EducauseTop10_2025

Overview of Trust in Higher Education

Current State of Trust: Trust in higher education has been declining globally, with significant evidence from polls showing a drop from 57% to 36% confidence among Americans from 2014 to 2024.
Reasons for Decline: Poor quality of educational content (46%), politicization (41%), and high costs (28%) contribute to this skepticism.

Emotional & Behavioral Aspects: Trust involves perceiving institutions as both authentic and competent. Institutional leaders must address both components.
Need for Trust Restoration: Addressing trust issues is crucial for maintaining a supportive environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Building Competence: Institutions should focus on commitments and producing quality outcomes.
- Data-Empowered Institution: Leverage data and AI to enhance student success.
- Administrative Simplification: Modernize processes and technologies for better efficiency.
Fostering Care: Institutions must demonstrate understanding and empathy towards their community members.
- Importance of staff development and promoting a collaborative culture.
Leveraging Leadership: Institutional leaders must balance competence and caring to meet institutional goals.
- CIO's Role: Essential in leading digital strategies amidst rapid changes and resource constraints.

1. Data-Driven Strategies: Enhance enrollment and student success through analytics.
2. Streamlining Operations: Simplify administrative tasks for improved service delivery.
3. Improving Student Services: Use technology to personalize and enhance the student experience.
4. Data Privacy and Trust: Focus on safeguarding privacy and securing institutional data.
5. Agile Leadership: Maintain effective operations in an evolving environment.
6. Institutional Resilience: Prepare for and address various risks affecting higher education.
7. Automation and Efficiency: Use technology to reduce costs and improve service quality.
8. Workforce Development: Adapt and upskill staff to thrive in digital environments.
9. Unifying Digital Infrastructure: Streamline digital systems for efficiency.
10. Increasing Access: Enhance digital accessibility while protecting privacy.

Ongoing Challenge of Trust: Restoring trust in higher education is a dynamic process requiring continual adjustment and leadership commitment across all levels of the institution.