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Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

By: Jeff Selingo Michael Horn
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 Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn discuss what’s next for higher education and talk with the newsmakers you want to hear from most. Find the latest news and insights into the current trends in higher ed on the Future U. Podcast.2024 Future U Podcast Economics Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Cutting Degrees That Don’t Add Value

    Cutting Degrees That Don’t Add Value
    Apr 21 2026
    There’s a growing movement to make sure colleges offer ‘degrees of value,’ meaning that offerings lead to higher-paying jobs for graduates than if they hadn’t gone to college. Jeff and Michael talk to a key proponent of the idea, Harrison Keller, the president of the University of North Texas and former Commissioner of Higher Education in Texas. He talks about his experiments to redesign colleges to better match their offerings to the needs of the labor market. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group. Relevant Links “Building a Talent Strong Texas,” strategic plan from Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. “University launches regional partnership for Texas Talent Accelerator to meet industry demands,” in the North Texas Daily. “University of North Texas to cut more than 70 programs and minors to trim $45 million deficit,” in the Texas Tribune.“ Syracuse Drops 84 Majors Including Classics, Ceramics and Italian,” in The New York Times (gift link). Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 1:30 - A President Trying to Align Degrees to the Labor Market 3:43 - The Elevator Pitch for Ensuring ‘Credentials of Value’ 5:50 - Creating a ‘Hub’ to Analyze Fast-Changing Employment Landscape 9:04 - Is There a Danger of Training Students for Dying Jobs? 12:11 - What Programs at UNT Aren’t Working? 14:14 - What About Majors With Social Value That Don’t Pay Much? 17:21 - How Do State Funding Formulas Need to Change? 20:06 - How Do Universities Need to Change Their Structures? 23:32 - What Should Universities Do to Respond to AI? 28:07 - Sponsor Break 28:46 - Colleges Need to Do More to Connect Liberal Arts to Job Skills 33:14 - The Case for a More-Detailed Mapping of Liberal Arts Skills to Work 41:56 - A Move to Shorter Degree Offerings in Some Fields 45:33 - Eliminating Programs With Low Demand 50:40 - Lightning Round with Harrison Keller 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.
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    55 mins
  • The University President Who Isn’t Afraid of Speaking Up

    The University President Who Isn’t Afraid of Speaking Up
    Apr 14 2026

    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 Harder and Less Satisfying to Students Today?

    12:24 - How Can Colleges Provide More Work Experience?

    15:30 - Helping Students Learn Soft Skills

    18:04 - What Role Should Colleges Play With AI?

    20:15 - Do Students Need Colleges to Learn in an AI Era?

    22:27 - How Should College Presidents Engage With Students?

    24:53 - Should Highly-Selective Colleges Expand Their Classes

    26:39 - Sponsor Break

    27:24 - The Importance of Clarity of Mission

    33:04 - How Should Colleges Talk About the Soft Skills They Teach?

    35:20 - How Personal Stories Bleed Through in Leadership

    37:10 - The Challenge of Presidents Forging Relationships With Students

    40:27 - Lightning Round with Sian Beilock

    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.
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    43 mins
  • The Busts in Buildings, AI, and College Presidencies

    The Busts in Buildings, AI, and College Presidencies
    Apr 7 2026
    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 Students Is Key 23:13 - New Report on How AI Is Changing Jobs 29:22 - What’s Happening With the University Presidency? 32:00 - New Survey of College Presidents 33:22 - Why the Finances of College Athletics Don’t Add Up 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.
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    40 mins
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