Future U Podcast

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

In this era of uncertainty, many parents view highly-selective colleges as the best bet for their student’s futures. In his new book just out this month, Future U co-host Jeff Selingo challenges that assumption. For this episode, Jeff moves from the host chair to being a guest to share highlights from the book, ‘Dream School.’ He talks about going beyond which college’s name looks most impressive as a bumper sticker on the family car to focusing on the quality of a college’s teaching, whether it really fits the budget, and other factors that are specific to each student. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.Relevant Links:Jeff Selingo’s new book, Dream SchoolChapters0:00 - Intro2:06 - Why write this book?3:23 - The ‘New Dream School’ List11:28 - When Mismatched Schools Cause Dropouts14:26 - Sponsor Break16:51 - The Importance of Making Trade-offs18:44 - Understanding What’s Motivating Choice19:35 - How AI is Impacting Jobs and Causing Uncertainty About College20:56 - What Should Co

This summer brought no rest for college leaders. With the Trump Administration’s continuing push to reshape the college world, plus lots of announcements in Artificial Intelligence, there are many higher ed headlines to recap. So Jeff and Michael kick off season 9 with their take on the most important developments of the past couple of months. That includes Columbia University’s unprecedented settlement with the federal government, a new executive order on college admissions, and college trustees pushing for action on AI. And they unveil a new ‘speed round’ segment. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group. Publications Mentioned:The Elite University Presidents Who Despise One Another: Inside the civil war between the Ivy League and the South in The AtlanticGreat Expectations, Fragile Foundations in On EdTech Chapters1:36 - Our Summer Recap4:09 - Behind the Scenes of Jeff’s Book Launch8:10 - Meet the Future U Production Team12:18 - Columbia University Settlement21:00 - Trump’s Executiv

Jeff and Michael are joined by Mushtaq Gunja, Executive Director of the Carnegie Classification Systems and Senior Vice President at ACE, to unpack the sweeping changes to the Carnegie Classifications. They explore how the new system aims to better group institutions, highlight student access and earnings, and shift incentives across funding, accountability, and rankings. The conversation dives into the implications for colleges chasing R1 status, the normative power of classifications, and whether these changes will meaningfully alter institutional behavior or simply create a new hierarchy. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.Links We Mention2025 Institutional Classifications, Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education2025 Research Activity Designations, Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher EducationChapters0:00 - Intro05:50 - The Changing Higher Ed Landscape08:06 - The Impact of the New Classifications10:42 - Anticipating

The U.S. has a lot to learn when it comes to systematizing apprenticeship. Thankfully, there are successful international models, like Switzerland’s, that we can study. Katie Caves, the Director at Switzerland’s Center on the Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems, joins the podcast to discuss the Swiss model and what can be gleaned from it. They discuss its permeability between academic and vocational tracks, proving its value to employers, the prestige of Swiss apprenticeships, and the principles that hold across borders. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education GroupPublications Mentioned:Return on investment of apprenticeship systems for enterprises: Evidence from cost-benefit analysesby Samuel Muehlemann & Stefan C WolterChapters0:00 - Intro3:35 - Swiss Apprenticeship 1016:56 - Path Selection and Funding13:46 - The Status of Apprenticeship in Switzerland18:58 - Borrowing Across Borders25:15 - The ROI to Employers29:47 - Evaluating Indiana’s Apprenticeship Model33

What does a community college in Idaho have to do with mounting economic tensions between the U.S. and China? A lot, actually. On this episode of Future U., Michael and Jeff dive into what the CHIPS and Science Act—the federal spending package designed to reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign manufacturers for microchips and other advanced technologies—means for a segment of American postsecondary institutions that’s often forgotten in these conversations: community colleges. They talk with nonprofit and government leaders about how the CHIPS supports the education and training of a high tech workforce. They then go deep with the team at the College of Western Idaho to get a view of how they are developing these programs in collaboration with their corporate partner, Micron. This episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group.

In this special bonus episode of Future U, Michael Horn moderates a panel discussion on the future of work and learning in the age of AI. Recorded at a Western Governors University event in Boston, the conversation features insights from industry leaders across technology, consulting, and higher education.Panelists Paul Bingham (WGU), Will Bass (formerly of Comcast), Kara Kara Wieckowski (Accenture), and Wayne Duso (former VP at AWS) explore the transformative impact of AI on workforce development, talent acquisition, and educational models. They discuss whether we should view AI as revolutionary like the smartphone or complementary like the microwave, share strategies for upskilling at both individual and organizational levels, and examine innovative approaches to virtual internships and experiential learning.Whether you're an educator, administrator, business leader, or student contemplating your career path, this episode provides valuable insights on navigating the rapidly evolving intersection of work, te

While college-going rates have increased over recent decades, completion rates have hardly budged. On this episode, Michael and Jeff sit down with one entrepreneur working to change that. Mike Larsson is the co-founder and CEO of Duet, an organization collaborating with an online university to provide on-the-ground coaching and physical space for students. They discuss the role wraparound supports play in supporting more students towards graduation, the keys to reengaging students who have stopped out, the nationwide spread of hybrid models like Duet’s, and more.Links We ShareCollege Reimagined by Jon Gabrieli et al.Chapters0:00 - Intro02:12 - The Founding Story of Duet08:53 - Reaching Students with “Some College No Degree”11:23 - A Personal Trainer for College13:17 - Duet’s Outcomes17:07 - “The Hard Policy Answer”21:00 - The Growth of Hybrid College24:39 - Affordability, Flexibility, and Disruption29:46 - Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships to Better Serve Adult Learners33:26 - Improving the Outcomes of C