Episodes

  • Rerun: Visiting Bowie State University: HBCUs, Employer Partnerships, and Student Engagement

    Rerun: Visiting Bowie State University: HBCUs, Employer Partnerships, and Student Engagement
    Nov 25 2025

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Navigating a Merger as a College Trustee

    Navigating a Merger as a College Trustee
    Nov 18 2025
    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 Mergers?3:50 - Introducing Our Guest, Abby Fiorella5:17 - How to Prepare a Board for a Merger9:19 - Deciding on Institutional Priorities12:44 - What Is Marymount Manhattan College Doing to Preserve Its Identity?17:17 - How Can a Board Come to Peace With a Merger?21:40 - How Can Boards Make Mergers Less Taboo?24:29 - Reframing Merging As an Opportunity27:01 - Closing Thoughts From a Trustee28:54 - Sponsor Break29:38 - What It Means for a Board to Be Responsible to a Mission36:21 - How Can Universities Put Mission Statements Into Practice?38:52 - Why College Mergers Require ‘Courage’39:21 - Making Time in Board Meetings for Strategic Planning44:56 - The Role of Communication Between Presidents and Boards in Considering Mergers47:59 - Why Most Boards Should Set Up Systems to Prepare for an Uncertain Future48:37 - Lightning Round With Abby FiorellaConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • Preparing Students for an AI-Infused Workforce

    Preparing Students for an AI-Infused Workforce
    Nov 11 2025

    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.

    Chapters

    0:00 - Intro

    3:49 - What Is an AI-Ready Graduate?

    7:52 - How AI is Changing Early-Career Jobs

    11:00 - What Skills and Mindsets Do Students Need?

    14:31 - How Colleges Can Increase Experiential Education With Employers

    22:19 - What Colleges Do As Employers Pull Back on Internships

    28:37 - What is the Purpose of College in an AI World?

    34:14 - How the Signaling Power of College Could Change in the AI Era

    37:38 - How Students Are Using AI to Create

    41:25 - Will AI Bring Resurgence of Liberal Arts?

    45:50 - How Creativity is Important Even in the Finance Sector

    49:31 - Why AI is More Creative Than Humans

    51:40 - What Colleges Can Do in the Next 12 Months

    Connect with Michael Horn:

    Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter

    Website

    LinkedIn

    X (Twitter)

    Threads

    Connect with Jeff Selingo:

    Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You

    Sign Up for the Next Newsletter

    Website

    X (Twitter)

    Threads

    LinkedIn

    Connect with Future U:

    Twitter

    YouTube

    Threads

    Instagram

    Facebook

    LinkedIn

    Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!

    Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • How States Can Meet the Moment In Higher Ed

    How States Can Meet the Moment In Higher Ed
    Nov 4 2025
    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 the State Opportunity Index?21:09 - How Can State Measure Return on Investing in Higher Ed?23:52 - What Can States Do in Higher Ed to Respond to AI?26:45 - Sponsor Break27:55 - Some Context for How States Interact With Federal Higher Ed Support29:40 - Why Jeff Thinks States and the Feds Aren’t ‘Rowing in the Same Direction’32:00 - Why Michael Sees More Alignment in State and Federal Efforts34:15 - Will States Step In to Support Research?37:07 - Are Some States Doing Better on Work-Based Learning?40:54 - Colleges Still Aren’t Comfortable in Their Role of Getting Students Jobs46:29 - New Leadership Opportunity In Human Capital in the AI Era48:18 - A Better Way to Measure State Investment51:56 - Lightning Round With Ruth WatkinsRelevant Links:2025 Strada State Opportunity IndexStrada Education Foundation 2025 Grapevine ReportState Higher Education Executive Officers AssociationConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • Visiting Butler: Sparking a Culture of Innovation

    Visiting Butler: Sparking a Culture of Innovation
    Oct 30 2025

    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 Links

    Butler University’s Transformation Lab website.

    Chapters

    0:00 - Why We Wanted to Visit Butler University

    3:46 - What Butler’s President Said He Would Do When He First Started

    7:22 - Some Early Wins In Sparking Innovation

    9:16 - The Importance of Time and Patience in College Leadership

    13:25 - How Presidents Can Best Work With Trustees to Encourage Innovation

    15:46 - How a Business Background Influenced Leading a University

    19:37 - Why Did Butler Push for Innovation?

    21:11 - Putting a Vision Into Practice

    22:50 - The Importance of Wanting to Win

    28:01 - A Chief Strategy Officer’s Viewpoint

    35:35 - A Faculty Perspective on Innovation

    37:04 - The 50-50 Rule of Running the Board of Trustees

    38:53 - What Butler Ventures Looks Like Today

    47:43 - What Grade Would Butler Give Its Innovation Efforts?

    52:00 - Closing Observations

    Connect with Michael Horn:

    Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter

    Website

    LinkedIn

    X (Twitter)

    Threads

    Connect with Jeff Selingo:

    Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You

    Sign Up for the Next Newsletter

    Website

    X (Twitter)

    Threads

    LinkedIn

    Connect with Future U:

    Twitter

    YouTube

    Threads

    Instagram

    Facebook

    LinkedIn

    Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!

    Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • The Impact of AI on Student Motivation

    The Impact of AI on Student Motivation
    Oct 21 2025
    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,” Minnesota Now“I’m a High Schooler. AI Is Demolishing My Education,”The AtlanticBrookings Global Task Force on AI in Educationwebsite‘We Have to Really Rethink the Purpose of Education,’The Ezra Klein Show“Attention Please: Professors Struggle With Student Disengagement,”EdSurge“Playing the Grade Game,”Bootstraps podcast seriesConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • How AI Could Reshape Higher Ed

    How AI Could Reshape Higher Ed
    Oct 14 2025
    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 Differently10:48 - Startup Universities Are Emerging With an AI Focus14:25 - Redesigning the College Experience Around Activities and Personal Development17:39 - Will a New Kind of Expertise Be Required On Campuses?19:20 - Will Employers Trust Degrees In the AI Era?24:40 - Sponsor Break25:35 - How Student Loan Debt Is Impacting Gen X28:22 - A Republican Effort to Question Consultants That Help Set College Prices30:15 - Charlie Javice Sentenced In Fraud Case31:44 - Anthology, Owner of Blackboard LMS, Goes Bankrupt34:00 - Some Trade Schools Exempted From New Federal Rules35:00 - Making Changes at Colleges StickConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • Why a University Proactively Sought a Merger

    Why a University Proactively Sought a Merger
    Oct 7 2025

    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 Group

    Publications 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.

    Chapters

    3:42 - Why Mergers and Acquisitions Are Increasingly Important In HIgher Ed

    6:15 - What Led Gannon University to Look for a Merger?

    9:30 - What Gannon University Hoped For in a Partner

    13:01 - How Gannon University Found Ursuline College

    16:21 - What’s Stopping More Colleges From Seeking Mergers?

    21:36 - Learning From Other Mergers That Failed

    23:04 - What Should Change to Help More Mergers Happen?

    27:02 - Sponsor Break

    29:00 - How to Change the Perception of M&A in Higher Ed

    35:46 - Finding the Right Leadership

    38:30 - What is the Trump Administration’s Stance on Making College Mergers Easier?

    41:08 - Lightning Round

    Connect with Michael Horn:

    Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter

    Website

    LinkedIn

    X (Twitter)

    Threads

    Connect with Jeff Selingo:

    Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You

    Sign Up for the Next Newsletter

    Website

    X (Twitter)

    Threads

    LinkedIn

    Connect with Future U:

    Twitter

    YouTube

    Threads

    Instagram

    Facebook

    LinkedIn

    Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!

    Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins