Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

Jeff Selingo, Michael Horn

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.

  1. Reporters Roundtable: How Trump Is Shaking Up Higher Ed

    23 SEPT

    Reporters Roundtable: How Trump Is Shaking Up Higher Ed

    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 Roundtable 4:10 - How the Trump Administration Picks Which Colleges to Target? 8:36 - A Shift from Ivies to SEC Schools 11:01 - How the Campus Mood Is Different at Mizzou Than at Harvard 13:05 - What’s New With International Students on Campus 14:55 - Will International Education Decline Globally? 17:17 - The Impact of International Student Decline on Colleges’ Bottom Lines 19:07 - How Much Has International Enrollment Declined? 20:55 - Will International Students Fear Returning Home for the Summer? 22:24 - Sponsor Break 22:36 - Lessons from the Santa Ono Bid to Lead University of Florida 26:50 - Divide Between Red State and Blue State Universities 29:25 - Will Trump Changes to Higher Ed Stick? 35:38 - Predicting How the Supreme Court Will Rule on Harvard Case 37:13 - Lightning Round Publications Mentioned:"Universities in Red States and Heartland May Be Winners as Ivy League Contends with Trump Onslaught,"  by Hilary Burns in The Boston Globe “Trump Administration’s Cuts to Harvard Funding Are Unconstitutional, Judge Rules,”  by Doug Belkin in The Wall Street Journal "Even as Classes Begin, Some Foreign Students Are Still in Visa Limbo,”  by Karin Fischer in The Chronicle of Higher Education. 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.

    40 min
  2. Redefining the ‘Dream School’

    9 SEPT

    Redefining the ‘Dream School’

    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 School Chapters0:00 - Intro 2:06 - Why write this book? 3:23 - The ‘New Dream School’ List 11:28 - When Mismatched Schools Cause Dropouts 14:26 - Sponsor Break 16:51 - The Importance of Making Trade-offs 18:44 - Understanding What’s Motivating Choice 19:35 - How AI is Impacting Jobs and Causing Uncertainty About College 20:56 - What Should Colleges Do? 23:23 - Giving Families ‘Social Proof’ of a Broader Group of College 25:29 - The Doom Loop of College Finances 27:56 - How Future U Shaped the Book 29:14 - How Jeff Gets the Word Out on His Book 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.

    32 min
  3. No Relaxing Summer for Higher Ed

    2 SEPT

    No Relaxing Summer for Higher Ed

    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 Atlantic Great Expectations, Fragile Foundations in On EdTech   Chapters1:36 - Our Summer Recap 4:09 - Behind the Scenes of Jeff’s Book Launch 8:10 - Meet the Future U Production Team 12:18 - Columbia University Settlement 21:00 - Trump’s Executive Order on Admissions 30:00 - What College Business Officers Are Talking About 34:15 - One Big Beautiful Bill’s Impact 39:30 - New ‘Lightning Round’ Segment   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.

    47 min
  4. Rerun: Reclassifying Higher Ed: Will the New Carnegie Groupings Change the Race for Prestige?

    27 AUG · BONUS

    Rerun: Reclassifying Higher Ed: Will the New Carnegie Groupings Change the Race for Prestige?

    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 Education 2025 Research Activity Designations, Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education Chapters0:00 - Intro 05:50 - The Changing Higher Ed Landscape 08:06 - The Impact of the New Classifications 10:42 - Anticipating the Normative Effects 16:55 - New Funding Criteria 18:13 - Shifting to a Focus on Outcomes 21:17 - Measuring Access and Earnings 24:53 - Encouraging Good Use of the New Classifications 34:24 - Considering the Impact on Research Dollars 40:28 - Institutional Response to Access and Earnings Designations 46:30 - What This Means for Rankings Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter Website LinkedIn X (Twitter) Threads   Connect with Jeff Selingo: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.

    52 min
  5. Rerun: Learning from the Swiss Apprenticeship Model

    19 AUG

    Rerun: Learning from the Swiss Apprenticeship Model

    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 Group Publications Mentioned:Return on investment of apprenticeship systems for enterprises: Evidence from cost-benefit analyses by Samuel Muehlemann & Stefan C Wolter Chapters0:00 - Intro 3:35 - Swiss Apprenticeship 101 6:56 - Path Selection and Funding 13:46 - The Status of Apprenticeship in Switzerland 18:58 - Borrowing Across Borders 25:15 - The ROI to Employers 29:47 - Evaluating Indiana’s Apprenticeship Model 33:45 - Imbuing Prestige in American Apprenticeship 38:49 - Striking the Balance 43:01 - The Influence of Accountability Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter Website LinkedIn X (Twitter) Threads   Connect with Jeff Selingo: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.

    48 min
  6. Rerun: Chips and Higher Ed: What the Federal Investment Means for Colleges

    12 AUG · BONUS

    Rerun: Chips and Higher Ed: What the Federal Investment Means for Colleges

    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.

    21 min
  7. AI in the Workplace: Michael Horn Hosts WGU's Future of Work Panel

    29 JUL

    AI in the Workplace: Michael Horn Hosts WGU's Future of Work Panel

    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, technology, and education. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 2:34 - AI Perspectives: Optimism vs. Concerns 6:28 - The Microwave vs. Smartphone Analogy 9:09 - AI as an Accelerant of Change 12:29 - Job Anxiety and Workforce Evolution 21:22 - Rethinking Talent Acquisition and Development 23:25 - Creating a Holistic Talent Approach 24:41 - Accenture's AI Talent Strategy 27:29 - The Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Approach 33:58 - Learning at the Speed of Human Capacity 37:23 - Skill Forward: Balancing Organization and Individual Growth 40:45 - Learning Models for Different Types of Adopters 43:39 - On-the-Job Training and Strategic Learning 47:55 - The Challenge of Finding Time to Learn 53:04 - Virtual Experiences and the Future of Internships   Further Reading "AI Skills Fundamentals Certificate" - Western Governors University WGU's certificate program designed to help professionals develop foundational AI knowledge and skills applicable across various industries, supporting both personal growth and organizational innovation. "AI Won't Replace Humans—But Humans With AI Will Replace Humans Without AI" - Harvard Business Review An insightful article by Harvard professor Karim Lakhani explaining how AI will lower the cost of cognition and why business leaders must experiment with AI applications for all employees, not just tech workers. "The Upskilling Imperative: Required at Scale for the Future of Work" - McKinsey Research highlighting how companies can take a larger role in upskilling employees by eliminating barriers of time and cost, with specific strategies for developing critical workforce capabilities. "ChatGPT is Going to Change Education, Not Destroy It" - MIT Technology Review An examination of how AI tools like ChatGPT are being reevaluated by educators as potential classroom aids rather than threats, with practical examples of implementation across educational settings. "The Future of Skills: Employment in 2030" - Pearson A comprehensive research report that identifies which occupations and skills are likely to be in demand by 2030, considering seven megatrends including technological change, globalization, and demographic shifts.   Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter Website LinkedIn X (Twitter) Threads   Connect with Jeff Selingo: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.

    1h 2m
  8. Rerun: The New Student-Ready College

    15 JUL · BONUS

    Rerun: The New Student-Ready College

    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 - Intro 02:12 - The Founding Story of Duet 08:53 - Reaching Students with “Some College No Degree” 11:23 - A Personal Trainer for College 13:17 - Duet’s Outcomes 17:07 - “The Hard Policy Answer” 21:00 - The Growth of Hybrid College 24:39 - Affordability, Flexibility, and Disruption 29:46 - Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships to Better Serve Adult Learners 33:26 - Improving the Outcomes of Community Colleges Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter Website LinkedIn X (Twitter) Threads   Connect with Jeff Selingo: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.

    37 min
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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.

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