S1 E10 | Solving for the Top Challenges Facing Higher Ed – with Ted Mitchell

Todd Zipper, EVP and GM of Wiley University Services and Talent Development, welcomes Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education (ACE). Todd and Ted discuss what ACE is currently working on and how are they helping colleges and universities through innovation. Plus, Ted shares his thoughts on how higher education will evolve under the Biden administration. Topics Discussed •What to expect from the Biden Administration regarding affordability and accountability •How the pandemic negatively impacted enrollment rates for adult learners •The current student loan debt crisis and potential solutions to solve it •The effect digital credentialing will have on higher ed •How institutions can leverage investments from the big MOOC and platform players to bring down costs and drive better outcomes for students Guest Bio Ted Mitchell is the President of ACE, the coordinating body for higher education institutions in the United States. ACE’s work encompasses policy advocacy, program development, and research focusing on equity, access, and student achievement.  Ted’s leadership of ACE, and of the nation’s higher education sector, is informed by a lifetime of work in higher education as a Professor, Dean, College President, Trustee, and most recently as U.S. Under Secretary of Education in the Obama administration. Previously, he served as the President of the California State Board of Education and CEO of the NewSchools Venture Fund, a venture philanthropy investing in K–12 innovation to support low-income students, schools, and communities. Ted received his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees from Stanford University. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife, Christine, and their two children.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​