Change.edu

Andrew S. Rosen's 2011 analysis of the crisis in American higher education, published by Kaplan Publishing. Rosen, then chairman and CEO of Kaplan, Inc., argues that traditional four-year universities are failing non-traditional students — working adults, low-income learners, those at risk of dropping out — and that for-profit and online education providers are better positioned to serve them. The book calls for greater accountability, transparency, and outcome measurement in higher education.

Gates wrote: "In Change.edu, Andrew Rosen calls for greater relevance, access, accountability and transparency in higher education. He builds a persuasive case that many non-traditional students, such as working adults, parents and those at risk of dropping out, are not well served by traditional institutions."

For a founder working in education technology or any market with an incumbent protected by regulation and prestige, Change.edu is a case study in disruption-theory application. Rosen's argument is essentially Christensen's Innovator's Dilemma applied to higher ed: the incumbent business model cannot serve the underserved without breaking itself, which creates an opening for new entrants. The Gates endorsement is significant because the foundation has invested billions in education reform and has been a major force pushing for outcome-based accountability — Rosen's thesis aligns with the foundation's own strategy.