are three higher education trends to expect in 2024.

This past year was quite the rollercoaster for colleges and universities within the United States.

Many colleges all over the states struggled with budget deficiencies, state legislature taking harsh action against curricular and diversity programs, campus disagreements grew over the Hamas-Israel war based in Gaza, multiple presidents of universities were forced to resign, and there was a decline in upcoming freshmen which could lead to less students attending college in the future.

With all that in mind, here are three trends predicted to see in 2024.

Expanding Artificial Intelligence

AI is expanding and impacting many areas including higher education. While there are still concerns over how AI tools such as ChatGPT can be used for cheating, some faculty are now expanding the use of AI in light of how it can be used to improve and personalize the learning of students.

There is a lot of research being done in order to investigate AI and its uses such as administrators using AI technology in areas like admissions and recruiting, student support services, information technology, and retention aspects.

Much research is being done to understand future AI use in order to positively impact student learning and other uses for higher education.

More Higher Education Legislature

In the past few years there has been a lot of legislative activity impacting higher education within Republican-controlled states. These changes include ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, dictating curriculum, controlling faculty tenure, and prohibiting trans students from participating within athletics teams. Expect more of that within 2024.

Since the start of the previous year, 2023, there have been been around 59 bills which would roll back the diversity efforts at colleges and universities introduced in more than almost two dozen states.

Within Texas, a law went into effect in January which outlaws DEI offices, diversity hiring statements, and faculty diversity training. The University of Texas has since closed their Multicultural Engagement Center due to this law. An official also stated that the university will no longer fund events of cultural impact such as graduation ceremonies focused mainly for Black, Asian, and Latino students, says the student newspaper at the University of Texas, Austin.

In Utah, recently Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill that barred against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the states educational institutions and government workplaces. This law will prohibit any higher educational program that includes "diversity, equity, and inclusion" within its name or "asserts that meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist." This law will also demand all student support services be open to all students, outlawing efforts aimed to focus on students of certain races or genders.

More than 30 states have introduced bills banning or limiting DEI initiatives within higher education.

Changes Within Admission Practices

According to a recent Inside Higher education article, there have been predictions about college admissions policies and practices that will be changing. There is estimated to be more legal challenges to race based considerations for financial aid .

Due to the ongoing criticism of legacy admissions at institutions around the US, we are to expect more colleges to end their practice of admitting students at the advantage of being the child of alumni. Many other institutions have already stopped using legacy references within the past years.

Some admission programs will increase as institutions search for more ways to boost enrollments and reach those students that might not be considering attending higher education. Some institutions are looking to enlarge college preparations and create programs to persuade more students to enroll into higher education.

Admission programs will increase as colleges search for ways to boost new and prospective student enrollments.