Barry Darnell

Very quickly, just-in-time logistics went from a treasured tenet of lean manufacturing to the scrutinized subject of its own value analysis. It was March 2020. A stormy sequence of pandemic-induced shutdowns and lockdowns had begun. The once seamless process of procuring many modern-life staples would soon be challenged. Delays and other difficulties set in. Shortages affected raw materials and the finished products that depended on them, from timber to toilet paper.

As we move into the fall 2022 academic year, it has become apparent that a few significant trends will have a big impact on higher education. While the most impactful trends will vary somewhat among institution types, this article will review five trends that will impact institutions across the United States in the next few years. The first and perhaps most significant of those impacts will focus on people. We continue to see human resource shortages across higher education.