2024 Survey of College and University Presidents
Survey
Feb. 2024
Sample Size:
380
Demographics:
administrators
Topics:
Value
Diversity And Inclusion
Funding
Administration
Mental Health
Free Speech
Top Findings:
- Eight in 10 presidents (82 percent) are confident that their institution will be financially stable over the next five years, and virtually the same share (80 percent) are confident of the same over the next 10 years. Very few presidents (3 percent) are not at all confident that their institution will exist as a freestanding college or university (with a unique Office of Postsecondary Education Identification number) by 2030.
- Asked how they feel about artificial intelligence’s growing impact on higher education, half of presidents (50 percent) describe themselves as somewhat or very optimistic. Few (6 percent) are very concerned. About a third of presidents agree, somewhat or strongly, that their institution is prepared to handle the rise of AI, while fewer (17 percent) agree that higher education as a whole is prepared to handle the rise of AI.
- A third of presidents (33 percent) are satisfied, completely or somewhat, with what the Biden administration has accomplished in the realm of higher ed during its term so far. More than half of presidents (55 percent) say they’re very or extremely concerned about the 2024 presidential election results affecting the climate for equity, diversity and inclusion at their institution. Nearly as many presidents (53 percent) are very or extremely concerned about the climate for free inquiry and civil dialogue at their institution following the election. Female presidents and gay and lesbian presidents are relatively more concerned about both climates than is the sample as a whole.
- A third of presidents (66 percent) are either very or extremely concerned about the state of public confidence in higher ed today. The plurality (36 percent) most attribute this trend to concerns about lack of affordability, including high tuition prices, and more than half of presidents (57 percent) deem this worry highly valid.
- More than half of presidents (57 percent) agree, somewhat or strongly, that their institution has sufficient clinical capacity to meet the mental health needs of undergraduate students. Nearly all presidents (94 percent) have taken at least one non-clinical step to promote mental health and well-being on their campuses since 2020, with the largest shares of presidents having emphasized the importance of social connection and/or creating new opportunities for campus involvement (77 percent) and investing in wellness facilities and/or services to promote overall well-being (70 percent).