Future U Podcast

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.Chapters0:00 - Intro1:39 - Jeff's Next Book5:17 - Trump's Effect on the Year of Reckoning15:20 - The Shifting Power Balance20:13 - Demonstrating Value25:27 - Colleges' Core Competencies38:11 - Who's Looking Forward?42:19 - Saying Goodbye for Summer Further Reading2025 Higher Education Trends Report | Deloitte Insightshttps://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/public-sector/2025-us-higher-education-trends.htmlComprehensive analysis of the challenges facing higher education in 2025, including financial pressures, risk management, and strategic planning that aligns with the "year of reckoning" discussion.12 Higher Ed Challenges in 2025 and Exemplars Solving Themhttps://changinghighered.com/higher-ed-challenges-2025-solution-examples/Detailed examination of enrollment declines, AI disruption, and institutional responses with real-world examples of colleges successfully addressing these challenges.Trump Administration Executive Orders on Higher Education | U.S. Department of Educationhttps://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/secretary-of-education-statements-president-trumps-education-executive-ordersOfficial statements and details about the executive orders affecting higher education, including accreditation reform and foreign funding transparency.How Will AI Influence Higher Ed in 2025? | Inside Higher Edhttps://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/artificial-intelligence/2024/12/19/how-will-ai-influence-higher-ed-2025Expert predictions and guidance for how colleges and universities will navigate AI integration in 2025, directly supporting the AI theme in the podcast.The Future of AI in Higher Education | EDUCAUSEhttps://www.educause.edu/ecar/research-publications/2024/2024-educause-ai-landscape-study/the-future-of-ai-in-higher-educationSurvey results showing how higher education professionals view AI's future role in learning analytics, accessibility, and institutional operations.Combating the Enrollment Cliff | NAFSAhttps://www.nafsa.org/ie-magazine/2024/9/11/combating-enrollment-cliffAnalysis of how the demographic cliff beginning in 2025 might offer opportunities for international student recruitment and institutional adaptation.Bill Ackman: How to Fix Harvard | The Free Presshttps://www.thefp.com/p/bill-ackman-how-to-fix-harvardAckman's detailed critique of Harvard and higher education, providing context for the discussion about his views on institutional reform and federal funding.How Can College Leaders Navigate Mergers and Closures in 2025? | Higher Ed Divehttps://www.highereddive.com/news/college-leaders-navigate-closures-mergers-2025/740280/Expert guidance on merger strategy and the complexities of "Big Scary Change" that institutions face, relating to the slow merger discussion.Sian Beilock Leadership Profile | Aspen Ideashttps://www.aspenideas.org/speakers/sian-beilockBackground on Dartmouth's president who was highlighted as exemplifying strong leadership during campus challenges and free speech issues.AI and Education: Shaping the Future | Inside Higher Edhttps://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/learning-innovation/2025/03/04/ai-and-education-shaping-future-it-shapes-usInsights from Stanford's AI+Education Summit 2025 about coordinated efforts needed across higher education for responsible AI implementation.AI in Education: 2025 Statistics & Future of Learninghttps://artsmart.ai/blog/ai-in-education-statistics-2025/Data-driven analysis showing that 89% of students use ChatGPT for homework and other statistics relevant to the AI adoption discussion.Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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:Handshake 2025 Annual Report Chapters0:00 - Intro02:57 - Fixing the College to Career Pipeline14:48 - Building Soft Skills17:47 - The Higher Ed Policy Vacuum24:28 - Federal Policy Enablers for Work-Based Learning28:06 - State Governments to the Rescue?30:46 - The Opportunity for Bipartisanship Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads   Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedIn Connect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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.Chapters0:00 - Intro04:44 - The Cost of Congressional Inaction13:28 - Unlocking Movement on Higher Ed19:53 - Areas for Bipartisan Compromise23:15 - The Big Change We Need28:33 - The Impact of Cuts to the Department of Education32:58 - Immigration and International Students38:23 - Agreement Across the Aisle43:55 - Changes Since the Last HEA Reauthorization48:12 - Too Much Focus on the Elites?

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.

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 Moments0:00 - Intro1:04 - Federal Funding as a Lever of Influence8:07 - Board Insulation at Harvard13:08 - Limiting Class Size14:25 - Fairness in Admissions18:27 - Where We Go From Here Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedIn Connect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 ShareMark Schneider: Blowing Up Ed Research is Easy. Rebuilding it is ‘What Matters' Chapters0:00 - Intro7:32 - Cuts to the Department of Education20:40 - Targeting International Students23:48 - Withholding of Federal Research Grants39:25 - Our Favorite Higher Ed Commentary46:31 - Changing Campus Culture Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedIn Connect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 MentionHigher Ed Controversy Draft, College Matter from the ChronicleChapters0:00 - Intro5:12 - March Madness for Higher Ed Controversies8:53 - Controversies on the Bubble12:30 - Jetgate16:17 - The UVA Re-Hire20:01 - Presidential Compensation23:49 - The Prominent Role of Athletics in Scandals28:42 - Who's Watching Higher Ed?31:38 - What Scandals Tell Us About Higher Ed Financing38:38 - The State of the College Presidency48:59 - Fighting Factions

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 and the Gates Foundation.Publications Mentioned“No Time to Lose: How to Build a World-Class Education System State by State,” - The National Council of State LegislaturesApprentice 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. HornChapters0:00 - Intro3:32 - Focusing Indiana on CTE5:00 - Applying Lessons Learned from Swiss Apprenticeship in Indiana8:05 - Building an Apprenticeship System at Scale10:58 - Adjusting Graduation Requirements13:52 - The Keys to Successful Stakeholder Collaboration in Indiana15:10 - Centering Permeability19:05 - States in the Lead on Apprenticeship21:56 - Putting Employers in the Driver's Seat26:30 - Carving Out Apprenticeship Pathways in High Schools31:30 - Bringing it Back to the Why

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 Mention2025 Institutional Classifications, Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education2025 Research Activity Designations, Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher EducationChapters0:00 - Intro05:50 - The Changing Higher Ed Landscape08:06 - The Impact of the New Classifications10:42 - Anticipating the Normative Effects16:55 - New Funding Criteria18:13 - Shifting to a Focus on Outcomes21:17 - Measuring Access and Earnings24:53 - Encouraging Good Use of the New Classifications34:24 - Considering the Impact on Research Dollars40:28 - Institutional Response to Access and Earnings Designations46:30 - What This Means for Rankings

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.Chapters0:00 - Intro03:45 - How colleges put together their budgets9:05 - Implementation challenges and best practices15:04 - Non-tuition revenue sources26:21 - Cost drivers29:41 - Solving the “Financial Bucket Problem”35:41 - Deferred maintenance38:11 - Shifting to an ROI mindset41:04 - The levers to pull43:14 - On the margins46:44 - College cash sources49:03 - Our most promising strategies Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedIn Connect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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: Return on investment of apprenticeship systems for enterprises: Evidence from cost-benefit analyses by Samuel Muehlemann & Stefan C Wolter Time Topic3:35 Swiss Apprenticeship 1016:56Path Selection and Funding13:46The Status of Apprenticeship in Switzerland18:58Borrowing Across Borders25:15The ROI to Employers29:47Evaluating Indiana's Apprenticeship Model33:45Imbuing Prestige in American Apprenticeship38:49Striking the Balance43:01 The Influence of Accountability

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 - Intro1:40 - Campus-Wide AI Strategy6:02 - Skills in the Age of AI9:52 - AI Policy and Faculty Training11:49 - The Dislocation of Entry Level Jobs15:33 - Teaching AI18:39 - Mounting the Liberal Arts Comeback21:25 - The Future of Academic Research24:37 - Building Access through Partnership31:12 - Questionable Assumptions  Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads   Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedIn Connect with Future U: TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn   Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content. 

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 MentionStrategic Mergers in Higher Education by Ricardo Azziz et al.Chapters0:00 - Introduction01:32 - Future U's Coverage of M&A03:26 - A Merger in Northwest Ohio04:44 - Pursuing a Partnership08:29 - Finding the Right Fit10:45 - The Challenging Federal Approval Process16:21 - Managing Stakeholder Communications22:09 - Lessons Learned27:04 - The Leadership Characteristics Required30:46 - The Timeline of Mergers39:03 - Managing the Emotional Element Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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. Chapters0:00 Intro02:26 - The Backstory on Direct Admissions06:35 - How Niche Direct Admissions Works09:09 - The Benefit to Students and Institutions11:29 - Another Application Count Booster?14:25 - Obstacle or Litmus Test?15:56 - Changing Dynamics19:40 - The Competitive Landscape20:41 - What's Next?25:38 - The Three Parts of Admissions30:23 - Weighing the Pros and Cons of Direct Admissions36:26 - Reimagining the College Admissions Process Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 ShareOf Boys and Men:Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What To Do About Itby Richard Reeveshttps://www.menincollege.comAmerican Institute for Boys and Men Chapters00:00 - Intro04:15 - Where We Are (and Aren't) Seeing the Gender Divide05:56 - Designing College with The Modern Young Man in Mind12:28 - Drivers of the Higher Ed Gender Divide16:30 - The Effects of the Pandemic19:41 - The Larger Significance of the Problem26:50 - Opting Out of Adulting31:52 - Masculinity and Majors34:22 - K12 Solutions: Nobody's Fault, Everyone's Responsibility37:32 - What Higher Ed Can Do41:47 - International Parallels 44:38 - Rebalancing Education Systems49:06 - Zero-Sum Game or Growing the Pie?  Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 Chapters0:00 - Intro01:49 - A Year of Reckoning for Higher Ed09:57 - The Changes Needed16:51 - Quick Hits: Athletes as Employees, Hostile Competition, and More26:37 - Expanding Research Outside of Academia30:58 - Shortening Degree Programs Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 MentionJob Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your CareerCareer and Technical Education for All by Michael B. Horn and Daniel Curtis, Education NextChapters0:00 - Intro02:40 - Job Moves in a Nutshell04:02 - How Job Moves Applies to Colleges07:17 - Balancing Skills Development Against Credentials09:26 - Helping Students Make More Informed Choices16:16 - Next Steps for Higher Ed22:43 - Michael's Process for Writing a Book 26:55 - Making the Time to Write 29:53 - Planner or Plunger?32:36 - Working with a Publisher35:49 - The Hard Part that No One Talks About 38:32 - Where to Find More on Job Moves   Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 ShareIncomplete: The Unfinished Revolution in College Remedial Education by Anne Kim, FutureEdStudent Success 2.0, Future U. The New Student Ready College, Future UChapters0:00 - Intro02:49 - Remedial Education in Context07:26 - Calls for Change11:29 - A Wave of Reform14:53 - Progress Stalls16:59 - Recommendations for a Reform Rebound19:33 - Responding to Criticisms of Remedial Ed24:58 - A New System with More Options31:00 - Correcting a Broken Business Model Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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. Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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.Chapters0:00 - Intro5:49 - IT Then and Now9:02 - 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 Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 ShareBeating the Odds, Bain & Co.Chapters00:00 - Intro03:52 - Lessons Learned at ASU06:52 - Attracting Students to Montclair12:36 -Supporting Post-Secondary Attainment for Men18:25 -How Colleges Can Win Back Engagement24:33 -The Steps to Culture Change27:40 - How to Fix the College President Job32:06 - Addressing the Talk by Walking the Walk33:58 - Aiming Above the Line37:50 - Shifting Towards User-Centered Language39:34 - Building Infrastructure around Differentiation41:02 - Data and Innovation to Support Men in Higher Ed45:49 - Providing Students with What They Need48:53 - Coalescing Around the “Why” Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Philanthropy and the Gates Foundation.Links We ShareCollege Reimagined by Jon Gabrieli et al.Chapters0:00 - Intro02:12 - The Founding Story of Duet08:53 - Reaching Students with “Some College No Degree”11:23 - A Personal Trainer for College13:17 - Duet's Outcomes17:07 - “The Hard Policy Answer”21:00 - The Growth of Hybrid College24:39 - Affordability, Flexibility, and Disruption29:46 - Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships to Better Serve Adult Learners33:26 - Improving the Outcomes of Community Colleges Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

On this episode, 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 student, Madelyn Hurst, on how the college's competency-based approach is shaping her teaching. This episode is made with support from Western Governors University.Chapters03:26 - The History and Students of Western Governors University09:48 - Drivers of WGU's Growing Programs16:36 - Expanding Apprenticeship-Based Degrees20:52 - The Future of the Degree in Skills-Based World24:10 - How AI Will Change the Work and Learning Landscape29:47 - The Current State of K-12 Education33:07 - How WGU has Evolved to Meet Changing Needs of Schools36:17 - Taking the Long View38:25 - The Downstream Effects of Competency Based Teacher Education42:47 - The Growth of WGU'S School of Education45:05 - How Apprenticeship is Transforming Teacher Education47:35 - Closing Thoughts Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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. Chapters0:00 - Introduction3:37 - Lessons for Higher Ed from Disney Succession Drama08:12 -  Boards of Trustees and College Rankings13:57 - Cutting into the Cost of College19:18 - Consultants in Higher Ed23:51 - Professional Networks Built On-Campus31:30 - The Leaky K-12 to College Pipeline Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 ShareExtra Points Newsletter by Matt BrownChapters(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 Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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.Chapters0:00 - Intro01:19 - A Brief Recent History of AI05:05 - AI Partnerships at ASU08:29 - An Admonition on Privacy10:56 - Classroom and Administrative Applications of AI15:46 - Prioritizing Projects18:15 - ASU's Approach to Tech Partnerships22:35 - AI in the Year Ahead25:50 - AI's Impact on Research30:11 - Diversifying the Project Portfolio33:55 - AI and Stanford's Conference Decision35:27 - AI's Applications in Recruitment and Admissions44:06 - Standardizing the Transcript48:51 - The AI Arms Race54:20 - Transactional or Transformational?Links We MentionAI-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 Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 Moments0:00 - Intro03:49 - Jeff and Michael's Summer Updates09:32 - This Year's FAFSA Rollout10:25 - More Campus Protest Fallout13:07 - Florida A&M's Gift Controversy17:28 - College Closures34:51 - Online Program Management Providers36:20 - The Presidential Election38:25 - High School GradingLinks We Mention"Varying Degrees 2024” Survey, New America“How High School Students Are Thinking About Higher Ed” Survey, Third Way Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

In this special episode, Jeff engages in a lively conversation with Tina Gridiron of ACT's 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. Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 MentionedThe New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate EducationKey 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. Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 MentionedStrategies for Digital TransformationKey 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 Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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. Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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.LinksAscendium Education GroupKey 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 Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 Moments00:00 - Intro04:58 - ROI of Online Programs at Universities10:45 - Online Education and Pricing with Coursera and Academic Partners16:04 - Future of Higher Education Partnerships21:01 - Online learning, Certifications, and Their Value in the Job Market26:27 - The Impact of AI on Higher Education.33:17 - Higher Education Innovation And Online Learning36:42 - Disruptive Innovation In Higher Education With A Focus On Pricing40:29 - Higher Ed Partnerships And Their Impact On The Future Of Online Education47:09 - Education and Government RegulationLinks We MentionedAcademic Partnerships Report on ROI Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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.Relevant LinksThe Great MisalignmentKey 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 Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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.Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Relevant LinksOn Prior Learning Assessment/Credit for Prior Learning: CAEL: The PLA BoostAIR Informing Improved Recognition of Military LearningCBE & Skills Based Practices Brief: AIR Same Idea, Different Evolution: Skills-Based Practices and CBEOther CBE & Skills Based Practices ResearchAIR Measuring Skills at Work: Lessons from the FieldAIR Postsecondary CBE Program Model Mapping ToolAIR 2020 National Survey of Postsecondary CBEKey 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 Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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.Chapters0:00 - Intro4:00 - Path to Becoming a Trustee6:25 - Perspective of Trustees on the Value of Higher Ed11:16 - Strategic Planning and Informed Support for Trustees18:00 - The Complexities of Higher Education GovernanceLinks We MentionAssociation of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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.Key Moments00:00 The Decline in College Enrollment03:13 The Importance of Job Guarantee and Economic Security05:13 The Value of Job Training and Professional Certificates15:19 The Need for Colleges to Explain Their Value and Support StudentsLinksHCM StrategistsGates Foundation Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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.Key Moments00:00 Intro02:44 Motivations for Enrolling in Community Colleges04:42 The Role of Employers in Assessing Community Colleges07:00 Measuring Success Beyond Getting a Better Job10:21 Challenges in Fulfilling Career Motivations19:14 Measuring Value Based on Students' Goals and Outcomes21:08 The Need for a True Unit Record System in Higher Education Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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. Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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  Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 MentionedThe New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate EducationKey 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. Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 individualsLinksCollege Unbound Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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  Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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. Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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 MentionedStrategies for Digital TransformationKey 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  Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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.LinksNo Revenge for Nerds? Evaluating the Careers of Ivy League AthletesKey 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 Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.