Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed Reporters Roundtable: How Trump Is Shaking Up Higher Ed
Sep 23, 2025
Hilary Burns, a higher-education reporter at The Boston Globe, and Karin Fischer, an international higher-education reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education, unpack the Trump administration's impact on college dynamics. They dive into how political pressures alter funding opportunities and institutional priorities, highlighting unique contrasts between elite and regional schools. Discussions also cover the challenges faced by international students, the potential financial fallout of enrollment declines, and the increasing politicization of university leadership.
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How The Administration Chooses Targets
- The administration targets campuses based on information from congressional hearings and campus reports rather than a clear public formula.
- Doug Belkin says many schools will comply to avoid harsher actions once the White House signals a heavy hand.
Brand Visibility Invites Scrutiny
- Political hearings and public brand visibility made institutions like Harvard prime targets for enforcement actions.
- Hilary Burns notes hitting big-name schools creates political impact and invites escalation from the White House.
Heartland Universities See Opportunity
- Red-state and Heartland universities see political opportunity as Ivies face federal scrutiny and funding threats.
- Hilary Burns describes schools like Mizzou lobbying for big federal projects to raise their profiles.