Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

Join Jennifer Sparrow, NYU’s chief academic technology officer, Simon Koh, founder of Koh Labs, and Allison Salisbury, CEO of Humanist Venture Studio, as they delve into the AI-infused workforce. They discuss what it means to be an AI-ready graduate, highlighting essential skills like critical thinking and communication. The panel explores how AI is reshaping entry-level roles, calling for more experiential education to bridge skills gaps. They also ponder the future of liberal arts and the need for creativity across all disciplines, urging universities to evolve with these changes.

In this time of uncertainty and pullback of federal support for higher education, is it time for states to step up and play a greater leadership role in helping colleges better serve students? And if so, how? Jeff and Michael debate those questions on this episode. To set the stage, they talk with Ruth Watkins, president of postsecondary education for Strada Education Foundation and a former college president, about Strada’s new State Opportunity Index. A key theme: the state level may be the ideal one to match educational offerings with available jobs, especially as AI reshapes so many industries. This episode is made with support from Strada Education Foundation.Chapters0:00 - Intro3:40 - How a New Report Measures State Higher Ed Efforts5:53 - Is This a Time for States to Lead?8:17 - How to Encourage Competition Among States10:12 - Which States Lead In Higher Ed ROI12:52 - Low Tuition Doesn’t Guarantee Good ROI15:39 - What Can Colleges Do If Job Prospects Are Low in a State?19:00 - Who Is the Audience for the State Opportunity Index?21:09 - How Can State Measure Return on Investing in Higher Ed?23:52 - What Can States Do in Higher Ed to Respond to AI?26:45 - Sponsor Break27:55 - Some Context for How States Interact With Federal Higher Ed Support29:40 - Why Jeff Thinks States and the Feds Aren’t ‘Rowing in the Same Direction’32:00 - Why Michael Sees More Alignment in State and Federal Efforts34:15 - Will States Step In to Support Research?37:07 - Are Some States Doing Better on Work-Based Learning?40:54 - Colleges Still Aren’t Comfortable in Their Role of Getting Students Jobs46:29 - New Leadership Opportunity In Human Capital in the AI Era48:18 - A Better Way to Measure State Investment51:56 - Lightning Round With Ruth WatkinsRelevant Links:2025 Strada State Opportunity IndexStrada Education Foundation 2025 Grapevine ReportState Higher Education Executive Officers AssociationConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

On the latest stop of Future U.'s campus tour, Michael and Jeff visit Butler University to talk with Butler president Jim Danko and other campus leaders. They explore how, out of a mix of excitement about serving students and fear of potential competitive threats on the horizon, the university built a culture and infrastructure to encourage innovation.Relevant LinksButler University’s Transformation Lab website.Chapters0:00 - Why We Wanted to Visit Butler University3:46 - What Butler’s President Said He Would Do When He First Started7:22 - Some Early Wins In Sparking Innovation9:16 - The Importance of Time and Patience in College Leadership13:25 - How Presidents Can Best Work With Trustees to Encourage Innovation15:46 - How a Business Background Influenced Leading a University19:37 - Why Did Butler Push for Innovation?21:11 - Putting a Vision Into Practice22:50 - The Importance of Wanting to Win28:01 - A Chief Strategy Officer’s Viewpoint35:35 - A Faculty Perspective on Innovation37:04 - The 50-50 Rule of Running the Board of Trustees38:53 - What Butler Ventures Looks Like Today47:43 - What Grade Would Butler Give Its Innovation Efforts?52:00 - Closing ObservationsConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

How can AI be adopted in a way that turns more students into “explorers” rather than “passengers” in their learning? This week we bring you a conversation with the co-author of a book on student disengagement in school, Rebecca Winthrop, who is also researching the impact of AI on education. The episode is by one of Future U’s producers, Jeff Young, from his new podcast, Learning Curve.Chapters0:00 - Intro 4:19 - When the ‘Student Disengagement Crisis’ Started7:25 - A Framework for Describing Levels of Student Engagement15:18 - How AI Is Impacting Student Motivation19:00 - Why ChatGPT’s ‘Study Mode’ Is Not the Answer25:05 - Advice for Companies Making AI Tools for Education29:32 - Tips for Students 34:42 - A High School Student’s Take on AI 48:30 - Advice For Teachers on Dealing with AI51:35 - What Is the Purpose of School in the Age of Generative AI?Publications Mentioned:“The Disengaged Teen,” by Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson “Minnesota high school student weighs the benefits and pitfalls of AI,” Minnesota Now“I’m a High Schooler. AI Is Demolishing My Education,”The AtlanticBrookings Global Task Force on AI in Educationwebsite‘We Have to Really Rethink the Purpose of Education,’The Ezra Klein Show“Attention Please: Professors Struggle With Student Disengagement,”EdSurge“Playing the Grade Game,”Bootstraps podcast seriesConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Explore how generative AI is challenging traditional higher education. With insight from book tours, the hosts discuss whether college should become more rigorous and the varying impacts of AI on different types of institutions. They highlight the emergence of AI-focused startup universities and a shift towards experiential learning as a core component of the college experience. Additionally, they examine how student loan debts are influencing Gen X's views on education, and touch upon accountability in pricing strategies amidst market disruptions.

Mergers and acquisitions are usually seen as bad things in higher ed. But there’s a growing sense that many colleges could benefit by teaming up, especially as the fiscal cliff means fewer potential students. Jeff and Michael continue to dive into their fascination with M&A by talking to Walter Iwanenko Jr, the president of Gannon University in Erie, Pa., about how and why the institution sought a merger with Ursuline College near Cleveland. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education GroupPublications Mentioned:“Two North Carolina universities announced a merger. Why some alumni are pushing back,” in USA Today. “A Midwest Merger: How Two Ohio Colleges Are Coming Together,” from Future U, season 8.Chapters3:42 - Why Mergers and Acquisitions Are Increasingly Important In HIgher Ed6:15 - What Led Gannon University to Look for a Merger?9:30 - What Gannon University Hoped For in a Partner13:01 - How Gannon University Found Ursuline College16:21 - What’s Stopping More Colleges From Seeking Mergers?21:36 - Learning From Other Mergers That Failed23:04 - What Should Change to Help More Mergers Happen?27:02 - Sponsor Break29:00 - How to Change the Perception of M&A in Higher Ed35:46 - Finding the Right Leadership38:30 - What is the Trump Administration’s Stance on Making College Mergers Easier?41:08 - Lightning RoundConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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.

Jeff Selingo, co-host of Future U and author of 'Dream School,' brings fresh insights into college selection. He dismantles the myth that only highly-selective colleges lead to success, emphasizing a thoughtful approach to finding the right fit for each student. Selingo discusses the importance of teaching quality, budget considerations, and individual motivations. He also tackles the impact of college choice on dropout rates and the evolving landscape of higher education influenced by societal expectations and financial challenges.

College leaders faced a tumultuous summer as the Trump Administration moved to reshape higher education. Key topics include an unprecedented settlement involving Columbia University and a new executive order impacting college admissions. The discussion highlights the financial strains on prestigious institutions and the rising influence of Artificial Intelligence in academia. Additionally, a new ‘lightning round’ segment introduces rapid-fire insights that keep the conversation lively and engaging.

Mushtaq Gunja, the Executive Director of the Carnegie Classification Systems and Senior VP at ACE, joins the hosts to discuss transformative updates to the Carnegie Classifications. They dive into how these changes aim to promote student access and focus on outcomes, possibly reshaping college prestige. The conversation covers the implications for institutions vying for R1 status and the potential shift in funding and accountability. Gunja also reflects on the need for inclusivity in rankings and the broader impact of these new classifications on educational dynamics.