The Key with Inside Higher Ed

Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education and former Under Secretary for the Department of Education, dives into the tumultuous relationship between higher education and the federal government. He discusses recent funding freezes and the implications for public trust in institutions. Mitchell emphasizes the need for genuine dialogue and collaboration to navigate political challenges and restore accountability. He also highlights the importance of aligning educational programs with workforce demands and advocating for underrepresented institutions to ensure broad access to opportunities.

This season of Voices of Student Success, “Preparing Gen Z for Unknown Futures,” addresses challenges in readying young people for the next chapter of their lives in the face of large-scale global changes. Encouraging students to engage with people who they disagree with can be a challenge for many in higher education. A class at the University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies put students on a train to crisscross the nation, encouraging them to speak across differences and engage in unfamiliar places and spaces. Sarah Federman, associate professor of conflict resolution, spoke about her class and the trip, as well as some of the lessons she learned about engaging students in constructive dialogue. Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success Reporter Ashley Mowreader. Read a transcript of the podcast here.

Karen Weaver, an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a former athletic director with 30 years of experience, dives into the seismic shifts in college athletics. She discusses the impact of NCAA policy changes like NIL earnings and the transfer portal on institutions and student-athletes. The conversation goes into the staggering $2.8 billion legal settlement, the rise of student-athlete unions, and the financial disparities between athletics and academics, providing insights that touch the future of sports and education.

Inside Higher Ed’s editor in chief, Sara Custer, speaks with IHE’s news editor Katherine Knott and reporters Liam Knox and Johanna Alonso about the executive orders, funding cuts and visa revocations of the last three months that have sent shockwaves through the higher education sector.   Read more of Inside Higher Ed's coverage of Trump's first 100 days.    This episode is sponsored by Strada Education Foundation.

This season of Voices of Student Success, “Preparing Gen Z for Unknown Futures,” addresses challenges in readying young people for the next chapter of their lives in the face of large-scale global changes. The latest episode, featuring Handshake’s chief educational officer Christine Cruzvergara, discusses the current job market, graduating seniors’ perceptions of launching their careers and the role higher education can play in supporting students.   Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success Reporter Ashley Mowreader.  Read a transcript of the podcast here.

In this episode of The Key, we turn the tables on host Sara Custer, editor in chief at Inside Higher Ed as she joins David Hummels, professor of economics and dean emeritus at Purdue University, and Jay Akridge, trustee chair in teaching and learning excellence, professor of agricultural economics and former provost at Purdue, in conversation with host Colleen Flaherty, senior editor, special content at Inside Higher Ed. They discuss the findings from the Inside Higher Ed/Hanover Research 2025 Survey of College and University Presidents  which show that two in three presidents doubt the value of tenure, half think that higher ed has a real affordability problem and a mere 3 percent say that higher ed has been highly effective at responding to the growing education divide in the electorate.   Hummels and Akridge are also co-authors of a Stubstack newsletter called Finding Equilibrium, which seeks to provide data-driven, research-informed takes on where higher education is and where it’s going. They’ve done recent deep dives into tenure, the college value debate and more.    The conversation doesn’t suggest that there’s any silver lining to what’s happening to higher education at the moment. But it does highlight opportunities for action, including local engagement, pricing transparency, career readiness and targeted sharing of the tangible benefits of higher education to counteract declining public confidence.    This episode is sponsored by Strada Education Foundation.

This season of Voices of Student Success, “Preparing Gen Z for Unknown Futures,” addresses challenges in readying young people for the next chapter of their lives in the face of large-scale global changes. The latest episode addresses how digitalization has made it easier for young people to engage in unhealthy habits, including substance abuse, pathological gambling or social media addiction, compared to past generations.   Amaura Kemmerer, director of clinical affairs for Uwill, discusses the role of preventive health measures and how existing research can provide a roadmap for addressing new challenges.   Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success Reporter Ashley Mowreader. Read a transcript of the podcast here.

Many college leaders turned to civil discourse and dialogue programs in response to students protests that roiled campuses after the start of the Israel Hamas war. It’s work that they have been doing for decades, but a big question around these programs is: how do we know they’re working?   That question led to Raj Vinnakota, president of the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, an 80-year old non-profit that works with leaders in higher education, business and philanthropy to equip young people with the skills they need to be engaged citizens.    In 2023, the institute launched its College Presidents for Civic Preparedness initiative and its membership has grown to over 120 leaders from 2 and 4-year institutions in 35 states. Part of its mission is to develop ways to assess and measure the level of civil discourse and critical thinking on campuses.    In this interview, Raj talks with Sara Custer, editor in chief at Inside Higher Ed, about the grassroots beginnings of the program and how creating language around the concepts of free speech and open inquiry is important for engaging with stakeholders on both sides of the political divide.    This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Follow us on  Apple Podcasts   Google Podcasts   Stitcher   Spotify

This season of Voices of Student Success, “Preparing Gen Z for Unknown Futures,” addresses challenges in readying young people for the next chapter of their lives in the face of large-scale global changes. This episode focuses on the world of work and how experiential learning can provide students with a glimpse into professional careers and what they don’t know about work.   Jane Swift, president of Education at Work, describes how private partners can help higher education meet workforce needs through intentional internship experiences.  Later, Jocelyn Frelier, associate director of the Brown in Washington program, discusses how the program uses internship experiences in Washington, D.C. to connect curricular and co-curricular learning.   Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success Reporter Ashley Mowreader.  Read a transcript of the podcast here. 

Jessica Blake, a federal policy reporter, and Katherine Knott, a news editor, delve into the rapid changes at the U.S. Department of Education amid the Trump administration. They discuss the alarming staff cuts, investigations into campus antisemitism, and the threat to Columbia University's funding. The conversation highlights the emotional impact of these shifts on higher education and the heightened scrutiny faced by international students. Listeners will gain insight into the implications of these policies and the ongoing resistance from academic institutions.