Scott Carlson is a senior writer who explores where higher education is headed. He is a co-author of Hacking College: Why the Major Doesn’t Matter — and What Really Does (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2025). Follow him on LinkedIn, or write him at scott.carlson@chronicle.com.
Stories by This Author
The Edge
In this era of mounting pressures, presidents must be financially literate, empathetic, courageous, and good at building trust.
The Edge
The Biden administration seeks to burnish its record on non-college routes to a job.
The Edge
An interview with an expert on fragile states, on how colleges can help mend the social fabric.
The Edge
How higher ed’s embrace of artificial intelligence plays into the notion that people need more access to skills instead of support.
The Edge
A 2009 book about economics has a lot to say about the current worries over students’ tolerance for reading.
The Edge
There are many ways to think about skills gaps.
Higher Ed's Uncanny Assistants
Technology could help get beyond transactional interactions with students. Or it could lead to something bleaker.
Ask the Right Questions
A former executive for 3M on the importance of asking questions instead of making statements, and how to build teams that have a little friction.
Daily Briefing
Portland State U. students sue institution. Hampshire College plans layoffs. Clarks Summit U. to close, and more.