First Day Jitters
What Should #HigherEd Pros Be Focusing On in 2025-26?
It’s the first day of classes, and the jitters are everywhere — in my colleagues, my students, and myself. Each September brings its own mix of excitement and unknowns, but this year feels different. As we enter the 2025–26 academic year, #HigherEd has been making far too much news for all the wrong reasons, with political grenades being launched at the academy by the Trump administration and state governments alike.
My summer has been consumed by supporting recent graduates and laid-off colleagues through an unforgiving job market. While immediate stability is the pressing concern, the question of the “future of the profession” looms large. I’ve spent much of this summer marinating on these realities because I take my commitment to the profession seriously.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to What's Up in The Academy? to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.