Unpacking the Crisis of Public Confidence in Higher Ed: What Critics Get Wrong (and Right) About the Value of a Degree - Webinar - presented by EAB

Where: Webinar/Virtual

When: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Note: Zoom login instructions will be sent the day prior. If you have not received login instructions by 4:00 pm the day before the webinar, please check your spam folder; if you still have not received the login details, please email nercomp@nercomp.org.

Workshop Organizers:  Patty Patria of Babson College

Registration Fee:
NERCOMP Member: Free

Event Overview
Colleges and universities today face mounting public skepticism—from political polarization and affordability concerns to debates about career relevance and the value of a degree. In this presentation, Dr. Brittany Motley explores key insights from EAB’s annual State of the Sector address. She breaks down the drivers of eroding public confidence in higher education and highlights what stakeholders—students, families, employers, donors, and policymakers—are really asking of institutions today.

Questions tackled include:
 - How can institutions balance internal needs with increasingly urgent calls for change from external stakeholders?
 - Why are there growing (and often competing) demands for affordability, access, and workforce alignment?
 - How can higher ed reclaim its identity as a public good while driving economic and social mobility?
 - How can leaders build stronger, more resonant narratives that reaffirm the value of a degree—beyond the higher ed echo chamber?

Learning Outcomes:
Participants will be able to:
 - Identify key public concerns shaping the narrative around higher education
 - Analyze how stakeholder expectations are evolving in the current landscape
 - Explore communication strategies that resonate with external audiences
 - Reflect on institutional positioning in advancing public trust and social mobility

Accessibility
NERCOMP strives to make its online offerings and in-person workshops accessible to all registrants.  Please contact us should you have an accessibility need. We've worked to provide resources that are accessible to as many people as possible, and if you encounter any issues while attending our events, please contact us at accessibility@nercomp.org or at 860-345-2081 to request assistance.