Boardroom briefings and industry reports are urging trustees to prepare for an overdue enrollment cliff as demographic declines and changing student preferences squeeze traditional undergraduate pipelines. Institutions are being counseled to adopt scenario planning, diversify revenue through online and professional programs, and reassess program portfolios to avoid abrupt budget shortfalls. The guidance — aimed especially at smaller colleges and community colleges — stresses that the current enrollment landscape is already volatile and that planning should account for multiple futures, including sustained declines in traditional‑age students and permanent shifts toward skills‑based credentialing.