Your semester may be wrapping up—but make no mistake: something big is unfolding.
While many of us have been laser-focused on events, advising appointments, and increasing FDS response rates (because of course we have), a massive shift has been accelerating outside our offices.
And most people in higher ed haven’t caught up to it.
The story? The value of higher education is being redefined—by policymakers, accreditors, and governors—and career services is suddenly sitting at the center of the new conversation.
This isn’t a drill. It’s not a trend. It’s a full-system recalibration.
And we need to talk about it.
#SorryNotSorry
Six signals that demand your attention
Here’s what’s happened in just the past few weeks:
Carnegie’s new classification system now rewards institutions not for prestige, but for access and earnings outcomes. Nearly 500 “Opportunity Colleges” were named for helping students move up economically—finally putting social mobility at the forefront of higher ed recognition. ​Source: Inside Higher Ed​
President Trump’s executive orders aim to restructure accreditation by promoting a competitive marketplace and shifting the focus from DEI efforts to graduation rates and labor market alignment. ​Source: U.S. Department of Education​
Indiana and Utah are tying funding to academic “productivity,” directing institutions to cut low-enrollment or low-wage programs. In Utah, a new law requires all public colleges to cut $60.5 million from their base budgets within two months, reallocating funding to high-wage, high-demand programs. Instructors and administrators are being asked to make sweeping decisions with unprecedented speed, using new dashboards that link program funding to workforce outcomes.​ Source: Higher Ed Dive, The Salt Lake Tribune​
Florida is expanding its “money-back guarantee” model for workforce-aligned programs—doubling down on a promise that students will either get a job or get their tuition refunded. ​Source: Miami Times​
Ohio’s Senate Bill 1 will eliminate low-enrollment programs and DEI initiatives, while Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel stresses that universities must become more “efficient” and “evaluate outcomes.” ​Source: Ideastream Public Media​
Virginia now mandates public and private institutions to require work-based learning experiences and it’s paying off. They’ve recently reported a 4% rise in credit-bearing internships and investing millions in work-based learning. ​Source: WRIC​
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And here’s what’s not getting enough attention...
Governors aren’t just focused on higher ed—they’re pushing career-connected learning downstream, too.
Across the country, states are embedding CTE, apprenticeships, and work-based learning into K–12 education. Governors in Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, and California are rolling out new policies that start career development well before college. ​Source: National Governors Association​
This isn’t going away.
If we’re not proactive, higher ed could end up reacting to systems that were designed without us.
But if we engage now, we can help create seamless, equity-centered pathways that span high school to career.
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The common thread?
No matter the political flavor or funding model, the question being asked is the same:
Are your graduates getting good jobs?
And if they’re not, what is your institution doing to change that?
Here’s the kicker: in nearly every policy document and public statement, career services is implied but rarely named.
That’s an opportunity—and a risk.
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So what does this mean for you?
If you’re leading a career center, here’s the hard truth: you can’t wait for others to connect the dots. You have to draw the map.
And that starts with:
Positioning your office as a strategic hub for student success and institutional relevance
Translating your work into the language of ROI, outcomes, and equity
Building partnerships across academic units, enrollment, advancement, and community stakeholders
Preparing for new questions from presidents, provosts, and boards who just started paying attention
This work is challenging—but you are uniquely equipped to do it.
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Can your reports survive a meeting with your provost?
When presidents, boards, and accreditors start asking tough questions about student outcomes, you can’t afford “close enough.”
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As you catch your breath after another whirlwind semester, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on this bigger picture.
Not with panic. With clarity.
🎯 We’re entering a new era—one where career outcomes are not an afterthought but a core metric of higher education’s value.
And while others are just now realizing that, you’ve been doing this work for years.
But here’s the twist: the labor market is not exactly making it easy.
According to the New York Fed, unemployment for recent college grads has jumped to 5.8%—an unusually high number. In fact, the gap between the overall unemployment rate and that of new grads is the worst on record in over 40 years. The entry level is shrinking, and hiring has slowed across sectors like tech, consulting, and even for MBA programs .
That’s not just an economic trend. It’s a wake-up call.
Because when graduates struggle, the pressure on institutions will only grow. Career services has never been more relevant—or more necessary.
Now’s the time to lead with it. ​
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Free event Tuesday, May 6th!
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Rooting for you, as always-
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