Learning is at the heart of higher ed’s purpose, but how many institutions have a strong sense of the skills and knowledge students are gaining? On this episode, Michael and Jeff welcome two innovators helping colleges to better validate student learning through competency-based education (CBE): Amber Garrison Duncan of the Competency Based Education Network and Kelle Parsons of the American Institutes of Research. They discuss the benefits that this learning and assessment system accrues to students and institutions, the how and why of syncing skills certification with employer needs, and the institutions leading the way on implementation. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.
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Boards of Trustees are the principal governing bodies of higher ed institutions, but they can also be the furthest from their day-to-day operations. So how can colleges best leverage their leadership? To tackle this question, Michael and Jeff welcome Chris Romer and Jane Scaccetti, trustees from the boards of Colorado Mountain College and Temple University, respectively. They discuss the Board’s role in improving the value proposition of higher ed, engaging communities, representing stakeholders, and handling crises. They also discuss what boards need to do all of this most effectively. This episode is made with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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There has been an exodus from higher ed - that much is understood. But what's causing it and what can we do to ensure students are still accessing pathways to opportunity? In this episode, Jeff and Michael grapple with this question with the help of Terrell Dunn whose recent research, done in partnership with HCM Strategists and Edge Research, addresses this very topic. They discuss the increasing focus on job outcomes revealed in her findings and consider the role of colleges in supporting - or even ensuring - employment for their graduates. This episode is made with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Jeff and Michael examine the complex world of community colleges and challenge traditional notions of success. Drawing from recent research by Strada Education Foundation, they explore the multifaceted roles these institutions play in students' lives and the importance of looking beyond degree completion rates to assess their true value. With insights from Strada’s Senior Vice President, Dave Clayton, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the value of community colleges and their vital role in empowering students personally and economically in the 21st century. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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We sit down with Greg Lukianoff, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and co-author of the bestselling book "The Coddling of the American Mind," as well as the new book, "The Canceling of the American Mind." Lukianoff shares his insights on the state of free speech on college campuses and examines the rise of cancel culture, the debate over the limits of free expression, and the potential double standards in how universities approach these issues. He emphasizes the importance of open inquiry, intellectual diversity, and the ability to challenge prevailing orthodoxies as essential components of a thriving university education. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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In this episode, Jeff and Michael dive into the complex world of dual enrollment, examining its rapid growth, potential benefits, and emerging challenges. They speak with John Fink, a senior research associate at the Community College Research Center, to understand the various dual enrollment arrangements, the students they serve, and the outcomes they achieve. The conversation also explores the financial incentives for districts and colleges, the concerns around course quality and rigor, and the implications for high school and college experiences. This episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.
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On this episode, we hear from two innovators helping community colleges better play their lead role in growing apprenticeship in America. We spoke with Mitchell Harp, Dean of Apprenticeship Programs at Trident Technical College, about the keys to his school’s thriving program. We also sat down with Pierre Dubuc, CEO of OpenClassrooms, about how community colleges are leveraging his company’s expertise and online learning platform to level up their apprenticeship programs. This episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group.
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Michael and Jeff go deep on the revised FAFSA and the challenges encountered in its rollout. They sat down with Andrew LaCasse, who helped develop the simplified FAFSA in his former role as a senior education policy advisor on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to learn about the back-story behind the legislation and its underlying policy goals. They also spoke with John Marshall, President of Colorado Mesa University, about how they are supporting students through the delay and confusion caused by the FAFSA’s rocky rollout. The episode is sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Jeff and Michael dive into the higher ed acronyms that have been in the headlines these past few weeks: SAT/ACT, NLRB, and FAFSA. What's next for test-optional after announcements from Dartmouth and Yale; what does it mean that the Dartmouth men's basketball team is trying to unionize; and what will the impact be of the difficult FAFSA rollout. This episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.
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Hosts Jeff and Michael are joined by Len Cassuto, an author and professor at Fordham University, and focus their conversation on the role of Ph.D. students and what the challenges in that part of academia might mean for higher ed. They dive into the subjects that Len explores in his new book, The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education, such as the changes that should be made to better prepare Ph.D. students for their careers, and how universities might be exploiting free labor from students under the guise of an academic apprenticeship. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.
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