Higher ed’s trust crisis can’t be solved alone

President Donald Trump has issued a set of executive orders threatening universities that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion policies with a reduction of federal research funding. The impact is being felt acutely at elite universities. Leaders in higher education are reeling from the onslaught, even more so after Columbia University agreed in July to pay the government $200 million and make internal changes demanded by the administration to restore the $400 million in grants that were canceled in March. The concessions by Columbia and the preemptive self-censorship of DEI policies by many other universities signify a tectonic shift. It demonstrates that intimidation can be used to silence critics, and that fear of losing federal funds can be used as a lever by political leaders who disapprove of stances taken on college campuses.

Thus far, university leaders have failed to respond. Most university presidents seem to be trying to keep a low profile to reduce the likelihood of being targeted. We believe this is a tremendous mistake. Universities are unaccustomed to operating in the political arena, especially when the stakes are high. This became most evident when presidents from Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were called to Congress to testify about their responses to campus protests over the war in Gaza. Most failed to see the event for what it was: political theater. Instead of decisive statements against antisemitism and in favor of free speech, they provided lawyerly defenses of their missteps and inaction. Lying low when confronted with blatant bullying will not work. 

Here is what we propose instead: Universities and colleges—particularly the elite, highly ranked institutions that are most under threat—must collaborate in unprecedented ways to respond to threats from the Trump administration and to restore societal trust in higher education. We recommend a nationwide collaborative endeavor to win back the hearts and minds of Americans by showing them the value of higher education. Despite their flaws, universities still function as engines of innovation and social mobility and are major economic anchors in communities. By working together, universities can begin to dispel Americans’ doubts about higher education. 

It is particularly important to counter three pervasive misconceptions that have taken root in American culture.

First, it needs to be made clear that “elite” does not mean exclusionary. Americans are skeptical about the college admission process. Faith in admissions practices can be restored by making opaque admissions offices far more transparent. Similarly, the true cost of attending college needs to be better understood, because relatively few students pay the full price for elite degrees.

Second, people need to understand that teaching is only one part of a university’s mission. Research is fundamental to the purpose of a university. It’s vital that Americans grasp why university-based research matters and how it benefits the vitality of our industries, health care system and nation’s prosperity.

Third, it needs to be recognized that the ivory tower crumbled long ago. Universities and colleges are far more integrated with the communities they serve than people realize. Partnerships with the business community, local government, nonprofit groups and faith-based organizations are fundamental to their work. University health systems play vital roles in communities. Agriculture schools work closely with farmers to ensure the productivity and safety of the food supply. Education colleges like our own work closely with schools to provide training and support to teachers. 

Universities must band together to rebuild the trust and support of the American people. This must include sustained public relations efforts in their local communities and states and, most importantly, at a national level. Changing public perceptions of American higher education will take extraordinary levels of cooperation on the part of institutions that largely view themselves as competitors. Given the dire nature of the present political threats, university leaders would be wise to heed the warning purportedly issued by Benjamin Franklin: “We must all hang together or, most assuredly, we will hang separately.”