September 13, 2025

American colleges, once shining beacons of hope and success, are under fire! At Hillsdale College, US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon gave a fiery speech exposing big problems in four-year universities. She said they are bloated with too many unnecessary staff, slow-moving, and losing touch with their main job: preparing leaders for today’s tough world. McMahon warned, "College should be a trial by fire," stressing that admissions must be tough and based on merit, not just a free ride. She pointed fingers at endless administrators, especially those in diversity and sensitivity roles, who she says don’t help students face real-life challenges. With prices rising and more people choosing trade schools and online programs, college trust is falling. McMahon showed a Gallup poll where trust in universities dropped to just one-third of Americans. Even university heads, like Duke’s Vincent Price, admit trust is falling. She said loudly, “The alternatives to college are warming up in the dugout ready to replace the four-year diploma.” The message is clear – universities must wake up or be left behind! McMahon also took a cultural jab, longing for the ‘good old days’ when college was about dating, networking, and building families. Some critics say this sounds old-fashioned and ignores women's modern roles but agree with her push for preparing students for real jobs and earning back public trust. She shocked many by revealing over half of students can’t answer simple civics questions, calling this a betrayal of public trust. McMahon wants colleges to teach “real American history” and toughen up students instead of protecting them too much. She laid out four big rules for universities: grow personal strength, chase truth sharply, defend civilization through civic knowledge, and build strong leaders among staff and professors. But not everyone agrees! Ross Mugler, a top university board leader, said McMahon’s picture of universities is not quite right and that schools are trying hard to cope with today’s challenges. McMahon’s speech has stirred a pot of debate about what colleges should really be. Will her bold ideas spark big changes or just more arguments? Either way, this moment shines a spotlight on the future of American higher education, leadership, and trust in a world that won’t wait around.

Read More at Timesofindia →

Tags: Linda mcmahon, American higher education, College reform, Administrative bloat, Civic education, University trust,