In this thought-provoking episode of Future U., we sit down with Greg Lukianoff, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and co-author of the bestselling book "The Coddling of the American Mind," as well as the new book, "The Canceling of the American Mind." Lukianoff shares his insights on the state of free speech on college campuses and examines the rise of cancel culture, the debate over the limits of free expression, and the potential double standards ...
Apr 23, 2024•37 min•Ep 159•Transcript available on Metacast 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 th...
Apr 09, 2024•43 min•Ep 158•Transcript available on Metacast More and more business leaders, policy makers, and educators are looking to apprenticeships to prepare the American workforce for in-demand careers. The US system leans on its community colleges to facilitate these programs, but they have not always been the most effective quarterbacks. On this episode, we hear from two innovators helping community colleges better play their lead role in growing apprenticeship in America. We spoke with Mitchell Harp, Dean of Apprenticeship Programs at Trident Te...
Mar 26, 2024•31 min•Ep 157•Transcript available on Metacast Michael and Jeff go deep on the revised FAFSA and the challenges encountered in its rollout. They sat down with Andrew LaCasse, who helped develop the simplified FAFSA in his former role as a senior education policy advisor on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to learn about the back-story behind the legislation and its underlying policy goals. They also spoke with John Marshall, President of Colorado Mesa University, about how they are supporting students through th...
Mar 12, 2024•34 min•Ep 156•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff and Michael dive into the higher ed acronyms that have been in the headlines these past few weeks: SAT/ACT, NLRB, and FAFSA. What's next for test-optional after announcements from Dartmouth and Yale; what does it mean that the Dartmouth men's basketball team is trying to unionize; and what will the impact be of the difficult FAFSA rollout. This episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group. Key Moments (0:00) - Introduction (3:21) - Test-optional ...
Mar 05, 2024•32 min•Ep 155•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Feb 20, 2024•43 min•Ep 154•Transcript available on Metacast Last season, Jeff and Michael explored the reinstatement of the Pell Grant for incarcerated learners. The question now is what’s next for these learners and where can they actually get to use their federal funds? In this episode, Jeff and Michael look at the innovative College Unbound model with co-founder and president Adam Bush and Jose Rodriguez, the assistant vice president for community and belonging. College Unbound is an accredited college with a single degree and a model that allows lear...
Feb 06, 2024•30 min•Ep 153•Transcript available on Metacast The Hechinger Report’s Jon Marcus and Chris Quintana of USA Today join hosts Jeff and Michael for a roundtable discussion to talk about recent headlines in higher ed. Jon discusses the impact of lower birth rates in Japan on university enrollment, while Chris dives into the current state of the Biden Administration’s student loan debt repayment plans. Other topics include efforts by universities to articulate the value of higher ed, the rollout of the simplified FAFSA, and culture wars on campus...
Jan 30, 2024•30 min•Ep 152•Transcript available on Metacast How do you engage learners in the post-pandemic age? Hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn are joined by Carrie Bartek, from Wake Technical Community College, and Randi Harris, from Portland State University, to ask some important questions: What has changed for students since the pandemic? And what needs to change moving forward to ensure students’ success? They consider the evolving landscape of higher education and the importance of addressing both the immediate and long-term needs of students ...
Jan 16, 2024•34 min•Ep 151•Transcript available on Metacast To kick off the new year, host 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 Grou...
Jan 09, 2024•41 min•Ep 150•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn wrap up 2023 by discussing some headlines in higher ed, including the reaction on campuses to the Israel-Hamas War, the big changes afoot at 2U, and more college closures. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group. Links No Revenge for Nerds? Evaluating the Careers of Ivy League Athletes Key Moments (0:00) - Intro (2:29) - College campuses and generational divides (9:20) - Higher education challenges and solu...
Dec 19, 2023•34 min•Ep 149•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Key Moments ...
Dec 12, 2023•49 min•Ep 148•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn take their conversation on the road with another stop on the Future U. Campus Tour, this time visiting the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. They sat down with president Santa Ono to discuss the future of higher education and Michigan's role in the local and global communities. Following that interview, Jeff and Michael had a discussion with a panel on a range of topics from sustainability to student wellness, and highlighting what it means in 2023 to be a public...
Nov 28, 2023•56 min•Ep 147•Transcript available on Metacast In Part 2 of our conversation with Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Chancellor of Reach University, we discuss why their model of the apprenticeship teacher is better than the traditional student-teacher model, how public universities that historically educated the bulk of teachers are following the Reach model, and how the idea can be scaled to other public-sector jobs in rural areas. The episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group. Links We Mention Reach University Key Moments (0:00) - Intro (2:4...
Nov 20, 2023•31 min•Ep 146•Transcript available on Metacast 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 R...
Nov 14, 2023•30 min•Ep 145•Transcript available on Metacast Author Ana Homayoun joins hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn to discuss her new book "Erasing the Finish Line: The New Blueprint for Success Beyond Grades and College Admission." They ask what other measures for success should we consider for a student in higher ed beyond academics. The conversation explores expanding one’s social circles, networking, finding mentors, and developing life management skills. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education G...
Nov 08, 2023•43 min•Ep 144•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Moments 00:00 - Intro 04:58 - ROI of Online Programs at Universities 10:45 - Online Education and Pricing with Cou...
Oct 31, 2023•49 min•Ep 143•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn delve into the world of data analytics, as they discuss the evolution of data science needs across various industries and how universities are preparing students to meet those needs in the workforce. They then offer hot takes on recent higher ed headlines, from disenchantment with higher ed to the lack of economic diversity at exclusive institutions. The episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundatio...
Oct 17, 2023•29 min•Ep 142•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn review recent headlines around higher ed before they speak in person to a community college board at a retreat in Sun Valley, Idaho. They compare the different value propositions of two- and four-year colleges and discuss government intervention into university mergers and acquisitions. Other topics they discuss include legacy admissions and the value of credentials from prestigious universities. And Jeff makes an exciting announcement: his new book! The episode is ...
Oct 03, 2023•36 min•Ep 141•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Jeff and Michael are joined by President Jim Gash of Pepperdine University to discuss student resilience and mental health and Pepperdine’s attempt to proactively support students through its RISE (Resilience-Informed Skills Education) program. President Gash also spoke about the impact of cancel culture on student wellbeing and the importance of campuses being places where students grapple with difficult ideas with which they may not agree. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda G...
Sep 19, 2023•44 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast In this Season 7 kickoff episode, Jeff and Michael discuss a wide array of headlines from the summer that have long-term impacts on higher education. Key Moments (0:00) - Intro (2:49) - Michael Horn Book Update (5:45) - "This year is about a new normal." (6:55) - "The Pac-12 Collapsed Overnight" (11:37) - "…you cannot outspend reality." (17:00) - "The nation's best known public universities have been on an unfettered spending spree." (19:23) - "These places are just devouring money, offering eve...
Sep 07, 2023•35 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast In this special episode of the Future U Podcast, hosts Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo engage in a lively conversation with faculty members Crystal White from the University of Memphis, and Stephanie Speicher from Weber State University. The discussion, sponsored by Course Hero and recorded live during their annual summit, revolves around the need for leadership, connection, relevance, and a culture of care in higher education. The podcast delves into the importance of creating a diverse and inclu...
Jul 18, 2023•39 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff and Michael look back on Season 6 and the stories they’ve covered, from college rankings and affirmative action to religion and student mental health. They each pick their favorite episode from this season and make predictions for what the higher ed headlines will be next season when Future U. resumes after its traditional summer hiatus. This episode is made possible with support from Ascendium Education Group, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Course Hero. Relevant Links The Financi...
Jun 20, 2023•25 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast On the Marymount University campus, Michael speaks with University President Irma Becerra about the university's decision to incorporate the liberal arts in the context of high-demand programs that result in jobs, while Jeff fields a panel discussion on how to keep Higher Ed current and how best to prepare students for their futures. This episode is made possible with support from Dell Technologies and Google ChromeOS.
Jun 14, 2023•44 min•Ep 136•Transcript available on Metacast Far too often, individuals in higher education don't understand the nuances of how accreditors operate and the role they play in supporting—or constraining—institutions. Jeff and Michael welcome Barbara Brittingham, former president of the New England Commission on Higher Education, to give the history of accreditation, break down how accrediting agencies operate, show how they compare to one another, and delve into how they might evolve in the future with an eye toward how these organizations i...
Jun 06, 2023•56 min•Ep 135•Transcript available on Metacast Even as higher education in America has its roots in religion, over the centuries it's drifted away from those beginnings. And yet, as our guest informs us, enrollment at religious higher ed institutions has actually risen over the past 20 years, as these institutions serve as havens for young people looking for belonging. Jeff and Michael discuss the role of religion in higher education with Clark Gilbert, Commissioner of Education of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and hear him de...
May 30, 2023•46 min•Ep 134•Transcript available on Metacast In a discussion with George Mason University president Dr. Gregory Washington, Jeff and Michael delve into a few ways to get to and through college: programs that allow students to more seamlessly move from community college to four-year college programs, the difficulties faced by transfer students, and the importance of presidential leadership to improve the situation. This episode is made possible with support from Ascendium Education Group.
May 24, 2023•51 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast At the recent National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) annual meeting, Debra Wilson, the incoming president of the NAIS, flips the script and interviews Jeff and Michael about key takeaways from the pandemic for schools and higher education, how mental health plays into students’ transition to college, and how colleges can encourage more students to enter the teaching profession. This episode is made possible with support from Ascendium Education Group, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundat...
May 16, 2023•47 min•Ep 132•Transcript available on Metacast It’s often a forgone conclusion that you should not only go to a four-year college, but also that the better the university’s ranking, the better you’ll do in life. On this episode, Jeff and Michael dig into the data behind these assumptions. Might the U.S. News and World Report college rankings even disappear?And do you still need to invest in a four-year degree in order to excel professionally or are employers putting less stock in a bachelor's? This episode is made possible with support from ...
May 09, 2023•26 min•Ep 131•Transcript available on Metacast With Florida politics and the current governor’s recent moves in higher ed attracting so much attention, we caught up with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush to add context to the current debates. Bush reflected on his own experiences, successes, and regrets when it comes to the higher ed policies he championed. This episode is made possible with support from Ascendium Education Group, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Course Hero.
May 02, 2023•43 min•Ep 130•Transcript available on Metacast 
