The Class of 2028 has been described by Insider Higher Ed as another college cohort disadvantaged by the global pandemic, economic shutdown, and the societal unrest that marked the early 2020s. There are causes for concerns, such as historically low ACT scores, lack of study skills, and classroom participation. These factors have renewed discussions about institutional readiness among national organizations, such as the American Council on Education's Learner Success Lab. These questions of readiness are not merely academic, and the Class of 2028 has unique developmental characteristics. For example, it's the first college cohort that was in early-stage adolescence as middle schoolers during the pandemic. It's also the last cohort before the demographic cliff begins, in which the college-aged population is expected to shrink by 15% over the next 10 years, a Chronicle for Higher Education report explains.
Because of these characteristics, innovative ways to engage and support students are needed. Insider Higher Ed published reports on the impact of college on students and found that traditional benchmarks, such as admissions selectivity, student-faculty ratio, or financial resources, might have less of an impact than the quality of interactions on campuses. Furthermore, there's a greater emphasis among university administrators on retention and protecting the value of seeking a college degree. To engage and support the Class of 2028, schools need to address the following:
Shifting Worldviews
Early adolescence is formative for identity development and middle school years are when implicit theories about the self, others, and the world crystalize. Research published by the Journal of the Association for Consumer indicate that implicit theories affected how older individuals reacted to the global pandemic. However, for the Class of 2028, the global pandemic affected the development of their implicit theories. This class is arguably without a frame of reference about a time before the culture wars and worldwide conflicts existed, and their first year of college is alongside divisive moments in the 2024 U.S. Presidential election. Negative and fixed worldviews, such as "a hostile world," are associated with the increased tension with free speech, cancel culture, and student misconduct cases on campuses. Thus, educating students about positive worldviews should be a primary goal for schools. Not only will this benefit campuses, but society can benefit because higher education can improve these generational perspectives better than any other experience.
Schools can improve a student's worldview by providing opportunities for reflection, generating positive interactions with diverse peers, training faculty and staff members on how to relate to this new generation, and fostering optimistic messages about community and conflict resolution. It's not a matter of simply being optimistic (some might argue that the world is hostile), but rather giving the Class of 2028 a new frame of reference and instilling the belief that they can make the world a better place.
Familiarity With Change
The Class of 2028 is more familiar with life-altering change than previous cohorts. The economic shutdown and school disruptions occurred while they were in middle school, and many members of this class then transitioned to a new high school soon afterwards. This familiarity with change, and being less averse to change, can significantly impact university outcomes. For example, transfer students now make up about 13 percent of college students according to the National Student Clearinghouse Center. Time will tell if the Class of 2028 will transfer schools more than previous cohorts, but schools should brace for this possibility with innovative ways to retain and recruit students.
The pending demographic shift also creates urgency for schools to become net receivers of college-going students, which are schools who gain students as the population shifts. Providing high levels of student support is a defining characteristic of net receivers; however, this support is more than financial. As reported by Inside Higher Ed, surveys show that students are still reporting that emotional stress and mental health are the greatest challenges in their educational pursuits. In supporting the Class of 2028, it's imperative that schools emphasize both general support for developmental concerns (i.e. adjusting to college and loneliness), as well as counseling services to address clinical issues (i.e. depression and anxiety). Excelling in both types of support can attract and keep students on campus.
In addition, there's a general decline in college enrollment amid public doubts regarding the value of a college degree. This decline is not surprising given the amount of change/disruption in the educational system that recent learning cohorts have experienced. However, it's important to note that five of the top-rated reasons by Insider Higher Ed for getting a college degree are outside the realm of money and a career, such as "preparing myself for life." Furthermore, the majority of high school students and non-enrolled individuals still report seeing value in pursuing a degree. Schools can reaffirm this value by creating supportive and meaningful environments.
The Class of 2028 experienced generational stressors at a unique time in their lifespan development. However, with every incoming cohort, there is excitement and opportunities. Higher education can reset generational views about the world while creating learning environments that foster holistic support and robust clinical services. These are longstanding goals for many higher education professionals, but with the start of this new generation of students, it's imperative that schools consider how distinct this incoming class really is.