Future U.

The Promise of CBE and Three-Year Degrees In our latest episode of Future U, @jselingo shared compelling insights on the evolving landscape of higher education, focusing on Competency-Based Education (CBE) and three-year degree programs. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ CBE, with its focus on external partnerships and employer-certified learning, has the potential to serve students traditionally underserved by higher education. 2️⃣ Assessment and progress should be enablers, not gatekeepers, in education. 3️⃣ Three-year degrees aren't about compressing four years into three, but about creating a distinct offering for a different audience. 4️⃣ With declining enrollments and fewer high school graduates pursuing college, institutions need to innovate their offerings. 5️⃣ A potential solution: Create a product line of CBE-based shorter degrees, integrated with apprenticeships and hands-on learning. This approach could serve students who want or need a different path than the traditional four-year "maturation process" - whether due to financial constraints or different career goals. As we navigate the future of higher education, it's crucial to recognize that one size doesn't fit all. By diversifying our educational models, we can better serve a broader range of students and meet evolving workforce needs. What are your thoughts on these innovations in higher education? How can we better align our educational offerings with diverse student needs and career pathways? This episode is made with support from @ascendiumep #HigherEducation #CompetencyBasedEducation #ThreeYearDegree #EducationInnovation #FutureU

@jselingo shares a thought-provoking anecdote that highlights the challenges faced by college and university trustees in navigating the vast amount of information in the higher education landscape. Selingo recounts a conversation with the president of an R1 private research university who was delayed for a call due to a discussion with a trustee. The trustee had inquired about the potential impact of a local community college's financial and enrollment issues on their own institution. This example emphasizes the overwhelming volume of information trustees must process and the difficulty in determining what is most pertinent to their specific institution. Selingo points out that if he Michael Horn find the sheer amount of information challenging when preparing for their podcast, one can only imagine the complexity for volunteer trustees. The critical questions Selingo raises are: 1. How should information be filtered for trustees? 2. Who should be responsible for curating this information? Effective information management is essential for trustees to make informed decisions and provide strategic guidance to their institutions. Potential solutions could include: 1. Establishing a structured process for presenting relevant information to the board 2. Designating a specific committee or individual to curate and distribute key insights 3. Offering ongoing education and training for trustees to help them navigate the higher education landscape As the higher education sector continues to evolve and encounter new challenges, finding ways to support trustees in their decision-making processes will be crucial for the success of our institutions. This episode is made with support from the @gatesfoundation. #highered #highereducation #boards

As the world of college sports undergoes significant changes, such as the introduction of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights and the transfer portal, trustees must be well-informed to make sound decisions for their institutions. Knowledge alone is not enough. Trustees must also have a clear vision of where they want their college or university to be in the next three to five years. This long-term perspective is crucial in navigating the complex questions and challenges that lie ahead. To effectively guide their institutions through this transformative period, trustees should: - Stay up-to-date on the latest developments in college athletics - Engage in strategic planning to define long-term goals and objectives - Consider the institution's unique mission and values when making decisions By combining knowledge with a clear sense of purpose and direction, trustees can help their institutions not only adapt to the changing landscape of college athletics but also thrive in the years to come. #HigherEducation This episode is made with support from the Gates Foundation.

🤔 Where do prospective students get their information about college? And how does that impact their enrollment decisions? Terrell Halaska Dunn of @hcmstrat shares insights on our latest episode. Dunn's research highlights a critical disparity: - High school students receive college information through trusted sources like counselors, parents, and teachers, and that information tends to be more positive. - Young adults who aren't enrolled in college have to seek out information on their own, often through Google searches, and are more likely to encounter negative messaging. - There's a clear correlation: positive information increases the likelihood of enrolling, while negative information decreases it. This raises important questions for higher ed leaders: - How can we ensure that all prospective students, not just high schoolers, have access to reliable, supportive college planning resources? - What channels and messaging should we use to reach non-enrollees with positive information about the value of higher ed? - How might we combat the negative or discouraging narratives that non-enrollees are more likely to encounter? As Dunn notes, the sources and tone of college information can significantly influence enrollment decisions. Institutions need proactive strategies to guide more students toward accurate, affirming resources. This episode is made with support from @gatesfoundation. hashtag#highered hashtag#college hashtag#admissions hashtag#students

The latest Future U podcast episode dives deep into the shifting perceptions of higher education's value, with Terrell Halaska Dunn of @hcmstrat sharing powerful insights from recent research. In this clip, Dunn highlights a key finding: both high school students and young adults who didn't complete college are looking for stronger guarantees of career outcomes from their investment in #HigherEd. As Dunn's research shows, today's prospective students are savvy consumers who want to know their time and money will pay off in the form of relevant, rewarding careers. To win their enrollment, institutions need to get creative about how they demonstrate and deliver on that promise. This raises the stakes for colleges and universities: - How can we strengthen the connection between our academic programs and real-world career paths? - What support services and resources can we provide to guide students toward successful employment outcomes? - Should we consider implementing more formal job guarantees or employment-related ROI measures? Check out the full episode to hear more of Dunn's findings and analysis on this critical challenge facing higher ed! And share your thoughts below - what steps should colleges take to provide stronger career outcome guarantees? This episode is made with support from @gatesfoundation.

It's Time for Community Colleges to Embrace Meaningful Metrics Beyond Degree Completion In the latest episode of the Future U Podcast, we tackle the thorny issue of measuring community college success. @michael.b.horn acknowledges that degree completion rates are an imperfect metric, he argues that simply complaining about this standard is not enough. Horn challenges community colleges to propose alternative measures that are substantive, clearly defined, and accountable to student outcomes. In other words, if not degree completion, then what? This is a critical question for community colleges as they strive to demonstrate their value proposition to students, employers, and policymakers. Degree completion rates, while important, don't tell the whole story of how these institutions contribute to student success and social mobility. So what might a "meaningful and meaty" alternative look like? Horn suggests that Strada Education Foundation's research offers some possibilities, such as measuring skill development, post-graduation employment rates, and long-term career advancement. Other potential metrics could include transfer rates, employer satisfaction with graduates, or student satisfaction with their educational experience. The key is that these measures must be rigorous, transparent, and tied to the outcomes that matter most to students and stakeholders. They should provide a holistic picture of how community colleges are impacting lives and communities. Ultimately, the goal is to reframe the conversation around community college success. By proactively defining and measuring what matters, these institutions can showcase their unique value proposition and build stronger partnerships with universities, employers, and policymakers. This episode is made with support from @ascendiumep and the @gatesfoundation. #CommunityColleges #HigherEd #StudentSuccess #MetricsMatter

In our recent episode of Future U, @jselingo highlights a critical issue facing community college students: the lack of smooth pathways to four-year degrees. Despite most students entering community college with the intention of transferring and earning a bachelor's, the majority never achieve this goal. The data from the Community College Research Center is clear: students are falling through the cracks in the transfer process. They either don't transfer at all or fail to complete their bachelor's degree after transferring. What can be done to support these students and ensure their success? Jeff argues that the solution lies in tighter coupling between two-year and four-year institutions. He cites innovative models like George Mason University's direct connection program with Northern Virginia Community College, where students start as Mason students from day one. Similarly, the University of Central Florida has established outposts on the campus of nearby Valencia College, enabling seamless transitions. For many students, a bachelor's degree represents a path to social mobility and career advancement. By failing to provide clear, accessible routes from community college to university, we risk perpetuating inequities and limiting student successes. By strengthening the connections between two-year and four-year institutions, we can enhance the value proposition of community colleges. Seamless transfer pathways, integrated student support, and clear articulation agreements can help students achieve their goals, leading to improved outcomes, higher completion rates, and a stronger return on investment. Listen to the full episode covering the value of community colleges wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is made with support from @ascendiumep and the @gatesfoundation. #CommunityCollege #HigherEd #TransferStudents #StudentSuccess #EquityInEducation

The $48,000 Threshold: A Basic Feature for Community College Value? 💰🎓 In our recent episode of Future U, @michael.b.horn highlights a crucial finding from Strada Education Foundation: Community college students who earn at least $48,000 after graduation are significantly more likely to feel that their education was worth the investment. This raises a critical question: Is hitting this salary threshold a basic feature that community colleges must deliver to avoid profound dissatisfaction among their graduates? Horn draws on the Kano Model, which categorizes product or experience features into three types: basic, performance, and excitement. Basic features are non-negotiable; their absence leads to complete dissatisfaction. Think of seatbelts in cars - if they're missing, the car is a non-starter. Applying this framework to community colleges, Horn suggests that a post-graduation salary of $48,000 might be a basic feature. If graduates don't reach this earnings threshold, they may feel that their education wasn't worth it, even if the college excels in other areas. Performance features, on the other hand, are those for which satisfaction rises in proportion to investment. For community colleges, these could include factors like the quality of teaching, support services, or career guidance. Excitement features are unexpected bonuses that delight customers but don't cause dissatisfaction if absent. In the community college context, these might encompass unique opportunities like internships with top employers or access to cutting-edge learning technologies. Ultimately, the $48,000 threshold underscores the importance of aligning community college programs with labor market needs to ensure graduates can secure family-sustaining wages. By applying the Kano Model, we can better understand how colleges can optimize their offerings to deliver the value students seek. This episode is made with support from @ascendiumep and the @gatesfoundation. #CommunityColle

What happened to civility on campus? Where is that being taught? In this week's episode, we looked at free speech on campus with Greg Lukianoff, CEO of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Greg tells us about the types of speech that are not protected and why a high bar is needed in order to protect speech. As Lukianoff explains, there are certain categories of speech that are not protected under the First Amendment, such as true threats, intimidation, and discriminatory harassment. These exceptions are based on the principle that speech that directly causes harm or targets individuals based on protected characteristics can be legally punished. However, Lukianoff also emphasizes that these exceptions must be narrowly and carefully defined to avoid infringing on legitimate free speech rights. The bar for what constitutes unprotected speech should be high, he argues, to prevent the abuse of these exceptions to silence unpopular or controversial opinions. This is a critical point in the campus free speech debate. While we must take seriously the need to prevent harm and protect marginalized communities, we must also be vigilant against the misuse of speech restrictions to stifle open inquiry and debate. Listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts or visit our website. This episode is made with support from Ascendium's Education Philanthropy and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. #highered #freespeech

@thefireorg's @glukianoff drops truth on the latest Future U episode! 🎙️ "Penn and Harvard have a history of failing to uphold free speech principles consistently, particularly when it comes to controversial or unpopular viewpoints." Lukianoff argues that this inconsistency fuels hypocrisy and mistrust. How can we trust leaders who only value free expression when it's convenient? The solution? Leaders must acknowledge past failures and commit to protecting free speech fairly for ALL members of the campus community. It's time for difficult conversations and uncomfortable truths. Leaders must stand up for the rights of all students and faculty to express their views freely, even when controversial or unpopular. 🎧 Listen to the full episode for more of Lukianoff's insights on this crucial issue. This episode is made with support from @ascendiumep and @gatesfoundation. #HigherEducation #FreeSpeech

@jselingo raises a crucial point about the state of intellectual curiosity and growth in higher education today. As Selingo argues, the college admissions process has become a game – one that rewards students for jumping through hoops and checking boxes, rather than engaging in genuine intellectual exploration and challenging their own assumptions and beliefs. The result is that many students arrive on campus having never really been pushed to question their own worldviews or confront ideas that make them uncomfortable. They've been too busy trying to fit the mold of the "perfect" applicant to do the hard work of intellectual and personal growth. And once they get to college, the game continues, with students focusing more on securing the "right" internships and job offers than on truly exploring new ideas and perspectives. They miss out on the transformative power of a liberal arts education – the chance to discover new ways of thinking about themselves and their place in the world. College should be a time for students to step outside their comfort zones, to grapple with difficult questions and ideas, and to emerge with a more complex and nuanced understanding of themselves and others. But this kind of growth requires more than just exposure to new ideas – it requires a willingness to engage with them deeply and critically, even when they challenge our preconceptions or make us feel uncomfortable. And it requires an institutional culture that values and supports this kind of intellectual risk-taking. This episode is made with support from a @ascendiumep, and @gatesfoundation. #highered #freespeech #college

Michael Horn cuts to the heart of the campus free speech crisis: the critical role of leadership. As Horn argues, it's not enough for college and university presidents to pay lip service to the principles of free expression and open inquiry. They must be willing to back up their words with action, even when it means having tough conversations and making unpopular decisions. That means enforcing the rules and policies that already exist to protect free speech on campus, such as prohibiting the disruption of classes or the shouting down of invited speakers. It means clearly communicating the consequences for those who engage in behavior that undermines the free exchange of ideas. And it means being willing to stand firm in the face of criticism or backlash, even from students who may feel that their own views or identities are being challenged. Ultimately, as Horn suggests, this is about more than just protecting free speech for its own sake. It's about preserving the very purpose and mission of higher education: to foster critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and the pursuit of truth through open and honest dialogue. If we want our colleges and universities to be true marketplaces of ideas, where students can encounter diverse perspectives and learn to engage with them respectfully and constructively, we need leaders who are willing to do the hard work of creating and maintaining a culture of free expression. This episode is made with support from @ascendiumep and the @gatesfoundation. #HigherEducation #highered #freespeech #college

Ensuring Quality and Support in Dual Enrollment In this clip from the recent Future U podcast episode, guest John Fink emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards and providing robust support for students in dual enrollment courses. Key Takeaways: - The goal is to broaden access to dual enrollment while upholding the quality of college instruction. - Providing additional support both inside and outside the classroom is crucial for student success. - Organizations like the National Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) are working to ensure quality standards for dual enrollment programs. As dual enrollment expands, investments in support structures are necessary to maintain high pass rates. Fink's insights underscore the need for intentional efforts to ensure dual enrollment courses deliver on their promise of offering a rigorous and supportive college experience to a wider range of students. This clip sets the stage for a nuanced discussion about the challenges and opportunities in scaling dual enrollment while preserving quality. This episode is made with support from @ascendiumep and the @gatesfoundation . #DualEnrollment #CollegeAccess #HigherEd

Dual Enrollment 101 In this episode, guest John Fink breaks down the essentials of what dual enrollment actually means. Here are a few high level takeaways to get you up to speed on dual enrollment. - Dual enrollment is an umbrella term with many different arrangements - It involves high school students taking college courses for credit through a partnership with a post-secondary institution - Courses can be taught at the high school, college, or online by either college instructors or qualified high school teachers - Models range from intensive early college high schools to individual course offerings Fink positions dual enrollment as a promising approach to increase college readiness, access, and success, while noting the importance of intentional implementation to ensure quality and equitable outcomes. This episode is made with support from @ascendiumep and @gatesfoundation. #highered #dualenrollment

Michael B. Horn shared his perspective on the essential yet challenging task of expanding #apprenticeship programs across the American economy on the latest episode of Future U. His insights emphasize the need for dedicated efforts and collaborations to make apprenticeships a widespread reality. Michael's call to action for community colleges and tech providers to join forces reflects a broader vision for the future of workforce development. By leveraging each other's strengths, these entities can create more accessible and effective pathways for individuals to gain the skills necessary for success in an ever-changing job market. This episode is made with support from Ascendium's Education Philanthropy. #HigherEd #HigherEducation

In an enlightening discussion on Future U, Pierre Dubuc, CEO of OpenClassrooms , explained the innovative approach his organization takes to bridge the gap between education and employment. OpenClassrooms's model represents a pivotal shift in workforce development, addressing the critical needs of both employers and job seekers. By aligning educational outcomes with market demands, Dubuc and his team are facilitating a seamless transition for learners into meaningful careers, while also empowering companies with the skilled workforce they require. This episode is made with support from @ascendiumep. #highered #highereducation #apprenticeship

On the latest episode of Future U, Michael B. Horn shared his thoughts into the unintended consequences of the national conversation around student debt relief on public perceptions of #HigherEducation affordability. Michael's analysis brings to light the complex dynamics between policy discussions, media coverage, and public perceptions of #HigherEd. As debates around student debt relief continue to dominate the headlines, the narrative of higher education as an unattainable financial burden grows, potentially deterring a significant segment of the population from pursuing college degrees. This episode is made with support from Ascendium's Education Philanthropy and the Gates Foundation.

Len Cassuto, author of "The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education," recently offered a compelling vision for the future of graduate education on Future U, emphasizing the importance of preparing Ph.D.s for broad societal contribution. Cassuto's perspective highlights a critical shift in how we perceive the role of Ph.D.s in society. By focusing on creating pathways for Ph.D.s to apply their skills outside academia, we can maximize their potential as advanced information workers and contributors to societal progress. Episode is made with support from Ascendium's Education Philanthropy and @gatesfoundation. #HigherEd #HigherEducation

On a recent episode of Future U, Jeff Selingo shared his admiration for College Unbound's innovative approach to adult learning. His insights delve into the unique “Workplace and World Lab” that's redefining the adult #HigherEducation experience. He highlights the lab as a pivotal component in College Unbound's model, blending academic learning with real-world applications. This lab stands as a beacon of innovation, especially for adult learners who often juggle a myriad of responsibilities alongside their educational pursuits. The lab's unique format, which merges various elements from high school homerooms to dissertation committees, creates a supportive and engaging learning environment. It acknowledges the complexities of adult life by ensuring access to essentials like food and childcare in one’s own home, making education attainable and practical. This episode is made with support from Ascendium's Education Philanthropy.

Jose Rodriguez, the assistant vice president for community and belonging at @collegeunbound, shared an eye-opening perspective on College Unbound's prison education program. His words underscore the power of education in fostering real-world change and personal growth, even in the most challenging circumstances. This testament to the efficacy of the program is not just a story of academic achievement but a narrative of hope and transformation. College Unbound's prison education program goes beyond traditional #HigherEducation by empowering individuals to conceptualize and eventually realize their own projects. The transition from a mere idea on paper while incarcerated to establishing a functioning 501(c)(3) organization post-release is a powerful demonstration of the program's impact. Listen to this Episode: https://futureupodcast.com/episodes/college-unbound-from-the-traditional-model/ This episode is made with support from Ascendium's Education Philanthropy .