This Is the Real Point of College
Preview:
Students are starting college with real enthusiasm despite declining trust in higher education, worries about cost, and the pull of AI. Many use the first semester to explore, and the liberal arts remain the most popular fields because they prepare students to pivot as labor needs shift. Learning to use AI with discernment matters, but relying on it to avoid hard work or accepting inflated grades undermines real learning, so faculty need to set high standards. The friendships formed in the first weeks of college often last a lifetime, and students are working out what it means to practice freedom and be decent people in a hostile world.
Originally published: September 4, 2026
Author: Michael S. Roth
Position: President
Institution: Wesleyan University
Published by: The New York Times