HEA 520 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Overview The final project for this course is the creation of a research paper. The landscape of higher education is constantly changing to respond to internal and external factors such as shifting demographics, federal and state government regulations, state funding, educational system changes, and costs. These factors produce both planned and unplanned changes in the higher education organization, which, in turn, impact students, employees, and organizational health. To be effective leaders, higher education administrators must be astute in recognizing, naming, planning for, and responding to these changes that impact the sociotechnical, structural, and cultural systems of university organizations. For the final project, you will create a research paper on a contemporary national issue addressing the current shifts and changing role of higher education in the twenty-first century. You will analyze the historical and current impact of the issue and associated trend on higher education institutions, using empirical data to illustrate how and why the trend impacts higher education institutions now and in the future. You will conclude your research paper by reflecting on the impact of the issue on your personal educational and professional experiences and pursuits. The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Four, and Six. The final submission will be due in Module Nine. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes: Analyze the evolution of current trends and issues in the field of higher education through the use of empirical data Assess the use of technological approaches for how they can improve achievement amongst underrepresented students in higher education institutions Analyze the relationship between contemporary issues influencing higher education and educational institutions’ missions, visions, and goals Determine the impact of contemporary issues influencing the field of higher education on decision-making trends in higher education institutions Analyze the current and projected impacts of contemporary issues on twenty-first-century students and professionals in the field of higher education Prompt Your research paper should answer the following prompt: You will begin your project by selecting a contemporary issue that is addressing current shifts and the changing role of higher education in the twenty-first century. Specifically, you must select an issue that is influencing technological trends in the field. Your instructor can assist you in your selection of an issue. Once you select an issue, you will analyze the evolution of the issue and its modern impact on higher education institutions. To analyze the modern imp ...