Scott Carlson

Senior Writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education

Scott Carlson is a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education who explores where higher education is headed. Since 1999, he has covered a range of issues for the publication: college management and finance, facilities, campus planning, energy, sustainability, libraries, work-force development, the value of a college degree, and other subjects. He writes the twice-monthly column The Edge, and he is the author of Hacking College: Why the Major Doesn’t Matter — and What Really Does. Carlson has won awards from the Education Writers Association and is a frequent speaker at colleges and conferences around the country. His work has also appeared in The Baltimore Sun and Dwell, among other publications. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

2024 Back to School
Back to School VIP
2025 Back to School

Scott Carlson

Senior Writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education

Scott Carlson is a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education who explores where higher education is headed. Since 1999, he has covered a range of issues for the publication: college management and finance, facilities, campus planning, energy, sustainability, libraries, work-force development, the value of a college degree, and other subjects. He writes the twice-monthly column The Edge, and he is the author of Hacking College: Why the Major Doesn’t Matter — and What Really Does. Carlson has won awards from the Education Writers Association and is a frequent speaker at colleges and conferences around the country. His work has also appeared in The Baltimore Sun and Dwell, among other publications. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

2024 Back to School
Back to School VIP
2025 Back to School
2025 Back to School Summit
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
1:30 pm

The Disengaged Teen: Reigniting Curiosity and Connection

What’s behind the teenage disengagement crisis—and how can we fix it? Journalist Jenny Anderson and Brookings’ Rebecca Winthrop explore how re-engaging teens is critical not only for education, but for building skills, expanding social capital, and unlocking economic mobility. Drawing on their new book The Disengaged Teen, they’ll unpack how relevance, agency, and real-world learning can reconnect young people to school, work, and opportunity.
2024 New York, 'Back to School' Summit Day 2
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
4:30 pm

Tackling the Student Mental Health Epidemic

Even before the pandemic, institutions were facing significant growth in demand for mental health support, which far outpaced capacity to deliver care. Additionally, it has become increasingly clear that the traditional counseling center model is ill-equipped to solve the problem. Join this session to explore solutions to the growing student mental health crisis with experts working to support student well-being, enhance mental health and well-being, and highlighting opportunities to create resilient, inclusive learning environments that prioritize student well-being
2024 New York, 'Back to School' Summit Day 2
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
10:30 am

College to Career: Embedding Tomorrow’s Skills from the Get-Go

College-to-career has become a central focus for institutions worldwide. This session explores the critical issues surrounding college-to-career readiness, what works now and how the reshaping world of work will require a rethink of career readiness efforts.