Higher Education – 2025 Insights

Debbie Fennell on January 8, 2026

2025 was a defining year for higher education, with leadership effectiveness and culture climate rising to the top of institutional priorities. One of the most significant insights came from the 2025 EDUCAUSE Top 10 report, which identified restoring trust across campuses as a critical priority for the coming year. Institutions noted that public confidence in higher education continues to decline, and internal trust among faculty and staff has weakened in many environments due to rapid change, unclear communication, and increased workload pressure.

Parallel findings from Gallup and the Lumina Foundation highlight the external landscape. Public confidence in higher education has dropped to a record low, with only 36 percent of Americans reporting high confidence in colleges and universities. This trend has a direct influence on enrollment, institutional reputation, and the expectations placed on campus leaders.

Together, these indicators point to a clear conclusion. Leadership alignment, trust-building behaviors, and communication clarity will be at the center of development priorities in 2026.

Impact Highlights

  • Declining public trust is shaping strategic planning, governance, and communication priorities across campuses.
  • Leadership behaviors that increase transparency and strengthen faculty relationships are now essential effectiveness competencies.
  • Institutions focusing on culture, clarity, and collaboration report improved decision-making and greater organizational resilience.

Application

Higher education leaders can prepare for 2026 by investing early in leadership development, communication consistency, and trust-building practices that support both faculty and staff.

Call to Action
Explore additional insights from the EDUCAUSE 2025 report to guide your planning for the year ahead.
 

References:
EDUCAUSE. (2024). 2025 EDUCAUSE Top 10: Restoring Trust. Retrieved from
https://er.educause.edu/articles/2024/10/2025-educause-top-10-restoring-trust
The Change Leader, Inc. (2024). Public Trust in Higher Education: The Lumina Foundation and Gallup Report. Retrieved from
https://changinghighered.com/public-trust-in-higher-education-lumina
Gallup. (2024). Public Confidence in Higher Education. Summary referenced within Lumina findings.
3. What will you release that is no longer serving you?