Hi there Reader,

Higher ed is at a crossroads—and the data we rely on to navigate it is disappearing fast.

Meanwhile, student debt is exploding, AI is accelerating, and the ground beneath colleges and universities is rapidly shifting.

Student Debt & the Fight for Economic Mobility

In my recent conversation with Kristin McGuire, Executive Director of Young Invincibles, we tackled higher ed’s most urgent and overlooked crisis...

The cost of attendance vs. what today’s students actually need.

Takeaways:

• The financial aid process is a minefield—especially for first-gen and underrepresented students.
• FAFSA delays and tuition hikes are pushing students out of the system altogether.
• Schools must meet students where they are with emergency aid, better career pathways, and smarter advocacy.

🎧 Quick Clip →​

'Breathtakingly Irresponsible': Education Dept. Shuts Down Its Own Data Infrastructure

According to a Chronicle exposé, the Trump administration has slashed IES and NCES staff from 100+ to just three people.

That means critical sources like IPEDS and the Nation’s Report Card are in jeopardy.

These data tools are the backbone of evidence-based policy, funding allocation, and strategic planning. Their erasure could have downstream consequences for the entire ecosystem.

🔗 Full article →​

The Closures Keep Coming

Since 2016, more than 200 U.S. colleges have closed, merged, or announced closures. And most were small private institutions.

🧩 Add this to enrollment cliffs, declining FAFSA submissions, and skyrocketing student debt—and you have a system on the verge of collapse.

🔗 See the full list →​

AI Watch: What Higher Ed Needs to Know

Google’s New Gemini Model can now follow multi-step reasoning, generate structured outputs like charts and code, and rival human-level performance in logic-based tasks.
​McKinsey’s Latest AI Analysis charts AI’s disruption potential across sectors—and shows education lagging behind in adoption and preparedness.

🔗 Google’s Gemini AI update →​
🔗 McKinsey’s AI disruption charts →​

📬 Final Thought​
Whether it’s student debt, crumbling data infrastructure, or runaway tuition, the warning lights are blinking red.

But the leaders who move now—on affordability, automation, and alignment—can still rewrite the story.

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Let’s Talk: What’s your institution doing to reduce friction for students?

Hit reply or forward this to a colleague who should be in the loop.

Until next time,

-Mike O’Connor

O'Connor & Associates

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