Headlines fail to capture the complexity of today’s students, who are simultaneously outspoken and guarded and surprisingly well informed yet often avoidant as they navigate college life amid extraordinary emotional turbulence. Also inside: The president–board chair partnership; the ROI of scientific research; 250 Years of US Higher Education; and more.

Campus observatories do more than support astronomical research. They invite us to transcend daily life, marvel at existence, and ponder the mysteries of the universe. Also in the issue: How to make the case to policymakers for university-led research; the future of foreign language study; the midterms and protecting students’ right to vote; and more. 

Two-year colleges have indelible ties to their surrounding areas. Federal funding cuts that hurt them will also affect their regional communities. Also in the issue: Unprecedented political scrutiny is upending the entire college accreditation system; what campuses can do about bullying; insights from a longtime public high school teacher; and more.

With the power of AI technology comes the great responsibility for higher education to lead and shape new generations of students who will become its developers, purveyors, users, and policymakers. Also in this issue: Leadership lessons from abroad; a historian’s take on higher ed’s current moment; it’s no ordinary time to teach journalism; and more.