This article examines how people’s lives and work environments have been altered as a result of technology, how these advancements have altered societal expectations for higher education, and three solutions for higher education institutions to address these new expectations. Firstly, to survive the new normal, higher education institutions must shift their student solutions and orientations to accommodate online learners. Secondly, faculty development must concentrate on training faculty to utilize online tools to teach. Thirdly, institutions must better prepare students to be savvy virtual collaborators through online learning and to translate these new skills to the workforce. Finally, this paper uses the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic to present three strategies for achieving these solutions.
KEY WORDS: COVID-19, technological advancements, new expectations for higher education, online learning