Leaders at the Council of Independent Colleges’ Presidents Institute signalled a turning point for private nonprofit higher education, arguing the old compact between universities and society has frayed. Speakers including Stanford‑affiliated scholars Emily Levine and Mitchell Stevens told attendees that colleges must negotiate a new academic social contract as public confidence in higher education declines and federal research support faces political constraints. Participants discussed conservative policy attacks on campus diversity programs, proposed reforms to federal student lending, and how institutions can reframe public value. Panels addressed operational pressures — enrollment, affordability and external scrutiny — and urged presidents to articulate clearer public goods in exchange for autonomy and public investment. For trustees and presidents, the CIC gathering served as a forum to translate long‑standing reputational challenges into board‑level strategic responses: tighter alignment on mission, clearer public communications and renewed emphasis on measurable community benefits are likely priorities.