What Rebuilding Trust in Higher Ed Actually Requires
Preview:
Rebuilding public trust in higher education requires universities to move beyond defensive posturing and take concrete steps to demonstrate accountability, transparency, and relevance to the communities they serve. Trust has eroded significantly in recent years due to rising costs, perceived ideological bias, questions about the return on investment of a college degree, and high-profile campus controversies that have drawn national attention. Institutions that have made meaningful progress on trust-building have done so by engaging directly with skeptical communities, communicating more clearly about outcomes and affordability, and making governance processes more visible and accessible to the public. Regional public universities in particular face a distinct challenge — and opportunity — given their close ties to local economies and their role in serving non-traditional students who are most sensitive to cost and value. Restoring confidence in higher education is less about messaging campaigns and more about structural changes that align institutional behavior with public expectations.
Originally published: July 17, 2026
Author: Raymond J. Rice
Position: President
Institution: University of Maine at Presque Isle
Published by: Inside Higher Ed