The pandemic changed college life forever: Since then, social media and AI Revolutionized classroom expectations and standards Find a job after graduation It had become impossibly high. Many now question whether it is fair to get a degree Worth it.
The ripple effects of these pressures are already being felt in campus accessibility offices, where diagnoses of ADHD, anxiety and depression are rising, as are requests for extended coursework time.
According to data released by the National Center for Education Statistics, 21% of Harvard undergraduate students received disability accommodations last year, an increase of more than 15% over the previous decade. Harvard Crimson. Top schools such as Brown, Cornell and Yale reported similar numbers, broadly in line with national trends. But the growth is even more pronounced at other institutions: 34% of students at UMass Amherst and 38% at Stanford University are registered as disabled, according to the data. atlantic.
According to data, in the 2011-12 academic year, the number of undergraduate students with disabilities was approximately 11% U.S. Department of Education data— highlights how dramatically the phenomenon has shifted.
One founder says students are struggling to carve out a niche in today’s tough job market
Experts note that many students suffer from health conditions that require accommodations, an increase that is linked in part to wider access to mental health services and a reduction in the stigma of seeking support.
Still, the growth has drawn national attention, with some critics arguing that students are abusing the system to ease workloads or gain an advantage in competitive classes.
Derek Thompson, author of recent bestseller Rich Called the figures “mind-boggling” and argued universities may have gone overboard after years of under-recognizing disabilities.
“America has stigmatized disability far too much,” he said write on X. “Elite colleges are now too generous with their rewards. A policy declaring that half of Stanford’s students are cognitively disabled and need accommodations simply doesn’t make any sense.”
Joe LonsdaleThe billionaire venture capitalist and co-founder of Palantir expressed similar concerns, saying some families are seeking diagnoses simply to “help” their students.
After all, job hunting after graduation has become a numbers game that few can win.
The number of applications in 2023 and 2024 will exceed 1.2 million Submitted to There are nearly 17,000 open graduate jobs in the UK, according to Student Employers Association. In the United States, lawmakers warn that the funnel is shrinking further. Senator Mark Warner warning of unemployment As artificial intelligence reshapes entry-level jobs, the proportion of recent graduates could reach 25% in the next two to three years.
But in reality, there is no evidence of widespread abuse, and not all registered students with disabilities receive accommodations in every class. Still, the size of the application has raised questions among some faculty about how housing arrangements intersect with academic expectations.
Teachers struggle to balance supporting students and avoiding stigma
For coaches, the added accommodations can be a challenge. Many said they wanted to support students with legitimate needs but worried that asking for clarification might be viewed as insensitive or ableist.
An adjunct professor, posted to Redditsaid the number of students offered accommodation has grown “exponentially” at the three schools where they teach.
“More and more students at this school are getting the convenience of turning in assignments 48 hours late, and I’m tired of the deadlines being constantly extended just for them,” the professor wrote, noting that they themselves have ADHD and autism.
“The students I lived with used this place almost every week because they were perpetually behind.”
Harry Lewis, former dean of Harvard University, also expressed concerns. Harvard Crimson.
“With the exception of physical disabilities, the entire accommodation system appears to be grossly mismatched with the educational purpose shared by students and teachers,” he said.
However, Katie Washington, CEO of the Association for Higher Education and Disability, believes students seeking accommodations are not an “unfair burden” on professors and that rather than questioning whether too many students qualify (which could perpetuate stereotypes), the focus should be on designing assessments that are inclusive of all learners.
“For decades, students with invisible disabilities were denied support because their struggles were viewed as laziness or a lack of effort,” Washington wrote in a letter to members of her organization. wealth. “The increase in accommodations reflects a cultural shift toward recognizing mental health, not a decline in academic integrity.”
Changes in the skills-based job market may catch some students off guard
For students, accommodation increases aligned with employer demand Rethink what really matters in recruiting. Fewer companies are prioritizing degrees and more are evaluating what they can do Do– through portfolios, projects, and real-world problem solving.
Less than Half of U.S. Director-level and Above Professionals Say a College Degree is Critical to Success LinkedIn. Additionally, nearly one in five job postings on the platform does not require a degree.
For students who are used to extended deadlines or extra time, this shift can complicate the situation. Regardless of whether a few students abuse the system, workplace assessments are generally not facilitated and performance is often judged on speed, accuracy and consistency. Some Gen Z is already facing pink slips They are just months into their careers because employers are not interested in some of their soft skills, such as organizational abilities.
In other words: Even as colleges become more flexible, the job market is moving in the opposite direction.