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Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

Jeff Selingo, Michael Horn
Higher Education
Artificial Intelligence
Community Colleges
Online Education
Student Success
Financial Aid
Work-Based Learning
FAFSA
Enrollment Trends
Mergers and Acquisitions
Workforce Development
Education Policy
College Budgets
Career Development
Innovation
Higher Education Act
Job Market
International Students
Dual Enrollment
Direct Admissions

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.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes231Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for Future U Podcast

Latest Episodes

Closing down a college turns out to be a big job. For this episode, Jeff and Michael talk with a specialist on the complex and emotional process, Doug Moore. He shares all the things that college presidents and trustees should know—as well as surpris... more

Most public colleges get state funding based on “seat time,” — how many students are sitting through classes. Over a decade ago, leaders at Texas State Technical College bet on an experimental funding model that ties state support to the employment o... more

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... more

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 detrac... more

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Recent Guests

Doug Moore
Founder/Managing Partner at a firm that manages college closings and wind-downs
[not explicitly stated in transcript]
Episode: Higher Ed 101: Inside the Process of Closing a College
Michael Bettersworth
Chief Marketing Officer at Texas State Technical College; founder of Skills Engine
Texas State Technical College
Episode: The College Where Funding Follows Students’ Earnings, Not Enrollment
Harrison Keller
President of the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
Episode: Cutting Degrees That Don’t Add Value
Sian Beilock
President of Dartmouth College; cognitive scientist by training
Dartmouth College
Episode: The University President Who Isn’t Afraid of Speaking Up
Mark Hicks
Managing Director of Enforcement at the NCAA
NCAA
Episode: The Sports Betting Madness on College Campuses
Clint Hankenbrau
Managing Director of Enterprise Risk Management at the NCAA
NCAA
Episode: The Sports Betting Madness on College Campuses
Matt Pittinsky
Former Blackboard co-founder and EdTech executive
Blackboard (former CEO), Instructure (former executive)
Episode: How AI Could Transform, or Replace, the LMS
Jacques Berlinerblau
Professor of Jewish Civilization at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Episode: Higher Ed 101: Tenure Explained
Matt Sigelman
President of The Burning Glass Institute
The Burning Glass Institute
Episode: Will a Flood of Credentials Threaten the Four-Year Degree?

Hosts

Jeff Selingo
Host of Future U Podcast; writes on higher education trends and policy.
Michael Horn
Co-host and EdTech-focused host; frequently discusses institutional strategy and innovation.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 163 ratings
  • Pulse on state of higher ed

    Great podcast for anyone interested in learning what’s going on in the higher ed ecosystem. So informative for me, a college counselor, but also for anyone interested in understanding the struggles, issues and innovations on the higher ed front. Can’t wait for the new season!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oya Boya
    United States9 months ago
  • One-Sided Concerns

    I respect Jeff and Michael, but I’m deeply disappointed by their recent episode recapping Trump’s first 100 days. Repeated references to colleges having an antisemitism problem with no mention of Islamophobia, which is incredibly prevalent as well (Harvard’s dual reports suggest as much). I do not deny the rise of antisemitism in recent years, far from it, but it’s ludicrous to leave out an entire population of students whose experience on campus has been incredibly fraught (especially given tha... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    dulldencaulfield
    United Statesa year ago
  • Fascinating Podcast, from a Parent’s Perspective

    I’ve been reading Jeff Selingo’s books since my older son was in middle school. Jeff has helped educate me on the application process as well as the general landscape and challenges of Higher Education. His Future U podcast has been a great way to keep my finger on the pulse of this industry, a topic that continues to fascinate me. As my younger son is now in the undergrad application process, and my older son is applying to grad school, this podcast is so interesting and informative to me. The ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rebecca Rubenstein
    United Statesa year ago
  • What it all means

    I’m a trustee at a college and find this podcast fascinating as a citizen and incredibly useful as a trustee. Rather than just tell me stories like other higher ed podcasts or just tell me what’s happening in the news, it brings the experts to the table in insightful interviews. Most of all appreciate Michael and Jeff’s take on things. I don’t always agree, but Michael is able to bring a framework to help us think about an issue, and Jeff is just incredibly sourced so you’re always hearing conne... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scott from Minnesota
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Podcast

    Welcome back! Always enjoy the podcast while quite disenchanted with the ossified debacle that is Higher Ed in the US. Is an antiquated “4 year residential experience” really worth a roughly 300k pretax (or 600k+ post tax) “investment” per child? Are colleges public goods to serve the public interest or are they simply hedge fund arms of a select, few cadre of elite institutions? Are they places to train professional or Olympian athletes in lesser sports? We have gone far astray from the p... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Vampire Squid Chronicles
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show for deep, insightful conversations with leading higher-ed thinkers and practitioners.
Guests are consistently high-caliber, bringing practical expertise to complex topics.
The format is concise and topic-rich, though some listeners wish for longer episodes and smoother delivery.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Higher Ed 101: Inside the Process of Closing a College
Q: What is the most surprising thing you've had to deal with or auction off when closing a college?
Doug explains a case involving radiological safety tags and a teach-out partner, where unanticipated creditor demands and regulatory involvement nearly escalated, but an in-kind settlement resolved the issue without NRC involvement, illustrating how unpredictable, highly specific assets can complicate closures.
The College Where Funding Follows Students’ Earnings, Not Enrollment
Q: What is the role of AI and automation in curriculum planning?
AI is viewed as a set of competencies that will infuse across occupations; while it will cause some disruption, the approach emphasizes iterative updates, industry advisory input, and continuous alignment of skills with labor-market needs.
The College Where Funding Follows Students’ Earnings, Not Enrollment
Q: What is the key to getting faculty on board with this model?
Bringing awareness to the metrics, showing how programs compare to earnings benchmarks, and tying funding to outcomes encourages faculty to rethink curricula and focus on employability, while maintaining an element of academic integrity.
The College Where Funding Follows Students’ Earnings, Not Enrollment
Q: How far should outcomes funding go across different types of institutions?
The guest suggests the extent should depend on each institution's mission, advocating for mission-aligned metrics that may vary by sector (e.g., regional public systems versus flagship universities) to avoid “mission creep” and to promote accountability and relevance.
Cutting Degrees That Don’t Add Value
Q: What was the vision behind tying funding to degree programs that align with workforce needs?
The vision was radical for its time: to condition educational attainment goals on the value of credentials in the economy, ensuring that degrees pay off for students and reflect labor-market demands.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Future U Podcast

What is Future U Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on higher education futures, exploring trends, policy shifts, and the business of academia through in-depth conversations with leaders, researchers, and practitioners. Episodes frequently cover funding models, labor-market alignment, credentials of value, AI impacts on teaching and learning, and governance challenges. A standout pattern is bringing top policymakers, university presidents, and edtech innovators to dissect actionable strategies for institutions and stakeholders, making it a practical listen for admins, trustees, faculty leaders, and education professionals evaluating the next era of higher education.

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How many episodes of Future U Podcast are there?

Future U Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 231 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Future U Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Future U Podcast?

Recent guests on Future U Podcast include:

1. Doug Moore
2. Michael Bettersworth
3. Harrison Keller
4. Sian Beilock
5. Mark Hicks
6. Clint Hankenbrau
7. Matt Pittinsky
8. Jacques Berlinerblau

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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