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Articles & Research by Greg Pillar

Dive into the data with me as I research, analyze and explore industry news, insights and trends to reveal what’s really happening in higher education and what it means for the future of learning.

Articles – Self-published pieces with research, analysis, and commentary on higher ed trends.

In the Media – Writing published in news, trade, or scholarly outlets, as well as articles where I’ve been quoted or interviewed.

White Papers – Longer, research-driven reports offering in-depth analysis and practical recommendations.

Screenshot of an article titled Decoding Student Trust, featuring a header image of two people shaking hands. The article discusses student trust and affordability in higher education. Various logos and website navigation elements are visible.

Decoding Student Trust

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A cartoon unicorn in a suit holds a clipboard and pen, standing under the text: “Now hiring: Director of Bureaucracy Simplification.” Scribbles are at the bottom right of the image.

The Unicorn Hire That Could Fix Higher Ed’s Mess (If We Ever Actually Hired Them)

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A website article titled The Chemistry of Relevance: Building Institutions That Don’t Burn Out shows colorful chemical beakers and flasks in a laboratory setting. The article is dated July 28, 2025.

The Chemistry of Relevance: Building Institutions That Don’t Burn Out 

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A gold accreditation seal is shown torn in half on an orange background, with the headline The Weaponization of Accreditation and a subheadline about Trump’s reforms and political conformity in colleges.

The Weaponization of Accreditation

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Students and teachers converse outside a brick school building on a sunny day, with two ghostly figures visible in a window above, blending an ordinary campus scene with a hint of the supernatural.

Teaching to Ghosts: How Higher Ed’s Past Haunts Us—and What It Takes to Move On

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A graduation cap rests on two old books atop a desk in an empty classroom with wooden desks and large windows letting in soft light.

The Future of College Majors: Reinvention or Extinction? —— Part 3: Let It Go – Why Some Majors Need to be Cut for Higher Ed to Thrive

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A person with a backpack stands at a glowing crossroads leading to a classical building, with illuminated clocks and human icons connected by digital lines, symbolizing choices about education and time.

Rethinking ROI: Why the Ultimate Return Depends on More Than Just a Major?

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A dark building with columns is illuminated by glowing orange lines that connect it to a bright, shining sun in the corner, set against a tangled, dark background.

Rewiring the Academy: Leading with Hope in an Age of Chaos

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A black-and-white image of Donald Trump’s raised hand with a red check mark on the palm, alongside text about his impact on higher education accreditation, on a light blue background with X marks.

Accreditation is Trump’s ‘Secret Weapon’

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Students work on computers outside a grand university building, with a swirling stream of light connecting them to floating scientific icons and colorful graphics representing knowledge and innovation above the building.

The Future of College Majors: Reinvention or Extinction? —— Part 2: Beyond Declining Enrollments: Creating Adaptive, Interdisciplinary Programs for the Modern Student

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A tree with books for leaves stands between a polluted, barren factory landscape and a vibrant, green academic building, symbolizing the transformative power of education and knowledge through contrasting environments.

The Future of College Majors: Reinvention or Extinction? —— Part 1: Stop Resuscitating Dead Programs – Why Some Majors Need to Die for Higher Ed to Thrive

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A digital illustration of a classical government building surrounded by glowing human icons connected by lines, symbolizing a networked society and technology integration with governance.

Beyond the Tenure Track: How Generative Mentoring of Adjunct Faculty and Department Chairs Enhances Institutional Quality and Student Success

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