Editor’s note: This is part of a Deseret Magazine series examining the question: What happened to the promise of college?
Higher education finds itself under a harsh spotlight. Politicians accuse colleges and universities of ideological bias, irrelevance, financial irresponsibility and cultural insularity. Abrupt federal funding freezes and threats to international student enrollment are generating fear and lawsuits. Republicans appear now to be the main critics of higher education, but Democrats in years past have also raised plenty of complaints.
Understandably, many within higher education have responded defensively, seeking to protect their institutions during what feels like a moment of existential crisis. But let’s acknowledge a crucial truth: American higher education has always faced deep scrutiny, often during times of national unrest, and it has always responded best by reforming, not retreating.
During the Revolutionary War, colonial colleges were disrupted or shut down, sparking early debates about whether they should serve the British crown or the emerging republic. Many of the nation’s Founders, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, played key roles in founding or reforming colleges during America’s formative years. Jefferson requested that his gravestone commemorate his role as the “Father of the University of Virginia,” notably omitting his role as our nation’s third president. That underscored how deeply he valued education as part of his legacy.
During the Civil War, enrollments plummeted, campuses were commandeered by armies, and leaders questioned whether the classical curriculum could meet the needs of a fractured and industrializing nation. Yet even amid these challenges, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act into law on July 2, 1862. That set in motion a system of new public universities, focused on agriculture, engineering and related fields, that would significantly accelerate our nation’s role as a global leader in higher education.
American higher education has always faced deep scrutiny, often during times of national unrest, and it has always responded best by reforming, not retreating.
World War II and its aftermath sparked seismic change, as universities partnered with the federal government on scientific research and dramatically expanded access to returning veterans through the G.I. Bill. The Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement led to massive protests and major change as colleges and universities ended racial and gender barriers to enrollment, deepened their commitment to financial aid for disadvantaged students and developed a plethora of new academic and campus programs.
In each case, crisis did not lead to the destruction of higher education. Instead, it was the catalyst for transformation. Indeed, the very fact that higher education is under fire today is a sign of its importance. Americans argue about universities because they care about universities. And many critiques contain at least a particle of truth. Concerns about affordability, access, equity and purpose reflect legitimate pressures on our institutions and the society in which they operate.
This history of crisis and reform is precisely why American higher education is the envy of the world. We have the most diverse, innovative and productive array of colleges and universities ever created. American higher education supports the most remarkable engine of scientific exploration in human history, churning out Nobel Prizes and scientific and technological breakthroughs with matchless frequency. That record was not achieved through complacency, but rather earned through continuous, and sometimes painful, adaptation.
We must listen carefully to voices that make us uncomfortable and distinguish between attacks meant to dismantle and critiques meant to reform.
Commentators often suggest higher education is stagnant or resistant to change. But the past two decades tell a different story — one of mission-driven, and
institution-led, reform.
The contours of this story can be seen in a new list of 479 institutions that are leading the way in providing access to students of all backgrounds and ensuring they graduate with a path to strong earnings.
Despite these bright spots, the volume and velocity of recent critiques have created a sense of siege within higher education. It’s tempting, in such a climate, to move into a defensive posture: to double down on our accomplishments, to reject bad-faith attacks, to explain rather than to listen.
But that would be a mistake. This moment calls for two complementary mindsets.
First, we must assert that higher education builds America. Our colleges and universities are a cornerstone of this country’s economic vitality, cultural dynamism and democratic potential. We have educated generations of leaders, powered scientific breakthroughs and served as forums for the exchange of ideas in a free society. That is all worth celebrating and protecting.
Second, we must acknowledge that we are, and always should be, in the habit of improvement. Higher education’s greatness lies not in its perfection but in its capacity for self-renewal. The criticisms we face today are surmountable. Many echo past critiques that led to better policies, broader relevance and stronger institutions.
To move forward, we need to shift our posture from defensiveness to determination. We must shed our fear and move forward with confidence in our mission. We must listen carefully to voices that make us uncomfortable and distinguish between attacks meant to dismantle and critiques meant to reform. Above all, we must recommit to improvement for the benefit of learners, whether in matters of affordability or free expression. Student-centered reform isn’t just what politicians and the public are demanding; it’s the right thing to do.
We will emerge stronger, fairer and every bit as essential to American life as we have always been. We will be accountable to the public for results.
Reform is not a threat to higher education. Reform is its legacy. The most vital institutions are those that evolve with the times without losing their core values. We’ve done it many times before. We can do it again.
This story appears in the September 2025 issue of DeseretMagazine. Learn more about how to subscribe.