Michael HornCo-founder and Chairman, Christensen Institute

Season 9 Wrap-Up: Why Mission Matters More Than Ever

19 Jun 2026 · 1 min

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1:03

In this wrap‑up segment, the speaker argues that the question of an institution’s mission—its core purpose—underpins every major debate facing higher education today. Whether discussing mergers, campus closures, athletics, funding formulas, the impact of AI, or the broader societal value of a college degree, the speaker repeatedly returns to mission as the decisive framework. He references a report written by Jeff ten years earlier, noting that while the report was timely then, the same mission‑centric lens remains crucial for envisioning the next decade of higher‑ed. The segment positions mission as both an existential touchstone for institutions and a practical guide for addressing contemporary challenges, emphasizing its enduring relevance for society, the institutions themselves, and the students they serve.

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I really do think a lot of these conversations about how institutions chart forward are, you know, goes to this mission question, the what are we here for question. And different institutions, I think, should have different answers to that. But this question of mission has just come up again and again, Jeff, this season, whether it's been in episodes around mergers or closures or athletics or funding formula and incentives, AI, you know, in terms of like, what's the value of college these days? Should we still have college? That listeners have asked us. And for all of those, you have to think about mission. And this just keeps hitting me as we think about the present moment. So 10 years after you penned that report, Jeff, but then 10 years from now, the future of higher ed, it just seems mission, mission, mission hits at all of these, in some cases, existential questions, but certainly sort of questions of enduring value for society, the institutions themselves, and the individuals attending those institutions, Jeff.