Higher education in America stands at a critical juncture as unprecedented political attacks threaten to erode academic freedom, and upend longstanding relationships between the federal government and both private and public colleges and universities. In this urgent and timely conversation, hosted by Lande Ajose, former Skidmore College President Jamie Studley brings her perspective as a college administrator, Obama-era deputy undersecretary of education, and head of a major accreditation commission, to analyze what's happening behind the headlines.

Studley makes a compelling case that America needs a range of educational pathways - not an either/or approach that pits vocational training against traditional degrees. The true measure of an equitable system, she argues, is whether all pathways remain accessible regardless of a student's background.
Perhaps most alarming are the encroachments on institutional autonomy, such as dictating to Columbia University how it should run one of its academic departments.
Studley also offers measured hope. This crisis might accelerate innovations in educational delivery, transfer pathways between institutions, and help colleges better articulate their value. For higher education leaders seeking guidance in navigating this treacherous landscape, this conversation provides critical context and strategic considerations from one of the field's most experienced voices.

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Brought to you by the Advancing Education Success Initiative -- Coby McDonald, Producer; Louis Freedberg, Executive Producer and Correspondent