Podcasts about Inside Higher Ed

Throughout the first half of the year several colleges have announced hiring freezes and budget cuts in response to the Trump administration's slashing of federal researching funding and general financial instability across the sector.  And these cuts come after years of stagnating pay for faculty and staff. A recent CUPA HR analysis of salary data shows that across higher ed, employees are still being paid less in inflation-adjusted dollars than were before the pandemic. To help us understand what this environment means for the future of the higher ed workforce, Sara Custer, Inside Higher Ed's editor in chief, recently spoke with Kevin McClure professor of higher education and chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He says there's no doubt the workforce is struggling and hasn't totally recovered from the great resignation spurred on by Covid. McClure is also seeing what he calls “ripple effects” on    working conditions. Can colleges hire students for summer jobs? Can faculty travel to conferences? Are there enough people on staff for colleges to keep doing what they're doing? And one big question – will the sector be able to attract the next generation of faculty and staff? McClure also talks about shared governance as a practice that people need to be trained to participate in and how one solution to some of the current workforce struggles could be right under our noses. Find out more about Kevin and his work here.  Thanks to Grammarly for sponsoring this episode.

Anxiety and depression are on the rise among college students driven, in part, by pressures to balance academics with personal, economic and family responsibilities. In this episode of The Key, Inside Higher Ed's news and analysis podcast, two mental health leaders talk about how the current political climate and economic uncertainty are exacerbating the existing mental health challenges on campuses. Tara Harper, assistant vice president for student wellbeing and clinical operations at Lincoln University and Seli Fakorzi, director of mental health operations at TimelyCare, join IHE's editor in chief Sara Custer to discuss what colleges are doing to address rising symptoms of anxiety and depression among students and how they're keeping everyone safe and healthy during a time of great upheaval. Thank you to Timely Care for sponsoring this episode.   

The Trump administration announced it would "aggressively revoke" student visas for Chinese students who are planning to study in the United States. Liam Knox, the admissions and enrollment reporter for Inside Higher Ed and author of their Admissions Weekly newsletter, reports on the latest on that plus the dispute between the administration and Harvard over enrolling foreign students.

The Trump administration announced it would "aggressively revoke" student visas for Chinese students who are planning to study in the United States. On Today's Show:Liam Knox, the admissions and enrollment reporter for Inside Higher Ed and author of their Admissions Weekly newsletter, reports on the latest on that plus the dispute between the administration and Harvard over enrolling foreign students.

Since the beginning of the second Trump administration, the American Council on Education has been early out of the gate in responding to the federal government's onslaught of funding freezes, executive orders and threats to institutions. In February, ACE along with the Association of American Universities, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and other institutions sued the government over its decision to cap indirect costs at 15 percent for National Institutes of Health grant recipients, which resulted in a permanent nationwide injunction on the plans in April.   Ted Mitchell, president of ACE, joins Sara Custer, editor in chief at Inside Higher Ed, to discuss the nature of the federal government's attacks on higher education and what responsibility the sector has in the public losing trust in our institutions. They talk about how the sector is responding to the situation, including the many open-form letters, and as the former under secretary for the Department of Education in the second Obama administration, Ted shares why he thinks higher ed knows how to play the game of politics and which policy issues he thinks can get bipartisan support—as long as there is a receptive partner on the other side of the table.      

In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory Willsea sits down with Kellie Campbell, the newly appointed CIO at the University of Vermont, to unpack the findings of Inside Higher Ed's 2025 survey of CTOs and CIOs. The numbers confirm what many in Higher Ed already feel — AI is rapidly advancing on campus, but governance and policy are struggling to keep pace. Kellie brings her boots-on-the-ground expertise to the conversation, sharing how she's building AI governance from scratch while the tech is already in full flight.Related Articles: Inside Higher Ed/Hanover Research 2025 Survey of Campus Chief Technology/Information OfficersEDUCAUSE Framework for AI LiteracyGuest Name: Kellie Campbell, Chief Information Officer, University of VermontGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: As Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Technology for the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS), Kellie works in close partnership with the Council of Presidents to provide leadership, management, and strategy for the Information Technology (IT) shared services division. Inclusive of seven key service areas, the IT division provides direct IT services to the entire VSCS. Kellie also serves on the executive leadership team driving transformation objectives for the state colleges system. As a commissioner and committee co-chair on the Vermont Commission on Women, Kellie works with others on non-partisan issues to advance the rights and opportunity for women in the state of Vermont. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

Whether you're a die-hard fan, sports curios or someone who sees college athletics as a very expensive distraction, you should know about the fundamental changes to NCAA policies because they will have profound impacts on institutions, students and even the future of U.S. Olympic teams. To help us make sense of the latest developments including name, image and likeness earnings, the transfer portal and the $2.8 billion anti-trust House settlement, Inside Higher Ed's editor in chief Sara Custer speaks to Karen Weaver, an adjunct assistant professor in the graduate school of education at the University of Pennsylvania where she teaches higher education leaders about the role that college athletics will play as it evolves into a very different governance and financial model. She's also a former athletic director and coach of 30 years.   This episode is sponsored by the Strada Education Foundation  

Inside Higher Ed's editor in chief, Sara Custer, speaks with IHE's news editor Katherine Knott and reporters Liam Knox and Johanna Alonso about the executive orders, funding cuts and visa revocations of the last three months that have sent shockwaves through the higher education sector.   Read more of Inside Higher Ed's coverage of Trump's first 100 days.    This episode is sponsored by Strada Education Foundation. 

In this episode of The Key, we turn the tables on host Sara Custer, editor in chief at Inside Higher Ed as she joins David Hummels, professor of economics and dean emeritus at Purdue University, and Jay Akridge, trustee chair in teaching and learning excellence, professor of agricultural economics and former provost at Purdue, in conversation with host Colleen Flaherty, senior editor, special content at Inside Higher Ed. They discuss the findings from the Inside Higher Ed/Hanover Research 2025 Survey of College and University Presidents  which show that two in three presidents doubt the value of tenure, half think that higher ed has a real affordability problem and a mere 3 percent say that higher ed has been highly effective at responding to the growing education divide in the electorate.   Hummels and Akridge are also co-authors of a Stubstack newsletter called Finding Equilibrium, which seeks to provide data-driven, research-informed takes on where higher education is and where it's going. They've done recent deep dives into tenure, the college value debate and more.    The conversation doesn't suggest that there's any silver lining to what's happening to higher education at the moment. But it does highlight opportunities for action, including local engagement, pricing transparency, career readiness and targeted sharing of the tangible benefits of higher education to counteract declining public confidence.    This episode is sponsored by Strada Education Foundation. 

In this week's episode of The Intercept Briefing, we examine the case of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student whose decadelong journey toward American citizenship ended not with the oath of allegiance, but in handcuffs.On Monday, the Columbia student arrived at his long-awaited citizenship interview in Vermont. Instead, immigration agents arrested him, and he now faces deportation to the occupied West Bank.Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., who represents his district, is outraged and told The Intercept Briefing, “If you'll deny due process from somebody who was in this country with a green card for 10 years, who is somebody who talked about peace and connection between Palestinians and Israelis who was looking to build bridges — if this man is somehow a threat to our society, then we are down a sick path.”Mahdawi spoke to The Intercept the night before his fateful appointment and said he understood the risk he might be facing. He is now the ninth Columbia student targeted for deportation. The Trump administration has revoked or changed over a 1,000 student visas, according to Inside Higher Ed. Mahdawi's case exemplifies how immigration enforcement is being weaponized, says Balint. “ If they're so proud of what they're doing, then show your damn face, then show your ID. Then talk about what grounds you are holding this person. But it's being done in secret, and it is meant to shock and awe and to get the rest of us to remain silent. They have no evidence, they have no details, which is what we're demanding of both Secretary [Marco] Rubio and Secretary [Kristi] Noem."Immigration lawyer Matt Cameron spoke to The Intercept about the broader implications of the administration's agenda and said that this is much bigger than just students and immigrants. “ It's a message to student protesters obviously to start with, but it's a message to all of us that our free speech is a liability,” he warned.Cameron pointed to the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was illegally deported to El Salvador and is now imprisoned despite no criminal record. The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered the government to facilitate his return, but so far, the administration has resisted. "This is going to be one of the most important cases of our lifetimes,” said Cameron. “ Even for people who don't think they're interested in following immigration issues: This is for all of us. And you know, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia will be all of us pretty soon here if we don't stay on our rights.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Undocumented workers aren't the only immigrants being targeted by the Donald Trump administration. Green card holders are facing deportation threats as well. We'll discuss the far-reaching implications of Trump's immigration crackdown, from the labor market to higher education in the United States. Plus, what Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation case could mean for due process. And, we'll weigh in on crunchy foods and living underwater during a round of Half Full/Half Empty.Here's everything we talked about today:"Trump's Immigration Crackdown Expands to Green Card Holders" from The New York TimesTweet from the White House "Colleges Fear Decline in International Student Enrollment" from Inside Higher Ed"A Young Generation Goes to Work for Mom and Dad Inc." from The Wall Street Journal"How crunch took over our taste buds" from Fast Company"The Techno-Utopian Seasteaders Who Want to Colonize the Ocean" from The New York Times"Fox Nation Plans Game Show About Isolated People Guessing What Trump Did In His First 90 Days" from The Hollywood ReporterGot a question for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Undocumented workers aren't the only immigrants being targeted by the Donald Trump administration. Green card holders are facing deportation threats as well. We'll discuss the far-reaching implications of Trump's immigration crackdown, from the labor market to higher education in the United States. Plus, what Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation case could mean for due process. And, we'll weigh in on crunchy foods and living underwater during a round of Half Full/Half Empty.Here's everything we talked about today:"Trump's Immigration Crackdown Expands to Green Card Holders" from The New York TimesTweet from the White House "Colleges Fear Decline in International Student Enrollment" from Inside Higher Ed"A Young Generation Goes to Work for Mom and Dad Inc." from The Wall Street Journal"How crunch took over our taste buds" from Fast Company"The Techno-Utopian Seasteaders Who Want to Colonize the Ocean" from The New York Times"Fox Nation Plans Game Show About Isolated People Guessing What Trump Did In His First 90 Days" from The Hollywood ReporterGot a question for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 16, 2025 is: adversity • ad-VER-suh-tee • noun Adversity refers to a difficult situation or condition, or to a state of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune. // The soldiers were honored for acting with courage in the face of adversity. // The team overcame many adversities on their way to summiting the mountain. See the entry > Examples: “To foster self-reliance, colleges should focus on supports that empower students to face challenges. ... Instead of lowering demands to accommodate discomfort, institutions can create frameworks that help students cope, adapt and ultimately thrive in the face of adversity.” — Steven Mintz, Inside Higher Ed, 11 Mar. 2025 Did you know? The world, alas, is full of adversity of all kinds, from misfortune to outright calamity. But while we—being humble lexicographers, not sagacious philosophers—cannot explain the source of such adversity, we can explain the source of the word adversity. If you've ever faced adversity and felt like fate, the world, or something else was turned against you, it will not surprise you that adversity traces back to the Latin verb advertere, meaning “to turn toward, direct,” itself a combination of the verb vertere, “to turn,” and the prefix ad-, “to.” The past participle of advertere is adversus, meaning “turned toward, facing, opposed,” which eventually led (via a couple languages in between) to the Middle English word adversite, meaning “opposition, hostility, misfortune, or hardship,” and the adversity we know today.

On Monday's show: At least 115 students and recent graduates in Texas have had their legal status changed by the U.S Department of State over the last few weeks, according to data compiled by Inside Higher Ed and Texas Newsroom partners around the state. Those students are among more than 600 people nationwide caught in a recent wave of visa revocations.Also this hour: Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers listeners' gardening questions.And Jeff Balke previews the return of the Houston Rockets to the NBA Playoffs and other developments in sports.

Many college leaders turned to civil discourse and dialogue programs in response to students protests that roiled campuses after the start of the Israel Hamas war. It's work that they have been doing for decades, but a big question around these programs is: how do we know they're working?   That question led to Raj Vinnakota, president of the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, an 80-year old non-profit that works with leaders in higher education, business and philanthropy to equip young people with the skills they need to be engaged citizens.    In 2023, the institute launched its College Presidents for Civic Preparedness initiative and its membership has grown to over 120 leaders from 2 and 4-year institutions in 35 states. Part of its mission is to develop ways to assess and measure the level of civil discourse and critical thinking on campuses.    In this interview, Raj talks with Sara Custer, editor in chief at Inside Higher Ed, about the grassroots beginnings of the program and how creating language around the concepts of free speech and open inquiry is important for engaging with stakeholders on both sides of the political divide.    This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Follow us on  Apple Podcasts   Google Podcasts   Stitcher   Spotify

In this energizing live episode, Dustin chats with Brian LeDuc—consultant, design strategist, and founder of Learning, Designed—about what it really takes to make higher ed more human-centered in an AI-drenched era. From the UC San Diego Design Lab to his own EDUxDesign Fellowship, Brian shares tangible ways schools can move beyond best practices and toward meaningful, student-first innovation.Spoiler: It's not about jumping on every AI tool. It's about understanding the real problems you're solving—and who you're solving them for.Guest Name: Brian LeDuc, Principal, Design Strategist + Education Consultant at Learning, DesignedGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Brian LeDuc is a design strategist and Principal Consultant of Learning, Designed, a consulting practice helping colleges, universities, and workforce organizations build learner-centered programs that align with the future of work. With over a decade of experience across higher ed and Fortune 500 companies, he specializes in human-centered design and community-driven change. Brian has led projects with institutions nationwide—from improving student retention and academic advising to launching innovative academic models—and currently serves as a Designer-in-Residence at UC San Diego's Design Lab. His work has been featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and Higher Ed Dive. He shares stories, tips, and work in progress weekly on his Substack, Learning, Designed. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

MPR News, Trump to sign order aiming to close the Education Department, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/03/20/npr-trump-executive-action-education-departmentNY Times, Teachers Unions Sue Trump Administration Over Push to Shut Education Dept, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/us/trump-education-department-lawsuit.htmlEducation Law Center, Coalition Sues Trump Administration For Dismantling Department of Education, Hurting All Students https://edlawcenter.org/coalition-sues-trump-administration-for-dismantling-department-of-education-hurting-all-studentsEd Law Center legal complaint, https://edlawcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NAACP-et-al-v-US-et-al-DOE-Complaint.pdfPress Release from 21 State Attorney Generals about their lawsuit to prevent mass layoffs at the Dept. of Education, https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2025/attorney-general-james-continues-fight-stop-trump-shutting-down-departmentTheir initial complaint https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/court-filings/state-of-new-york-et-al-v-linda-mcmahon-united-states-department-of-education-complaint-2025.pdfTheir Memo of Law, asking for a Preliminary Injunction after the Executive Order was filedhttps://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/court-filings/state-of-new-york-et-al-v-linda-mcmahon-et-al-motion-for-preliminary-injunction-2025.pdfDemocracy Forward lawsuit filed on behalf of AFT, University Professors and MA school districts https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/EDComplaint.pdf](https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/EDComplaint.pdfEd Week, States Get Antsy as Education Department Layoffs Delay Millions for Schools, https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/states-get-antsy-as-education-department-layoffs-delay-millions-for-schools/2025/03NY State Education Department affidavit about US Dept of Ed failure to send remaining pandemic school aid https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.281941/gov.uscourts.mad.281941.71.31_1.pdfInside Higher Ed, Education Department Reeling After Layoffs , https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2025/03/25/education-department-staff-struggle-after-massPublic Funds Public Schools, Bill Tracker for proposed legislation on private school voucher programs https://pfps.org/billtracker/Inside Higher Ed, Trump's Plan to Move Student Loans to SBA Raises Concerns, https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2025/03/21/small-business-administration-take-over-student-loansInside Higher Ed, Poll Finds Abolishing the Education Department ‘Wildly Unpopular', https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2025/02/06/poll-abolishing-department-education-unpopularStudent Borrower Protection Center, New Poll Confirms: Trump's Plan to Abolish Department of Education is Extremely Unpopular Among , Voters https://protectborrowers.org/new-poll-confirms-trumps-plan-to-abolish-department-of-education-is-extremely-unpopular-among-voters

We've turned the page on the third month of the Trump administration and the White House has shown no signs of slowing down when it comes to actions that have direct impacts on higher education in this country. Linda McMahon was confirmed as education secretary and has made quick work of shrinking the size and influence of her department. At the same time the agency opened investigations into reports of antisemitism on dozens of college campuses and has threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University unless it agrees to demands from the government. Also this month, president Trump signed the long-awaited executive order to dismantle the department of education and international students and scholars are on edge after a series of arrests and deportations.  In this episode of The Key, Sara Custer, Inside Higher Ed's editor in chief, check in on the latest developments in Washington with federal policy reporter Jessica Blake and news editor Katherine Knott. 

How can you capture students' voices? What are the success stories that spark change? How can you act on this information and inspiration? We discuss these questions with Melissa Ezarik, Editor at Inside Higher Ed leading their Student Voice surveys and Student Success News Hub.

Many students use generative AI tools to complete writing assignments. In this episode, John Warner joins us to discuss what may be lost when they do so. John has twenty years of experience teaching college writing at five different institutions and is the author of 8 books encompassing a wide variety of topics including political humor, short stories, and a novel, including Why They Can't Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities. He writes a weekly column on books for the Chicago Tribune and an associated newsletter, The Biblioracle Recommends. John is also a contributing writer to Inside Higher Ed. His most recent book is More than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI. A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.

People across higher education are calling on college presidents to speak out against the onslaught of threats and funding caught imposed by the Trump administration. But that is just one kind of leadership. Jorge Burmicky, assistant professor in education leadership and policy studies in the school of education at Howard University, joins Sara Custer, editor in chief at Inside Higher Ed, for this episode of The Key.  Burmicky's research focuses on the core competencies for the modern presidency and at the very top is trust building. He stresses that the list is ever changing and discusses what competencies would best serve presidents now at such a pivotal moment for higher education. Read more about Burmicky's work: "The 7 Competencies Presidents Need"

Play Episode Description The ground is shifting daily in higher education—policy changes, legal battles, funding threats, and challenges to equity and access. These aren't just headlines; they have real consequences for students, educators, and institutions. That is why Student Affairs Now is launching a limited weekly series called "Current Campus Context." In this week's rapid-response episode, Dr. Heather Shea is joined by Drs. Brendan Cantwell and OiYan Poon to break down the latest developments—from the Department of Education's uncertain future to new guidance in the form of a Feb. 14 Dear Colleague Letter and FAQ, and executive branch threats to punish campuses that hold "illegal" campus protests. Why does it matter? And what can student affairs educators and higher ed leaders do to respond? Tune in for expert insights and actionable takeaways. Suggested APA Citation Shea, H. (Host). (2025, March 7). Current Campus Context: Dear Colleague Letter FAQ, "Illegal" Protests, and more (No. 249) [Audio podcast episode]. In Student Affairs NOW. https://studentaffairsnow.com/currentcontext_march7/ Transcript Heather SheaWelcome to the very first episode of current campus context brought to you by Student Affairs. Now the online learning community for 1000s of us who work in alongside and adjacent to higher education and student affairs, I'm your host, Heather Shea, and this episode was recorded at 5:15pm Heather Sheaon Thursday, March 6. Things might have changed by the time you listen. This new limited series is all about making sense of the moment. We're in higher ed is facing rapid change, and each week we will bring two experts to break down what's happening, why it matters, and what we can do within our spheres of influence. Our goal not just provide the news, but context, perspective and strategies for action. So I'm so excited to introduce our first two correspondents for today. First, Dr Brennan Cantwell is an expert in higher education policy, governance and the political economy of higher education. He is a professor of higher adult and lifelong education at Michigan State University. Hi, Brendan, hey, great to be here. And Dr oyun Poon is an expert in the racial politics of education, access, college admission systems and Asian Americans in education. She is a co director of the college admissions futures collaborative and consultant on higher education equity to Eleanor Governor JB Pritzker education team. Hello, well, welcome, hey, great to be here. Yeah. Thanks so much for joining. So this week, we're focusing on a few key developments with some significant implications for higher ed the first item earlier this week, Linda McMahon, immediately after being sworn in as Secretary of Education, issued her first statement about the department's final Mission. Pretty ominous sounding statement, and I think we expect it hasn't dropped as of the recording yet, an executive order charging McMahon with dismantling the Department of Education, even though we know that officially abolishing it would require an act of Congress. But this leaves me with questions about TRIO programs, Pell Grants, FAFSA. So that's Topic number ONE. Topic number two, february 14, your colleague letter. And then the subsequent FAQ document, which I think was meant to provide some clarification, but for me, made it more hazy in terms of what if anything we should be doing. And then meanwhile, the Chronicle of Higher Ed has been reporting that many campuses are taking anticipatory measures to comply. So that's topic two. And then the third topic, well, I don't want to bring in every single social media post. Earlier this week, Inside Higher Ed reported that the President doubled down on social media posting that college and universities that allow a legal protest would be at risk of losing federal funding. I'm thinking this maybe flies in the face of free speech. Maybe so. I think it goes without saying that these three issues wi...

In this episode of The Key, Inside Higher Ed's news and analysis podcast, editor in chief Sara Custer speaks with IHE's news editor Katherine Knott about the policies, people and surprises from the first 30 days of the second Trump administration. They discuss the executive orders and actions that could have the most impact on higher ed and what pushback they've seen from the sector, as well as the people who Trump has tapped to lead the department. Katherine shares what has surprised her the most in the last month and what she and the IHE reporters will be watching in the next 30 days. Stay on top of the key developments in federal policy and funding by subscribing to The First 100 Days, IHE's pop-up newsletter explaining the week's news out of Washington. Learn more.

In this episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO, host Jaime Hunt sits down with enrollment marketing expert Will Patch to tackle a critical issue in higher education—summer melt. They explore the key reasons why admitted students fail to enroll in the fall and share actionable strategies to combat melt before it happens. From financial aid misunderstandings to social anxieties, they discuss how institutions can proactively support students and improve yield. If you're looking for ways to refine your enrollment marketing and retention strategies, this conversation is packed with valuable insights.Key TakeawaysSummer melt is preventable—but strategies must start early, long before June.Financial barriers are a major cause of melt, especially for first-generation and low-income students. Clear, proactive financial aid communication is crucial.Social anxieties play a significant role—helping students feel a sense of belonging early can make a difference.Parents are key influencers—providing them with resources and guidance can help reinforce their student's decision.A strong anti-melt communication flow should include personalized outreach, two-way conversations, and content that addresses student concerns.Mental health support is critical—institutions should ensure students know where and how to access resources.Data-driven strategies should guide enrollment marketing efforts, ensuring institutions focus on what truly moves the needle.What Is Summer Melt and Why Does It Happen?Summer melt refers to the phenomenon where students commit to a college (through a deposit or other means) but ultimately do not enroll in the fall. While some melt is inevitable, a large portion is preventable with the right strategies. The two biggest contributors to melt are financial challenges and social anxieties.Financially, many students and families realize too late that they are unable to afford the costs, or they misunderstand their financial aid package. Socially, students may feel uncertain about their ability to succeed, worry about fitting in, or struggle with the idea of leaving home. These fears can be exacerbated if they don't feel connected to the institution before they arrive.Additionally, intentional melt has become more common, with students placing deposits at multiple institutions to keep their options open. This makes yield forecasting more difficult and further complicates enrollment strategies.How Can Institutions Reduce Summer Melt?1. Build Early Affinity and BelongingTo prevent summer melt, institutions must start fostering a sense of community early—before a student even deposits. Strategies include:Engaging students with faculty, staff, and current students through personalized outreach and virtual meetups.Encouraging early participation in campus events, online forums, and social media groups to build connections.Assigning student mentors or ambassadors to check in and answer questions.The more "sticky" relationships a student builds with a college—whether through faculty, staff, or peers—the less likely they are to back out before the fall.2. Improve Financial Aid CommunicationFinancial uncertainty is one of the biggest drivers of summer melt. Colleges need to ensure that students and families clearly understand their financial aid packages by:Providing easy-to-read financial aid letters that differentiate between grants, loans, and scholarships.Hosting financial literacy workshops or Q&A sessions for admitted students and parents.Reaching out proactively to discuss payment plans, emergency aid, and alternative financing options.Training admissions and financial aid teams to have direct, transparent conversations about affordability.Students who feel confident about their financial situation are far less likely to melt.3. Engage Parents in the Enrollment ProcessParents are one of the most influential factors in a student's college decision. Universities can strengthen parental involvement by:Creating parent-specific communications (emails, newsletters, or social media groups) with key deadlines and resources.Providing guides on how to support their student—covering topics like homesickness, academic struggles, and roommate conflicts.Encouraging parent participation in orientation programs to ease concerns.When parents feel informed and supported, they are more likely to encourage their student to follow through with enrollment.4. Monitor Engagement and Intervene EarlyTracking student engagement over the summer can help identify those at risk of melting. Indicators include:Not registering for orientation or choosing a later session.Failing to engage with emails, texts, or calls from the admissions team.Delays in completing financial aid paperwork or housing forms.For students showing signs of disengagement, schools should reach out directly—not just with automated emails, but with personal phone calls, text messages, and invitations to one-on-one conversations.5. Address Mental Health and Well-BeingAn increasing number of students experience mental health challenges, which can make the transition to college overwhelming. Universities should:Clearly communicate available mental health resources and counseling services.Provide peer support programs to connect incoming students with those who have successfully navigated similar challenges.Offer flexible support options, such as teletherapy or online workshops, for students who may not be able to access in-person services.Proactively addressing mental health concerns can help students feel more secure in their decision to enroll.6. Use Data to Guide StrategySuccessful melt prevention strategies rely on data-driven decision-making. Institutions should:Analyze past melt trends to identify common risk factors among students who didn't enroll.Use chatbot transcripts, search console data, and social media engagement to uncover student and parent concerns.Monitor response rates and adjust communication strategies based on engagement levels.By leveraging real-time data, institutions can proactively address student concerns before they result in summer melt.Guest Name: Will Patch, CEO of Clarity EMGuest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willpatch/Guest Bio: After 9 years at Manchester University and 5 years at Niche where he developed the Enrollment Insights brand and established Niche's research and survey work Will has taken on the challenge of doing more work 1:1 with campuses. With Clarity EM Will now offers custom surveys and analysis, consulting services, and staff training to better use and understand their data. Will is a frequent conference speaker and podcast guest. He has presented at NACAC, AACRAO-SEM, AMA Higher Ed, CASE V, EduWeb, and EMA. Will's work has been featured in Forbes, Inside Higher Ed, CNBC, CNN, the LA Times, and The New York Times among other outlets. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Jaime Hunthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMCAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

Join me today as I welcome guest Jennie Young ... who is a writer, humorist and creator of the Burned Haystack Dating Method. Jennie Young, PhD, is the creator of Burned Haystack Dating Method and a writer and professor at University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. She publishes work in humor, feminism, applied rhetoric, dating dynamics, and education. Her writing can be seen in McSweeney's, Ms. Magazine, The Independent, Huffpost, Education Week, Inside Higher Ed, and elsewhere. You can learn more about her and follow her work at www.jennieyoung.com.

Our friend and colleague Stony Brook sociologist Musa al-Gharbi has a new book out. And it's a tour-de-force. We Have Never Been Woke is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the economic, political and cultural divides between the haves and the have-nots in the United States. We were delighted to host Musa for a book talk on the Carleton campus last month. He spoke with Amna in front a packed house. This is episode 2. Episode 1 is available here. Show Notes* On the limitations of diversity training, see this piece from Musa, “Diversity is Important. Diversity-Related Training is Terrible.” Also see this piece we wrote in Inside Higher Ed, “Don't Mistake Training for Education.” And this short, animated explainer video we made, “Training is Performative. Education is Transformative”* Georgetown philosopher Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò wrote the book on elite capture; here's a précis in the Boston Review. And this piece by Táíwò, published in The Philosopher, is also worth reading: “Being-In-The-Room Privilege: Elite Capture and Epistemic Deference”* Creating a Class: College Admissions and the Education of Elites by Mitchell Stevens is arguably the best book ever written on how the many advantages of the rich and well-off accumulate in the race to get into the most prestigious schools* On the incentives for students of color to highlight their trauma in college admissions essays, this NYT piece is excellent, “When I Applied to College, I Didn't Want to ‘Sell My Pain.'” On “racial gamification” in college admissions, see Tyler Austin Harper, “I Teach at an Elite College. Here's a Look Inside the Racial Gaming of Admissions”* College essays are more strongly correlated with social class than SAT scores. See this journal article by A.J. Alvero et al.* On the question of whether college admissions tests drive or reflect social inequalities, see this Banished episode (“Should More Colleges Drop the SAT and ACT?”) and this article in Inside Higher Ed (“Tests are not the source of inequities in American society”)* On the test-optional debate, see this article from the New York Times, this study from Dartmouth College and these comments from the MIT Dean of Admissions* Bertrand Cooper, “Who Actually Gets to Create Black Pop Culture?” (Current Affairs, May/June 2021)* Matt Taibbi discussed the controversy surrounding former Intercept journalist Lee Fang here This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit banished.substack.com/subscribe

Related links:Digital Community CohortStudent Affairs Marketing and Communications surveyMarcomm Barbie Slack Group‍In this episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager, Jenny Li Fowler chats with Josie Ahlquist, a trailblazer in the higher education community. Josie shares her inspiring journey into higher ed, shaped by her family's roots, her passion for student engagement, and her knack for empowering institutions to foster authentic online communities. The conversation dives deep into the dynamics between student affairs and central communications, exploring ways to bridge gaps, build relationships, and create meaningful student connections.Key TakeawaysRelationship-building is key: Building partnerships between central comms and student affairs starts with authentic, non-work-related connections.Empower "make-em-up marketers": Many student affairs staff juggle multiple roles; training and shared resources can significantly enhance their effectiveness.Understand student development: To communicate effectively, know where students are emotionally, socially, and developmentally.Ask students directly: Whether through feedback or collaboration, student voices are a powerful tool for shaping impactful communication strategies.Centralize resources without alienating teams: Hybrid models and shared resources can improve collaboration and strategy without overstepping boundaries.What inspired Josie's passion for higher education?Josie Ahlquist credits her family's legacy for inspiring her deep passion for education. Her grandparents, who valued education despite their working-class cowboy roots, instilled in her the idea that knowledge is invaluable. Her first steps on a college campus felt like home, sparking a career in higher education that has never wavered.What are the unique challenges student affairs faces in creating online communities?Student affairs teams often operate with limited resources and little formal training in marketing and communications. As Josie puts it, many are "make-em-up marketers," learning on the job and finding creative ways to manage their responsibilities. This DIY approach, while admirable, can lead to inefficiencies and misalignments with broader institutional branding.Additionally, Josie points out that social media has "grown up," making it more challenging for student affairs to stay strategic without dedicated support. From inconsistent messaging to a lack of positional structures, the divide between student affairs and central comms often hinders collaboration.How can central comms and student affairs work better together?Josie emphasizes the importance of relationship-building—starting with something as simple as coffee chats or happy hours to break down silos. Central comms teams should avoid diving in with audits or policies right away. Instead, build trust by getting to know the people behind the accounts and finding ways to support their work without micromanaging.She also suggests hybrid models that pool resources, ensuring that student affairs teams have access to central comms expertise while maintaining the unique connections they have with students.Why is understanding student development essential for effective communication?Josie highlights the importance of understanding student development theory—an often overlooked area in higher ed communications. Knowing where students are emotionally, socially, and developmentally can inform messaging strategies and ensure communications truly resonate.Student affairs teams, with their direct student contact, can be a treasure trove of insights. Josie suggests collaborating with these teams to collect feedback, co-create campaigns, and feature diverse student voices in marketing efforts.How can higher ed communicators better connect with students?Josie encourages institutions to consistently ask students for feedback, even if the answers are raw and unfiltered. She also stresses the importance of crafting messages that are valuable and relevant to students. It's not about the channel—it's about the content. If the messaging matters, students will engage, no matter where it's shared.‍What steps can central comms take to build bridges with student affairs?Map the structure: Identify who is responsible for communications across various student affairs offices.Start small: Begin with informal meetings or organic conversations before implementing larger initiatives.Create shared spaces: Platforms like Slack or Discord can foster collaboration without requiring rigid committees.Lead with empathy: Recognize that many in student affairs are juggling marketing as one of many responsibilities. Approach with support rather than critique.Partner for progress: Collaborate on building centralized resources and strategies while respecting the autonomy of student affairs teams.Josie's ConfessionAs someone who literally puts her face and name on her brand, Josie admits she has struggled with imposter syndrome and perfectionism in her journey. Hiring a team member to help her stay consistent with her content allowed her to overcome the internal battles that often held her back. Her mission today is to empower leaders and institutions to tell authentic stories, even when self-doubt gets in the way.Guest Name: Josie Ahlquist, Digital Engagement and Leadership Consultant, Keynote Speaker and Executive CoachGuest Social: XLinkedInFacebookInstagramBlueskyYouTubeThreadsGuest Bio: Josie Ahlquist empowers leaders, organizations, and students to embrace purposeful digital leadership through her dynamic speaking engagements, personalized coaching, and expert consulting services. Her approach is deeply rooted in her grant-funded and award-winning research, which has equipped her to train thousands worldwide, consult for various institutions and corporations, and coach executives on effective and personalized digital strategies.In 2023, Josie was honored as a NASPA Pillar of the Profession, recognizing her as a distinguished figure in student affairs. She has also been a three-time LinkedIn Top Voice in Education recipient. For five consecutive years, her insights have been recognized in Ed Tech Magazine's “Top 50 Must-Read Higher Education Technology Blogs.” Her podcast, "Josie and the Podcast," has received accolades from The Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed. Her book, "Digital Leadership in Higher Education: Purposeful Social Media in a Connected World," debuted as an Amazon #1 new release in the college and university student life category. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Jenny Li Fowlerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylifowler/https://twitter.com/TheJennyLiAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

Welcome back to Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD!I'm your host, David Mendes, and today, I'm thrilled to dive into an enlightening conversation with Matteo Tardelli, a seasoned professional in the biotech sector and an advocate for aligning career choices with personal values. In this episode, Matteo opens up about the intricate process of uncovering one's core values and how they play a pivotal role in making fulfilling career decisions.We'll explore his journey from academia to industry, touching on his experiences and challenges in job hunting, especially in the realms of biotech and consulting. Matteo also shares practical advice on conducting thorough company research, the significance of informational interviews, and the importance of introspection in the job search process. Additionally, Matteo will discuss his latest book, "Beyond Academia: Stories and Strategies for PhDs Making the Leap," offering invaluable insights for PhD students navigating transitions outside academia.Get ready for an episode filled with actionable strategies, personal anecdotes, and thought-provoking discussions that can help you align your career path with your personal values and find true satisfaction in your professional life. Tune in and let's go beyond the thesis with Matteo Tardelli! Matteo Tardelli transitioned from academia to biotech, management consulting, and MedTech, and now heehelps other PhDs do the same by providing actionable steps and execution plans.His work has been featured in publications such as Nature Careers, Chemistry World, The Biochemist, and Inside Higher Ed. Matteo has spoken on post-PhD career success at Ivy League institutions and has been invited as a panellist at career development conferences across the U.S. and Europe.As the author of The Salmon Leap for PhDs: Swimming Upstream – A Transition from Academia to Industry (2020) and Beyond Academia: Stories and Strategies for PhDs Making the Leap to Industry (2023), his books have become essential reading in the PhD career development space, selling over 4,000 copies on Amazon. His latest book, Beyond Academia, has garnered over 100 positive reviews on the platform. Additionally, he recently launched the BA Newsletter, which features human stories on PhD careers and has already gained hundreds of subscribers. What we covered in the interview:

In the run up to the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, Inside Higher Ed's editor-in-chief Sara Custer and news editor Katherine Knott discuss what we know and what we don't know about president-elect Trump's policy agenda and how it could affect universities and colleges. Katherine and Sara discuss what sources are telling IHE reporters about incoming education secretary Linda McMahon and who the key players in the Republican-led Senate and House are. It's anyone's guess what the administration's policy priorities will be, but Katherine shares what she and Inside Higher Ed journalists will be looking for to get a sense of which way the wind might be blowing for higher ed on Capital Hill. Hosted by Sara Custer, editor-in-chief of Inside Higher Ed. Follow us on  Apple Podcasts   Google Podcasts    Spotify

Highly customized admissions information and processes. Credit transfer evaluations that take minutes, not days or weeks. Precision tuition discounting estimates. Student success interventions informed by data gathered about students before they ever even applied to their institution. These are some of the ways that artificial intelligence is or may soon be improving the enrollment management experience for students, teams and institutions. That's according to our recent panel discussion with experts Joseph Paris, dean of graduate and professional studies at Delaware Valley University, Naronda C. Wright, president of NAGAP at The Association for Graduate Enrollment Management and associate dean of the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies at Georgia Southern University, and Claire Brady, president of Glass Half Full Consulting.    The discussion, featured on this episode of The Key, Inside Higher Ed's news and analysis podcast, also draws on insights from “Beyond the Hype: Understanding and Unlocking AI's Potential in Enrollment Management,” a recent special report Inside Higher Ed published on the following:  How admissions and enrollment management teams are already deploying AI to assist their work  The potential near- and longer-term future of AI in enrollment management Best and emerging practices for building data readiness and AI literacy among admissions and enrollment management personnel   Download that report, written for Inside Higher Ed by journalist Ben Upton, here.  Hosted by Colleen Flaherty, senior editor of special content at Inside Higher Ed.    This episode is sponsored by Liaison. 

In his final days in the newsroom, editor and co-founder of Inside Higher Ed and host of The Key, Doug Lederman, sits down with editor-in-chief Sara Custer to discuss his nearly 40-year career in higher education and what he plans to do next. Doug talks about his work as a journalist over four decades, including leading Inside Higher Ed for the past 20 years. Doug shares what kept him up at night when he and Scott Jaschik started a new, independent media company in 2003 and the big breaks along the way that helped establish Inside Higher Ed as a trusted source of news for universities and colleges across the country.  Doug and Sara discuss the future of IHE and how its role to both explain higher education to readers and hold it to account is more critical now than it has ever been. "I don't think us journalists would be writing about higher education if we didn't think it was important,” he says. Hosted by Sara Custer, editor in chief of Inside Higher Ed. This episode is sponsored by the Gates Foundation. Follow us on  Apple Podcasts   Google Podcasts    Spotify  

College presidents don't work in a bubble and there are a multitude of competing priorities jostling for their time and attention on a daily basis. It can be an overwhelming job, but having a guiding purpose behind every decision a president makes, the teams they form and the long-term strategies they develop can help keep leaders on the right track. How do they know which areas deserve their attention and which should be delegated to talented team members? How do they know they are making the right decisions and doing good by their institution? When should they take risks? In this episode of The Key, Inside Higher Ed's news and analysis podcast, Donde Plowman, the chancellor at UT Knoxville, Harry Williams the former president of Delaware State University and the current president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall Foundation, and Jonathan Koppel, president of Montclair State University tell an audience at the Student Success US event how they keep their purpose front of mind as they lead their institutions. They share their experiences of making tough decisions, championing student success to stakeholders, lobbying for greater funding from legislators and striking out on paths unknown with new partners. Hosted by Sara Custer, editor in chief of Inside Higher Ed. This episode is sponsored by the Gates Foundation.   Follow us on  Apple Podcasts   Google Podcasts    Spotify

We're pleased to feature this conversation with podcasting veteran and seasoned educator Bonnie Stachowiak, host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, about the power of teaching, creativity, and vulnerability. Bonnie shares insights from over a decade of podcasting and reflects on how curiosity and empathy drive her approach to teaching. They discuss the evolving role of AI in education, how institutions can nurture a culture of learning, and why hope—combined with action—is crucial in shaping the future of higher ed. Bonnie's reflections remind us that teaching is a joyful yet complex journey, where human connection, curiosity, and adaptability are key.Guest Name: Dr. Bonni Stachowiak, Dean of Teaching & Learning at Vanguard UniversityGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Bonni Stachowiak is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, which has been downloaded nearly 5 million times. She serves as dean of teaching and learning and professor of business and management at Vanguard University of Southern California. As the creator and host of Teaching in Higher Ed, Bonni explores the art and science of teaching, amplifying diverse educators' voices and fostering a global learning community. The podcast won the MERLOT Classics Award in 2016 and has been featured in publications like Inside Higher Ed and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Bonni holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. She frequently speaks at universities and conferences on effective teaching strategies and educational technology. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and I Wanna Work There. Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

A recent IHE survey of university and college student success administrators found that they are confident in the quality of education their institution provides and say their college is effective in making student success an institutional priority. There are, however, still many areas where administrators say their institution can improve, with greater effort among faculty being the most common desired action. This episode of The Key explores the results of our survey and how they compare with what students have told us in other polls. We'll also hear a case study on how a teaching and learning center is encouraging faculty to be active participants in students' success. Joining the discussion are Colleen Flaherty, special content editor at Inside Higher Ed, and Trey Conatser, assistant provost for teaching and learning at the University of Kentucky and director of UK's Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. Both discussions paint an overall optimistic picture of how institutions are working to find innovative ways to support their students to stay in college and graduate. You can read more about our survey findings in our article “Survey: Student Success Administrators Optimistic”.   Hosted by Sara Custer, editor in chief of Inside Higher Ed. This episode is sponsored by the Gates Foundation.   Follow us on  Apple Podcasts   Google Podcasts    Spotify

Since 2016, the presence of foreign disinformation in American politics—and especially on our social media platforms—has been well documented. But Darren Linvill says different state-actors—like Russia and China—behave differently online, depending on their goals. Darren Linvill is a professor of communication whose research explores social media disinformation and its influence on civil discourse (in and out of the classroom). He became a faculty member at Clemson after earning degrees from Wake Forest and Clemson and started studying social media in 2010. After becoming an associate professor in 2017, he delved deeper into the truth or falsity of online messaging and its effects. As a sought-after media expert, he's contributed to many articles and broadcasts by outlets such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Bloomberg, Rolling Stone, Inside Higher Ed, The State, CNN, NPR, ABC, NBC, WFAE and others.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite media narratives of declining confidence in higher education, new survey data reveals 80% of Americans view college costs - not value - as the primary barrier to enrollment. While only 36% think higher education is "fine how it is," bipartisan support remains strong, with a majority of both Democrats and Republicans favoring increased government funding for affordability. On this episode of Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Kevin Carey, Vice President for Education and Work at New America, and Sophie Nguyen, Senior Policy Manager with the Higher Education team at New America, a nonpartisan think tank focused on social and technological issues, including education. The discussion centers around  New America's annual “Varying Degrees” survey, which examines how Americans perceive higher education. Carey and Nguyen argue that, contrary to the media narrative, Americans have not actually lost faith in the value of higher education. They attribute the decline in enrollment not to a loss of confidence but rather to demographic shifts, the economic recession, and the unique nature of the pandemic. They also highlight the partisan divide in perspectives on higher education, noting that Republicans have become more skeptical of higher education than Democrats, likely due to a changing composition of the two parties' constituencies in terms of educational attainment. The conversation concludes with practical advice for college leaders on navigating these challenges, emphasizing the need for clear communication about the value of higher education, acknowledging student and parental concerns about affordability and career pathways, and continuing to advocate for higher education in the face of political and social shifts.   What Higher Ed Leaders Will Gain From This Podcast Here are some insights, facts, and trends you'll hear discussed:   Americans do not hate higher education. While confidence in higher education as an institution is declining, this is consistent with declining American confidence in all institutions. Americans still largely believe in higher education.   Americans' opinions on higher education have remained relatively stable over the years, even amidst significant events like the pandemic. This finding counters media narratives suggesting a dramatic shift in public opinion.   A majority of Republicans believe that the government should invest more money to make higher education more affordable. This suggests that there is a bipartisan consensus on investing in higher education.   There has been a partisan realignment around higher education, with Democrats increasingly becoming the party of education. This is likely due to an increase in the number of people with college degrees among Democrat voters.   The decline in college enrollment is mainly driven by demographic decline, not by a decline in demand for higher education.  The number of college-age people in America peaked in the late 2010s and has been declining since.   The pandemic recession did not lead to an increase in college enrollment as previous recessions have. This is because the pandemic recession was brief, and the economy quickly rebounded.   The labor market has been very strong for non-college graduates in the middle and lower parts of the wage scale. This may be a factor in the decline in college enrollment.   Many parents who say they do not want their children to get a four-year degree actually do want their children to go to college for job training. They may not realize that most job-related training in the United States happens at colleges.   Colleges need to communicate the value of a liberal arts education to students and parents.  Emphasize that a liberal arts education is not just about job training but also about developing critical thinking skills, exposure to diverse perspectives, and personal growth.   Colleges need to make a clear connection between a liberal arts education and career pathways.  Highlight how the skills and knowledge gained in a liberal arts education can be applied to various careers.   Cost remains a significant concern for a vast majority of Americans, serving as a major barrier to college enrollment. The survey demonstrates bipartisan agreement on this issue.   Colleges need to address the cost of higher education: This includes providing more financial aid, lowering tuition, and exploring alternative models of education, such as three-year degrees.   Three Key Takeaways for Presidents, Enrollment Executives, and Boards Communicate Education's Value Demonstrate the lifelong benefits of liberal education Make concrete connections between liberal education and career pathways Don't ignore students' desire for clear career outcomes Address Cost Concerns Acknowledge that cost is a significant concern for students Clearly communicate available financial options and solutions Help students understand ways to manage educational costs Embrace Public Support Americans maintain strong support for higher education The majority of both parties support increased government investment Demographics present challenges, but core support remains strong Institutions should acknowledge the need for change while maintaining confidence   Final Thoughts The survey responses suggest that higher education leaders must adapt to the real environment, not the selective representation filtered through political or media bias. They need to be aware of the partisan divide around higher education, the demographic decline, and the strong labor market for non-college graduates. They also need to be proactive in communicating the value of higher education to students and parents and in addressing the cost of higher education. Read the transcript on our website at https://changinghighered.com/what-americans-really-think-of-higher-ed-new-americas-varying-degrees-2024/ #VaryingDegrees2024 #HigherEducation #HigherEdPodcast About Our Podcast Guests Sophie Nguyen Sophie Nguyen is a senior policy manager with the higher education team at New America. Her work focuses on college completion and public opinion in higher education. Nguyen leads Varying Degrees, New America's annual survey that looks into how Americans perceive important higher education issues regarding value, funding, and accountability. Nguyen also manages the Higher Ed Public Opinion Hub, an online repository of higher education surveys, and co-authors Public Insight, New America's monthly newsletter that provides analysis on survey findings. Her work on public opinion has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, Inside Higher Ed, Higher Ed Dive, and other news outlets. Nguyen joined the program after graduating from Mount Holyoke College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in economics. She later earned a master's degree in higher education administration from the George Washington University School of Education and Human Development. Sophie Nguyen on LinkedIn → Kevin Carey Kevin Carey is Vice President for Education and Work at New America, a Washington, DC-based think tank. He writes widely about higher education and other topics for publications, including the New York Times, Atlantic, Washington Post, Vox, Slate, Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, Washington Monthly, and elsewhere. Kevin Carey on LinkedIn →   About the Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton is Principal Consultant and CEO of The Change Leader, Inc.—a highly sought-after higher education consultant with 20+ years of experience. Dr. McNaughton works with leadership, management, and boards of both U.S. and international institutions. His expertise spans key areas, including accreditation, governance, strategic planning, presidential onboarding, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances. Dr. McNaughton's approach combines a holistic methodology with a deep understanding of the contemporary and evolving challenges facing higher education institutions worldwide to ensure his clients succeed in their mission. Connect with Drumm McNaughton on LinkedIn →  

Guest Speaker Professor Peter DeCherney's Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, November 2, 2024, introduced by Rabbi Adam Kligfeld. Peter Decherney is an award-winning fine art photographer, filmmaker, and author. He holds the Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Endowed Term Chair in the Humanities at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is Professor of Cinema & Media Studies and Director of the Penn Global Documentary Institute. Peter is the author or editor of seven books including HOLLYWOOD'S COPYRIGHT WARS: FROM EDISON TO THE INTERNET and HOLLYWOOD: A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION. He has also written for The New York Times, Forbes, and Inside Higher Ed, among many other publications. His photographs of global Jewish communities have been exhibited in museums, galleries, and universities. His book of photography and history, (Youtube)

In this episode of The Higher Ed Pulse, hosts Seth and Mallory discuss the transformative role of AI in student recruitment and higher education. As the potential for AI continues to evolve, the duo explores the current state of AI in universities, sharing insights on personalization, staff efficiency, and the future of AI-driven communication. They touch on the challenges faced by institutions, including staff shortages and underpreparedness for AI adoption, and offer practical examples of AI tools currently making a difference in recruitment.Key TakeawaysOnly 9% of CTOs feel higher ed is ready for AI, though 46% are excited about its potential, highlighting a gap between enthusiasm and preparedness.AI-driven personalization in student recruitment is helping move away from mass marketing toward more tailored and efficient strategies.Proactive AI agents, capable of real-time engagement and outreach, will soon take over routine recruitment tasks like completing applications.AI is already being used to increase efficiency, from automating competitor analysis with ChatGPT to generating image content for ads and resizing photos using Ars Technica.AI-driven communication, such as voice assistants for real-time interactions, will help serve underserved student populations, particularly first-gen students.This episode of The Higher Ed Pulse tackles the ever-evolving role of artificial intelligence in student recruitment and the broader higher education landscape. Hosts Seth and Mallory set the stage by discussing recent findings from Inside Higher Ed's survey of campus CTOs, which reveals that while enthusiasm for AI is high, few believe higher education is truly prepared for the rapid changes it will bring. Only 9% of CTOs feel ready for the rise of AI, while 50% are still investing in basic AI technologies like chatbots.The discussion quickly shifts to more practical applications of AI in student recruitment, particularly in the realm of personalization. Seth shares how AI allows institutions to move away from mass marketing strategies to micro-targeting, tailoring communications based on students' specific needs, interests, and behaviors. For instance, AI-powered email variations and proactive chatbots can enhance engagement by acting on behalf of the student without waiting for them to initiate contact.Seth highlights several real-world examples of AI in action. He talks about using ChatGPT for competitor analysis and integrating iPEDS data to gain deeper insights into market dynamics. On the creative side, tools like Ars Technica can resize and optimize images, making it easier to repurpose content for different ad formats. This level of efficiency, according to Seth, can save institutions time and money while also improving the quality of their outreach efforts.Mallory brings attention to the student experience, noting how AI can step in where staff shortages and a lack of training hinder effective communication. AI assistants, particularly those equipped with voice features, can provide students with real-time, accurate information, even during off-hours. This is especially critical for first-gen students, who often require more guidance in navigating complex processes like financial aid applications. Voice-driven AI can engage students in natural, human-like conversations, helping them complete tasks and reducing the need for constant human intervention.As the conversation unfolds, the hosts reflect on how AI can also impact the delivery of academic programs. Seth shares a fascinating case from a recent conference, where a university was able to reduce the cost of delivering its MBA program through AI, offering it internationally at a significantly lower price point. This, in turn, opened up new markets and improved recruitment efforts. The episode concludes with a look ahead at future AI innovations, such as cloning the voices of admissions staff to create more personalized, scalable interactions with prospective students. With AI technology advancing rapidly, the potential to streamline recruitment and improve the student experience is limitless.If you're eager to learn more about how AI is shaping the future of higher education, don't miss out on the AI Engage Summit where Seth will be the keynote speaker. Be sure to tune in to hear more about how AI can revolutionize the way institutions connect with students!Register for the AI Engage Summit.Check out the AI Learning Center.Inside Higher Ed's third annual survey of campus chief technology officers - - - -Connect With Our Co-Hosts:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaSeth Odell https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethodell/https://twitter.com/sethodellAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Element451 is hosting the AI Engage Summit on Oct 29 and 30Register now for this free, virtual event.The future of higher ed is being redefined by the transformative power of AI. The AI Engage Summit brings together higher ed leaders, innovators, and many of your favorite Enrollify creators to explore AI's impact on student engagement, enrollment marketing, and institutional success. Experience firsthand how AI is improving content personalization at scale, impacting strategic decision-making, and intuitively automating the mundane tasks that consume our time. The schedule is packed with real examples and case studies, so you leave knowing how to harness AI to drive meaningful change at your institution. Whether you're looking to enhance student outcomes, optimize enrollment marketing, or simply stay ahead of the curve, the AI Engage Summit is your gateway to the next level of higher education innovation. Registration is free, save your spot today.

As the Medicare enrollment period gets underway again, we welcome Dr. Adam Gaffney to remind us the ways all those heavily advertised Medicare Advantage programs are ripping you off. Then we receive another house call from Dr. Marty Makary, author of Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health about the effect of medical groupthink on all kinds of accepted treatments from peanut allergies to opioid addiction. Finally, founder of Media Matters, David Brock stops by to discuss his latest book, Stench: The Making of the Thomas Court and the Unmaking of America.Dr. Adam Gaffney is a physician, writer, public health researcher, and advocate. Dr. Gaffney practices at the Cambridge Health Alliance and is an Assistant Professor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. A member of the Cambridge Health Justice Lab, his research focuses on healthcare financing, reform, and equity, and disparities in lung health. He writes about the policy, politics, and history of health care, and is the author of To Heal Humankind: The Right to Health in History.The reality is we don't need Medigap. We could plug those holes with public coverage. There's no reason to have a role for private insurers to cover a slice of our healthcare when all seniors need the same thing—which is comprehensive universal care.  There's no need for these private stopgap measures, when what we need is a public system of universal care.Dr. Adam GaffneyI do think there's growing interest among physicians in change. Their bosses are increasingly these for-profit companies whose mission is not really medicine. Their mission is money. And what we need to do is to rethink our healthcare system, so it serves communities, is owned by communities, and it returns us to the underlying reason why we went into this profession—which is to help patients, and not to pad the pockets of shareholders.Dr. Adam GaffneyDr. Marty Makary is a Johns Hopkins professor and member of the National Academy of Medicine. He is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, Unaccountable and The Price We Pay. Dr. Makary has written for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times, and he has published more than 250 scientific research articles. He served in leadership at the W.H.O. and has been a visiting professor at 25 medical schools. His latest book is Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health.For most of human history, doctors were respected, but maybe like you would respect your hairdresser, or maybe a clergy member in the community. And we didn't have many tools as doctors. We had a lancet, we had a saw to do amputations, we had a couple of drugs that didn't work or were counterproductive like digoxin. And then what happened in 1922 is Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. And by the post-World War II era in the 1940s and '50s, we saw the mass production of antibiotics. That ushered in the white coat era of medicine. Doctors began to wear a white coat. They now had the power to prescribe a magical pill that could cure disease, make childbirth safe, enable surgeons to do procedures safer. And this ushered in this new unquestioned authority. And what happened was, physicians as a class took advantage of this unquestioned authority.Dr. Marty MakaryDavid Brock is a Democratic activist and founder of Media Matters for America, a progressive media watchdog group. Following the 2010 elections, Mr. Brock founded the Super PAC American Bridge, which works to elect Democrats. He is a New York Times best-selling author, and his books include the memoir Blinded by the Right: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative, Killing the Messenger: The Right Wing Plot to Hijack Your Government, and his latest book is Stench: The Making of the Thomas Court and the Unmaking of America.The Federalist Society was originally founded by three rightwing law students. And it was pitched as a debating society. So I don't think in the original incarnation, they had a master plan. But soon enough, they realized that membership in the Federalist Society could confer on people a certain imprimatur for appointments—and that's appointments not only to the federal judiciary, but all through the executive branch.David BrockThe scheme to overturn Roe has been going on for all these decades. There were setbacks, of course, because there were times when Republican appointees ended up being independent—Sandra Day O 'Connor, for example, David Souter, for example—and the right was defeated in their effort to overturn Roe. So it took a while and it took a lot of steadfast, patient spending of money on their crusade.David Brock[This is] a time when the Biden regime is supporting the destruction of the ancient land of Lebanon— whom he's called in prior years an ally. He's letting Netanyahu destroy Lebanon with the same tactics that Netanyahu applied to the genocide in Gaza.Ralph NaderIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 10/23/241. Last week, Israel announced they had killed longtime Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. As NBC put it, the footage of his death released by Israel “showed Sinwar not hiding in a tunnel surrounded by hostages — as Israeli officials often claimed he was — but aboveground and hurling a stick at a drone with his last ounce of strength.” American political leaders, such as Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders, are seeking to use Sinwar's death to argue that Israel has accomplished its mission and should therefore conclude its genocidal campaign in Gaza. Israeli leaders however have made it abundantly clear that they have no intention of pulling out of Gaza, with Benny Gantz – chairman of Israel's National Unity Party and among Prime Minister Netanyahu's chief political rivals – stating that the Israeli military “will continue to operate in the Gaza Strip for years to come,” per Al Jazeera.2. According to POLITICO, during an August 29th meeting in Washington Lise Grande, the top U.S. official working on the humanitarian situation in Gaza told the leaders of more than a dozen aid organizations that “the U.S. would not consider withholding weapons from Israel for blocking food and medicine from entering [Gaza].” It is illegal to block the delivery of humanitarian assistance under both American and international human rights law. As the paper notes, Grande's “candid assessment…raises questions about the seriousness of recent Biden administration threats to [withhold arms].” One attendee told POLITICO “[Grande] was saying that the rules don't apply to Israel.”3. Meanwhile, Israel continues its war on the United Nations mission in Lebanon. On October 20th, UNIFIL released a statement saying “Earlier today, an IDF bulldozer deliberately demolished an observation tower and perimeter fence of a UN position in Marwahin…The IDF has repeatedly demanded that UNIFIL vacate its positions along the Blue Line and has deliberately damaged UN positions. Despite the pressure being exerted on the mission and our troop-contributing countries…We will continue to undertake our mandated tasks.” UNIFIL added “Yet again, we note that breaching a UN position and damaging UN assets is a flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolution 1701.”4. In a frankly dystopian story from the United Kingdom, British counterterrorism police “raided the home and seized several electronic devices belonging to The Electronic Intifada's associate editor Asa Winstanley,” despite the fact that Winstanley has not been charged with any offense. Electronic Intifada reports the raid was conducted under sections 1 and 2 of the 2006 “Terrorism Act,” which deal with the “encouragement of terrorism.” Human Rights Watch has previously urged the British government to repeal the repressive provisions of the 2006 act noting that “the definition of the encouragement of terrorism offense is overly broad, raising serious concerns about undue infringement on free speech.” Electronic Intifada further notes “In August, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service issued a warning to the British public to ‘think before you post' and threatening that it would prosecute anyone it deemed guilty of what it calls ‘online violence.'” Winstanley is the author of Weaponising Anti-Semitism: How the Israel Lobby Brought Down Jeremy Corbyn and has been interviewed by the Capitol Hill Citizen.5. According to the Libertarian magazine Reason, Bob Woodward's new book War includes a passage about a “shockingly blunt conversation,” between President Biden and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham regarding “Biden's attempts to negotiate a ‘megadeal' between the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.” Per Reason “Graham reportedly said that only Biden could secure a U.S.-Saudi defense treaty, because it would ‘take a Democratic president to convince Democrats to vote to go to war for Saudi Arabia'” Biden's response? “Let's do it.” Furthermore, reports indicate this security pact only fell apart after October 7th, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman seeing a prominent deal with Israel at that time as a major political liability. Reason cites an article from the Atlantic in January wherein Salman reportedly told Secretary of State Antony Blinken “Do I care personally about the Palestinian issue? I don't, but my people do…Half my advisers say that the deal is not worth the risk. I could end up getting killed because of this deal.”6. In more international news, the Cuban energy grid collapsed on Friday, under strain from Hurricane Oscar. The complete grid collapse left the entire country of 10 million without electricity, per NPR. Reuters reports that over the weekend, the grid failed three more times as authorities sought to restore power. Brasil de Fato, or BdF, a Brazilian socialist news service, reports China, Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Russia and Barbados are offering support to Cuba amid the total blackout. BdF further reports “The Alba Movimientos platform, which brings together more than 400 organizations from 25 countries, issued a statement...[saying] ‘No one can attribute this virtual collapse of the Cuban electricity system to a specific measure by the US government – that would be too simplistic…this is'“the result of a long strategy of planned destruction of the material and spiritual living conditions of the Cuban population…with the financial resources denied to Cuba due to the blockade policy, 18 days of accumulated damages equal the annual cost of maintaining the country's electricity system.” According to the UN, the U.S. embargo cost Cuba $13 million US dollars per day between 2022 and 2023 alone.7. A new scandal has rocked American Higher Education. Inside Higher Ed reports “Last week a lawsuit accused 40 colleges and universities, as well as the nonprofit College Board, of participating in a price-fixing conspiracy to jack up tuition rates” specifically, for children of divorced parents. The scheme itself had to do with consideration of the non-custodial parent's income, but the larger issue at stake here is the fact that the universities entered into a “cartel” in violation of antitrust laws. As this piece notes this is the “second major price-fixing antitrust lawsuit filed against highly selective universities since 2022, when 17 institutions…were accused of illegally colluding to set common financial aid formulas. So far, 10 of those institutions have settled for a combined $248 million.”8. Boeing has offered their striking machinists a new deal, which they hope will end their crippling strike. ABC reports “The new offer delivers a 35% raise over the four-year duration of the contract,” which is short of the 40% raise demanded by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers but considerably better than the aerospace titan's previous offer of 25%. ABC continues “The proposal also hikes Boeing's contribution to a 401(k) plan, but it declines to fulfill workers' call for a reinstatement of the company's defined pension.” As this piece notes, the machinists overwhelmingly rejected Boeing's previous offer last month; this week they will vote on the new proposal. Whatever the details of the final contract, this episode clearly demonstrates the power of a union, even going up against one of the most powerful corporations in America.9. A stunning CNN investigation reveals the extent of predatory fundraising by the major parties off of elderly people suffering from dementia or other forms of cognitive decline in their old age. According to “More than 1,000 reports filed with government agencies and consumer advocacy groups… deceptive political fundraisers have victimized hundreds of elderly Americans…into giving away millions of dollars.” These heartbreaking stories concern “Donors…often in their 80s and 90s…[including] retired public workers, house cleaners and veterans, widows living alone, nursing home residents…[with] money…from pensions, Social Security payments and retirement savings accounts meant to last decades.” To cite just one just one shocking example: “[an] 82-year-old woman, who wore pajamas with holes in them because she didn't want to spend money on new ones, didn't realize she had given Republicans more than $350,000 while living in a 1,000 square-foot Baltimore condo since 2020.”10. Finally, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has sent a letter to Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of Kroger, decrying the company's “decision to roll out surge pricing using facial recognition technology.” Specifically, Tlaib cites concerns about price manipulation based on external factors like supply as well as discrimination based on race, gender, and other criteria determined through facial recognition. Tlaib ends this letter with six key questions, including “Will Kroger use…facial recognition to display targeted advertisements…?…What safeguards will be in pace?…[and] Are there plans to sell data collected in the store?” among others. Grocery prices continue to be a source of everyday economic hardship for working Americans and corporations are increasingly interested in surge pricing for essential goods. There is some comfort in knowing at least one member of Congress is concerned about this dangerous combination.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

The partisan divide in the U.S. seems unbridgeable at times, and many issues in higher education are deeply dividing politicians. But with the 2024 election just days away, there's a remarkable amount of alignment around the importance of workforce development and training and how to strengthen it. A new episode of The Key explores explores the relative consensus between the parties and its implications. Joining the discussion are Amanda Winters, program director for postsecondary education at the National Governors Association, and Michelle Van Noy, director of the Education and Employment Research Center at Rutgers University's School of Management and Labor Relations. They examines how this alignment around workforce training is affecting policy development at the state and federal levels, and how November's election might change what happens in the next few years, if at all.   Hosted by Doug Lederman, editor and co-founder of Inside Higher Ed. This episode is sponsored by The Gates Foundation. Follow us on  Apple Podcasts   Google Podcasts   Stitcher   Spotify

In this episode of The Key, Melissa Ezarik speaks with University of Tennessee, Knoxville's chancellor, Donde Plowman, and Amber Williams, vice president of student success on their efforts to ensure their teams—and students—are aware of and confident about their strengths as they navigate their work. Williams, who joined the institution in 2020, soon before it fell a bit short on its retention increase goal, has found it helpful to remind colleagues that data is about individuals and showing what can be done to meet their needs. “One of my framings for leadership is that you lead through people, priorities and then projects,” she says. “People is the first thing. If you don't get the people part right, the rest of it doesn't work.” On October 28, 29 and 30, student success professionals from across the country will visit UT's campus to share their challenges and successes in supporting students at their own institution. Learn more about the Student Success US event here, and look out for coverage in Inside Higher Ed. Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success Editor, Melissa Ezarik. Read a transcript of the podcast here. Follow us on  Apple Podcasts   Google Podcasts   Stitcher   Spotify

Other countries have social safety nets. The U.S. has women. Holding It Together shows us the cause and the consequences. America runs on women—women who are tasked with holding societytogether at the seams and fixing it when things fall apart. In this tour de force, acclaimed Sociologist Jessica Calarco lays bare the devastating consequences of our status quo in richly detailed and empathetic prose. HOLDING IT TOGETHER: How Women Became America's Safety Net chronicles the devastating consequences of our DIY society and traces its root causes by drawing together historical, media, and policy analyses and five years of Calarco's original research. With surveys of 4,000 parents and more than 400 hours of interviews across the socioeconomic, racial, and political spectrum, Calarco illustrates how women have been forced to bear the brunt of our broken system and why no one seems to care.Despite their effort, women constantly feel guilty for not doing more, and Calarco poignantly shows us how the US weaponizes that guilt and gaslights women into believing that they don't deserve help. Yet women's labor is the reason we've been getting by without a comprehensive public safety net, while maintaining the illusion that we don't need one.Weaving together eye-opening research and a revelatory sociological narrative, HOLDING IT TOGETHER is a bold call to demand the institutional change that each of us deserves, and a warning about the perils of living without it.Jessica Calarco is Associate Professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin. An experton families, schools, and inequalities, and a mom of two, she is the author of multiple award-winning books and has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post,and Inside Higher Ed, as well as appeared on CNN, CNBC, NPR, and the BBC to discuss herresearch. Key Takeaways-The discussion highlights how U.S. social policies are designed in ways that can trap women, particularly low-income women and women of color, in motherhood and exploitation, making it difficult for them to achieve economic independence.-The importance of collective action among women is emphasized. By coming together and sharing experiences, women can support each other and work towards demanding better social policies and structures that facilitate care and economic opportunities.-While acknowledging the systemic challenges women face, the conversation encourages a shift away from viewing women solely as victims.- Research indicates that women in the U.S. experience higher levels of guilt compared to those in countries with stronger social safety nets. Join The “Now” Newsletter: https://now.katierichardson.com/newsletterAbout Katie Richardson:Katie, once a girl who just liked to have fun, transformed into a globally recognized designer and entrepreneur. With expertise in woodworking, welding, drawing, and sewing, she crafted her own path. Despite initial doubts and imposter syndrome, Katie defied expectations by establishing Puj, a business that now boasts its products in 2,000 US stores and 26 countries, delighting over 1 million customers worldwide. Her greatest aspiration is to inspire women across the globe. Renowned shows like the Ellen Degeneres Show, Rachael Ray Show, Today Show, and Entrepreneur Magazine have featured her, while influential figures like Martha Stewart, Matt Damon, Camilla Alves, Mario Lopez, Robert Downey Jr., Kourtney Kardashian, Bill & Giuliana Rancic, and Pam Beesley have embraced her products. Today, Katie is a coach, mother of four, wife, author, and powerful speaker.Connect with Katie:Website: https://katierichardson.com/

What is the real purpose of a university—truth-seeking or molding active citizens? Are university campuses becoming echo chambers, leading to self-censorship among not just conservatives but liberals too?Today's guest is Amna Khalid, an esteemed Associate Professor of History at Carleton College and a prominent voice within the Heterodox Academy (HxA) community. Together, John Tomasi and Amna explore this multifaceted question. They discuss the evolving role of universities, the interplay of critical inquiry and citizenship, and the impact of neoliberal trends on campus culture.Amna brings a wealth of experience and academic insight. She shares her perspectives on the necessity of preserving higher education's autonomy while addressing present-day challenges, such as campus speech restrictions and the contentious implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In This Episode:The dual mission of universities: critical inquiry and citizenshipCampus speech restrictions and the self-censorship challengeThe impact of neoliberalism on diversity initiatives in higher educationStudent entitlement and the consumerist mindset in academiaThe essential role of academic expertise in shaping educational experiencesLegislative interference and academic freedomThe need for balanced, viewpoint-neutral reforms in higher educationCase examples highlighting challenges faced by faculty and institutions Follow Amna on X here: https://x.com/AmnaUncensored About Amna:Amna Khalid is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. She specializes in modern South Asian history, the history of medicine and the global history of free expression. Amna is the author of multiple book chapters on the history of public health in nineteenth-century India, with an emphasis on the connections between Hindu pilgrimages and the spread of epidemics. Born in Pakistan, Amna completed her Bachelor's Degree at Lahore University of Management Sciences. She went on to earn an M.Phil. in Development Studies and a D.Phil. in History from Oxford University. Growing up under a series of military dictatorships, Amna has a strong interest in issues relating to censorship and free expression. She speaks frequently on academic freedom, free speech and campus politics at colleges and universities as well as at professional conferences. Her essays and commentaries on these same issues have appeared in outlets such as the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Conversation, Inside Higher Ed and the New Republic. She hosts a podcast and accompanying blog called "Banished," which explores censorship in the past and present. Amna was a Fellow at the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement during the 2022-2023 academic-year, along with her Carleton colleague Jeff Snyder​. They focused on threats to academic freedom in Florida, the state at the epicenter of the conservative movement to encourage state intervention in public school classrooms. Based on interviews Khalid and Snyder conducted with Florida faculty members, they submitted an amicus brief supporting the plaintiffs who are challenging the Stop WOKE Act. Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF

The Palestine Exception opens as campus encampments increase across the US in protest against Israel's war in Gaza. In the largest anti-war movement since the 1970s, students, faculty and staff make demands on their institutions to divest from companies that do business with Israel. The film unfolds as a character-driven story featuring academics whose lives and scholarship bring into sharp relief historical dynamics behind the censoring of criticisms of Israel and Zionism. To support this critically important project, please use this link.Jan Haaken is professor emeritus of psychology at Portland State University, a clinical psychologist, and documentary filmmaker. From refugee camps, war zones, abortion clinics, mental hospitals and jury trials to drag bars, dairy farms and hip-hop clubs, her documentary films focus on stressful work carried out on the social margins and in liminal spaces.  Haaken has directed nine feature films, including Our Bodies Our Doctors (2018), the two-part Necessity series (2022), Atomic Bamboozle (2023) and The Palestine Exception (currently in production).. Her books include Pillar of Salt: Gender, Memory and the Perils of Looking Back (1998), Hard Knocks: Domestic Violence and the Psychology of Storytelling (2011), and Psychiatry, Politics and PTSD (2021).  Haaken also is a programmer on KBOO Community Radio in Portland, OR where she produces interviews and reviews for the Old Mole Variety Hour.Jennifer Ruth is a professor of film studies at Portland State University. She writes extensively about academic freedom and higher education in outlets such as The New Republic, Truthout, Academe, Academe blog, Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, LA Review of Books and Ms. She is the author of one book and the co-author, with Michael Bérubé, of two – The Humanities, Higher Education, and Academic Freedom: Three Necessary Arguments and It's Not Free Speech: Race, Democracy, and the Future of Academic Freedom. She is the co-editor, with Valerie Johnson and Ellen Schrecker, of The Right to Learn; Resisting the Right-Wing War on Academic Freedom, forthcoming from Beacon Press.  

Deb Mashek reveals the critical factors that make workplace collaborations less painful and more productive. — YOU'LL LEARN — 1) The key ingredients of great collaboration 2) Why hiring good collaborators isn't enough 3) The key questions to kickstart great collaborations Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep982 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT DEB — Dr. Deb Mashek, PhD is an experienced business advisor, professor, higher education administrator, and national nonprofit executive. She is the author of the book Collabor(h)ate: How to build incredible collaborative relationships at work (even if you'd rather work alone). Named one of the Top 35 Women in Higher Education by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, she has been featured in media outlets including MIT Sloan Management Review, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Inc., Forbes, Fortune, The Hechinger Report, Inside Higher Ed, Reason, Business Week, University Business Insider, and The Hill. She writes regularly for Reworked and Psychology Today.Deb is the founder of Myco Consulting LLC, where she helps networked organizations (e.g., consortia, collaboratives, associations, federations, etc.) avoid the predictable pitfalls of complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives so that they can drive impact and achieve big visions. A member of the Association for Collaborative Leadership, Deb has been an invited speaker on collaboration and viewpoint diversity at leading organizations including the United Nations, Siemens, and the American Psychological Association.• Book: Collabor(h)ate: How to build incredible collaborative relationships at work (even if you'd rather work alone) • Book Website: Collaborhate.com • Website: DebMashek.com — RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Article: "36 Questions to Fall In Love" • Book: The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get Your Team and Organization Back on Track by Liane Davey • Research: "The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness: A Procedure and Some Preliminary Findings" by Arthur Aaron, Edward Melinat, Elaine Aaron, Robert Vallone, Renee Bator — THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Jenni Kayne. Use the code AWESOME15 to get 15% off your order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Today I have your news headlines and sound clips. My conversation with Jessica starts at 31 mins A Sociologist and Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Jessica is an award-winning teacher, a leading expert on inequalities in family life and education, and the author of the forthcoming book Holding it Together: How Women Became America's Social Safety Net (Portfolio/Penguin, 2024). Her previous books include Qualitative Literacy: A Guide to Evaluating Ethnographic and Interview Research (with Mario Small; University of California Press, 2022), Negotiating Opportunities: How the Middle Class Secures Advantages in School (Oxford University Press, 2018), and A Field Guide to Grad School: Uncovering the Hidden Curriculum (Princeton University Press, 2020). Jessica has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, and CNN. She also blogs at ParenthoodPhD and is a mom of two young kids. Twitter https://x.com/JessicaCalarco Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jessica.mccrorycalarco Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jesscalarco/   jcalarco at wisc dot edu     My research focuses on education, families, and health decision-making. Broadly speaking, I am interested in the structures of power and privilege that maintain socioeconomic, racial, and gender inequalities in these settings, as well as the role that qualitative methods can play in uncovering these mechanisms.   Much of my early work, including my first book, Negotiating Opportunities: How the Middle Class Secures Advantages in School, uses ethnographic observations and in-depth interviews to reveal the origins and consequences of social class differences in interactions between students, teachers, and parents. Building on this research and on my work teaching and mentoring students in higher education, I also published A Field Guide to Grad School: Uncovering the Hidden Curriculum.   My more recent and ongoing research, including my forthcoming book, Holding it Together: How Women Became America's Safety Net, draws on in-depth interviews and original surveys to show how US families navigate the challenges of raising children (and making decisions about work, childcare, schooling, and healthcare) in the context of high levels of inequality and in the absence of adequate policy support.   As an active public sociologist, I seek to make research accessible to broad audiences, including through my book Qualitative Literacy: A Guide to Evaluating Ethnographic and Interview Research and by writing for high-profile media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, and Inside Higher Ed.   The Stand Up Community Chat is always active with other Stand Up Subscribers on the Discord Platform.  Join us Thursday's at 8EST for our Weekly Happy Hour Hangout!  Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll Follow and Support Pete Coe Buy Ava's Art

We're joined by a former university administrator (who prefers to remain anonymous, though we have reviewed and verified their credentials) for an insider's perspective of the current state of college administration, and a discussion of just why colleges and universities around the country are reacting with such extreme opposition and often violence to the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests. Topics include increasingly corporate university structure, internal bias against certain perspectives and student organizing, and the foreign influence over university operations.

Yes, but it's hard. Inside Higher Ed's Josh Moody and UC Merced's Charlie Eaton explain. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Rob Byers, and hosted by Noel King. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! vox.com/givepodcasts Please take a second to help us learn more about you! vox.com/podcastsurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four years after a pandemic pause, some colleges and universities are again requiring applicants to submit standardized test scores. Inside Higher Ed's Liam Knox and the University of Delaware's Dominique Baker explain. This episode of Today, Explained was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Rob Byers, and guest-hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. It originally ran on March 8th, 2024. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four years after a pandemic pause, some colleges and universities are again requiring applicants to submit standardized test scores. Inside Higher Ed's Liam Knox and the University of Delaware's Dominique Baker explain. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Rob Byers, and guest-hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices