Higher Ed Must Change, but There’s Little Agreement on How
Jessica Blake
February 27, 2026
The top higher ed official, Nicholas Kent, flaunted the speed and breadth of the administration’s higher ed reforms in a room full of skeptical sector leaders.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Education under Secretary Nicholas Kent opened day two of the American Council on Education’s annual meeting with a clear and pointed statement—American higher education needs a “hard reset.” And much of that reset, he said, is already underway.
Once a collaborative partnership funded by taxpayers to promote innovation and merit-based social mobility, higher ed has been tainted by ideologically driven universities that accept billions while “resisting any meaningful accountability for results,” the under secretary said. Now, “those days are over.”
“If you want a partnership with the federal government, it must be a real partnership, grounded in transparency, measurable outcomes and a commitment to students and taxpayers alike,” Kent explained, adding that change is coming whether institutions like it or not. “I hope that you all are ready, having made it through the five stages of grief and, most importantly, reaching the final state of acceptance.”
