The Question Haunting That Humanities Report
Preview:
A high-profile report from Vanderbilt and Washington University examining the future of higher education raises fundamental questions about whether universities can successfully reform themselves from within or whether external pressure is now a prerequisite for meaningful change. The report identifies familiar fault lines — cost, access, academic relevance, and public trust — but stops short of prescribing the structural overhauls that many observers believe the moment demands. Critics note that elite institutions producing this kind of self-assessment have the least incentive to disrupt the status quo, raising doubts about whether their recommendations will translate into action at the institutions that need change most.
Originally published: June 15, 2026
Author: Dwight A. McBride
Position: Former President
Institution: The New School in New York City
Published by: Inside Higher Ed