Learning Curve How Does AI Fit Into Broader Disruptions to Higher Ed?
Nov 11, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Bryan Alexander, a futurist and senior scholar on higher education trends, delves into the notion of 'Peak Higher Education.' He highlights the surge in dual enrollment and changing attitudes towards colleges. Bryan contrasts optimistic and cautious ideologies regarding AI's role in education. He addresses the complexities of AI adoption, faculty divisions, and the risks of personalization. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of critical AI literacy as a way forward for institutions navigating this evolving landscape.
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Higher Ed Passed Its Peak
- Higher education hit a quantitative peak around 2012 with enrollment and institutions shrinking since then.
- This decline pairs with a qualitative drop in public trust, signaling a systemic change not just a demographics glitch.
Growth Comes From Dual Enrollment
- Growth now comes largely from dual-enrollment high school students taking community college classes.
- That shift blurs the line between high school and college and changes where enrollment growth exists.
Financial And Cultural Stakes Declined
- The higher-education boom created a business model heavily dependent on student fees, so enrollment declines threaten institutional finances.
- The cultural consensus that more college is always better has eroded since that peak.
