Colleges and universities face mounting pressure to demonstrate their value in the face of high tuition costs, mounting student debt, the rise of affordable short-term credentials and online certificates, and lackluster college completion rates (Brink, 2022; Brown, 2018; Fain, 2020; NCES, 2021a). A major reason why people attend college is for career preparation and better career prospects; however, whether students are getting the skills they need to succeed in the workplace and pursue a fulfilling career path remains a top concern among graduates and the American public alike (Brown; Eagan et al., 2015; Pew Research Center, 2016; Stolzenberg et al., 2020).
The Indispensable Role of Faculty in Higher Education
If a university were a quilt, the faculty would be the threads holding the fabric together. But despite their essential role, faculty often find themselves undervalued and underappreciated. This article