Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

Should colleges actively resist the Trump administration or find ways to engage and compromise? Vanderbilt University’s chancellor, Daniel Diermeier, has emerged as a leading example of engagement — facing a mix of cheers and jeers in the academy. Jeff and Michael talked with Diermeier about why he thinks higher education needs to change, and his ambitions to grow his institution’s prestige and research impact. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group. Relevant Links:“Live from Milken: One-on-One with Bill Ackman,” preview Future U episode.“Arizona State’s President Is Pulling Out All the Stops to Get on Trump’s Good Side,” in The New York Times.“The Elite-University Presidents Who Despise One Another,” in The Atlantic.“The (Not So) Quiet Schism Among Academic Leaders,” in The Chronicle of Higher Education.“College-Age Jews Are Heading South,” in The Atlantic. Chapters0:00 - Introduction2:07 - Why Vanderbilt’s Chancellor Stands Out in This Moment4:46 - Is Vanderbilt Trying to Beat the Ivies?7:23 - Why Vanderbilt Chose Dialogue With Trump Administration10:06 - Did Higher Ed Get Too Comfortable?11:12 - Are Higher Ed Institutions Up to the Challenge of Responding to Trump?15:22 - What Daniel Diermeier Sees As Most Needed Reform for Higher Ed17:40 - Will 'Resistance" by Colleges Hurt Federal Funding Broadly?21:48 - Could the U.S. Lose the Lead In Higher Ed?23:25 - Why Jewish Students are Flocking to Vanderbilt - 26:58 - A Plan for Expansion to Other Cities29:03 - Sponsor Break 29:43 - Is Trump the Symptom or Cause of Higher Ed’s Challenges?34:37 - A Rift Over How to Respond to Skepticism of College37:40 - How Could the Research Process Be Reformed?39:41 - The Fallout from October 7 Protests43:40 - The Challenge of Political Diversity on Campus49:37 - Can a New Group of Campuses Unseat the Ivy League?52:06 - The Role of College Athletics in Campus Prestige53:06 - A Regional Shift in Prominence57:55 - Lightning Round With Daniel Diermeier Connect 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.

As the year comes to a close, Jeff and Michael step back to review some themes from recent episodes. They home in on how to build innovative campus cultures, and how colleges can respond to AI. And they look ahead, offering predictions for higher ed for 2026. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group, Adobe, and Butler University.Relevant Links“A Looming Crisis: New Analysis Shows Dozens of Well-Known Colleges Are Near Financial Trouble,” Michael Horn and Steven Shulman"The Financially Sustainable University,"Jeff Denneen and Tom DretlerChapters0:00 - Introduction4:22 - A Case for Massive Experimentation6:30 - Making Shared Governance an Asset10:00 - Building Innovation Into Campus Culture11:41 - Lessons From Silicon Valley13:17 - What Parents Are Asking About AI at Colleges14:54 - Importance of Experiential Learning18:40 - How Liberal Arts Can Be Taught Differently in the AI Age21:11 - Being Creative v. Being a Creator22:20 - Time for Colleges to Step Back and Strategize About AI28:00 - New Research Reveals Mid-Size Colleges Could At Financial Risk33:43 - Understanding the Details of New Student Loan Caps37:37 - Breaking Down the Latest Enrollment Numbers40:07 - Michael’s Predictions for 202641:56 - Jeff’s Predictions for 2026Connect 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, hosts Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo visit Bowie State University to speak with President Aminta Breaux, as well as faculty and administrators at the Maryland institution about increased enrollment at HBCUs, partnerships with employers, and student engagement. With support from Salesforce.org.

When Marymount Manhattan College’s board of trustees decided last year to merge with Northeastern University, becoming a part of that Boston-based university’s global system, the vote was unanimous. As Jeff and Michael continue their ongoing exploration (some might say obsession) with mergers and acquisitions in higher ed, they talk to one of Marymount Manhattan’s trustees, Abby Fiorella, on this episode to get a board member’s perspective on how mergers can be strategic wins for smaller institutions, as well as key to protecting their core missions. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.Relevant Links“God and Man at Yale,” by William F. Buckley."The Abundant University: Remaking Higher Education for a Digital World," by Michael Smith,Mission statement of Arizona State UniversityMission statement of Southern New Hampshire University“Why a University Proactively Sought a Merger," our other episode this season about M&A in higher ed.Chapters0:00 - Why Do We Keep Talking About Mergers?3:50 - Introducing Our Guest, Abby Fiorella5:17 - How to Prepare a Board for a Merger9:19 - Deciding on Institutional Priorities12:44 - What Is Marymount Manhattan College Doing to Preserve Its Identity?17:17 - How Can a Board Come to Peace With a Merger?21:40 - How Can Boards Make Mergers Less Taboo?24:29 - Reframing Merging As an Opportunity27:01 - Closing Thoughts From a Trustee28:54 - Sponsor Break29:38 - What It Means for a Board to Be Responsible to a Mission36:21 - How Can Universities Put Mission Statements Into Practice?38:52 - Why College Mergers Require ‘Courage’39:21 - Making Time in Board Meetings for Strategic Planning44:56 - The Role of Communication Between Presidents and Boards in Considering Mergers47:59 - Why Most Boards Should Set Up Systems to Prepare for an Uncertain Future48:37 - Lightning Round With Abby FiorellaConnect 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.

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.