Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

On this episode, Jeff and Michael tackle the question everyone is asking: how will AI transform higher ed? For help in finding the answer, they turn to bestselling author and professor of computer science at Georgetown University, Cal Newport. They discuss AI’s academic and operational implications, its ethical and practical considerations, and the stages and timeline over which we can expect this technological transformation to unfold. This episode is made with support from CollegeVine.Links We Share“Bad Bets,” Lightcast“Good Jobs in Bad Times,” Future U Chapters(0:00) Intro(4:06) Contextualizing AI in Higher Ed History(7:03) Factors Delaying Implementation(8:50) How AI is Changing Knowledge Work(11:19) Should we Be Teaching about AI?(18:45) Educating Students on AI’s Ethical Implications(21:51) Differential Effects on Coding and Writing(23:46) How AI Could Impact Higher Ed Inside and Outside the Classroom(29:21) “The Development of AI That We’re Worried About”(33:12) Parallels with the Days of The Early Internet(40:56) AI’s Impacts on Writing(43:15) Adaptations Required to Integrate AI in Higher Ed

To kick off Season 8, Michael and Jeff break down the summer’s higher ed headlines. They discuss this year’s FAFSA rollout, recent campus protest fallout, leadership changes, college closures, online program management providers, the presidential election, and high school grading. This episode is made possible with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation. Key Moments0:00 - Intro03:49 - Jeff and Michael’s Summer Updates09:32 - This Year’s FAFSA Rollout10:25 - More Campus Protest Fallout13:07 - Florida A&M’s Gift Controversy17:28 - College Closures34:51 - Online Program Management Providers36:20 - The Presidential Election38:25 - High School GradingLinks We Mention"Varying Degrees 2024” Survey, New America“How High School Students Are Thinking About Higher Ed” Survey, Third Way

In this episode, Jeff and Michael dive into the complex world of dual enrollment, examining its rapid growth, potential benefits, and emerging challenges. They speak with John Fink, a senior research associate at the Community College Research Center, to understand the various dual enrollment arrangements, the students they serve, and the outcomes they achieve. The conversation also explores the financial incentives for districts and colleges, the concerns around course quality and rigor, and the implications for high school and college experiences. This episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.Key Moments(0:00) - Intro(4:02) - Dual enrollment programs and their benefits(12:48) - Dual enrollment sustainability and transferability of credits(16:51) - Dual enrollment programs and their effectiveness in higher education(21:44) - Improving dual enrollment programs for underrepresented students(27:34) - Dual enrollment courses and their impact on college readiness(33:21) - Dual enrollment courses' rigor and value(37:50) - Dual enrollment courses and their impact on higher education

In this special episode, Jeff engages in a lively conversation with Tina Gridiron of ACT and Kennon Harrison of ETS about the future of skills-based hiring. The discussion, recorded live during the Horizons Summit powered by Jobs for the Future (JFF), revolved around how employers can better assess the skills job candidates have, how candidates can better understand what skills are needed for most jobs, and ultimately, the role of higher ed in this ecosystem.

Hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn are joined by Dr. Len Cassuto, an author and professor at Fordham University, and focus their conversation on the role of PhD students and what the challenges in that part of academia might mean for higher ed. They dive into the subjects that Len explores in his new book, The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education, such as the changes that should be made to better prepare PhD students for their careers, and how universities might be exploiting free labor from students under the guise of an academic apprenticeship. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.Links MentionedThe New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate EducationKey Moments(0:00) - Intro(3:19) - The state of PhD programs and graduate education.(8:16) - Improving graduate education.(13:25) - Ph.D. education and career diversity.(19:03) - Graduate education and labor costs in higher education.(26:20) - Preparing PhDs for career diversity and addressing challenges in higher education.(38:33) - Redesigning PhD programs for a changing academic landscape.

In this rerun from episode 150, Jeff Selingo welcomes Lynn Perry Wooten, President of Simmons University, for a conversation on the unique position of smaller universities in higher education. They discuss some vital concerns facing smaller universities like Simmons, such as combining less popular liberal arts majors, combatting dropping college enrollment numbers, and embracing online education programs. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.Links MentionedStrategies for Digital TransformationKey Moments(0:00) - Intro(4:10) - Small college challenges and strategic planning(11:51) - Small college competitiveness and online education(19:58) - Leadership and collaboration in higher education(21:31) - Higher education leadership and decision-making(27:00) - Higher education data analysis and institutional growth(32:42) - Online education and revenue diversification at Simmons College

New York Times columnist and author David Leonhardt discusses his new book, “Ours Was The Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream." In his conversation with Michael and Jeff, they talk about the impact of the high-school movement on the U.S. economy last century, what a similar higher ed movement might look like in this century, and why the value of the college is being questioned. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

In too many rural areas, workers lack access to affordable training pathways to high-quality jobs. Jeff and Michael sit down with Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Chancellor of Reach University, to learn about how Reach is addressing this challenge with an apprenticeship approach to teacher education. In the first of this two-part conversation, they discuss the theory and practice that informed Reach’s founding and the college’s innovative enrollment, training, and funding models. Michael considers how Reach’s clear focus helps keep their costs low, and Jeff discusses the importance of career-connected learning. The episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group.LinksAscendium Education GroupKey Moments(0:00) - Intro(2:45) - Innovative higher education model(4:57) - Rural teacher shortages and innovative solutions(8:28) - The importance of experience in education(11:54) - Alternative university model for teacher certification(17:57) - Education and career development(23:38) - Innovative teacher education model for rural areas

Jeff and Michael are joined by the CEOs of Academic Partnerships, Fernando Bleichmar, and Coursera, Jeff Maggioncalda, to talk about the future of online learning, including a new study on ROI, the role of degrees vs. credentials in the job market, and what AI will mean for online ed. This episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.Key Moments00:00 - Intro04:58 - ROI of Online Programs at Universities10:45 - Online Education and Pricing with Coursera and Academic Partners16:04 - Future of Higher Education Partnerships21:01 - Online learning, Certifications, and Their Value in the Job Market26:27 - The Impact of AI on Higher Education.33:17 - Higher Education Innovation And Online Learning36:42 - Disruptive Innovation In Higher Education With A Focus On Pricing40:29 - Higher Ed Partnerships And Their Impact On The Future Of Online Education47:09 - Education and Government RegulationLinks We MentionedAcademic Partnerships Report on ROI

In this season 7 wrap-up episode of Future U., Jeff and Michael go to a rapid-fire format and break down six topics in higher education: recent enrollment trends, the state of online education and OPMs, the ongoing FAFSA issues, campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the increasing focus on value in higher education, and recent developments in compensating college athletes. This episode is made possible with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Relevant LinksThe Great MisalignmentKey Moments(00:00) Enrollment Challenges and the Future of Higher Education(07:06) The Growth of Online Education and Challenges in the OPM Market(09:23) The Long-Term Impact of FAFSA on Enrollment and Financial Aid(10:48) Campus Protests: A Continuing Issue in Higher Education(13:07) Blending High School and College: Creating Value in Education(16:02) The NCAA Settlement and the Future of College Athletics