长寿时代的高等教育未来

The future of higher education in the era of longevityInsights and Implications in Gerontology SeriesDeveloped by:ContributorsNina M. Silverstein, PhD, FGSAProfessor Emerita Department of Gerontology Faculty Fellow, Gerontology Institute University of Massachusetts BostonSurya Kolluri, MBA, MS, CRPCHead TIAA InstituteJoann M. Montepare, PhD, FGSA, FAGHEProfessor Emerita of Psychology Lasell University Faculty Fellow, Gerontology Institute University of Massachusetts BostonJames C. ApplebyChief Executive Officer The Gerontological Society of AmericaAnne Ollen, MEd, CEBSManaging Director TIAA InstituteAbout the TIAA InstituteSince 1998, the TIAA Institute has helped advance the ways individuals and institutions plan for financial security and organizational effectiveness. The Institute conducts in-depth research, provides access to a network of thought leaders, and enables those it serves to anticipate trends, plan future strategies and maximize opportunities for success. To learn more, visit tiaainstitute.org.About GSAThe Gerontological Society of America is the nation’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society—and its 5,500+ members— is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public.. To learn more, visit www.geron.org.Mary J. Cronin, PhDResearch Professor Boston CollegeSPECIAL CONTRIBUTORTHE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE ERA OF LONGEVITY 3ForewordHigher education in the United States stands at a critical crossroad, facing several compelling challenges that demand bold, strategic responses. Declining enrollments, driven by falling fertility rates after the Great Recession of 2007, and increased skepticism regarding the value of higher education, have led to an excess capacity of college seats. Financial pressures are evident, with colleges closing or merging regularly and more frequently. Rising tuition costs, which have outpaced inflation, coupled with increasing administrative-to-faculty ratios, have further strained the system. For example, between 2010 and 2021, undergraduate enrollment declined by 15%, dropping from 18.1 million to 15.4 million students, while tuition costs increased by over 25%. Amid these challenges we feel that there is an extraordinary opportunity right in front of the U.S. higher education system driven by the future workforce disruption caused by artificial intelligence and the rise of what we would like to term the longevity economy. Increases in longevity are leading to a permanent change in the age structure of the U.S. population resulting in more evenly matched age-cohorts across the lifespan. This demographic transformation represents a vast, growing, and untapped market for higher education as individuals age 25 to 75 upskill, reskill, and change careers in response to the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence. Hi