The Decade Ahead project collects observations, case studies, reports, and commentary on forces and events that may shape education in the next decade

 It is evident that the pandemic has amplified social and economic inequity, increased financial strain for many families, and accelerated digital transformation across much of the economy. After a year displaced, students seem eager to have more flexibility while demanding that their institutions assert greater social responsibility. At the same time, many enrolled students may need much more to regain their footing, and those underserved may have even greater needs.

In the face of these challenges, colleges and universities have the opportunity to leverage what we are learning in 2020-21 to plan thoughtfully for success in an uncertain new era. In addition to coping with widespread social and economic upheaval,  it is critical to understand what has happened to teaching and learning in the pandemic, where we have fallen short, where we have made positive advances, and how those advances can be leveraged to build a better future.