American higher education faces an uncertain future. Shifting demographics threaten enrollment. National and state politics are putting campuses in the crosshairs. And students are seeking more affordable options that make clear the return on their tuition investment. Within that difficult environment, though, there are pockets of innovation and fresh thinking.
This year’s Chronicle Festival will outline the challenges, but focus on the innovations and inspirations to overcome them.
With support from:
Program Overview
Day 1 | The Gen Z Puzzle
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | 12:30 - 4:15 PM ET
Today’s generation often challenges the ways colleges recruit, retain, and teach students. With fewer high-school graduates in the United States, colleges will need to innovate how they connect with and support traditional-age students. How can higher ed improve the student experience and understand Gen Z?
Day 2 | Innovating Leadership
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | 12:30 - 4:15 PM ET
Being a higher-ed leader today requires a flexible mindset, emotional intelligence, and a drive to rethink traditional approaches. How do presidents navigate a time when there’s uncertainty about politics, technology, and even the value of a college degree? How can institutions experiment more — and learn from their missteps — to create a more-affordable, flexible, and inclusive environment?
Day 3 | A Catalyst for the Work Force
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 12:30 - 4:15 PM ET
The American economy continues to evolve, and colleges have to keep up. How do they ensure students graduate with the right skills to find not just a job, but establish a career? And, at the same time, technology is rapidly changing the workplace, requiring institutions to rethink their curriculum.
Featured Speakers
Kim Hunter Reed
Commissioner of Higher Education for the State of Louisiana; former Deputy Undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education
Steven Pinker
Johnstone Family Professor, Department of Psychology, Harvard University
Nancy Gonzalez
Executive Vice President and University Provost, Arizona State University
Register for Free
Plus, when you register, you will gain immediate access to a free Chronicle Festival companion collection containing excerpts from our most popular in-depth newsroom reports. Our Innovation Amid Uncertainty collection aims to provide valuable insights into the key themes of this year’s Festival.
Register for free and download it today.
