Education — Why Higher Ed's Identity Crisis Is Finally Coming to a Head

Education · 2026-03-13

OPENING The battle lines over higher education's future are being drawn with unprecedented clarity this week. As seventeen states sue over admissions data requirements and anti-DEI orders remain unchallenged, we're witnessing nothing less than a fundamental power struggle over who gets to shape American higher education.

The confluence of recent developments reveals a deeper story than mere political posturing. The multi-state lawsuit against the Education Department's data collection efforts represents the latest skirmish in an escalating conflict between federal oversight and state autonomy in higher education. This tension isn't just about administrative burdens or compliance costs – it's about who controls the narrative and direction of American universities. The staying power of anti-DEI orders, despite widespread speculation about their vulnerability to legal challenges, signals a significant shift in the administrative landscape that many institution leaders have been reluctant to fully acknowledge.

This evolving dynamic is perfectly illustrated by Ohio State's quick pivot to internal leadership after Ted Carter's departure. Rather than conducting an extensive national search – long considered the gold standard for presidential transitions – trustees opted for stability and continuity by elevating their provost. This decision reflects a growing recognition that universities need leaders who can navigate an increasingly complex political and regulatory environment while maintaining institutional autonomy.

The real story here isn't about individual policies or leadership changes – it's about the transformation of higher education governance itself. We're moving from an era where universities largely managed their own affairs within broad regulatory guidelines to one where they're becoming battlegrounds for competing visions of education's purpose and management. Institution leaders who continue to treat these developments as temporary political headwinds rather than fundamental structural changes are setting themselves up for strategic failure.

WHAT TO WATCH Keep your eyes on how other universities respond to this shifting landscape over the next month. The real test will come as institutions attempt to balance compliance with these new political realities while maintaining their academic mission and institutional values. Watch for more universities to preemptively revise their DEI and admissions policies, and pay particular attention to how they frame these changes to their various stakeholders. The institutions that thrive will be those that can articulate a clear vision for their future that acknowledges new political realities while preserving their core educational mission.