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Higher Education
Trump Administration
Department Of Education
FAFSA
International Students
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Congress
Higher Education Act
Campus Protests
Student Voting
Pell Grants
Federal Funding
Title IX
Immigration Policy
College Admissions
Government Shutdown
Civic Engagement
Voting Access
Mental Health
TRIO Programs

​​​​​​​​Each episode of dotEDU presents a deep dive into a major public policy issue impacting college campuses and students across the country. Hosts from ACE, joined by guest experts, lead you through thought-provoking conversations on topics such as campus free speech, diversity in admissions, college costs and affordability, and more.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes158Founded7 years ago
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Latest Episodes

The landscape for federal TRIO programs has shifted dramatically since we talked about it in January. The Department of Education (ED) has issued new grant proposals that would cut the number of programs by more than half and fundamentally redirect T... more

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Colleges have spent years building systems to help students vote. Now a mix of federal guidance, investigations, and state-level changes is putting new pressure on that work. ACE General Counsel Peter McDonough joins us to explain where the legal lin... more

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The hosts are joined by ACE's Emmanual Guillory to break down key federal rulemaking shaping student aid. The conversation focuses on the latest developments in graduate loan limits, new rules for Workforce Pell and what it will take for institutions... more

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At ACEx2026 in Washington, DC, the dotEDU team recorded a special live episode during a session at the ACE Annual Meeting. Instead of the usual format, hosts Mushtaq Gunja, Sarah Spreitzer, and Jon Fansmith took turns posing questions to each other a... more

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Recent Guests

Peter McDonough
ACE General Counsel; former General Counsel at Princeton
American Council on Education (ACE)
Episode: Student Voting Is Getting Harder. Now What?
Emmanual Guillory
Director of government relations at ACE
ACE
Episode: Workforce Pell, Professional Degrees, and a Complicated Spring in Washington
Beverly Lyman
Augusta University representative
Augusta University
Episode: dotEDU Live at ACEx2026
Anne Harris
Grinnell College
Episode: dotEDU Live at ACEx2026
Frank Selle
Insurance professional
Marsh & McLennan / University Risk Management Insurance Association
Episode: dotEDU Live at ACEx2026
Kirk Carapezza
Managing editor and higher education correspondent at GBH News
GBH News
Episode: What the Headlines Miss About Higher Ed: A Conversation with Kirk Carapezza
Kimberly Jones
President and CEO of the Council for Opportunity in Education
Council for Opportunity in Education
Episode: What the Future Holds for Federal TRIO Programs
Valerie Fuller
President of American Association of Nurse Practitioners; practitioner and assistant professor
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Episode: What Counts as a Professional Degree in 2026?
Jack Nicholson
Producer extraordinaire
American Council on Education
Episode: The dotEDU Wrap Party for Policy Nerds

Hosts

Mushtaq Gunja
Host of dotEDU
Sarah Spreitzer
Co-host of dotEDU
John Fansmith
Co-host of dotEDU

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 40 ratings
  • Ultimate Higher Education Podcast

    Never miss an episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wgajr1
    United States2 months ago
  • Informative!

    I’m grateful to ACE for this podcast. It’s very informative and the hosts provide great insight into current higher education policy issues.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BC06MCK
    United States2 months ago
  • The Best Higher Ed Pod

    Loved seeing Emmanuel Guillory again! And look, Mushtaq might be my favorite, but I would definitely like to take them all out for sandwiches and coffee and just let them talk about everything forever. I’m smarter after every show. I’m getting through the year thanks to M, S and J. Thank you to all!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Couatl
    United States2 months ago
  • Valuable Content!

    Sarah and Jon do such a good job covering a variety of topics. The guests offer valuable insight as well. I would recommend this podcast to anyone looking to be inspired and informed!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    megan@podcastingyou
    United States5 years ago
  • Mansplaining

    Jon kept interrupting Sarah when she speaks.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    RSelz
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A few critiques note occasional on-air interruptions during debates.
Thoughtful, policy-forward discussions that translate complex funding and governance topics for campus leadership.
Balanced host-given guest expertise with practical campus implications.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Continuing the College Access Conversation
Q: What is the current status of TRIO funding and potential legal actions?
Congress recently funded TRIO with bipartisan support, but there are ongoing lawsuits where COE is challenging Department of Education actions; outcomes could affect grant reinstatements and the trajectory of TRIO funding in the near term.
Continuing the College Access Conversation
Q: What should institutions do next regarding public comment and advocacy?
Institutions should file comments to document impact and concerns, participate in public discourse, and encourage leaders to support TRIO programs on campus, reinforcing the programs' positive outcomes and urging Congress to keep TRIO aligned with its statutory intent.
Continuing the College Access Conversation
Q: What changes are being proposed for the TRIO grants, and why are they concerning?
The administration's RFPs for Talent Search and EOC would drastically alter program structure, steering students toward apprenticeship and workforce training in ways inconsistent with TRIO's mission of broad college access, while offering oversized grants to state-level entities that could displace existing local programs.
Workforce Pell, Professional Degrees, and a Complicated Spring in Washington
Q: What is the status of the master calendar and its impact on implementation?
ACE argues that fidelity to the master calendar is essential to avoid rushed changes; the final rule is expected mid-to-late April, with implementation possibly pushed to July 1, 2027 if the master calendar is strictly followed.
Workforce Pell, Professional Degrees, and a Complicated Spring in Washington
Q: What are the key changes proposed in the RISE rule regarding loan programs?
The rule would remove Grad PLUS, cap parent PLUS loans, and adjust loan limits to differentiate between graduate and professional programs, with a shift toward a tiered repayment plan and removal of most current income-driven plans for new borrowers after July 1, 2026.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About dotEDU

What is dotEDU about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep-dive policy podcast focused on higher education, exploring funding, governance, and equity issues that affect campuses and students nationwide. Episodes commonly center on federal policy changes, act as a bridge between policy makers and campus leaders, and feature ACE-affiliated hosts alongside guest experts from universities, associations, and advocacy groups. Noteworthy is the consistent emphasis on timely topics like DEI guidance, TRIO programs, Pell funding, accreditation, and student access, often with practical takeaways for campus administration and advocacy. The show stands out for its policy-forward approach, open dialogue with practitioners, and ability to translate complex rulemaking into actionable implications for insti... more

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Which podcasts are similar to dotEDU?

These podcasts share a similar audience with dotEDU:

1. College Matters from The Chronicle
2. Up First from NPR
3. Marketplace
4. Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed
5. The Daily

How many episodes of dotEDU are there?

dotEDU launched 7 years ago and published 158 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on dotEDU?

Recent guests on dotEDU include:

1. Peter McDonough
2. Emmanual Guillory
3. Beverly Lyman
4. Anne Harris
5. Frank Selle
6. Kirk Carapezza
7. Kimberly Jones
8. Valerie Fuller

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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