In the realm of political trends, the report notes that the increasing polarization of American society is fast encroaching on higher education. It predicts that, “at those institutions with stated political allegiances, the idyllic vision of a university classroom alive with free thought and open debate will give way to classrooms with constrained discussions and narrow definitions of what counts as legitimate knowledge and truth.” It also forecasts that faculty teaching will be “brought in line” with institution values and standards. Meanwhile, universities will need to put in time, money and effort to integrate their physical and digital learning offerings, argues Lee Skallerup Bessette, assistant director for digital learning at Georgetown University, in an essay in the report.
