Future U Podcast

These days colleges are under fire from the Trump administration and critics on multiple fronts. Dartmouth's president, Sian Beilock, is one of the few Ivy League presidents not getting hauled before Congress, though her approach has plenty of detractors. Jeff and Michael talked with Beilock about the purpose of college, and how to lead in this polarized and uncertain time. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group. Relevant Links “It feels like there’s no jobs,” in The New York Times.  “Dartmouth announces AI partnership with Anthropic, company accused of plagiarizing Dartmouth professors’ publications,” in The Dartmouth. “What an Ivy League Education Really Gets You,” in The Atlantic. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 1:52 - An Up-and-Coming College President 4:17 - ‘Leading With Values’ 6:24 - The Choice to Be Outspoken in this Moment 7:16 - How Should We Think About the Modern College Presidency? 8:33 - How to Respond to Controversial World Events 10:00 - Why Does College Seem So Much Ha

As winter thaws and spring arrives, Jeff and Michael reflect on six big issues facing higher education. First up, why they think the campus building boom is over — and what comes next. They also discuss how AI is changing both higher ed and the world of work; what recent scandals involving college presidents mean for the sustainability of that job; and why the finances of college sports just don’t add up. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group. Relevant Links: “From Building to Stewardship,” by Jeff Selingo. “Labor market impacts of AI: A new measure and early evidence,” by Anthropic. “AI Isn’t Lightening Workloads. It’s Making Them More Intense,” in The Wall Street Journal. “2026 Survey of College and University Presidents,” in Inside Higher Ed. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 1:59 - The Campus Building Boom Is Over 4:30 - Moving to ‘Facilities Stewardship’ 12:47 - Is Higher Ed Too Negative About AI? 17:47 - ‘AI-Native Universities Will Be Pretty Disruptive’ 21:13 - Why the Cost of Acquiring

It’s March Madness, a prime time for college sports – and for sports betting. Some two-thirds of college students now bet on sports, and the meteoric rise in popularity brings a mix of tough challenges for campus leaders. On this episode, Jeff and Michael talk with two officials from the NCAA, Clint Hangebrauck and Mark Hicks, to understand why a rise in student gambling could become “the next big public health crisis” for campuses. This episode is supported exclusively by Ascendium Education Group. Related Links “U.S. sports betting: Where all 50 states stand on online sports betting sites,” in CBS Sports. “Federal prosecutors charge 26 men with alleged conspiracy to manipulate college basketball games,” in The Athletic.  Suspensions, arrests and lifetime bans: A timeline of sports betting scandals since the repeal of PASPA,” in ESPN. “NCAA won't allow pro sports betting by college athletes and staff amid gambling scandals,” in PBS NewsHour.“ ‘Is This Insider Information?’ The Prediction Market Bets Driving

For 30 years now, colleges have relied on the Learning Management System, or LMS, as a key portal for professors and students to teach and learn. It's a tool that has helped colleges adapt to online learning and bring digital tools to classroom teaching. But generative AI seems poised to disrupt the LMS. And it’s unclear whether the LMS will evolve—or be replaced altogether. For this episode, Jeff and Michael talk with a pioneer of the technology, Matthew Pittinsky, about the lessons of past moments of tech disruption like the smartphone and cloud computing and about what could be different this time. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group. Relevant Links The LMS at 30: From Course Management to Learning Management (At Last), by Matthew Pittinsky in OnTech. LMS at 30 Part 2: Learning Management in the AI Era, by Matthew Pittinsky in OnTech. “Pygmalion in the Classroom: Teacher Expectation and Pupils' Intellectual Development,” by Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson “Two-Sigma Tutori

Tenure is a defining feature of U.S. higher education, but these days the practice is in decline and under attack by critics. On this episode, Jeff and Michael talk with Jacques Berlinerblau, a Georgetown University professor who has written extensively about the tenure system, for an explainer on its colorful origins as well as a look at the dramatic changes that seem to be coming. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:50 - The Colorful History of Tenure 8:14 - A Distinctly American System 9:14 - How Tenure Works 13:26 - What Is the Legal Nature of Tenure? 14:46 - Which Types of Colleges Use Tenure? 16:19 - Is Tenure Different in Different Disciplines? 18:52 - How Difficult Is It For Colleges to Dismiss a Tenured Faculty Member? 20:40 - Can Tenured Departments Be Eliminated for Lack of Student Demand? 22:57 - Complaints Against the Tenure System 24:43 - A Turning Point in the 1990s 31:43 - A Renewed Campaign to Erode Tenure 34:31 - How Professors Are Partly

Colleges and other providers have flooded the market with non-degree credentials in the past decade. But a recent analysis shows that only one in three credentials bring meaningful returns for graduates. Jeff and Michael talk with Matt Sigelman, president of the Burning Glass Institute, who is working to provide data to consumers and policymakers about the ROI of non-degree credentials. Given many of the returns of credentials come to those with traditional degrees already, the future of the degree and credentials are inextricably tied together. This episode is supported exclusively by Ascendium Education Group.Chapters0:00 - Intro1:21 - Creating a Way to Measure Real-Time Labor Market Data3:15 - Charting an Explosion of Non-Degree Credentials7:14 - Helping Consumers Find Which Credentials Have Value11:36 - What is the ROI of Non-Degree Credentials?12:51 - How Could the Data on These Credentials Be Improved?14:20 - The Challenge of Getting Data to Consumers18:38 - Will Better Data Push Providers to Improve De

College trustees consider more than just the monetary policies of universities. And former Brown University trustee Lauren Zalaznick is out with a new book that aims to humanize these often secretive roles with letters of reflection by Brown board members going back more than 100 years, some of them during other turbulent times in U.S. history. She brings the sensibility from her career as a television executive, when she led the Bravo network as it created The Real Housewives franchise and hits like Project Runway and Top Chef. Jeff and Michael talk to Zalaznick about her new book and her views on how colleges need to reassert their broader social value to meet this moment of crisis for higher ed. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.Chapters0:00 - Intro4:05 - What Led to the Book of Trustee Letters?6:40 - The Value of Sharing Once-Secret Letters9:01 - A Reality TV Pioneer’s Interest in University History11:34 - What Is the Role of University Trustees?15:40 - The Case for Large Un

To kick off 2026, Jeff and Michael weigh in on some key higher ed issues making headlines these days, starting with a deep dive into grade inflation at the nation’s colleges. A range of sources show that more students are getting A’s even as they are spending less time on schoolwork and deep reading. Meanwhile, AI is raising questions about the validity of college assessments when students can offload their work to chatbots. How can colleges respond? Other issues discussed include whether colleges should change what they teach as employers embrace AI, what types of colleges employers recruit from these days, and recent data on where online learning is most prevalent. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.Chapters0:00 - Introduction1:34 - Are Those 2026 Coming True?2:26 - Why Grade Inflation Is a Big Story Now4:55 - How the Grade Inflation Issue Has Changed Since Al Franken Joked About It in 20026:43 - Why Professors Shouldn’t Grade the Students They Teach8:38 - What If Mastery-Based

Co-op programs are trending these days, with many colleges looking to offer students on-the-job experiences while taking classes. Jeff and Michael talk with Robert McMahan, president of Kettering University, which has a long-running co-op program for all students. He argues that more colleges could incorporate and scale the approach. But there are obstacles, both cultural and logistical. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.Chapters0:00 - Intro1:44 - An Unusual History of a Co-op Model3:28 - Kettering Presidents’ Path to University Leadership6:17 - Why Colleges Should Think of Employers as Their Customers11:23 - Why Colleges Can’t Learn Everything They Need On Campuses17:17 - How Kettering University’s Co-op Model Differs Than Others20:44 - Why Isn’t Kettering More Popular?24:44 - What Is Keeping More Universities From Doing Co-op Programs?29:30 - Sponsor Break31:05 - How More Colleges Can Move to a Co-op Model35:36 - Companies Don’t Have Enough Internships to Meet Demand39:08 - Co

Should colleges actively resist the Trump administration or find ways to engage and compromise? Vanderbilt University’s chancellor, Daniel Diermeier, has emerged as a leading example of engagement — facing a mix of cheers and jeers in the academy. Jeff and Michael talked with Diermeier about why he thinks higher education needs to change, and his ambitions to grow his institution’s prestige and research impact. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group. Relevant Links:“Live from Milken: One-on-One with Bill Ackman,” preview Future U episode.“Arizona State’s President Is Pulling Out All the Stops to Get on Trump’s Good Side,” in The New York Times.“The Elite-University Presidents Who Despise One Another,” in The Atlantic.“The (Not So) Quiet Schism Among Academic Leaders,” in The Chronicle of Higher Education.“College-Age Jews Are Heading South,” in The Atlantic. Chapters0:00 - Introduction2:07 - Why Vanderbilt’s Chancellor Stands Out in This Moment4:46 - Is Vanderbilt Trying to Beat the

As the year comes to a close, Jeff and Michael step back to review some themes from recent episodes. They home in on how to build innovative campus cultures, and how colleges can respond to AI. And they look ahead, offering predictions for higher ed for 2026. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group, Adobe, and Butler University.Relevant Links“A Looming Crisis: New Analysis Shows Dozens of Well-Known Colleges Are Near Financial Trouble,” Michael Horn and Steven Shulman"The Financially Sustainable University,"Jeff Denneen and Tom DretlerChapters0:00 - Introduction4:22 - A Case for Massive Experimentation6:30 - Making Shared Governance an Asset10:00 - Building Innovation Into Campus Culture11:41 - Lessons From Silicon Valley13:17 - What Parents Are Asking About AI at Colleges14:54 - Importance of Experiential Learning18:40 - How Liberal Arts Can Be Taught Differently in the AI Age21:11 - Being Creative v. Being a Creator22:20 - Time for Colleges to Step Back and Strategize About AI28:00

On the latest stop of Future U.'s campus tour, hosts Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo visit Bowie State University to speak with President Aminta Breaux, as well as faculty and administrators at the Maryland institution about increased enrollment at HBCUs, partnerships with employers, and student engagement. With support from Salesforce.org.

When Marymount Manhattan College’s board of trustees decided last year to merge with Northeastern University, becoming a part of that Boston-based university’s global system, the vote was unanimous. As Jeff and Michael continue their ongoing exploration (some might say obsession) with mergers and acquisitions in higher ed, they talk to one of Marymount Manhattan’s trustees, Abby Fiorella, on this episode to get a board member’s perspective on how mergers can be strategic wins for smaller institutions, as well as key to protecting their core missions. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.Relevant Links“God and Man at Yale,” by William F. Buckley."The Abundant University: Remaking Higher Education for a Digital World," by Michael Smith,Mission statement of Arizona State UniversityMission statement of Southern New Hampshire University“Why a University Proactively Sought a Merger," our other episode this season about M&A in higher ed.Chapters0:00 - Why Do We Keep Talking About Merg

In this special episode recorded live at Adobe’s EduMAX conference, Jeff and Michael explore practical ways to harness AI in higher education to prepare students to be more effective creators. They were joined by a panel of industry and academic experts including Jennifer Sparrow, New York University’s chief academic technology officer; Simon Koh, who has led early career recruiting at Raymond James and KPMG, among other organizations; and Allison Salisbury, founder and CEO of Humanist Venture Studio.Relevant Links:“AI Is Not Just Ending Entry-Level Jobs. It’s the End of the Career Ladder as We Know It,” CNBC“The Rise of AI Will Make Liberal Arts Degrees Popular Again. Here’s Why,” in Inc magazine.Chapters0:00 - Intro3:49 - What Is an AI-Ready Graduate?7:52 - How AI is Changing Early-Career Jobs11:00 - What Skills and Mindsets Do Students Need?14:31 - How Colleges Can Increase Experiential Education With Employers22:19 - What Colleges Do As Employers Pull Back on Internships28:37 - What is the Purpose of Coll

In this time of uncertainty and pullback of federal support for higher education, is it time for states to step up and play a greater leadership role in helping colleges better serve students? And if so, how? Jeff and Michael debate those questions on this episode. To set the stage, they talk with Ruth Watkins, president of postsecondary education for Strada Education Foundation and a former college president, about Strada’s new State Opportunity Index. A key theme: the state level may be the ideal one to match educational offerings with available jobs, especially as AI reshapes so many industries. This episode is made with support from Strada Education Foundation.Chapters0:00 - Intro3:40 - How a New Report Measures State Higher Ed Efforts5:53 - Is This a Time for States to Lead?8:17 - How to Encourage Competition Among States10:12 - Which States Lead In Higher Ed ROI12:52 - Low Tuition Doesn’t Guarantee Good ROI15:39 - What Can Colleges Do If Job Prospects Are Low in a State?19:00 - Who Is the Audience for t

On the latest stop of Future U.'s campus tour, Michael and Jeff visit Butler University to talk with Butler president Jim Danko and other campus leaders. They explore how, out of a mix of excitement about serving students and fear of potential competitive threats on the horizon, the university built a culture and infrastructure to encourage innovation.Relevant LinksButler University’s Transformation Lab website.Chapters0:00 - Why We Wanted to Visit Butler University3:46 - What Butler’s President Said He Would Do When He First Started7:22 - Some Early Wins In Sparking Innovation9:16 - The Importance of Time and Patience in College Leadership13:25 - How Presidents Can Best Work With Trustees to Encourage Innovation15:46 - How a Business Background Influenced Leading a University19:37 - Why Did Butler Push for Innovation?21:11 - Putting a Vision Into Practice22:50 - The Importance of Wanting to Win28:01 - A Chief Strategy Officer’s Viewpoint35:35 - A Faculty Perspective on Innovation37:04 - The 50-50 Rule of Run

How can AI be adopted in a way that turns more students into “explorers” rather than “passengers” in their learning? This week we bring you a conversation with the co-author of a book on student disengagement in school, Rebecca Winthrop, who is also researching the impact of AI on education. The episode is by one of Future U’s producers, Jeff Young, from his new podcast, Learning Curve.Chapters0:00 - Intro 4:19 - When the ‘Student Disengagement Crisis’ Started7:25 - A Framework for Describing Levels of Student Engagement15:18 - How AI Is Impacting Student Motivation19:00 - Why ChatGPT’s ‘Study Mode’ Is Not the Answer25:05 - Advice for Companies Making AI Tools for Education29:32 - Tips for Students 34:42 - A High School Student’s Take on AI 48:30 - Advice For Teachers on Dealing with AI51:35 - What Is the Purpose of School in the Age of Generative AI?Publications Mentioned:“The Disengaged Teen,” by Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson “Minnesota high school student weighs the benefits and pitfalls of AI,” Minn

Parents and prospective students want to know how colleges are responding to the rise of generative AI — and to other recent developments like federal budget cuts to research. On this episode, Jeff and Michael share what they’re both hearing as they visit campuses around the country this fall. And they offer their analysis of what AI could mean for higher education, and whether the time is ripe for new entrants to enter the college landscape. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.Publications MentionedShould College Get Harder?Joshua Rothman in The New YorkerStudent Loan Debt Is Strangling Gen XOyin Adedoyin in The Wall Street JournalCharlie Javice sentenced to 7 years in prison for $175M fraudABC NewsAnthology Declares Bankruptcy, Blackboard to Remain as the Core,Phil Hill, in OnEdTechChapters0:00 - Intro2:23 - What Jeff Is Hearing On His Book Tour for ‘Dream School’4:25 - Should College Get Harder Because of AI?7:27 - Why Different Kinds of Colleges Will Be Impacted Differently10:

Mergers and acquisitions are usually seen as bad things in higher ed. But there’s a growing sense that many colleges could benefit by teaming up, especially as the fiscal cliff means fewer potential students. Jeff and Michael continue to dive into their fascination with M&A by talking to Walter Iwanenko Jr, the president of Gannon University in Erie, Pa., about how and why the institution sought a merger with Ursuline College near Cleveland. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education GroupPublications Mentioned:“Two North Carolina universities announced a merger. Why some alumni are pushing back,” in USA Today. “A Midwest Merger: How Two Ohio Colleges Are Coming Together,” from Future U, season 8.Chapters3:42 - Why Mergers and Acquisitions Are Increasingly Important In HIgher Ed6:15 - What Led Gannon University to Look for a Merger?9:30 - What Gannon University Hoped For in a Partner13:01 - How Gannon University Found Ursuline College16:21 - What’s Stopping More Colleges From Seeking Merge

We’re bringing back a favorite format to go behind the headlines with top beat reporters covering colleges. Our latest roundtable focuses on how the Trump administration’s many executive orders, research grant cancellations, and crackdowns on international students are changing the higher ed landscape in the U.S. and globally. Jeff and Michael are joined by reporters from The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, and The Chronicle of Higher Education to hear their insights and analysis. This episode made with support from Ascendium Education Group.Chapters0:00 - Introducing the Reporters in the Roundtable4:10 - How the Trump Administration Picks Which Colleges to Target?8:36 - A Shift from Ivies to SEC Schools11:01 - How the Campus Mood Is Different at Mizzou Than at Harvard13:05 - What’s New With International Students on Campus14:55 - Will International Education Decline Globally?17:17 - The Impact of International Student Decline on Colleges’ Bottom Lines19:07 - How Much Has International Enrollment Decli