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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
Education Policy
Workforce Development
College Budgets
Career Development
Innovation
Higher Education Act
Job Market
International Students
Dual Enrollment
Pell Grants

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 monthlyEpisodes234Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for Future U Podcast

Latest Episodes

We’ve been wondering how prison education programs have grown since the reinstatement of Pell grants for incarcerated learners a couple of years ago. So we sent our producer Jeff Young to learn more. It turns out colleges wanting to set up programs f... more

It’s a time of change in higher education. Jeff and Michael look back on what they learned over the course of this ninth season of Future U in a one-on-one discussion. They recap key moments and share their favorite episodes. And one theme keeps emer... more

The college athletics arms race has created a complex financing puzzle for many institutions. That has led athletics departments to become a kind of ‘shadow university’ within their campuses, with their own systems and processes. And university leade... more

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

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Recent Guests

Mike Velasano
Executive Director of the Minnesota Consortium for Higher Education in Prison
Minnesota Consortium for Higher Education in Prison
Episode: A Playbook for College Programs in Prisons
Andre Anderson
Former incarcerated student, reentry coordinator for the TREC program
Transformation and Reentry through Education and Community (TREC)
Episode: A Playbook for College Programs in Prisons
Karen Weaver
Former field hockey coach of the year, athletic director, academic director of the Collegiate Athletic Certificate Program at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Athletics Departments Have Become ‘Shadow Universities’
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

Hosts

Jeff Selingo
Co-host and frequent guest with deep expertise in higher education strategy, policy, and the future of academia.
Michael Horn
Co-host and higher-ed innovator focusing on policy, funding models, and technology-driven change.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 165 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 Statesa year 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 States2 years 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.

Guests consistently bring practical insights and frameworks for thinking about the sector's future.
Listeners value the in-depth interviews with leading higher-ed voices.
Some listeners note delivery style could be more concise or dialed-in.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Playbook for College Programs in Prisons
Q: How might policy shifts around Pell affect prison education, and what can be done to safeguard programs?
Pell restoration is supported broadly, but there are concerns about potential cuts; hedging against this involves developing robust non-credit opportunities and diversified funding to sustain programs even if Pell changes occur.
A Playbook for College Programs in Prisons
Q: What about technology in prisons—what should new programs expect?
New programs should plan for pencil-and-paper as a baseline, with tablets and closed networks as a supplement; technology is transformative but fragile, so institutions must maintain non-digital options to ensure continuity.
A Playbook for College Programs in Prisons
Q: What are the realities of offering prison education, and how do in-person and online formats compare in this setting?
The consensus is that both formats are viable, but in-person education remains the gold standard due to the depth of engagement, the effort involved in organizing campus-like experiences, and the strong student culture it enables; online programs can supplement access but should not replace in-person offerings.
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.

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?

A thought-leader-focused show that unpackes the near-term future of higher education through in-depth conversations with presidents, policy makers, researchers, and industry innovators. Episodes frequently explore AI's impact on learning, credentialing, governance, funding, student well-being, and the evolving labor market, often balancing strategic leadership insights with practical implications for institutions, boards, and vendors. Notable through-lines include the tension between mission and sustainability, the rise of non-traditional credentials and workforce-aligned programs, and ambitious experiments like outcomes-based funding, co-ops, and AI-driven learning models. The mix of guests—from university leaders to EdTech executives and ... more

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How many episodes of Future U Podcast are there?

Future U Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 234 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 Future U Podcast?

Recent guests on Future U Podcast include:

1. Mike Velasano
2. Andre Anderson
3. Karen Weaver
4. Doug Moore
5. Michael Bettersworth
6. Harrison Keller
7. Sian Beilock
8. Mark Hicks

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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