I agree with the prognostication that today’s events will result in a permanent impact on higher education. But I disagree with the thought that universities are becoming irrelevant for because, “...several courses deemed required may pose no actual utility to the student's desired goals, resulting in payment for unnecessary information and a painstaking, and potentially harmful, student experience.” My concept of "unnecessary information” is limited. 

My goals in higher education were to learn, not to qualify for any specific employment. I do not work in the field of either of my Bachelor degrees. I also was in welding school for five months, learning the difficult art of overhead welding, and have not pursued that as a career. The university experience is unique in many ways, but is prohibitively expensive for many people. But one of my goals in college was to learn as much unnecessary information as possible and never did potential after-college earnings motive me. 

A boss of mine told me that Edwin H. Land was the only person he had ever met who something about everything. That’s a nice educational goal. A philosopher professor of mine thought of me as a stupid art student, until midterms. The professor who taught the graduate-level psych course I took was far more encouraging. My thought is that negative feedback from professors might be more of a downfall for universities than unnecessary information. It’s what made my student experience more painful than it needed to be. 

But one professor did point out to me that my reasons for higher schooling were unusual. 

I wish you the best in your studies, wherever however they may be or take you.

Peter