Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

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Higher Ed 101: Tenure Explained

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Tenure is a defining feature of U.S. higher education, but these days the practice is in decline and under attack by critics. On this episode, Jeff and Michael talk with Jacques Berlinerblau, a Georgetown University professor who has written extensively about the tenure system, for an explainer on its colorful origins as well as a look at the dramatic changes that seem to be coming. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

2:50 - The Colorful History of Tenure

8:14 - A Distinctly American System

9:14 - How Tenure Works

13:26 - What Is the Legal Nature of Tenure?

14:46 - Which Types of Colleges Use Tenure?

16:19 - Is Tenure Different in Different Disciplines?

18:52 - How Difficult Is It For Colleges to Dismiss a Tenured Faculty Member?

20:40 - Can Tenured Departments Be Eliminated for Lack of Student Demand?

22:57 - Complaints Against the Tenure System

24:43 - A Turning Point in the 1990s

31:43 - A Renewed Campaign to Erode Tenure

34:31 - How Professors Are Partly to Blame for Tenure’s Woes

37:33 - Will Only Elite Universities Keep Tenure?

38:49 - Are Younger Faculty As Excited About Tenure?

41:48 - What Can Professors Do in the Face of Tenure’s Erosion?

Relevant Links:

“1915 Declaration of Principles on Academic Freedom and Academic Tenure,” and a history of the American Association of University Professors.

“1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure,” from the American Association of University Professors.

"Professors Lay Dying: Selecting a College Amidst an Educational Crisis," by Jacques Berlinerblau

“They’ve Been Scheming to Cut Tenure for Years. It’s Happening,” by Jacques Berlinerblau in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

“Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines,” by David Pepper.

“The War on Tenure,” by Deepa Das Acevedo

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Will a Flood of Credentials Threaten the Four-Year Degree?

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Colleges and other providers have flooded the market with non-degree credentials in the past decade. But a recent analysis shows that only one in three credentials bring meaningful returns for graduates. Jeff and Michael talk with Matt Sigelman, president of the Burning Glass Institute, who is working to provide data to consumers and policymakers about the ROI of non-degree credentials. Given many of the returns of credentials come to those with traditional degrees already, the future of the degree and credentials are inextricably tied together. This episode is supported exclusively by Ascendium Education Group.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

1:21 - Creating a Way to Measure Real-Time Labor Market Data

3:15 - Charting an Explosion of Non-Degree Credentials

7:14 - Helping Consumers Find Which Credentials Have Value

11:36 - What is the ROI of Non-Degree Credentials?

12:51 - How Could the Data on These Credentials Be Improved?

14:20 - The Challenge of Getting Data to Consumers

18:38 - Will Better Data Push Providers to Improve Degree Offerings?

20:52 - How Will Non-Degree Credentials Impact the Four-Year Degree?

24:25 - Sponsor Break

25:38 - Why Creating Measurement Tools Takes So Long

27:49 - New Credentials Could Increase the Value of the Four-Year Degree

30:02 - Providing Data Doesn’t Mean Students Will Use It

35:06 - Addressing the ‘AI Paralysis' in Hiring

39:53 - Lightning Round With Matt Sigelman

Relevant Links

“Counting Credentials 2025 Report,” by the nonprofit Credential Engine.

Credential Value Index Navigator by The Burning Glass Institute.

Education Quality Outcome Standards (EQOS), a collaboration of Jobs for the Future and The Burning Glass Institute.

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Inside the Role of College Trustees During Turbulent Times

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Wed, 4 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

College trustees consider more than just the monetary policies of universities. And former Brown University trustee Lauren Zalaznick is out with a new book that aims to humanize these often secretive roles with letters of reflection by Brown board members going back more than 100 years, some of them during other turbulent times in U.S. history. She brings the sensibility from her career as a television executive, when she led the Bravo network as it created The Real Housewives franchise and hits like Project Runway and Top Chef. Jeff and Michael talk to Zalaznick about her new book and her views on how colleges need to reassert their broader social value to meet this moment of crisis for higher ed. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

4:05 - What Led to the Book of Trustee Letters?

6:40 - The Value of Sharing Once-Secret Letters

9:01 - A Reality TV Pioneer’s Interest in University History

11:34 - What Is the Role of University Trustees?

15:40 - The Case for Large University Boards

20:14 - Hearing From a Diversity of Voices

23:52 - From Rabble-Rousers to Trustees

26:42 - How Do College Boards Navigate All Those Diverse Voices?

31:24 - Reflecting on Brown University’s Deal with the Trump Administration

36:58 - Should Every College Adopt the Tradition of Sharing Reflections From Board Members?

41:55 - Sponsor Break

42:43 - How Important Is It That College Board Members Be Alums?

46:45 - Making the Board Feel Like a Team

49:54 - More on Trustees Who As Students Criticized Leadership

52:37 - Getting the Right Mix on a Board

54:03 - How Large Should a Board Be?

Relevant Links

“Letters from the Corporation of Brown University,” edited by Lauren Zalaznick.

“The Affluencer,” profile of Lauren Zalaznick in The New York Times.

“Navigating a Merger as a College Trustee,” past Future U episode.

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Is Grade Inflation Deflating Trust in Schools?

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

To kick off 2026, Jeff and Michael weigh in on some key higher ed issues making headlines these days, starting with a deep dive into grade inflation at the nation’s colleges. A range of sources show that more students are getting A’s even as they are spending less time on schoolwork and deep reading. Meanwhile, AI is raising questions about the validity of college assessments when students can offload their work to chatbots. How can colleges respond? Other issues discussed include whether colleges should change what they teach as employers embrace AI, what types of colleges employers recruit from these days, and recent data on where online learning is most prevalent. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Chapters

0:00 - Introduction

1:34 - Are Those 2026 Coming True?

2:26 - Why Grade Inflation Is a Big Story Now

4:55 - How the Grade Inflation Issue Has Changed Since Al Franken Joked About It in 2002

6:43 - Why Professors Shouldn’t Grade the Students They Teach

8:38 - What If Mastery-Based Learning Upends Grading?

10:43 - Encouraging Students to Focus More on Feedback Than on Grades

12:16 - Has We Become an ‘Accomodations Nation’?

13:09 - Colleges Are Returning to Admissions Tests

15:01 - AI Could Help Admissions Officers Analyze Transcripts

19:17 - Are Elite Colleges Back at the Top of the List for Company Recruiters?

26:28 - Entry Into the Job Market Is Not Linear

27:55 - Sponsor Break

28:36 - What If AI Changes Nothing About What Students Need to Learn?

35:23 - New Data On Who Offers Online-Only Education

Relevant Links:

“Education Secretary Says She Wants to Shift Away From Higher Ed,” by Ryan Quinn in Inside Higher Ed.

“UC San Diego Sees Students’ Math Skills Plummet,” by Emma Whitford in Inside Higher Ed.

“High Grades are Presumably the Goal. So Why is Everyone Freaking Out?” by Michael Horn on Substack.

“Colleges Have Struggled To Curb Grade Inflation. Can Harvard Beat the Odds?” in the Harvard Crimson.

Sen. Al Franken’s 2002 Class Day speech at Harvard, from CSPAN.

“Accommodation Nation,” by Rose Horowitch in The Atlantic.

"Elite Colleges Are Back at the Top of the List for Company Recruiters.” by Lindsay Ellis in The Wall Street Journal.

“AI Changes Nothing About What Students Need to Learn,” by Rick Hess in Education Next.

“Fall 2024 IPEDS Data: Profile of US Higher Ed Online Education,” by Phil Hill In OnEdtech.

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Why Don’t More Colleges Run Co-Op Programs?

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 6 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Co-op programs are trending these days, with many colleges looking to offer students on-the-job experiences while taking classes. Jeff and Michael talk with Robert McMahan, president of Kettering University, which has a long-running co-op program for all students. He argues that more colleges could incorporate and scale the approach. But there are obstacles, both cultural and logistical. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

1:44 - An Unusual History of a Co-op Model

3:28 - Kettering Presidents’ Path to University Leadership

6:17 - Why Colleges Should Think of Employers as Their Customers

11:23 - Why Colleges Can’t Learn Everything They Need On Campuses

17:17 - How Kettering University’s Co-op Model Differs Than Others

20:44 - Why Isn’t Kettering More Popular?

24:44 - What Is Keeping More Universities From Doing Co-op Programs?

29:30 - Sponsor Break

31:05 - How More Colleges Can Move to a Co-op Model

35:36 - Companies Don’t Have Enough Internships to Meet Demand

39:08 - Could There Be ‘31 Flavors’ of Experiential Learning?

41:50 - Will We See a Return of the Corporate University?

45:52 - Lightning Round With Robert McMahan

Links

“Colleges Teach Learning, but They’re Not Learning How to Survive,” by Robert McMahan in Fortune.

“Former Governor Dishes on Connecting Work and College,” past Future U episode.

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Resist or Reform? Vanderbilt’s Chancellor Speaks Out

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Should colleges actively resist the Trump administration or find ways to engage and compromise? Vanderbilt University’s chancellor, Daniel Diermeier, has emerged as a leading example of engagement — facing a mix of cheers and jeers in the academy. Jeff and Michael talked with Diermeier about why he thinks higher education needs to change, and his ambitions to grow his institution’s prestige and research impact. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Relevant Links:

“Live from Milken: One-on-One with Bill Ackman,” preview Future U episode.

“Arizona State’s President Is Pulling Out All the Stops to Get on Trump’s Good Side,” in The New York Times.

“The Elite-University Presidents Who Despise One Another,” in The Atlantic.

“The (Not So) Quiet Schism Among Academic Leaders,” in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

“College-Age Jews Are Heading South,” in The Atlantic.

Chapters

0:00 - Introduction

2:07 - Why Vanderbilt’s Chancellor Stands Out in This Moment

4:46 - Is Vanderbilt Trying to Beat the Ivies?

7:23 - Why Vanderbilt Chose Dialogue With Trump Administration

10:06 - Did Higher Ed Get Too Comfortable?

11:12 - Are Higher Ed Institutions Up to the Challenge of Responding to Trump?

15:22 - What Daniel Diermeier Sees As Most Needed Reform for Higher Ed

17:40 - Will 'Resistance" by Colleges Hurt Federal Funding Broadly?

21:48 - Could the U.S. Lose the Lead In Higher Ed?

23:25 - Why Jewish Students are Flocking to Vanderbilt -

26:58 - A Plan for Expansion to Other Cities

29:03 - Sponsor Break

29:43 - Is Trump the Symptom or Cause of Higher Ed’s Challenges?

34:37 - A Rift Over How to Respond to Skepticism of College

37:40 - How Could the Research Process Be Reformed?

39:41 - The Fallout from October 7 Protests

43:40 - The Challenge of Political Diversity on Campus

49:37 - Can a New Group of Campuses Unseat the Ivy League?

52:06 - The Role of College Athletics in Campus Prestige

53:06 - A Regional Shift in Prominence

57:55 - Lightning Round With Daniel Diermeier

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“A Looming Crisis: New Analysis Shows Dozens of Well-Known Colleges Are Near Financial Trouble,”

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Takeaways from 2025 and Predictions for Next Year

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 9 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

As the year comes to a close, Jeff and Michael step back to review some themes from recent episodes. They home in on how to build innovative campus cultures, and how colleges can respond to AI. And they look ahead, offering predictions for higher ed for 2026. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group, Adobe, and Butler University.

Relevant Links

Michael Horn and Steven Shulman

"The Financially Sustainable University,"

Jeff Denneen and Tom Dretler

Chapters

0:00 - Introduction

4:22 - A Case for Massive Experimentation

6:30 - Making Shared Governance an Asset

10:00 - Building Innovation Into Campus Culture

11:41 - Lessons From Silicon Valley

13:17 - What Parents Are Asking About AI at Colleges

14:54 - Importance of Experiential Learning

18:40 - How Liberal Arts Can Be Taught Differently in the AI Age

21:11 - Being Creative v. Being a Creator

22:20 - Time for Colleges to Step Back and Strategize About AI

28:00 - New Research Reveals Mid-Size Colleges Could At Financial Risk

33:43 - Understanding the Details of New Student Loan Caps

37:37 - Breaking Down the Latest Enrollment Numbers

40:07 - Michael’s Predictions for 2026

41:56 - Jeff’s Predictions for 2026

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Rerun: Visiting Bowie State University: HBCUs, Employer Partnerships, and Student Engagement

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

On the latest stop of Future U.'s campus tour, hosts Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo visit Bowie State University to speak with President Aminta Breaux, as well as faculty and administrators at the Maryland institution about increased enrollment at HBCUs, partnerships with employers, and student engagement. With support from Salesforce.org.

Navigating a Merger as a College Trustee

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

When Marymount Manhattan College’s board of trustees decided last year to merge with Northeastern University, becoming a part of that Boston-based university’s global system, the vote was unanimous. As Jeff and Michael continue their ongoing exploration (some might say obsession) with mergers and acquisitions in higher ed, they talk to one of Marymount Manhattan’s trustees, Abby Fiorella, on this episode to get a board member’s perspective on how mergers can be strategic wins for smaller institutions, as well as key to protecting their core missions. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Relevant Links

“God and Man at Yale,” by William F. Buckley.

"The Abundant University: Remaking Higher Education for a Digital World," by Michael Smith,

Mission statement of Arizona State University

Mission statement of Southern New Hampshire University

“Why a University Proactively Sought a Merger," our other episode this season about M&A in higher ed.

Chapters

0:00 - Why Do We Keep Talking About Mergers?

3:50 - Introducing Our Guest, Abby Fiorella

5:17 - How to Prepare a Board for a Merger

9:19 - Deciding on Institutional Priorities

12:44 - What Is Marymount Manhattan College Doing to Preserve Its Identity?

17:17 - How Can a Board Come to Peace With a Merger?

21:40 - How Can Boards Make Mergers Less Taboo?

24:29 - Reframing Merging As an Opportunity

27:01 - Closing Thoughts From a Trustee

28:54 - Sponsor Break

29:38 - What It Means for a Board to Be Responsible to a Mission

36:21 - How Can Universities Put Mission Statements Into Practice?

38:52 - Why College Mergers Require ‘Courage’

39:21 - Making Time in Board Meetings for Strategic Planning

44:56 - The Role of Communication Between Presidents and Boards in Considering Mergers

47:59 - Why Most Boards Should Set Up Systems to Prepare for an Uncertain Future

48:37 - Lightning Round With Abby Fiorella

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Preparing Students for an AI-Infused Workforce

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:45:16 +0000

In this special episode recorded live at Adobe’s EduMAX conference, Jeff and Michael explore practical ways to harness AI in higher education to prepare students to be more effective creators. They were joined by a panel of industry and academic experts including Jennifer Sparrow, New York University’s chief academic technology officer; Simon Koh, who has led early career recruiting at Raymond James and KPMG, among other organizations; and Allison Salisbury, founder and CEO of Humanist Venture Studio.

Relevant Links:

“AI Is Not Just Ending Entry-Level Jobs. It’s the End of the Career Ladder as We Know It,” CNBC“

The Rise of AI Will Make Liberal Arts Degrees Popular Again. Here’s Why,” in Inc magazine.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

3:49 - What Is an AI-Ready Graduate?

7:52 - How AI is Changing Early-Career Jobs

11:00 - What Skills and Mindsets Do Students Need?

14:31 - How Colleges Can Increase Experiential Education With Employers

22:19 - What Colleges Do As Employers Pull Back on Internships

28:37 - What is the Purpose of College in an AI World?

34:14 - How the Signaling Power of College Could Change in the AI Era

37:38 - How Students Are Using AI to Create

41:25 - Will AI Bring Resurgence of Liberal Arts?

45:50 - How Creativity is Important Even in the Finance Sector

49:31 - Why AI is More Creative Than Humans

51:40 - What Colleges Can Do in the Next 12 Months

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2025 Strada State Opportunity Index

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How States Can Meet the Moment In Higher Ed

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 4 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

In this time of uncertainty and pullback of federal support for higher education, is it time for states to step up and play a greater leadership role in helping colleges better serve students? And if so, how? Jeff and Michael debate those questions on this episode. To set the stage, they talk with Ruth Watkins, president of postsecondary education for Strada Education Foundation and a former college president, about Strada’s new State Opportunity Index. A key theme: the state level may be the ideal one to match educational offerings with available jobs, especially as AI reshapes so many industries. This episode is made with support from Strada Education Foundation.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

3:40 - How a New Report Measures State Higher Ed Efforts

5:53 - Is This a Time for States to Lead?

8:17 - How to Encourage Competition Among States

10:12 - Which States Lead In Higher Ed ROI

12:52 - Low Tuition Doesn’t Guarantee Good ROI

15:39 - What Can Colleges Do If Job Prospects Are Low in a State?

19:00 - Who Is the Audience for the State Opportunity Index?

21:09 - How Can State Measure Return on Investing in Higher Ed?

23:52 - What Can States Do in Higher Ed to Respond to AI?

26:45 - Sponsor Break

27:55 - Some Context for How States Interact With Federal Higher Ed Support

29:40 - Why Jeff Thinks States and the Feds Aren’t ‘Rowing in the Same Direction’

32:00 - Why Michael Sees More Alignment in State and Federal Efforts

34:15 - Will States Step In to Support Research?

37:07 - Are Some States Doing Better on Work-Based Learning?

40:54 - Colleges Still Aren’t Comfortable in Their Role of Getting Students Jobs

46:29 - New Leadership Opportunity In Human Capital in the AI Era

48:18 - A Better Way to Measure State Investment

51:56 - Lightning Round With Ruth Watkins

Relevant Links:

Strada Education Foundation

2025 Grapevine Report

State Higher Education Executive Officers Association

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Visiting Butler: Sparking a Culture of Innovation

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 11:28:21 +0000

On the latest stop of Future U.'s campus tour, Michael and Jeff visit Butler University to talk with Butler president Jim Danko and other campus leaders. They explore how, out of a mix of excitement about serving students and fear of potential competitive threats on the horizon, the university built a culture and infrastructure to encourage innovation.

Relevant Links

Butler University’s Transformation Lab website.

Chapters

0:00 - Why We Wanted to Visit Butler University

3:46 - What Butler’s President Said He Would Do When He First Started

7:22 - Some Early Wins In Sparking Innovation

9:16 - The Importance of Time and Patience in College Leadership

13:25 - How Presidents Can Best Work With Trustees to Encourage Innovation

15:46 - How a Business Background Influenced Leading a University

19:37 - Why Did Butler Push for Innovation?

21:11 - Putting a Vision Into Practice

22:50 - The Importance of Wanting to Win

28:01 - A Chief Strategy Officer’s Viewpoint

35:35 - A Faculty Perspective on Innovation

37:04 - The 50-50 Rule of Running the Board of Trustees

38:53 - What Butler Ventures Looks Like Today

47:43 - What Grade Would Butler Give Its Innovation Efforts?

52:00 - Closing Observations

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Bootstraps podcast series

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The Impact of AI on Student Motivation

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

How can AI be adopted in a way that turns more students into “explorers” rather than “passengers” in their learning? This week we bring you a conversation with the co-author of a book on student disengagement in school, Rebecca Winthrop, who is also researching the impact of AI on education. The episode is by one of Future U’s producers, Jeff Young, from his new podcast, Learning Curve.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

4:19 - When the ‘Student Disengagement Crisis’ Started

7:25 - A Framework for Describing Levels of Student Engagement

15:18 - How AI Is Impacting Student Motivation

19:00 - Why ChatGPT’s ‘Study Mode’ Is Not the Answer

25:05 - Advice for Companies Making AI Tools for Education

29:32 - Tips for Students

34:42 - A High School Student’s Take on AI

48:30 - Advice For Teachers on Dealing with AI

51:35 - What Is the Purpose of School in the Age of Generative AI?

Publications Mentioned:

“The Disengaged Teen,”

by Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson

“Minnesota high school student weighs the benefits and pitfalls of AI,”

Minnesota Now

“I’m a High Schooler. AI Is Demolishing My Education,”

The Atlantic

Brookings Global Task Force on AI in Education

website

‘We Have to Really Rethink the Purpose of Education,’

The Ezra Klein Show

“Attention Please: Professors Struggle With Student Disengagement,”

EdSurge

“Playing the Grade Game,”

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Should College Get Harder?

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How AI Could Reshape Higher Ed

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Parents and prospective students want to know how colleges are responding to the rise of generative AI — and to other recent developments like federal budget cuts to research. On this episode, Jeff and Michael share what they’re both hearing as they visit campuses around the country this fall. And they offer their analysis of what AI could mean for higher education, and whether the time is ripe for new entrants to enter the college landscape. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Publications Mentioned

Joshua Rothman in The New Yorker

Student Loan Debt Is Strangling Gen X

Oyin Adedoyin in The Wall Street Journal

Charlie Javice sentenced to 7 years in prison for $175M fraud

ABC News

Anthology Declares Bankruptcy, Blackboard to Remain as the Core,

Phil Hill, in OnEdTech

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

2:23 - What Jeff Is Hearing On His Book Tour for ‘Dream School’

4:25 - Should College Get Harder Because of AI?

7:27 - Why Different Kinds of Colleges Will Be Impacted Differently

10:48 - Startup Universities Are Emerging With an AI Focus

14:25 - Redesigning the College Experience Around Activities and Personal Development

17:39 - Will a New Kind of Expertise Be Required On Campuses?

19:20 - Will Employers Trust Degrees In the AI Era?

24:40 - Sponsor Break

25:35 - How Student Loan Debt Is Impacting Gen X

28:22 - A Republican Effort to Question Consultants That Help Set College Prices

30:15 - Charlie Javice Sentenced In Fraud Case

31:44 - Anthology, Owner of Blackboard LMS, Goes Bankrupt

34:00 - Some Trade Schools Exempted From New Federal Rules

35:00 - Making Changes at Colleges Stick

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Why a University Proactively Sought a Merger

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 7 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Mergers and acquisitions are usually seen as bad things in higher ed. But there’s a growing sense that many colleges could benefit by teaming up, especially as the fiscal cliff means fewer potential students. Jeff and Michael continue to dive into their fascination with M&A by talking to Walter Iwanenko Jr, the president of Gannon University in Erie, Pa., about how and why the institution sought a merger with Ursuline College near Cleveland. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group

Publications Mentioned:

“Two North Carolina universities announced a merger. Why some alumni are pushing back,” in USA Today.

“A Midwest Merger: How Two Ohio Colleges Are Coming Together,” from Future U, season 8.

Chapters

3:42 - Why Mergers and Acquisitions Are Increasingly Important In HIgher Ed

6:15 - What Led Gannon University to Look for a Merger?

9:30 - What Gannon University Hoped For in a Partner

13:01 - How Gannon University Found Ursuline College

16:21 - What’s Stopping More Colleges From Seeking Mergers?

21:36 - Learning From Other Mergers That Failed

23:04 - What Should Change to Help More Mergers Happen?

27:02 - Sponsor Break

29:00 - How to Change the Perception of M&A in Higher Ed

35:46 - Finding the Right Leadership

38:30 - What is the Trump Administration’s Stance on Making College Mergers Easier?

41:08 - Lightning Round

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"Universities in Red States and Heartland May Be Winners as Ivy League Contends with Trump Onslaught,"

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Reporters Roundtable: How Trump Is Shaking Up Higher Ed

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We’re bringing back a favorite format to go behind the headlines with top beat reporters covering colleges. Our latest roundtable focuses on how the Trump administration’s many executive orders, research grant cancellations, and crackdowns on international students are changing the higher ed landscape in the U.S. and globally. Jeff and Michael are joined by reporters from The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, and The Chronicle of Higher Education to hear their insights and analysis. This episode made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Chapters

0:00 - Introducing the Reporters in the Roundtable

4:10 - How the Trump Administration Picks Which Colleges to Target?

8:36 - A Shift from Ivies to SEC Schools

11:01 - How the Campus Mood Is Different at Mizzou Than at Harvard

13:05 - What’s New With International Students on Campus

14:55 - Will International Education Decline Globally?

17:17 - The Impact of International Student Decline on Colleges’ Bottom Lines

19:07 - How Much Has International Enrollment Declined?

20:55 - Will International Students Fear Returning Home for the Summer?

22:24 - Sponsor Break

22:36 - Lessons from the Santa Ono Bid to Lead University of Florida

26:50 - Divide Between Red State and Blue State Universities

29:25 - Will Trump Changes to Higher Ed Stick?

35:38 - Predicting How the Supreme Court Will Rule on Harvard Case

37:13 - Lightning Round

Publications Mentioned:

by Hilary Burns in The Boston Globe

“Trump Administration’s Cuts to Harvard Funding Are Unconstitutional, Judge Rules,”

by Doug Belkin in The Wall Street Journal

"Even as Classes Begin, Some Foreign Students Are Still in Visa Limbo,”

by Karin Fischer in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

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Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You

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Redefining the ‘Dream School’

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this era of uncertainty, many parents view highly-selective colleges as the best bet for their student’s futures. In his new book just out this month, Future U co-host Jeff Selingo challenges that assumption. For this episode, Jeff moves from the host chair to being a guest to share highlights from the book, ‘Dream School.’ He talks about going beyond which college’s name looks most impressive as a bumper sticker on the family car to focusing on the quality of a college’s teaching, whether it really fits the budget, and other factors that are specific to each student. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Relevant Links:

Jeff Selingo’s new book, Dream School

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
2:06 - Why write this book?
3:23 - The ‘New Dream School’ List
11:28 - When Mismatched Schools Cause Dropouts
14:26 - Sponsor Break
16:51 - The Importance of Making Trade-offs
18:44 - Understanding What’s Motivating Choice
19:35 - How AI is Impacting Jobs and Causing Uncertainty About College
20:56 - What Should Colleges Do?
23:23 - Giving Families ‘Social Proof’ of a Broader Group of College
25:29 - The Doom Loop of College Finances
27:56 - How Future U Shaped the Book
29:14 - How Jeff Gets the Word Out on His Book

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Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You

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No Relaxing Summer for Higher Ed

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

This summer brought no rest for college leaders. With the Trump Administration’s continuing push to reshape the college world, plus lots of announcements in Artificial Intelligence, there are many higher ed headlines to recap. So Jeff and Michael kick off season 9 with their take on the most important developments of the past couple of months. That includes Columbia University’s unprecedented settlement with the federal government, a new executive order on college admissions, and college trustees pushing for action on AI. And they unveil a new ‘speed round’ segment. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Publications Mentioned:

The Elite University Presidents Who Despise One Another: Inside the civil war between the Ivy League and the South in The Atlantic

Great Expectations, Fragile Foundations in On EdTech

Chapters

1:36 - Our Summer Recap

4:09 - Behind the Scenes of Jeff’s Book Launch

8:10 - Meet the Future U Production Team

12:18 - Columbia University Settlement

21:00 - Trump’s Executive Order on Admissions

30:00 - What College Business Officers Are Talking About

34:15 - One Big Beautiful Bill’s Impact

39:30 - New ‘Lightning Round’ Segment

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Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You

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2025 Institutional Classifications, Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education

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Rerun: Reclassifying Higher Ed: Will the New Carnegie Groupings Change the Race for Prestige?

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Jeff and Michael are joined by Mushtaq Gunja, Executive Director of the Carnegie Classification Systems and Senior Vice President at ACE, to unpack the sweeping changes to the Carnegie Classifications. They explore how the new system aims to better group institutions, highlight student access and earnings, and shift incentives across funding, accountability, and rankings. The conversation dives into the implications for colleges chasing R1 status, the normative power of classifications, and whether these changes will meaningfully alter institutional behavior or simply create a new hierarchy. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.

Links We Mention

2025 Research Activity Designations, Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

05:50 - The Changing Higher Ed Landscape

08:06 - The Impact of the New Classifications

10:42 - Anticipating the Normative Effects

16:55 - New Funding Criteria

18:13 - Shifting to a Focus on Outcomes

21:17 - Measuring Access and Earnings

24:53 - Encouraging Good Use of the New Classifications

34:24 - Considering the Impact on Research Dollars

40:28 - Institutional Response to Access and Earnings Designations

46:30 - What This Means for Rankings

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Return on investment of apprenticeship systems for enterprises: Evidence from cost-benefit analyses

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Rerun: Learning from the Swiss Apprenticeship Model

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

The U.S. has a lot to learn when it comes to systematizing apprenticeship. Thankfully, there are successful international models, like Switzerland’s, that we can study. Katie Caves, the Director at Switzerland’s Center on the Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems, joins the podcast to discuss the Swiss model and what can be gleaned from it. They discuss its permeability between academic and vocational tracks, proving its value to employers, the prestige of Swiss apprenticeships, and the principles that hold across borders. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group

Publications Mentioned:

by Samuel Muehlemann & Stefan C Wolter

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

3:35 - Swiss Apprenticeship 101

6:56 - Path Selection and Funding

13:46 - The Status of Apprenticeship in Switzerland

18:58 - Borrowing Across Borders

25:15 - The ROI to Employers

29:47 - Evaluating Indiana’s Apprenticeship Model

33:45 - Imbuing Prestige in American Apprenticeship

38:49 - Striking the Balance

43:01 - The Influence of Accountability

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"AI Skills Fundamentals Certificate" - Western Governors University

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Rerun: Chips and Higher Ed: What the Federal Investment Means for Colleges

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

What does a community college in Idaho have to do with mounting economic tensions between the U.S. and China? A lot, actually.

On this episode of Future U., Michael and Jeff dive into what the CHIPS and Science Act—the federal spending package designed to reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign manufacturers for microchips and other advanced technologies—means for a segment of American postsecondary institutions that’s often forgotten in these conversations: community colleges. They talk with nonprofit and government leaders about how the CHIPS supports the education and training of a high tech workforce. They then go deep with the team at the College of Western Idaho to get a view of how they are developing these programs in collaboration with their corporate partner, Micron. This episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group.

AI in the Workplace: Michael Horn Hosts WGU's Future of Work Panel

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this special bonus episode of Future U, Michael Horn moderates a panel discussion on the future of work and learning in the age of AI. Recorded at a Western Governors University event in Boston, the conversation features insights from industry leaders across technology, consulting, and higher education.

Panelists Paul Bingham (WGU), Will Bass (formerly of Comcast), Kara Kara Wieckowski (Accenture), and Wayne Duso (former VP at AWS) explore the transformative impact of AI on workforce development, talent acquisition, and educational models. They discuss whether we should view AI as revolutionary like the smartphone or complementary like the microwave, share strategies for upskilling at both individual and organizational levels, and examine innovative approaches to virtual internships and experiential learning.

Whether you're an educator, administrator, business leader, or student contemplating your career path, this episode provides valuable insights on navigating the rapidly evolving intersection of work, technology, and education.

Chapters

0:00 - Introduction

2:34 - AI Perspectives: Optimism vs. Concerns

6:28 - The Microwave vs. Smartphone Analogy

9:09 - AI as an Accelerant of Change

12:29 - Job Anxiety and Workforce Evolution

21:22 - Rethinking Talent Acquisition and Development

23:25 - Creating a Holistic Talent Approach

24:41 - Accenture's AI Talent Strategy

27:29 - The Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Approach

33:58 - Learning at the Speed of Human Capacity

37:23 - Skill Forward: Balancing Organization and Individual Growth

40:45 - Learning Models for Different Types of Adopters

43:39 - On-the-Job Training and Strategic Learning

47:55 - The Challenge of Finding Time to Learn

53:04 - Virtual Experiences and the Future of Internships

Further Reading

WGU's certificate program designed to help professionals develop foundational AI knowledge and skills applicable across various industries, supporting both personal growth and organizational innovation.

"AI Won't Replace Humans—But Humans With AI Will Replace Humans Without AI" - Harvard Business Review

An insightful article by Harvard professor Karim Lakhani explaining how AI will lower the cost of cognition and why business leaders must experiment with AI applications for all employees, not just tech workers.

"The Upskilling Imperative: Required at Scale for the Future of Work" - McKinsey

Research highlighting how companies can take a larger role in upskilling employees by eliminating barriers of time and cost, with specific strategies for developing critical workforce capabilities.

"ChatGPT is Going to Change Education, Not Destroy It" - MIT Technology Review

An examination of how AI tools like ChatGPT are being reevaluated by educators as potential classroom aids rather than threats, with practical examples of implementation across educational settings.

"The Future of Skills: Employment in 2030" - Pearson

A comprehensive research report that identifies which occupations and skills are likely to be in demand by 2030, considering seven megatrends including technological change, globalization, and demographic shifts.

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Rerun: The New Student-Ready College

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

While college-going rates have increased over recent decades, completion rates have hardly budged. On this episode, Michael and Jeff sit down with one entrepreneur working to change that. Mike Larsson is the co-founder and CEO of Duet, an organization collaborating with an online university to provide on-the-ground coaching and physical space for students. They discuss the role wraparound supports play in supporting more students towards graduation, the keys to reengaging students who have stopped out, the nationwide spread of hybrid models like Duet’s, and more.

Links We Share

College Reimagined by Jon Gabrieli et al.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

02:12 - The Founding Story of Duet

08:53 - Reaching Students with “Some College No Degree”

11:23 - A Personal Trainer for College

13:17 - Duet’s Outcomes

17:07 - “The Hard Policy Answer”

21:00 - The Growth of Hybrid College

24:39 - Affordability, Flexibility, and Disruption

29:46 - Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships to Better Serve Adult Learners

33:26 - Improving the Outcomes of Community Colleges

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RPK Group Official Website

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Rerun: Higher Ed 101: College Budgets Explained

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

As colleges navigate increasing financial pressure, many struggle to balance mission with sustainability. In this episode, Jeff and Michael welcome Rick Staisloff, founder of rpk GROUP, for a crash course in how college budgets really work. From centralized vs. decentralized models to the challenges of tuition discounting, Rick breaks down the major drivers of revenue and expense in higher ed. He also highlights why better business intelligence, clearer accountability, and a shift toward ROI thinking are essential for financial sustainability. Whether you're a board member or just curious, this episode offers practical insight into what’s working—and what’s not—in college budgeting. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

03:45 - How colleges put together their budgets

9:05 - Implementation challenges and best practices

15:04 - Non-tuition revenue sources

26:21 - Cost drivers

29:41 - Solving the “Financial Bucket Problem”

35:41 - Deferred maintenance

38:11 - Shifting to an ROI mindset

41:04 - The levers to pull

43:14 - On the margins

46:44 - College cash sources

49:03 - Our most promising strategies

Relevant Links

Access the official online presence of RPK Group, the consulting firm founded by episode guest Rick Staisloff. This resource provides further information regarding their advisory services in higher education finance and the development of sustainable institutional business models.

Responsibility Centered Management (RCM) Manual - Kent State University

This document offers a comprehensive exposition of Responsibility Centered Management (RCM), a decentralized budgetary framework prevalent within higher education institutions. Review for detailed insight into its operational principles and implementation methodologies.

Tuition Discounting Hits Another High - Inside Higher Ed

Consult this article for current data and analysis pertaining to the escalating rates of tuition discounting at private nonprofit colleges. The content elucidates the impact of institutional financial aid on net tuition revenue, a critical financial metric discussed herein.

A National Study of Capital Infrastructure at Colleges and Schools of Agriculture | APLU

This report details the substantial and accumulating challenges of deferred maintenance across tertiary education establishments. It provides quantitative data and analytical perspectives on infrastructure-related financial burdens as referenced by Mr. Staisloff.

Understanding Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems in EdTech - Ellucian

This resource provides an overview of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, elaborating on their function as integrated platforms for managing administrative and academic operations. It highlights their utility in enhancing institutional efficiency, business intelligence, and data-driven strategic planning within higher education.

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Of Boys and Men:Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What To Do About It

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Rerun - The Lost Boys of Higher Ed

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We revisit one of the most impactful episodes from season 8, The Lost Boys of Higher Ed. Women have outnumbered men on college campuses for decades, but the divergence in postsecondary success has widened in recent years, and it is both a cause and symptom of the struggles of the modern man. Richard Reeves, author of Of Boys and Men joins the podcast to discuss the drivers of these challenges, promising interventions, and whether we should care about the plight of men in a world where they continue to wield power. This episode is made with support from the Gates Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, and The American College of Education.

Links We Share

by Richard Reeves

https://www.menincollege.com

American Institute for Boys and Men

Chapters

00:00 - Intro

04:15 - Where We Are (and Aren't) Seeing the Gender Divide

05:56 - Designing College with The Modern Young Man in Mind

12:28 - Drivers of the Higher Ed Gender Divide

16:30 - The Effects of the Pandemic

19:41 - The Larger Significance of the Problem

26:50 - Opting Out of Adulting

31:52 - Masculinity and Majors

34:22 - K12 Solutions: Nobody's Fault, Everyone's Responsibility

37:32 - What Higher Ed Can Do

41:47 - International Parallels

44:38 - Rebalancing Education Systems

49:06 - Zero-Sum Game or Growing the Pie?

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Handshake 2025 Annual Report

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Season 8 Wrap Up: Looking Back and Ahead

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 3 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Jeff and Michael conclude the eighth season of Future U. with a one-on-one discussion of the lessons and themes from this year’s conversations. They address the range of topics covered - from the transformative effects of AI to the recent flurry of Federal executive orders to the reckoning to be done in higher education. For each, they summon the insights from this season’s guests to analyze how they have shaped the higher ed landscape and consider how they will continue to do so going forward. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

1:39 - Jeff’s Next Book

5:17 - Trump’s Effect on the Year of Reckoning

15:20 - The Shifting Power Balance

20:13 - Demonstrating Value

25:27 - Colleges’ Core Competencies

38:11 - Who’s Looking Forward?

42:19 - Saying Goodbye for Summer

Former Governor Dishes on Connecting Work and College

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 27 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift joins Jeff and Michael to explore how to rebuild the broken college-to-career pipeline. Now leading Education at Work, a nonprofit that provides work-based learning opportunities for undergraduates, Swift shares how her organization supports first-generation and Pell-eligible students with paid, career-relevant jobs during college. The conversation also dives into the policy vacuum left by congressional inaction, the role of states in driving innovation, and where bipartisan opportunities still exist in connecting higher education to the workforce. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.

Publications Mentioned:

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

02:57 - Fixing the College to Career Pipeline

14:48 - Building Soft Skills

17:47 - The Higher Ed Policy Vacuum

24:28 - Federal Policy Enablers for Work-Based Learning

28:06 - State Governments to the Rescue?

30:46 - The Opportunity for Bipartisanship

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Higher Ed on the Hill: Getting College Back on the Congressional Agenda

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 20 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

With higher education policy increasingly driven by executive action, Michael and Jeff explore why Congress has been largely absent from the conversation—and what that means for students and institutions. They’re joined by James Kvaal, former Under Secretary of Education under the Biden Administration, and Preston Cooper of the American Enterprise Institute, for a bipartisan discussion about stalled reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, cuts to the Department of Education, the future of international students at American colleges, and more. This episode is made with support from the Gates Foundation.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
04:44 - The Cost of Congressional Inaction
13:28 - Unlocking Movement on Higher Ed
19:53 - Areas for Bipartisan Compromise
23:15 - The Big Change We Need
28:33 - The Impact of Cuts to the Department of Education
32:58 - Immigration and International Students
38:23 - Agreement Across the Aisle
43:55 - Changes Since the Last HEA Reauthorization
48:12 - Too Much Focus on the Elites?

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Live from Milken: Hurdles and Hopes in Higher Education

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Fri, 9 May 2025 13:32:20 +0000

In a special episode recorded at the Milken Global Institute, Jeff moderates a wide-ranging panel with higher education leaders including the presidents of Dartmouth, Stanford, UC San Diego, Yeshiva University, and the CEO of ETS. The conversation explores the crises and critiques facing higher ed—from campus protests and declining public trust to research funding and economic ROI. The leaders discuss how institutions can reaffirm their missions, serve a broader public, and restore faith in the value of a degree in an era of polarization and political scrutiny.

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Live from Milken: One-on-One with Bill Ackman

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Fri, 9 May 2025 13:13:06 +0000

In this second part from the Milken Global Institute, Jeff Selingo engages in a provocative conversation with investor and Harvard critic Bill Ackman. They discuss the challenges facing elite higher education today—from DEI rollbacks and government funding threats to what Ackman describes as Harvard's financial crisis and governance failures. Ackman argues that administrative bloat, viewpoint homogeneity, and an unsustainable business model have undermined top institutions, while suggesting Harvard's $53 billion endowment may be significantly overvalued. The discussion explores contentious issues in admissions fairness, including legacy preferences, and concludes with Ackman's vision for higher education's future, where competition from new models might force established universities to reform or risk irrelevance.

Key Moments

0:00 - Intro

1:04 - Federal Funding as a Lever of Influence

8:07 - Board Insulation at Harvard

13:08 - Limiting Class Size

14:25 - Fairness in Admissions

18:27 - Where We Go From Here

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Mark Schneider: Blowing Up Ed Research is Easy. Rebuilding it is ‘What Matters’

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Making Sense of the First 100 Days

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this special episode, recorded live at the ASU+GSV Summit, hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn dive into the rapidly evolving higher ed landscape in President Trump’s second term. They discuss massive cuts at the U.S. Department of Education, mounting challenges around international student enrollment, and looming threats to federal research funding. They examine the broader, longer-term implications of these shifts for colleges and draw from their recent research to discuss how leaders can nurture positive campus culture during these challenging times. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.

Links We Share

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

7:32 - Cuts to the Department of Education

20:40 - Targeting International Students

23:48 - Withholding of Federal Research Grants

39:25 - Our Favorite Higher Ed Commentary

46:31 - Changing Campus Culture

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2025 Institutional Classifications, Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education

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Reporter’s Roundtable: A Quarter Century of Higher Ed Controversies

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In a special crossover episode, Michael and Jeff are joined by Chronicle of Higher Education reporter Jack Stripling to discuss a recent piece by the Chronicle: a March Madness-style bracket of the most memorable higher ed controversies of the last 25 years. The trio relives infamous scandals—from Jetgate and Varsity Blues to faculty feuds, presidential meltdowns, and that $550 olive jar. Along the way, they explore what these stories reveal about rising presidential compensation, the role of athletics in university life, the erosion of shared governance, and the shifting relationship between the public and higher ed. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and Gates Foundation.

Links We Mention

Higher Ed Controversy Draft, College Matter from the Chronicle

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
5:12 - March Madness for Higher Ed Controversies
8:53 - Controversies on the Bubble
12:30 - Jetgate
16:17 - The UVA Re-Hire
20:01 - Presidential Compensation
23:49 - The Prominent Role of Athletics in Scandals
28:42 - Who’s Watching Higher Ed?
31:38 - What Scandals Tell Us About Higher Ed Financing
38:38 - The State of the College Presidency
48:59 - Fighting Factions

Building an Apprenticeship System in Indiana: How the Hoosier State is Adapting the Swiss Model

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Wed, 9 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In part two of their series on apprenticeships, Jeff talks with Claire Fiddian-Green, president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, about Indiana’s ambitious efforts to adapt lessons from Switzerland’s gold-standard model. They explore how Indiana is transforming high school graduation requirements, building industry-led talent associations, and designing scalable pathways that center real-world work experience. The conversation covers the challenges of shifting culture, coordinating stakeholders, and ensuring permeability between career and college tracks—all with the goal of making apprenticeships a respected and rigorous route to success after high school. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Publications Mentioned

“No Time to Lose: How to Build a World-Class Education System State by State,” - The National Council of State Legislatures

Apprentice Nation: How the "Earn and Learn" Alternative to Higher Education Will Create a Stronger and Fairer America, - Ryan Craig

“Career and Technical Education for All,” - Daniel Curtis and Michael B. Horn

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
3:32 - Focusing Indiana on CTE
5:00 - Applying Lessons Learned from Swiss Apprenticeship in Indiana
8:05 - Building an Apprenticeship System at Scale
10:58 - Adjusting Graduation Requirements
13:52 - The Keys to Successful Stakeholder Collaboration in Indiana
15:10 - Centering Permeability
19:05 - States in the Lead on Apprenticeship
21:56 - Putting Employers in the Driver’s Seat
26:30 - Carving Out Apprenticeship Pathways in High Schools
31:30 - Bringing it Back to the Why

Reclassifying Higher Ed: Will the New Carnegie Groupings Change the Race for Prestige?

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 1 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Links We Mention

2025 Research Activity Designations, Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
05:50 - The Changing Higher Ed Landscape
08:06 - The Impact of the New Classifications
10:42 - Anticipating the Normative Effects
16:55 - New Funding Criteria
18:13 - Shifting to a Focus on Outcomes
21:17 - Measuring Access and Earnings
24:53 - Encouraging Good Use of the New Classifications
34:24 - Considering the Impact on Research Dollars
40:28 - Institutional Response to Access and Earnings Designations
46:30 - What This Means for Rankings

Higher Ed 101: College Budgets Explained

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

03:45 - How colleges put together their budgets

9:05 - Implementation challenges and best practices

15:04 - Non-tuition revenue sources

26:21 - Cost drivers

29:41 - Solving the “Financial Bucket Problem”

35:41 - Deferred maintenance

38:11 - Shifting to an ROI mindset

41:04 - The levers to pull

43:14 - On the margins

46:44 - College cash sources

49:03 - Our most promising strategies

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Learning from the Swiss Apprenticeship Model

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:48:13 +0000

Publications Mentioned:

Return on investment of apprenticeship systems for enterprises: Evidence from cost-benefit analyses
by Samuel Muehlemann & Stefan C Wolter

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

3:35 - Swiss Apprenticeship 101

6:56 - Path Selection and Funding

13:46 - The Status of Apprenticeship in Switzerland

18:58 - Borrowing Across Borders

25:15 - The ROI to Employers

29:47 - Evaluating Indiana’s Apprenticeship Model

33:45 - Imbuing Prestige in American Apprenticeship

38:49 - Striking the Balance

43:01 - The Influence of Accountability

Building an AI-Ready College

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 4 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

AI is evolving at a rapid rate, and its implications for higher ed are changing in lock step. So, Michael and Jeff dove back into the topic at the Google Public Sector GenAI Live & Labs Conference with a panel of experts: Ann Krischner of CUNY and ASU, Pace University’s Marvin Krislov, and Google’s Chris Hein. They discussed the necessity of an institutional AI strategy, the tech’s implications for the future of work, and why university partnerships will be essential to equity in the age of AI. This episode is made with support from Google.

0:00 - Intro

1:40 - Campus-Wide AI Strategy

6:02 - Skills in the Age of AI

9:52 - AI Policy and Faculty Training

11:49 - The Dislocation of Entry Level Jobs

15:33 - Teaching AI

18:39 - Mounting the Liberal Arts Comeback

21:25 - The Future of Academic Research

24:37 - Building Access through Partnership

31:12 - Questionable Assumptions

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Strategic Mergers in Higher Education by Ricardo Azziz et al.

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A Midwest Merger: How Two Ohio Colleges Are Coming Together

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:16:24 +0000

Mergers aren’t easy. They demand careful analysis, difficult decisions, and tricky stakeholder management. But they are becoming increasingly necessary as dropping enrollments make going it alone less viable for more and more institutions. So, Michael and Jeff sat down with the presidents of two colleges in Ohio that are in the process of merging and the consultant that helped guide them through it to learn more about how to do so successfully. They discuss how to find the right partner, navigate federal approval processes, and manage the emotional elements. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and The Gates Foundation.

Links We Mention

Chapters

0:00 - Introduction

01:32 - Future U’s Coverage of M&A

03:26 - A Merger in Northwest Ohio

04:44 - Pursuing a Partnership

08:29 - Finding the Right Fit

10:45 - The Challenging Federal Approval Process

16:21 - Managing Stakeholder Communications

22:09 - Lessons Learned

27:04 - The Leadership Characteristics Required

30:46 - The Timeline of Mergers

39:03 - Managing the Emotional Element

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Accepted without Applying: The Growth of Direct Admissions

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

This year, thousands of students will be accepted to colleges without ever submitting a formal application. That’s because more and more schools are automatically accepting students who meet preset performance thresholds through direct admissions programs. To learn more about this growing trend, Michael and Jeff welcome Luke Skurman who is CEO of Niche.com, one of the nation’s largest direct admissions platforms. They discuss the benefits and risks of this innovation and dig into how it changes the dynamics between schools and students. Michael and Jeff then envision the variety of changes required in the college admissions process. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group, the Gates Foundation, and the American College of Education.

Chapters

0:00 Intro
02:26 - The Backstory on Direct Admissions
06:35 - How Niche Direct Admissions Works
09:09 - The Benefit to Students and Institutions
11:29 - Another Application Count Booster?
14:25 - Obstacle or Litmus Test?
15:56 - Changing Dynamics
19:40 - The Competitive Landscape
20:41 - What’s Next?
25:38 - The Three Parts of Admissions
30:23 - Weighing the Pros and Cons of Direct Admissions
36:26 - Reimagining the College Admissions Process

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The Lost Boys of Higher Ed

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 4 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Women have outnumbered men on college campuses for decades, but the divergence in postsecondary success has widened in recent years, and it is both a cause and symptom of the struggles of the modern man. Richard Reeves, author of Of Boys and Men joins the podcast to discuss the drivers of these challenges, promising interventions, and whether we should care about the plight of men in a world where they continue to wield power. This episode is made with support from the Gates Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, and The American College of Education.

Links We Share

Of Boys and Men:Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What To Do About It

by Richard Reeves

https://www.menincollege.com

American Institute for Boys and Men

Chapters

00:00 - Intro

04:15 - Where We Are (and Aren't) Seeing the Gender Divide

05:56 - Designing College with The Modern Young Man in Mind

12:28 - Drivers of the Higher Ed Gender Divide

16:30 - The Effects of the Pandemic

19:41 - The Larger Significance of the Problem

26:50 - Opting Out of Adulting

31:52 - Masculinity and Majors

34:22 - K12 Solutions: Nobody's Fault, Everyone's Responsibility

37:32 - What Higher Ed Can Do

41:47 - International Parallels

44:38 - Rebalancing Education Systems

49:06 - Zero-Sum Game or Growing the Pie?

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Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career

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A New Era for Higher Ed?

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

At the turn of the new year, Jeff and Michael dive into the predictions and trends set to shape the landscape of higher education in 2025. They discuss how this may be a year of reckoning for colleges and where changes will be required to make long-needed improvements. They dig in on infrastructure adjustments, reimagined degree programs, and what appears to be a new ultimatum for many struggling colleges: partner or perish. This episode made with support from The American College of Education, The Gates Foundation, and Ascendium Education Group.

Links We Share

“Which Colleges Always Lose Money?” by Robert Kelchen

“Where the Grass Is Greener” by Robert Shaw, Harvard Magazine

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
01:49 - A Year of Reckoning for Higher Ed
09:57 - The Changes Needed
16:51 - Quick Hits: Athletes as Employees, Hostile Competition, and More
26:37 - Expanding Research Outside of Academia
30:58 - Shortening Degree Programs

Making "Job Moves"

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

On this episode, Jeff sits down with one of the authors of Job Moves: 9 Steps To Making Progress in Your Career, Future U.’s very own Michael B. Horn. The two discuss the lessons that the book, which offers research-based guidance to individuals searching for new work, holds for students and the colleges that serve them. They then dive into discussing a topic they each get a lot of questions about: what it’s like to write a book. This episode made with support from The American College of Education, The Gates Foundation, and Ascendium Education Group.

Links We Mention

Career and Technical Education for All by Michael B. Horn and Daniel Curtis, Education Next

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
02:40 - Job Moves in a Nutshell
04:02 - How Job Moves Applies to Colleges
07:17 - Balancing Skills Development Against Credentials
09:26 - Helping Students Make More Informed Choices
16:16 - Next Steps for Higher Ed
22:43 - Michael's Process for Writing a Book
26:55 - Making the Time to Write
29:53 - Planner or Plunger?
32:36 - Working with a Publisher
35:49 - The Hard Part that No One Talks About
38:32 - Where to Find More on Job Moves

The Resiliency of Remedial Education

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 7 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

More than a decade ago, a wave of research pointing to the inefficacy of remedial education was followed by a massive investment in rethinking how we prepare students who need extra support to access college. So why, after all that, does remedial ed still play such a big role on college campuses today? To help us tackle that question, we’re joined by Anne Kim, FutureEd Senior Fellow and author of a recent report on the remedial education reform movement. She discusses the history of remedial education in America and what it will take to move reform forward. Then, Jeff fields some provocative questions from Michael about who should go to college and how we can align incentives so no one profits off of unprepared students. This episode is made with support from the Gates Foundation.

Links We Share

Incomplete: The Unfinished Revolution in College Remedial Education by Anne Kim, FutureEd

Student Success 2.0, Future U.

The New Student Ready College, Future U

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
02:49 - Remedial Education in Context
07:26 - Calls for Change
11:29 - A Wave of Reform
14:53 - Progress Stalls
16:59 - Recommendations for a Reform Rebound
19:33 - Responding to Criticisms of Remedial Ed
24:58 - A New System with More Options
31:00 - Correcting a Broken Business Model

Chips and Higher Ed: What the Federal Investment Means for Colleges

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

What does a community college in Idaho have to do with mounting economic tensions between the U.S. and China? A lot, actually.

Developing a Tech Mindset at the Leadership Table

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Technology is an increasingly important element of everything that colleges do, yet it remains a distinct and separate function at too many schools. Jeff visited the Educause Conference, focused on tech in higher ed, to chat with college leaders about how they are leveraging IT on their campuses. They discuss best practices in bridging the tech-academic divide, the role of data in decision making, how IT departments can support efforts to improve the value proposition of higher ed, and more. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

5:49 - IT Then and Now

9:02 - The Disconnect Between Tech and Academic Teams

11:56 - Using Data Strategically

16:01 - Data-Driven v. Data-Informed Decision Making

24:02 - Public-Private Partnerships

31:50 - Communicating Across the Tech and Academic Sides

34:57 - Getting Started in Online Education

37:16 - Improving Perceptions of Higher Ed

42:31 - The Future of Tech in Higher Ed

How One Regional University Is Growing

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Regional public universities have been hit harder than most colleges by recent enrollment decreases. On this episode, Michael and Jeff sit down with President Jonathan Koppell of Montclair State University, a regional that has bucked this trend, to learn more about their success. They dig in on lessons Koppell learned as a dean at ASU, the college’s programs for underserved students, and how the college is competing for students. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.

Links We Share

Beating the Odds, Bain & Co.

Chapters

00:00 - Intro
03:52 - Lessons Learned at ASU
06:52 - Attracting Students to Montclair
12:36 -Supporting Post-Secondary Attainment for Men
18:25 -How Colleges Can Win Back Engagement
24:33 -The Steps to Culture Change
27:40 - How to Fix the College President Job
32:06 - Addressing the Talk by Walking the Walk
33:58 - Aiming Above the Line
37:50 - Shifting Towards User-Centered Language
39:34 - Building Infrastructure around Differentiation
41:02 - Data and Innovation to Support Men in Higher Ed
45:49 - Providing Students with What They Need
48:53 - Coalescing Around the “Why”

The New Student-Ready College

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Links We Share

College Reimagined by Jon Gabrieli et al.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
02:12 - The Founding Story of Duet
08:53 - Reaching Students with “Some College No Degree”
11:23 - A Personal Trainer for College
13:17 - Duet’s Outcomes
17:07 - “The Hard Policy Answer”
21:00 - The Growth of Hybrid College
24:39 - Affordability, Flexibility, and Disruption
29:46 - Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships to Better Serve Adult Learners
33:26 - Improving the Outcomes of Community Colleges

Visiting Western Governors University: Growing and Evolving Pathways for Educating Teachers

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

On this episode of the Future U. Campus Tour, Michael and Jeff sit down with leaders from Western Governors University to learn about innovations around the university, with special attention paid to those at WGU’s fast-growing School of Education. They discuss the expansion of work-based learning with President Pulsipher and Provost Hills McBeth, examine the drivers of the Ed. School’s growth with Dean Ludwig Johnson, and hear from a WGU student (and 4th grade teacher), Madelyn Hurst, on how the college’s competency-based approach is shaping her teaching. This episode is made with the support of Western Governors University.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

03:26 - The History and Students of Western Governors University

09:48 - Drivers of WGU’s Growing Programs

16:36 - Expanding Apprenticeship-Based Degrees

20:52 - The Future of the Degree in Skills-Based World

24:10 - How AI Will Change the Work and Learning Landscape

29:47 - The Current State of K-12 Education

33:07 - How WGU has Evolved to Meet Changing Needs of Schools

36:17 - Taking the Long View

38:25 - The Downstream Effects of Competency Based Teacher Education

42:47 - The Growth of WGU’S School of Education

45:05 - How Apprenticeship is Transforming Teacher Education

47:35 - Closing Thoughts

Cutting College Costs, Board Tensions, & Consultant-mania

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

On this episode, Michael and Jeff riff through a range of topics. Among them: how no constituency is actually in favor of cost cutting on college campuses; whether consultants can play any productive role in higher ed; and how Disney’s succession drama holds many lessons for boards of trustees at colleges and universities. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Philanthropy and the Gates Foundation.

Chapters

0:00 - Introduction

3:37 - Lessons for Higher Ed from Disney Succession Drama

08:12 - Boards of Trustees and College Rankings

13:57 - Cutting into the Cost of College

19:18 - Consultants in Higher Ed

23:51 - Professional Networks Built On-Campus

31:30 - The Leaky K-12 to College Pipeline

The Seismic Impact of College Athletics

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 8 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

The impact of college athletics is felt throughout institutions, but too often sports are considered separate from the rest of higher ed. On this episode, Michael and Jeff connect the dots between recent changes to college athletics and the campus-wide ripple effects they could have. They are joined by Matt Brown, author of the college sports newsletter, Extra Points, to chat NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), the transfer portal, and the implications of the student-athlete employment case. This episode is made with support from the Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

Links We Share

Extra Points Newsletter by Matt Brown

Chapters

(0:00) - Introduction
(05:59) - Why College Athletics Impacts All of Higher Ed
(08:16) - The NIL Case
(16:06) - Will Student-Athletes Become University Employees?
(18:36) - The General Manager Role in College Athletics
(23:10) - The Transfer Portal
(27:02) - The Implications for Lower Revenue Sports and Divisions
(33:19) - Conference Realignment
(35:51) - The Intersection of Politics and College Athletics
(40:42) - The Interdependency of Colleges
(47:20) - The Transfer Portal’s Impact on Student Success
(52:45) - Potential Ripple Effects of Student-Athlete Employment Ruling

AI Goes to College: In the Classroom and Beyond

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 11:24:02 +0000

Much of the buzz around artificial intelligence centers on its potential to transform the college of tomorrow, but there are many schools making meaningful change with this technology today. On this episode, we go deep on the applications of AI from recruitment to instruction to supporting post-grad success. We sit down Lev Gonick, Chief Information Officer at Arizona State University, and Ashley Budd, Senior Marketing Director at Cornell University, to dig into the ways their colleges are leveraging the power of AI. This episode is made with support from CollegeVine.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
01:19 - A Brief Recent History of AI
05:05 - AI Partnerships at ASU
08:29 - An Admonition on Privacy
10:56 - Classroom and Administrative Applications of AI
15:46 - Prioritizing Projects
18:15 - ASU’s Approach to Tech Partnerships
22:35 - AI in the Year Ahead
25:50 - AI’s Impact on Research
30:11 - Diversifying the Project Portfolio
33:55 - AI and Stanford’s Conference Decision
35:27 - AI’s Applications in Recruitment and Admissions
44:06 - Standardizing the Transcript
48:51 - The AI Arms Race
54:20 - Transactional or Transformational?

Links We Mention

AI-powered educational experiences underway at ASU

Four Singularities for Research by Ethan Mollick

Reading Ease Calculator created by Todd Rogers and Jessica Lasky-Fink, authors of Writing for Busy Readers

Searching for Fit: The Impacts of AI in Higher Ed

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 04:00:00 +0000

On this episode, Jeff and Michael tackle the question everyone is asking: how will AI transform higher ed? For help in finding the answer, they turn to bestselling author and professor of computer science at Georgetown University, Cal Newport. They discuss AI’s academic and operational implications, its ethical and practical considerations, and the stages and timeline over which we can expect this technological transformation to unfold. This episode is made with support from CollegeVine.

Links We Share

“Bad Bets,” Lightcast

“Good Jobs in Bad Times,” Future U

Chapters

(0:00) Intro
(4:06) Contextualizing AI in Higher Ed History
(7:03) Factors Delaying Implementation
(8:50) How AI is Changing Knowledge Work
(11:19) Should we Be Teaching about AI?
(18:45) Educating Students on AI’s Ethical Implications
(21:51) Differential Effects on Coding and Writing
(23:46) How AI Could Impact Higher Ed Inside and Outside the Classroom
(29:21) “The Development of AI That We’re Worried About”
(33:12) Parallels with the Days of The Early Internet
(40:56) AI’s Impacts on Writing
(43:15) Adaptations Required to Integrate AI in Higher Ed

So Long, Summer: We're Back

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Wed, 4 Sep 2024 04:00:00 +0000

To kick off Season 8, Michael and Jeff break down the summer’s higher ed headlines. They discuss this year’s FAFSA rollout, recent campus protest fallout, leadership changes, college closures, online program management providers, the presidential election, and high school grading. This episode is made possible with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.
Key Moments

0:00 - Intro
03:49 - Jeff and Michael’s Summer Updates
09:32 - This Year’s FAFSA Rollout
10:25 - More Campus Protest Fallout
13:07 - Florida A&M’s Gift Controversy
17:28 - College Closures
34:51 - Online Program Management Providers
36:20 - The Presidential Election
38:25 - High School Grading

Links We Mention

"Varying Degrees 2024” Survey, New America

“How High School Students Are Thinking About Higher Ed” Survey, Third Way

Rerun: The Wild West of Dual Enrollment: Its Growth, Benefits, and Drawbacks

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Jeff and Michael dive into the complex world of dual enrollment, examining its rapid growth, potential benefits, and emerging challenges. They speak with John Fink, a senior research associate at the Community College Research Center, to understand the various dual enrollment arrangements, the students they serve, and the outcomes they achieve. The conversation also explores the financial incentives for districts and colleges, the concerns around course quality and rigor, and the implications for high school and college experiences. This episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(4:02) - Dual enrollment programs and their benefits
(12:48) - Dual enrollment sustainability and transferability of credits
(16:51) - Dual enrollment programs and their effectiveness in higher education
(21:44) - Improving dual enrollment programs for underrepresented students
(27:34) - Dual enrollment courses and their impact on college readiness
(33:21) - Dual enrollment courses' rigor and value
(37:50) - Dual enrollment courses and their impact on higher education

What's Next for Skills-Based Hiring

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 11:00:52 +0000

In this special episode, Jeff engages in a lively conversation with Tina Gridiron of ACT and Kennon Harrison of ETS about the future of skills-based hiring. The discussion, recorded live during the Horizons Summit powered by Jobs for the Future (JFF), revolved around how employers can better assess the skills job candidates have, how candidates can better understand what skills are needed for most jobs, and ultimately, the role of higher ed in this ecosystem.

Rerun: The Future of the Ph.D.

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 6 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn are joined by Dr. Len Cassuto, an author and professor at Fordham University, and focus their conversation on the role of PhD students and what the challenges in that part of academia might mean for higher ed. They dive into the subjects that Len explores in his new book, The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education, such as the changes that should be made to better prepare PhD students for their careers, and how universities might be exploiting free labor from students under the guise of an academic apprenticeship. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

Links Mentioned

The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(3:19) - The state of PhD programs and graduate education.
(8:16) - Improving graduate education.
(13:25) - Ph.D. education and career diversity.
(19:03) - Graduate education and labor costs in higher education.
(26:20) - Preparing PhDs for career diversity and addressing challenges in higher education.
(38:33) - Redesigning PhD programs for a changing academic landscape.

Rerun: How Small Schools Can Thrive As Higher Ed Changes

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

In this rerun from episode 150, Jeff Selingo welcomes Lynn Perry Wooten, President of Simmons University, for a conversation on the unique position of smaller universities in higher education. They discuss some vital concerns facing smaller universities like Simmons, such as combining less popular liberal arts majors, combatting dropping college enrollment numbers, and embracing online education programs. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

Links Mentioned

Strategies for Digital Transformation

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(4:10) - Small college challenges and strategic planning
(11:51) - Small college competitiveness and online education
(19:58) - Leadership and collaboration in higher education
(21:31) - Higher education leadership and decision-making
(27:00) - Higher education data analysis and institutional growth
(32:42) - Online education and revenue diversification at Simmons College

Rerun: The Role of Higher Ed in the American Dream

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

New York Times columnist and author David Leonhardt discusses his new book, “Ours Was The Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream." In his conversation with Michael and Jeff, they talk about the impact of the high-school movement on the U.S. economy last century, what a similar higher ed movement might look like in this century, and why the value of the college is being questioned. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

Rerun: Leveraging Apprenticeship to Bolster the Rural Talent Pipeline

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

In too many rural areas, workers lack access to affordable training pathways to high-quality jobs. Jeff and Michael sit down with Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Chancellor of Reach University, to learn about how Reach is addressing this challenge with an apprenticeship approach to teacher education. In the first of this two-part conversation, they discuss the theory and practice that informed Reach’s founding and the college’s innovative enrollment, training, and funding models. Michael considers how Reach’s clear focus helps keep their costs low, and Jeff discusses the importance of career-connected learning. The episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group.

Links

Ascendium Education Group

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro

(2:45) - Innovative higher education model

(4:57) - Rural teacher shortages and innovative solutions

(8:28) - The importance of experience in education

(11:54) - Alternative university model for teacher certification

(17:57) - Education and career development

(23:38) - Innovative teacher education model for rural areas

Rerun: The Future of Online Ed

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 9 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Jeff and Michael are joined by the CEOs of Academic Partnerships, Fernando Bleichmar, and Coursera, Jeff Maggioncalda, to talk about the future of online learning, including a new study on ROI, the role of degrees vs. credentials in the job market, and what AI will mean for online ed. This episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

Key Moments

00:00 - Intro

04:58 - ROI of Online Programs at Universities

10:45 - Online Education and Pricing with Coursera and Academic Partners

16:04 - Future of Higher Education Partnerships

21:01 - Online learning, Certifications, and Their Value in the Job Market

26:27 - The Impact of AI on Higher Education.

33:17 - Higher Education Innovation And Online Learning

36:42 - Disruptive Innovation In Higher Education With A Focus On Pricing

40:29 - Higher Ed Partnerships And Their Impact On The Future Of Online Education

47:09 - Education and Government Regulation

Links We Mentioned

Academic Partnerships Report on ROI

Season 7 Wrap Up

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 04:00:00 +0000

In this season 7 wrap-up episode of Future U., Jeff and Michael go to a rapid-fire format and break down six topics in higher education: recent enrollment trends, the state of online education and OPMs, the ongoing FAFSA issues, campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the increasing focus on value in higher education, and recent developments in compensating college athletes. This episode is made possible with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.

Season 8 Planning Survey

Relevant Links

The Great Misalignment

Key Moments

(00:00) Enrollment Challenges and the Future of Higher Education
(07:06) The Growth of Online Education and Challenges in the OPM Market
(09:23) The Long-Term Impact of FAFSA on Enrollment and Financial Aid
(10:48) Campus Protests: A Continuing Issue in Higher Education
(13:07) Blending High School and College: Creating Value in Education
(16:02) The NCAA Settlement and the Future of College Athletics

The Competency-Based Approach to Validating Learning in Higher Ed

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Learning is at the heart of higher ed’s purpose, but how many institutions have a strong sense of the skills and knowledge students are gaining? On this episode, Michael and Jeff welcome two innovators helping colleges to better validate student learning through competency-based education (CBE): Amber Garrison Duncan of the Competency Based Education Network and Kelle Parsons of the American Institutes of Research. They discuss the benefits that this learning and assessment system accrues to students and institutions, the how and why of syncing skills certification with employer needs, and the institutions leading the way on implementation. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Season 8 Planning Survey

AIR Informing Improved Recognition of Military Learning

Relevant Links

On Prior Learning Assessment/Credit for Prior Learning:

CAEL: The PLA Boost

CBE & Skills Based Practices Brief:

AIR Same Idea, Different Evolution: Skills-Based Practices and CBE

Other CBE & Skills Based Practices Research

AIR Measuring Skills at Work: Lessons from the Field

AIR Postsecondary CBE Program Model Mapping Tool

AIR 2020 National Survey of Postsecondary CBE

Key Moments

(00:00) Introduction: The Value and Challenges of Higher Education

(06:14) Defining Competency-Based Education and the Role of Assessment

(11:17) Recognizing Prior Learning and the Benefits of CBE

(27:02) Institutions and Organizations Leading the Way in CBE

On the Board: The Role of Trustees in Higher Ed

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 4 Jun 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Boards of Trustees are the principal governing bodies of higher ed institutions, but they can also be the furthest from their day-to-day operations. So how can colleges best leverage their leadership? To tackle this question, Michael and Jeff welcome Chris Romer and Jane Scaccetti, trustees from the boards of Colorado Mountain College and Temple University, respectively. They discuss the Board’s role in improving the value proposition of higher ed, engaging communities, representing stakeholders, and handling crises. They also discuss what boards need to do all of this most effectively. This episode is made with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Survey

Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
4:00 - Path to Becoming a Trustee
6:25 - Perspective of Trustees on the Value of Higher Ed
11:16 - Strategic Planning and Informed Support for Trustees
18:00 - The Complexities of Higher Education Governance

Links We Mention

When College is About the Job

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 21 May 2024 04:00:00 +0000

There has been an exodus from higher ed - that much is understood. But what's causing it and what can we do to ensure students are still accessing pathways to opportunity? In this episode, Jeff and Michael grapple with this question with the help of Terrell Dunn whose recent research, done in partnership with HCM Strategists and Edge Research, addresses this very topic. They discuss the increasing focus on job outcomes revealed in her findings and consider the role of colleges in supporting - or even ensuring - employment for their graduates. The conversation touches on the importance of providing students with exposure to diverse career paths and the potential benefits and challenges of integrating work experiences into the college curriculum. This episode is made with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Survey

Key Moments

00:00 The Decline in College Enrollment

03:13 The Importance of Job Guarantee and Economic Security

05:13 The Value of Job Training and Professional Certificates

15:19 The Need for Colleges to Explain Their Value and Support Students

Links

HCM Strategists

Gates Foundation

Measuring the True Value of Community Colleges

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 7 May 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Jeff and Michael examine the complex world of community colleges and challenge traditional notions of success. Drawing from recent research by Strada Education Foundation, they explore the multifaceted roles these institutions play in students' lives and the importance of looking beyond degree completion rates to assess their true value. With insights from Strada’s Senior Vice President, Dave Clayton, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the value of community colleges and their vital role in empowering students personally and economically in the 21st century. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Season 8 Planning Survey

The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education

Key Moments

00:00 Intro

02:44 Motivations for Enrolling in Community Colleges

04:42 The Role of Employers in Assessing Community Colleges

07:00 Measuring Success Beyond Getting a Better Job

10:21 Challenges in Fulfilling Career Motivations

19:14 Measuring Value Based on Students' Goals and Outcomes

21:08 The Need for a True Unit Record System in Higher Education

Fighting for Free Speech on Campus

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

In this thought-provoking episode of Future U., we sit down with Greg Lukianoff, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and co-author of the bestselling book "The Coddling of the American Mind," as well as the new book, "The Canceling of the American Mind." Lukianoff shares his insights on the state of free speech on college campuses and examines the rise of cancel culture, the debate over the limits of free expression, and the potential double standards in how universities approach these issues. He argues that certain campus trends, such as "safetyism" and the suppression of viewpoint diversity, may be harming student mental health and resilience. He emphasizes the importance of open inquiry, intellectual diversity, and the ability to challenge prevailing orthodoxies as essential components of a thriving university education. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Key Moments
(0:00) - Intro
(3:53) - Free speech issues in higher education, particularly anti-Semitism and double standards
(8:30) - Free speech and academic freedom in higher education
(14:21) - Limitations of free speech on campus viewpoint diversity, and campus violence
(17:41) - Mental Health and Technology
(24:17) - Free Speech Challenges in Higher Ed
(30:39) - Free speech impacts admissions

The Wild West of Dual Enrollment: Its Growth, Benefits, and Drawbacks

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 9 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Key Moments

Apprenticeship in America: Rethinking the Role of Community Colleges

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 04:00:00 +0000

More and more business leaders, policy makers, and educators are looking to apprenticeships to prepare the American workforce for in-demand careers. The US system leans on its community colleges to facilitate these programs, but they have not always been the most effective quarterbacks.

On this episode, we hear from two innovators helping community colleges better play their lead role in growing apprenticeship in America. We spoke with Mitchell Harp, Dean of Apprenticeship Programs at Trident Technical College, about the keys to his school’s thriving program. We also sat down with Pierre Dubuc, CEO of OpenClassrooms, about how community colleges are leveraging his company’s expertise and online learning platform to level up their apprenticeship programs. This episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group.

The Simplified FAFSA’s Complicated Rollout

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Michael and Jeff go deep on the revised FAFSA and the challenges encountered in its rollout. They sat down with Andrew LaCasse, who helped develop the simplified FAFSA in his former role as a senior education policy advisor on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to learn about the back-story behind the legislation and its underlying policy goals. They also spoke with John Marshall, President of Colorado Mesa University, about how they are supporting students through the delay and confusion caused by the FAFSA’s rocky rollout. The episode is sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(1:29) - Simplifying the FAFSA and its impact on higher education
(8:27) - Simplifying the FAFSA form and its impact on college affordability
(14:25) - FAFSA changes and their impact on higher education
(20:33) - How colleges are responding to the FAFSA delay
(26:58) - College affordability and FAFSA changes

Testing, Athlete Labor & the FAFSA

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 5 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Jeff and Michael dive into the higher ed acronyms that have been in the headlines these past few weeks: SAT/ACT, NLRB, and FAFSA. What's next for test-optional after announcements from Dartmouth and Yale; what does it mean that the Dartmouth men's basketball team is trying to unionize; and what will the impact be of the difficult FAFSA rollout. This episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

Key Moments

(0:00) - Introduction
(3:21) - Test-optional admissions and its impact on students and institutions
(8:45) - AI in admissions
(13:45) - College athletes as employees and potential changes in college sports
(19:29) - Future of the NCAA
(22:58) - FAFSA delays and their impact on higher education
(28:03) - Higher education challenges

The Future of the Ph.D.

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Links Mentioned

Key Moments

“College Unbound” from the Traditional Model

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 6 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Last season, Jeff and Michael explored the reinstatement of the Pell Grant for incarcerated learners. The question now is what’s next for these learners and where can they actually get to use their federal funds? In this episode, Jeff and Michael look at the innovative College Unbound model with co-founder and president Adam Bush and Jose Rodriguez, the assistant vice president for community and belonging. College Unbound is an accredited college with a single degree and a model that allows learning to happen wherever it happens, in kitchens or even in prisons. The episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group.

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(1:15) - Innovative college model and accreditation
(5:34) - Prison education program and its impact on inmates' lives
(9:19) - Scaling a non-traditional college model
(12:02) - College Unbound's innovative approach to adult education
(19:31) - Higher education for incarcerated individuals

Links

College Unbound

Reporters Roundtable: Enrollment, Loan Forgiveness, & FAFSA Simplified

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

The Hechinger Report’s Jon Marcus and Chris Quintana of USA Today join hosts Jeff and Michael for a roundtable discussion to talk about recent headlines in higher ed. Jon discusses the impact of lower birth rates in Japan on university enrollment, while Chris dives into the current state of the Biden Administration’s student loan debt repayment plans. Other topics include efforts by universities to articulate the value of higher ed, the rollout of the simplified FAFSA, and culture wars on campus. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(2:47) - Declining college enrollment in Japan and US
(8:04) - Student loan forgiveness and career centers in higher education
(12:35) - College career preparation and job placement
(14:37) - FAFSA simplification, college affordability, and higher ed news
(20:25) - Higher education trends and challenges in the US

Student Success 2.0

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

How do you engage learners in the post-pandemic age? Hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn are joined by Carrie Bartek, from Wake Technical Community College, and Randi Harris, from Portland State University, to ask some important questions: What has changed for students since the pandemic? And what needs to change moving forward to ensure students’ success? They consider the evolving landscape of higher education and the importance of addressing both the immediate and long-term needs of students to ensure their success in this new educational paradigm. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(4:18) - College enrollment decline and re-enrollment during COVID-19
(6:07) - Student success strategies during COVID-19 pandemic
(15:22) - Transforming higher education to meet students' changing needs
(18:47) - College enrollment trends and dual enrollment programs
(23:12) - Innovating and improving student success in higher education

How Small Schools Can Thrive As Higher Ed Changes

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 9 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

To kick off the new year, host Jeff Selingo welcomes Lynn Perry Wooten, President of Simmons University, for a conversation on the unique position of smaller universities in higher education. They discuss some vital concerns facing smaller universities like Simmons, such as combining less popular liberal arts majors, combatting dropping college enrollment numbers, and embracing online education programs. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

Links Mentioned

Strategies for Digital Transformation

Key Moments

Season 7 Midterm Report

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn wrap up 2023 by discussing some headlines in higher ed, including the reaction on campuses to the Israel-Hamas War, the big changes afoot at 2U, and more college closures. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

Links

No Revenge for Nerds? Evaluating the Careers of Ivy League Athletes

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(2:29) - College campuses and generational divides
(9:20) - Higher education challenges and solutions
(13:31) - The decline of 2U and the future of online education
(19:03) - Online education, university finances, and potential bankruptcy
(26:14) - College admissions and career outcomes
(32:54) - Nate Silver hiring preferences

The Role of Higher Ed in the American Dream

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(6:18) - The evolution of high school education and its impact on society
(11:27) - Public higher education expansion and quality in the US
(15:10) - Higher education's role in society and political polarization
(21:34) - Economic inequality and political polarization in the US
(27:10) - Education after high school, including college and non-college pathways
(35:28) - Higher education growth and innovation

Links We Shared

Ours Was the Shining Future

Visiting Michigan: Balancing Local Impact with Global Reach

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn take their conversation on the road with another stop on the Future U. Campus Tour, this time visiting the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. They sat down with president Santa Ono to discuss the future of higher education and Michigan's role in the local and global communities. Following that interview, Jeff and Michael had a discussion with a panel on a range of topics from sustainability to student wellness, and highlighting what it means in 2023 to be a public flagship with a national profile and serve the community at the same time. This episode is sponsored by Dell Technologies and Google Chrome OS.

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(4:54) - The role of the University of Michigan in the state and beyond
(10:36) - Higher education, trust, and community involvement in Detroit
(16:04) - The future of higher education and the Big Ten conference
(21:37) - Mental health challenges in college students
(27:41) - Mental health support for college students during pandemic
(30:29) - Pandemic's impact on college experience and mental health
(32:40) - Supporting international students at the University of Michigan
(34:56) - Collective impact and sustainability in higher education
(36:40) - Value of study abroad
(42:45) - Global education and diversity at the University of Michigan
(46:59) - Mental health supports for university staff
(52:14) - Jeff Selingo's takeaways
(54:07) - Michael Horn's Takeaways

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Leveraging Apprenticeships to Bolster the Rural Talent Pipeline: Part 2

futureupodcast@gmail.com (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn) — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000

In Part 2 of our conversation with Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Chancellor of Reach University, we discuss why their model of the apprenticeship teacher is better than the traditional student-teacher model, how public universities that historically educated the bulk of teachers are following the Reach model, and how the idea can be scaled to other public-sector jobs in rural areas. The episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group.

Links We Mention

Reach University

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro

(2:47) - Teacher training and education in rural areas

(6:38) - Apprenticeship-based teacher education model and its potential expansion

(10:08) - Teacher shortages and innovative solutions

(15:58) - Job-embedded learning in various industries

(17:33) - Education model for teacher preparation.

(28:57) - Rural education and apprenticeships

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