Why it's time to rethink college

The pandemic has thrown higher education in the U.S. into a state of disarray, with declining enrollment forcing universities to cut budgets, eliminate positions and reconsider the way they function altogether. Even before the crisis, ballooning student debt and limited career support had put the economic promise of a college degree in doubt, writes brunchwork co-founder Paulina Karpis. She argues universities must seize this moment to fundamentally change how they approach their mission, embracing shorter degree programs that blend in-classroom and remote learning, reducing tuition and bolstering career services resources.