The Key with Inside Higher Ed

Discussions about the impact of generative artificial intelligence in teaching and learning are steadily moving beyond questions about whether and how students will cheat. Today’s episode of The Key is drawn from a workshop expertly led by Inside Higher Ed’s Colleen Flaherty at the Digital Universities U.S. conference at Washington University in St. Louis. The conversation on “Teaching with Generative AI: Benefits and Risks” featured four thoughtful experts on teaching and learning: Asim Ali, executive director of the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning at Auburn University; Trey Conatser, director of the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching at the University of Kentucky; Emily Thompson, director of online programs at Washington University’s School of Medicine, and Michael Reese, associate dean at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation. You’ll hear precious little discussion about cheating, but a lot of talk about the need for faculty training and support and the importance of bridging potential gaps in access and overcoming bias in the technology, among other things. The Key is hosted by Inside Higher Ed Co-founder and Editor Doug Lederman. This episode is sponsored by Mongoose.

Student mental health is a growing concern for higher education administrators and practitioners as national rates of anxiety, depression and loneliness grow among college learners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and universities made heavy investments into digital solutions to improve students’ health and wellness, but how well do these applications serve students? In this episode, Sara Abelson, assistant professor and senior director of training and education at The Hope Center, explains what digital mental health interventions are, how they support students’ mental health and the need for more data regarding these interventions and the students who use them. Abelson is one of four authors of a recently published report by the Hope Center, commissioned by the Ruderman Family Foundation and in partnership with the Healthy Minds Network and Boston University. Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success Reporter Ashley Mowreader. Read a transcript of the podcast here.

Nationally, Black students are less likely than their white peers to persist, retain and earn a degree. Many interventions at colleges and universities seek to support struggling Black students, but a new program at Sacramento State University aims to celebrate Black excellence and history, recognizing Black students as scholars. In this episode, hear from Luke Wood, president of Sac State about the California State University’s commitment to improve Black student success, the foundation of the Black Honors College and a state-wide bill to recognize California institutions that help Black students achieve. Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success Reporter Ashley Mowreader. Read a transcript of the podcast here.

Recent public polls have found American’s confidence in higher education is waning, but current college students say they still see the investment they’re making in their future. Colleges, universities and national groups are looking to help students make the most of their degree through professional skill development and embedding careers into curriculum. In this episode, hear from Shawn VanDerziel, CEO of the National Association for Colleges and Employers about the national state of career curriculum in higher education, and Jim Duffy, associate dean of co-curricular education from Gettysburg College, to learn more about the college’s new strategic plan, which incorporates career development throughout the student experience. Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success Reporter Ashley Mowreader.

Colleges are increasingly being judged by how well they prepare students for jobs and careers after they leave, and in response most are trying to adapt their programs and offerings to align with the needs of employers. How are they doing? This week's episode of The Key uses two recent studies (from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce and from the Upjohn Institute) as a jumping-off point for a larger conversation about how colleges and universities are responding to the growing pressure to prepare learners for work. Our guest is Michelle Van Noy, an associate research professor and director of the Education and Employment Research Center at Rutgers University New Brunswick. In a wide-ranging conversation, she discusses the complex set of factors that make easy answers hard to come by in this realm, the differing expectations of different types of institutions, the roles that employers and learners themselves have as well as institutions, and the emergence of skills-based hiring, among other topics. The Key is hosted by Inside Higher Ed Co-founder and Editor Doug Lederman. This episode is sponsored by the Gates Foundation.

National estimates find around one in five students have dependents, but few colleges and universities have accurate numbers of who their parenting students are and what their circumstances may be. Student parents are faced with additional financial stress and time constraints compared to their non-parenting peers, so how can higher ed leaders find these parents and better serve them? In this episode, hear from Eddy Conroy, and Da'Shon Carr from the think tank New America to learn about their Student Parent Initiative and federal policy movement on student parent data, and Ray Murrilo, interim vice chancellor for student affairs, belonging and equity at the California State University Chancellor’s office, to discuss state legislation that provides priority registration for student parents at the CSU. Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success Reporter Ashley Mowreader. Read a transcript of the podcast here.

Colleges and universities are undergoing intense pressure from a lot of angles – and their provosts are arguably at the epicenter of most of them. A new episode of The Key, Inside Higher Ed’s news and analysis podcast, explores our 2024 Survey of College and University Chief Academic Officers and topics such as the future of tenure, cost-cutting around academic programs, and the potential impact of generative artificial intelligence. Joining the discussion are Colleen Flaherty, Inside Higher Ed's special content editor, and Ryan Quinn, Inside Higher Ed's faculty issues reporter, who together have reported on the faculty and academic issues for a dozen years. The Key is hosted by Inside Higher Ed Co-founder and Editor Doug Lederman. This episode is sponsored by Interfolio from Elsevier.

The last year has been a hellish one for many college financial aid directors – and, not surprisingly, for the head of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, who’s leaving his role after 14 years. This episode of The Key features a conversation with Justin Draeger, who recently announced that he would soon wrap up his work as president and CEO of NASFAA for a new role leading Strada Education’s efforts to make higher education more affordable. In the conversation, he discusses the impact of the FAFSA mess, possible approaches to make college more affordable, and the state of the financial aid workforce, among other topics. The Key is hosted by Inside Higher Ed Co-founder and Editor Doug Lederman. This episode is sponsored by Mongoose.

Experts discuss the impact of generative AI in teaching beyond cheating, focusing on faculty training, access gaps, and overcoming bias in technology. The conversation highlights the need for responsible AI use, bridging gaps between students and faculty, and challenges in integrating AI models into teaching.

This podcast explores how Arizona State University is partnering with Open AI to shape generative AI, focusing on enhancing online education and student success. It delves into the use of chat GPT for equity in learning outcomes, innovative platform technology development, and the importance of strategic decision-making for universities in navigating the AI landscape in higher education.