Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

As the academic year comes to a close, Jeff and Michael spoke with higher education reporters from the Washington Post, NPR, and the Chronicle for HIgher Education and Open Campus about their perspective on the past year and what the future will hold for campuses—including the stories that they believe aren't being discussed nearly enough.

In the wake of COVID-19, many university presidents have struggled to communicate amidst a fluid and fast-changing set of circumstances outside their control. What does it take to lead in these times? David Gergen, advisor to four U.S. presidents and several university presidents, joins Jeff and Michael for a wide ranging conversation on leadership on campus in these challenging times. 

Michael Baston, president of Rockland Community College, joins Jeff and Michael to talk about the precipitous decline in enrollments in community colleges since COVID-19 and to reflect on what it will take to boost student outcomes at community colleges. 

Tamara Hiler joins us to talk through the opinions of higher education institutions and policy by students and the public, and Jeff and Michael reflect on key issues one year into the pandemic response.The Future U Podcast is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Follow Future U on Twitter • Facebook

Former Secretaries of Education Margaret Spellings and John King join Jeff and Michael to discuss their views about the new administration in Washington, DC and what they hope is on the horizon for higher ed policy. High on their list? A return to normalcy and support for the neediest students.The Future U Podcast is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and by Nelnet Campus Commerce. Follow Future U on Twitter • Facebook

With daily signs of momentum in the effort to vaccinate U.S. adults, college leaders are beginning to plan for a new normal in higher ed after the pandemic. The president of Georgia State University, which has been a leader in the student success movement, joins Future U to talk about what institutions need to do to improve the student experience in the decade ahead. Follow Future U on Twitter • Facebook

Colleges have received more than $36 billion from federal stimulus bills over the last year. Two former Hill staffers representing both sides of the aisle, Alison Griffin and Julie Peller, discuss how higher ed legislation really moves on Capitol Hill and what Congress should be tackling next.  

The pandemic has dramatically changed the outlook for new college graduates. Matt Sigelman, CEO of Burning Glass Technologies, a labor-market analytics firm, discusses what higher ed can do to help students prepare for life after college, including the academic programs to put in place.The Future U Podcast is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Follow Future U on Twitter • Facebook

Michelle Weise returns to Future U to talk about her new book, Long Life Learning: Preparing for Jobs that Don’t Even Exist Yet and why creating a new learning ecosystem for what’s ahead is so critical for all of us.The Future U Podcast is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Follow Future U on Twitter • Facebook

As part of an annual tradition on the podcast, Jeff and Michael sit down with higher ed reporters to talk about the biggest stories and trends. Melissa Korn from the Wall Street Journal and Kirk Carapezza from GBH radio in Boston.The Future U Podcast is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Follow Future U on Twitter • Facebook