Colleges are entering a third calendar year defined by the pandemic.

They had some reason for optimism in 2021, with federal aid and the wide availability of the coronavirus vaccine helping to steady the sector. But the omicron variant threatens their budding stability, meaning some of the operational shifts that emerged early in the pandemic will remain, like campus coronavirus mandates and new admissions policies. Change is on the horizon, however, including possible increases in state support and the Biden administration racing on its regulatory agenda.

We've identified several trends to watch for 2022, and we'll be keeping you updated on them throughout the year.

  • Efforts to reverse slumping enrollment
  • Can colleges avoid being drawn into a partisan fray?
  • Where federal aid and state budgets go
  • Biden administration plans
  • How much will campuses need to scramble because of COVID-19?
  • Can ed-tech providers build on their momentum?
  • Testing in admissions

Read the full article about higher education trends by Jeremy Bauer-Wolf at Higher Education Dive.