Mayan predictions for the end of the world aside, the years ahead are likely to be quite different for higher education than the past 100 years. As our holiday gift to you, we have put together this anthem for the end of higher education as we know it. Sing along!

Please sing to the tune of The End of the World As We Know It by R.E.M. If you’re not familiar with it, you can see a video of R.E.M. singing it and/or read the original lyrics.

The End of Higher Ed As We Know It

That’s great, it starts with a MOOC quake.

Talk and tape, cost defrayed, and Science Guy is not afraid.

Eye of a hurricane, it’s unclear who will reign.

We want it for free, budgets stretched wildly.

Go online faster now, get more know-how.

Ladder start to clatter with fear that adjuncts matter.

Fire in a wire, course gurus need to hire.

Creativity sparked, new funding earmarked.

Seems blurry and coming in a hurry

With the provost breathing down your neck.

School by school dive in now, edX, Udacity.

Liberal arts in the dark? Fine, then.

Uh, oh, overflow, class askew, TA new, but it’ll do.

Save yourself, education, improve the nation.

Present seems absurd, students with dreams deferred.

And the left and the right. Right.

You technologic, patriotic, change, strange.

Bubble here? Not quite so clear.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

And I feel fine.

Here’s wishing you a very Happy New Year!