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Take 5: Five Higher Education Stories Worth Reading This Week

Take 5: Five Higher Education Stories Worth Reading This Week

by | Nov 10, 2026 | Career Transitions, Higher Education, Higher Education News, Job Search, Job Search, Take 5, Workplace

Faculty dissatisfaction, workforce development, institutional finances, and a changing job market: five developments that higher education professionals should have on their radar.

Higher education is changing, and the headlines don't always tell a consistent story. Some institutions are cutting positions while others are investing in new facilities and programs. Faculty are raising concerns about academic freedom and career satisfaction. Meanwhile, changes in the broader employment market are creating both opportunities and challenges for professionals considering their next career move.

For this edition of Take 5, we've selected five recent articles and reports from our higher education news and research briefings. Each offers useful information about where higher education is heading—and what those developments might mean for your career.

1. Faculty Are Increasingly Concerned About Academic Freedom and Career Satisfaction

INSIDE HIGHER ED / HANOVER RESEARCH · NOVEMBER 2, 2026

Article: Ahead of Midterms, Faculty Report Self-Censoring on DEI, Politics

Infographic" Faculty Enthusiasm Declines"

A recent faculty survey paints a troubling picture of professional satisfaction in higher education. Among 1,665 respondents, 60% reported that their enthusiasm for working in higher education had declined over the previous two years. Many also described limiting what they say publicly, discuss with students, or include in course materials.

The findings suggest that faculty concerns extend beyond compensation, workload, and institutional resources. Academic freedom, political pressures, and changing expectations about teaching and scholarship are increasingly important considerations. The survey's low response rate, however, means the findings should not be treated as representative of all faculty members.

What It Means for Higher Education Professionals

For faculty members questioning their future in academia, the first step may be determining whether their dissatisfaction is tied to their institution, their discipline, or the profession itself. Moving to another institution could resolve some concerns, while others may require a more significant career change. Before making that decision, evaluate institutional culture, academic freedom protections, career advancement, and your longer-term professional goals.

2. Degree Apprenticeships Could Create New Career Opportunities in Higher Education

NEW AMERICA · NOVEMBER 5, 2026

Report: Growing Degree Apprenticeships: Recommendations for Congress, Federal Agencies, and States

New America has published a policy brief recommending 14 actions to expand degree apprenticeships, which combine paid, registered apprenticeship experiences with college degree programs. The report calls for stronger coordination among government agencies, educational institutions, and employers, while identifying significant gaps in federal data about existing programs.

The recommendations reflect growing interest in educational models that connect academic learning directly to employment. However, they are proposals for expansion rather than evidence that widespread growth has already occurred.

What It Means for Higher Education Professionals

Degree apprenticeships represent a potential growth area for professionals with experience in career services, employer relations, academic program development, continuing education, and workforce partnerships. Colleges expanding work-based learning opportunities will need people who can build employer relationships, coordinate academic requirements, manage programs, and evaluate outcomes. Professionals interested in these roles should emphasize their experience connecting educational objectives with measurable workforce results.

3. The Job Market Is Improving, but Career Transitions Still Require Strategy

U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS · NOVEMBER 6, 2026

Report: The Employment Situation — October 2026

The October employment report offered encouraging signs for the broader labor market. Employers added 165,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate remained at 4.1%. Professional and business services accounted for 70,000 additional positions.

Nevertheless, the report also identified continuing challenges. Approximately two million people remained unemployed for extended periods, and the number of workers employed part-time because they could not obtain sufficient full-time work increased. The figures suggest improvement, but not an equally strong market for every occupation or industry.

What It Means for Higher Education Professionals

Professionals considering opportunities outside higher education should look beyond overall employment growth and investigate industries where their experience aligns with actual hiring needs. Skills in program management, research, training, operations, and stakeholder relations may be transferable, but employers still need evidence of relevant accomplishments. A stronger labor market creates possibilities; it doesn't eliminate the need for targeted resumes, professional networking, and careful career positioning.

4. University of Oregon Plans Significant Job and Program Cuts Despite a Billion-Dollar Gift

INSIDE HIGHER ED · NOVEMBER 3, 2026

Article: Personnel Cuts Impact Both Public and Private Campuses

The University of Oregon is considering eliminating more than 100 positions and several academic programs as it addresses a projected $65 million structural budget deficit. The proposed reductions come shortly after the university received a historic $1 billion donation from Nike co-founder Phil Knight.

The apparent contradiction has an important explanation: the donation is designated for an engineering college and cannot simply be redirected to cover general operating expenses. Oregon's situation illustrates how an institution can receive substantial philanthropic support while still facing serious financial challenges. The proposed reductions had not been finalized when the article was published. insidehighered.com+1

What It Means for Higher Education Professionals

Institutional reputation, fundraising success, and major gifts do not necessarily guarantee employment stability. Professionals evaluating opportunities should examine enrollment trends, operating budgets, staffing changes, and whether institutional investments support their particular departments or programs. A well-funded initiative can create opportunities in one part of a university while another department faces reductions. Understanding those distinctions is essential when making informed career decisions.

5. Rhode Island Voters Approve $275 Million for Public Higher Education

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND · NOVEMBER 5, 2026

Article: Rhode Island Voters Approve Higher Education Bond, Providing Funds for New URI Integrated Health Building

Rhode Island voters approved a $275 million bond measure supporting major capital improvements at three public institutions. The funding includes $165 million for a new integrated health building at the University of Rhode Island, $60 million for a workforce innovation center at the Community College of Rhode Island, and $50 million for library improvements and a student success and career readiness center at Rhode Island College.

The investments emphasize health professions education, workforce preparation, and student success, reflecting the important role public colleges and universities play in regional economic development. Rhody Today+1

What It Means for Higher Education Professionals

While some institutions are reducing expenditures, others are investing in programs aligned with workforce needs. These investments may eventually create opportunities for professionals in health education, employer partnerships, career services, academic support, program administration, and workforce development. Capital funding does not automatically translate into new positions, however. Job seekers should follow institutional implementation plans, staffing announcements, and program expansions to identify where opportunities actually emerge.

The Bigger Picture: Higher Education Isn't Moving in Just One Direction

These five stories illustrate why higher education professionals need to look beyond broad claims about the industry's future.

Some institutions face serious financial pressures, while others are investing in new programs and facilities. Faculty dissatisfaction is raising important questions about long-term career choices. New educational models may create opportunities that didn't exist a decade ago, and the broader employment market continues to evolve.

For higher education professionals, the most useful response is neither panic nor complacency. It's preparation.

  • Stay informed about your institution's financial and strategic direction.
  • Understand the skills and accomplishments that make you valuable.
  • Explore opportunities both within and outside higher education.
  • Build relationships that can help you navigate change.

Your career deserves the same thoughtful planning and ongoing assessment that institutions devote to their own futures.

For additional guidance on evaluating career options, translating your experience, and preparing for your next opportunity, explore the resources at HigherEdCareerCoach.com and SeanCook.net.

This Week on the Podcast: Failures of Common Decency and Common Sense

This Week on the Podcast: Failures of Common Decency and Common Sense

by | Nov 10, 2011 | Higher Education, Workplace

psuscandal3This week was a hard one for anyone associated with Penn State. After hearing the horrible allegations against Jerry Sandusky, details flooded the media, speculation about what people should have done or not done took on a life of its own, and last night (Wednesday night), the Board of Trustees removed legendary football coach Joe Paterno and Graham Spanier, one of the longest-serving and most respected university presidents, from their positions. Then, there was a small riot, accompanied by a media frenzy.

I spent 14 years of my life working at Penn State, 12 for the Office of Residence Life, and 2 for the Smeal College of Business. It was my home and I am still proud of my former colleagues, my old students, and of the many good things that Penn State has contributed to the world. So this week, I am heartsick, angry, shocked, disappointed and like many, I am not sure what to do with all the various thoughts and feelings.

There are no easy answers, but something good must come of this, so this week, I am doing a two-hour podcast on the topic, and hopefully taking calls and comments about the situation.

While sharing your thoughts and feelings are part of this, I am hoping to hear some thoughts on how this case can provide lessons and ways to improve the handling of similar incidents in the future.

Please listen live from 11 am until 1 pm ET this Friday, and call in to (347) 989-0055 to share your thoughts and advice.

Listen to internet radio with Sean Cook on Blog Talk Radio
Tommy Walker Knocks Down Your Excuses: Staying Motivated

Tommy Walker Knocks Down Your Excuses: Staying Motivated

by | Oct 27, 2011 | Career Skills, Job Search, life purpose, Social Networking, transferable skills, Who-Dos, Workplace

Motivation is sometimes hard to come by, but it's essential to keeping forward momentum in your career.

If anyone knows this, it's online marketing strategist Tommy Walker, who went from being fired over pair of pants 3 years ago to writing a magnum-opus guest post "106 Excuses That Prevent You From Ever Being Great" on Chris Brogan's web site. Brogan, known for almost never accepting guest posts, took a chance on Walker's piece, and in the process threw any editorial guidelines he might have had out the window, posting all 7,000+ words of it.

The response the post received so far has been phenomenal, with 329 retweets and 1,260 likes on Facebook as this is being written. We'll talk to Walker about his journey from fired cell phone salesman to successful online marketing strategist and guest blogger, and get tips for knocking down excuses and staying motivated.

This segment was pre-recorded, and will air Friday, October 28, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. ET. To listen, follow this link or use the player in the right sidebar.

 

Incivility in the Workplace

Incivility in the Workplace

by | Sep 8, 2011 | Career Skills, Higher Education, Workplace

Rajashi_Ghosh

Rajashi Ghosh (Photo provided.)

Incivility in the workplace can take many forms, from verbal abuse and harassment, to manipulation to acts of violence. 1.4 million employees experience it each year.

It has tremendous costs, as well. According to Dr. Rajashi Ghosh, an Assistant Professor of Human Resource Development  for the School of Education at Drexel University, incivility costs the U.S. economy $23.8 billion each year. And academic environments are not immune.

On this week’s podcast, I will air an interview with Dr. Ghosh , who was the author of a recent article on the “incivility spiral” in mentoring relationships, which was published in a special issue of Advances in Developing Human Resources, which she also co-edited. In this article, Ghosh examined how different acts of incivility between mentors and mentees can devolve into negative relationships.

With mentoring programs being one of the popular ways that we seek to develop up-and-coming professionals, Ghosh recommends that institutions (and their Human Resource Officers) provide structured approaches, including codes of conduct for mentors and mentees, better orientations for both sides of the relationship about roles, boundaries, and conduct, formal processes for reporting inappropriate behavior, and better follow-up from HR and management.

Drexel will host a Human Resource Development Symposium September 17, “HRD’s Role in Addressing Workplace Incivility and Violence. Online registration is now closed, but if you are interested in attending e-mail Dr. Ghosh at  rg429@drexel.edu expressing your interest in being on the waitlist.

We’ll also talk about my upcoming webinar on Creating a Killer Résumé on BigMarker, a new free webinar service, Hiring for Hope events, and I’ll take your comments and questions on dealing with incivility in the workplace.

Toxic Work Environments: Erasing Negativity in the Workplace

Toxic Work Environments: Erasing Negativity in the Workplace

by | Sep 1, 2011 | Career Skills, Workplace

Retro MicrophoneWhen people around you at work are being negative, it’s tempting to join in, but the result could be a toxic work environment thats difficult to climb out of. What can you do to keep from being dragged down into that dark place? And what should you do to remove negativity from your life and the workplace?

We’ve probably all had those moments when co-workers gripe and moan about things they don’t like in their work environments, but there’s something different and kind of insidious about work environments where negativity is tolerated. They can eat at you, and leave you with some undesirable options: join in and get dragged down, or avoid joining in and possibly become marginalized.

Friday at 11 am ET, I will be talking with Sally Marks, author of Erase Negativityand Embrace the Magic Within, about ways that people can avoid negativity and toxic communication at work. Please join me and call in with your questions and comments about dealing with toxic work environments and overcoming negativity. The Guest Call-in number is (347) 989-0055, and Skype users can also call in via the Skype “S” Click-to-Talk Button from the Episode page, once the show is live.

Listen to internet radio with Sean Cook on Blog Talk Radio
Establishing Positive Relationships at Work

Establishing Positive Relationships at Work

by | Aug 25, 2011 | Career Skills, Higher Education, Podcast, Workplace

bigstockphoto_Networking_5773746-e1310616363877Developing positive relationships is one of the biggest challenges professionals face when starting a new role or moving into a new work environment. When you are new, you don’t know what norms have been established, who will be helpful (or who won’t), and you’ll likely find yourself wondering when to share information and perspectives, when to keep your mouth shut, and how to evaluate potential relationships.
Since many new faculty and staff are beginning to test the potentially treacherous waters as “new fish” in the ponds of academia, the timing seemed right to get some tips and perspectives on how to establish positive working relationships and keep from being eaten alive.
Andy Curran, an associate professor at the University of Cincinnati’s Clermont College, encourages new staff to make themselves available, ask for advice from senior employees, and avoid being confrontational. He credits his ability to get along with others for his success in getting promotions and tenure during his 11 year career.
Getting information and perspectives from new colleagues may require some trial and error, so Joe O’Connell, Coordinator of New Student Programs at Arizona State University tries to tailor his conversations with people to their likes and dislikes. “For example,” O’ Connell explains, “if someone likes short, direct e-mails, then send them short, direct e-mails. They will be more receptive to your communications.”
Marlene Caroselli, a corporate trainer, keynoter, and author of 61 books, teaches a course on developing relationships at work. She advises new staff to  “invite collaborative, cooperative dialogue. “This may be difficult,” she says, ” But it almost always works. Invite the person who is overly critical of your plan to join you in making it better. It’s natural to be defensive, but we’re asking you to put defenses and fences aside. Instead, form a partnership with your biggest critic and work together to strengthen your plan.”
Dr. Laurel Clark, President of the College of MetaPhysics, tells people to be “self-reflective” in their approaches to conflict. “Instead of blaming a co-worker for a conflict, look to see the part that you play in it and how YOU can cause change,” implores Clark. “If only one person changes, (and that person can always be YOU), then the dynamics of the relationship change even if the other person doesn’t.”
On the Higher Ed Career Coach show this Friday at 11 am, we’ll talk with some experts and professionals about how to navigate the treacherous waters of academic work environments when you are the “new fish” in the pond. Our scheduled guests include Dr. Pam Straker, the speaker, author and workplace strategist behind NoMoreWorkPlaceDrama.Com; Jane Bluestein, author of  Becoming a Win-Win Teacher: Survival Strategies for the Beginning Educator (Amazon aff. link), Dr. Laurel Smith, President of the School of Metaphysics in Missouri, and Joseph O’ Connell, the Coordinator of New Student Orientation at Arizona State University.

Please join us and call in with your tips, questions and comments at 11 am ET this Friday, August 26, tweet them to @hiedcareercoach or e-mail sean@higheredcareercoach.com The call-in number is (347) 989-0055. I’ll be tweeting additional quotes and advice from our guests on Friday as well.