Evolution of Higher Education

Michele Figueroa, Director, Reporting and Technology, Career Services, Berkeley College

Evolution of the Landscape of Higher Education over the Years

Higher education has seen its greatest evolution over the last three years. The global pandemic that shut the world down in 2020 changed the way higher education operated and how students received their education and services. In a matter of weeks and days, we were all asked to change regular, day-to-day activities from going to class, attending meetings and organizational events to sheltering in place and ceasing personal contact with friends and colleagues. The services that students were accustomed to receiving in person were now either not available or were delivered via a virtual platform (i.e., Zoom, Teams, etc.).

Higher education needed to quickly adapt to the changing landscape as communities, cities and countries were shut down in response to the pandemic. Keeping track of student progress, addressing mental health concerns, and food and housing insecurity became even more difficult when physical campuses were shuttered.

"Not having to worry about hunger can free a student to concentrate on succeeding inside and outside the classroom."

However, the difficulties and trauma faced by students and institutions of higher education brought about some lasting positive changes. For example, students who had not taken an online class had to quickly adjust to online learning. Along with online learning, institutions of higher education transitioned from traditionally providing student services (i.e., counseling, programming, academic advisement, etc.) to providing those same services via a virtual platform, setting up Zoom/Teams meetings to provide counseling services and advising students academically.

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, the Berkeley College Office of Career Services offered more than 150 free programs and events online, including hybrid and virtual career fairs, internship workshops and webinars with employers and students, interview and resume preparation sessions, networking events, LinkedIn workshops, and seminars on how to work in a remote environment. The continuity of these supports has enabled students and alumni to progress along their chosen career paths through placement opportunities in virtual internships and professional employment.

The new post-pandemic world requires higher education to adapt to an ever-changing landscape in order to properly serve the emerging student population.

Share Your Experiences from Initiatives That Have Been Implemented to Enhance the Educational Experience for the Students

The first Berkeley College Foundation Food Pantry, located at Berkeley College’s campus in Newark, NJ, was launched in January 2019, more than a year prior to the pandemic, to address food insecurity among our students. The pantry is sponsored by the Berkeley College Foundation, as well as the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and through community donations. Since that time, the foundation has opened additional campus food pantries in Woodland Park, NJ, and in New York City, in partnership with the Food Bank for New York City. Students can stop by the pantry to pick up non-perishable food, household products, feminine hygiene and baby products. Students can also place orders online and, once filled, can pick up their orders at their respective campuses. We are proud to have taken the initiative to address food insecurity among our students and help remove one more barrier that could potentially hinder their academic progress.

My experience has been from a firsthand account, as I volunteer my time weekly to stock and prepare the pantry for our students. I assist them in picking items that will allow them to prepare meals for themselves and their families. I see firsthand the impact that the food pantry has on their daily lives.

Not having to worry about hunger can free a student to concentrate on succeeding inside and outside the classroom.

Advice to Educators Who Are New to University Teaching

There is a lot of advice that can be given to young professionals in higher education. However, one thing to keep in mind is that, as faculty, you are the stewards of your class. Students will look to you for guidance and answers; therefore, don't be afraid to challenge them. Colleges and universities are the heart of free thought; therefore, it is incumbent upon those in higher education to develop and foster that free thought. That happens when students are challenged to seek, research and learn to develop their thoughts independently.

Your Vision for the Future of Our Higher Education Institution

The future of higher education is evolving to meet the needs of today’s world. With the pandemic, the focus is now on providing academics as well as student services in a virtual environment. As the world has evolved in technology, colleges and universities will need to continue to adapt to a technologically advanced world. 

One way Berkeley College has done this is by offering stackable credentials, in the form of certificates, through the Continuing Education department to help professionals remain competitive in an ever-changing world. These programs, many of which can be completed entirely online, provide hands-on training for professionals in need of career advancement or who are experiencing a career transition. Many of the for-credit continuing education programs also stack into Berkeley College's respective degree programs if students should later decide to pursue a full degree program.