As stay-at-home orders fluctuate and eventually subside, it is reasonable to imagine that many workers will continue to work from home for the foreseeable future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently observed that jobs in the leisure and hospitality, transportation, production, agriculture, and construction industries are less likely to offer remote work opportunities. Working at home is generally more feasible in management, professional, and administrative support occupations in the information, financial activities, professional and business services, and government industries. Furthermore, BLS research showed that in general, African Americans, Hispanics, men, unmarried individuals, and part-time workers are more likely to be in jobs where teleworking (remote work) is not feasible.
As the economy evolves, so should higher education institutions. Although online education at higher education institutions has increased significantly over the last 15 years, online education outcomes have not lived up to the hype of accessibility, increased learning outcomes, and cost effectiveness. Nevertheless, this fall, higher education institutions across the United States will embark on the largest pedagogical experiment in recent history. We will see a variety of in-person, hybrid, and mostly online college courses. Although this necessary experiment disrupts traditional university budget models and drastically changes social experiences for students. Institutions should have specific short-term strategies to address the upcoming academic year, while engaging in long-term strategic planning to address the future value proposition of their academic programs.
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