Reimagining How Students Learn and Lead

I recently published an op-ed in The Hechinger Report and was humbled to learn it struck a chord with readers, becoming one of their most-read pieces this year.

It explores a question many college presidents are grappling with: How do we rebuild public confidence in higher education? Below is an excerpt. You can read the full piece here.

For the first time in more than a decade, confidence in the nation’s colleges and universities is rising. Forty-two percent of Americans now say they have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in higher education, up from 36 percent last year.

It’s a welcome shift, but it’s certainly not time for institutions to take a victory lap.

For years, persistent concerns about rising tuition, student debt and an uncertain job market have led many to question whether college was still worth the cost. Headlines have routinely spotlighted graduates who are underemployed, overwhelmed or unsure how to translate their degrees into careers.

With the rapid rise of AI reshaping entry-level hiring, those doubts are only going to intensify. Politicians, pundits and anxious parents are already asking: Why aren’t students better prepared for the real world?

But the conversation is broken, and the framing is far too simplistic. The real question isn’t whether college prepares students for careers. It’s how.

What’s missing from this conversation is a clearer understanding of where career preparation actually happens. It’s not confined to the classroom or the career center. It unfolds in the everyday, often overlooked experiences that shape how students learn, lead and build confidence.

While earning a degree is important, it’s not enough. Students need a better map for navigating college. They need to know from day one that half the value of their experience will come from what they do outside the classroom.

To rebuild America’s trust, colleges must point beyond course catalogs and job placement rates. They need to understand how students actually spend their time in college. And they need to understand what those experiences teach them.

Ask someone thriving in their career which part of college most shaped their success, and their answer might surprise you. You might expect them to name a major, a key class or an internship. But they’re more likely to mention running the student newspaper, leading a sorority, conducting undergraduate research, serving in student government or joining the debate team.

Such activities aren’t extracurriculars. They are career-curriculars. They’re the proving grounds where students build real-world skills, grow professional networks and gain confidence to navigate complexity......

→ Read the full op-ed on The Hechinger Report

Warmly,

Bridget Burns, CEO University Innovation Alliance

Network Updates

• The UIA continues to grow stronger through the perspectives of new members who bring energy, curiosity, and a shared commitment to student success. This year, we have been thrilled to welcome Temple University and University of South Carolina to our network.
• Since our last in-person convening, seven new UIA Liaisons have joined us, each contributing fresh insight to our collective work. New liaisons include Jose Aviles and Jodi Bailey from Temple University, Paul Kohn from University of Utah, Rex Tolliver from University of South Carolina, Erika Larson from University of Colorado Denver, Adrienne Frame from the University of Central Florida, and Carlos Jensen from University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
• We’re also excited to welcome seven new UIA Fellows: Marquetta Strait (Purdue University), Darwins Olcima (University of Central Florida), Kelly Gray (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Brie Mondragon (University of Colorado Denver), Andy Kane (Virginia Commonwealth University), Jennifer Condon (Temple University), and Rayna Wiles (University of Utah).

Learn With Us

• [Blog] Arizona State University’s Carole Basile makes the case for reimagining the teaching workforce to better serve both educators and students.
• [Podcast] SHEEO President Rob Anderson joins UIA & Inside Higher Ed to reveal the often-overlooked role of system leaders, and how empathy, humility, and collaboration drive real change in higher education.
• [YouTube] Temple University President John Fry joins Weekly Wisdom to discuss leadership grounded in public service and civic engagement.
• [Blog] University of North Texas President (and former UIA Liaison!) Harrison Keller on how leadership, actionable data, and cross-sector collaboration can redefine college value and deliver on higher ed’s promise. 
• [YouTube] UCCS Chancellor (and former UIA Liaison!) Jennifer Sobanet shares how transparent leadership, clear purpose, and student-centered focus can guide institutions through transition. 

Want more? Check out all of our blog posts and podcast episodes. 

Must-Reads

What we’re learning about this month at the UIA:

• For women how early course access shapes long-term outcomes. (The Wall Street Journal)
• More retirees are heading back to college, seeking purpose, connection, and lifelong learning over traditional retirement paths. (The New York Times)
• From AI to math requirements, college admissions leaders at NACAC 2025 weigh how shifting policies are redefining access (Higher Ed Dive)
• New research explores whether virtual reality can help students navigate complex ethical dilemmas and strengthen moral reasoning. (Inside Higher Ed)
• Today’s high school seniors face a college admissions landscape transformed by shifting priorities, testing policies, and growing uncertainty. (The New York Times) 
• New data maps where a college degree delivers the highest economic return, revealing sharp differences in value across states. (Visual Capitalist)
• Four major trends, from AI to geopolitics, are set to reshape global student mobility over the next decade. (ICEF Monitor)
• Colleges can help students build the leadership and career skills employers need most, if they rethink how learning happens. (The Hechinger Report, by Bridget Burns) 

Events to Put on Your Radar

• November 3-5, 2025 P3•EDU Atlanta, GA
• November 5-6, 2025 Business Higher Education Forum (BHEF) Convening Atlanta, GA
• November 9-11, 2025 APLU Annual Meeting Philadelphia, PA
• November 10-13, 2025 CBExchange Phoenix, AZ
• November 14-17, 2025 AASCU 2025 Annual Conference for Presidents and Chancellors Nashville, TN
• November 17-19, 2025 CCA Annual Convening Baltimore, MD
• January 21-23, 2026  AAC&U Annual Meeting Washington, DC
• February 8-11, 2026 NASFAA Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo Washington, D.C.
• February 25-28, 2026 American Council on Education (ACE) Experience Washington, D.C.
• March 9-12, 2026 SXSW EDU Austin, Texas  

Stuff we LOVE

• The fabric shaver that makes old clothes look brand new
• The glow-in-the-dark dog ball your pup will love
• The portable ring light that I use every day
• The costume that stole the show at our last convening
• The fun and unexpected prize I love to give at events
• We all need a weighted vest for muscle (& stronger bones)

We’d like to leave you with this quote from University of North Texas President Dr. Harrison Keller in this recent episode of The Innovating Together Podcast.

When everything feels chaotic, you pick a reference point, make small adjustments, and don’t look back. My reference point has to be a commitment to deliver value — for students, employers, communities, and the state.