Preparing For Jobs That Don’t Yet Exist

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enMarch 12, 2024

Testing, Athlete Labor & the FAFSA

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 admissions and its impact on students and institutions
(8:45) - AI in admissions
(13:45) - College athletes as employees and potential changes in college sports
(19:29) - Future of the NCAA
(22:58) - FAFSA delays and their impact on higher education
(28:03) - Higher education challenges

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The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education

enMarch 05, 2024

The Future of the Ph.D.

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 Mentioned

Key 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.

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enFebruary 20, 2024

“College Unbound” from the Traditional Model

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 learning to happen wherever it happens, in kitchens or even in prisons. The episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group.

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(1:15) - Innovative college model and accreditation
(5:34) - Prison education program and its impact on inmates' lives
(9:19) - Scaling a non-traditional college model
(12:02) - College Unbound's innovative approach to adult education
(19:31) - Higher education for incarcerated individuals

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College Unbound

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enFebruary 06, 2024

Reporters Roundtable: Enrollment, Loan Forgiveness, & FAFSA Simplified

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. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(2:47) - Declining college enrollment in Japan and US
(8:04) - Student loan forgiveness and career centers in higher education
(12:35) - College career preparation and job placement
(14:37) - FAFSA simplification, college affordability, and higher ed news
(20:25) - Higher education trends and challenges in the US

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enJanuary 30, 2024

Student Success 2.0

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 to ensure their success in this new educational paradigm. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(4:18) - College enrollment decline and re-enrollment during COVID-19
(6:07) - Student success strategies during COVID-19 pandemic
(15:22) - Transforming higher education to meet students' changing needs
(18:47) - College enrollment trends and dual enrollment programs
(23:12) - Innovating and improving student success in higher education

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Strategies for Digital Transformation

enJanuary 16, 2024

How Small Schools Can Thrive As Higher Ed Changes

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 Group.

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Key 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

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No Revenge for Nerds? Evaluating the Careers of Ivy League Athletes

enJanuary 09, 2024

Season 7 Midterm Report

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

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(2:29) - College campuses and generational divides
(9:20) - Higher education challenges and solutions
(13:31) - The decline of 2U and the future of online education
(19:03) - Online education, university finances, and potential bankruptcy
(26:14) - College admissions and career outcomes
(32:54) - Nate Silver hiring preferences

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Ours Was the Shining Future

enDecember 19, 2023

The Role of Higher Ed in the American Dream

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

(0:00) - Intro
(6:18) - The evolution of high school education and its impact on society
(11:27) - Public higher education expansion and quality in the US
(15:10) - Higher education's role in society and political polarization
(21:34) - Economic inequality and political polarization in the US
(27:10) - Education after high school, including college and non-college pathways
(35:28) - Higher education growth and innovation

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enDecember 12, 2023

Visiting Michigan: Balancing Local Impact with Global Reach

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 flagship with a national profile and serve the community at the same time. This episode is sponsored by Dell Technologies and Google Chrome OS.

Key Moments

(0:00) - Intro
(4:54) - The role of the University of Michigan in the state and beyond
(10:36) - Higher education, trust, and community involvement in Detroit
(16:04) - The future of higher education and the Big Ten conference
(21:37) - Mental health challenges in college students
(27:41) - Mental health support for college students during pandemic
(30:29) - Pandemic's impact on college experience and mental health
(32:40) - Supporting international students at the University of Michigan
(34:56) - Collective impact and sustainability in higher education
(36:40) - Value of study abroad
(42:45) - Global education and diversity at the University of Michigan
(46:59) - Mental health supports for university staff
(52:14) - Jeff Selingo's takeaways
(54:07) - Michael Horn's Takeaways

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