As colleges navigate increasing financial pressure, many struggle to balance mission with sustainability. In this episode, Jeff and Michael welcome Rick Staisloff, founder of rpk GROUP, for a crash course in how college budgets really work. From centralized vs. decentralized models to the challenges of tuition discounting, Rick breaks down the major drivers of revenue and expense in higher ed. He also highlights why better business intelligence, clearer accountability, and a shift toward ROI thinking are essential for financial sustainability. Whether you're a board member or just curious, this episode offers practical insight into what’s working—and what’s not—in college budgeting. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.Chapters0:00 - Intro03:45 - How colleges put together their budgets9:05 - Implementation challenges and best practices15:04 - Non-tuition revenue sources26:21 - Cost drivers29:41 - Solving the “Financial Bucket Problem”35:41 - Deferred maintenance38:11 - Shifting to an ROI mindset41:04 - The levers to pull43:14 - On the margins46:44 - College cash sources49:03 - Our most promising strategiesRelevant LinksRPK Group Official WebsiteAccess the official online presence of RPK Group, the consulting firm founded by episode guest Rick Staisloff. This resource provides further information regarding their advisory services in higher education finance and the development of sustainable institutional business models.Responsibility Centered Management (RCM) Manual - Kent State UniversityThis document offers a comprehensive exposition of Responsibility Centered Management (RCM), a decentralized budgetary framework prevalent within higher education institutions. Review for detailed insight into its operational principles and implementation methodologies.Tuition Discounting Hits Another High - Inside Higher EdConsult this article for current data and analysis pertaining to the escalating rates of tuition discounting at private nonprofit colleges. The content elucidates the impact of institutional financial aid on net tuition revenue, a critical financial metric discussed herein.A National Study of Capital Infrastructure at Colleges and Schools of Agriculture | APLUThis report details the substantial and accumulating challenges of deferred maintenance across tertiary education establishments. It provides quantitative data and analytical perspectives on infrastructure-related financial burdens as referenced by Mr. Staisloff.Understanding Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems in EdTech - EllucianThis resource provides an overview of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, elaborating on their function as integrated platforms for managing administrative and academic operations. It highlights their utility in enhancing institutional efficiency, business intelligence, and data-driven strategic planning within higher education.Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
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51:10
Rerun - The Lost Boys of Higher Ed
We revisit one of the most impactful episodes from season 8, The Lost Boys of Higher Ed. Women have outnumbered men on college campuses for decades, but the divergence in postsecondary success has widened in recent years, and it is both a cause and symptom of the struggles of the modern man. Richard Reeves, author of Of Boys and Men joins the podcast to discuss the drivers of these challenges, promising interventions, and whether we should care about the plight of men in a world where they continue to wield power. This episode is made with support from the Gates Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, and The American College of Education. Links We ShareOf Boys and Men:Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What To Do About Itby Richard Reeveshttps://www.menincollege.comAmerican Institute for Boys and MenChapters00:00 - Intro04:15 - Where We Are (and Aren't) Seeing the Gender Divide05:56 - Designing College with The Modern Young Man in Mind12:28 - Drivers of the Higher Ed Gender Divide16:30 - The Effects of the Pandemic19:41 - The Larger Significance of the Problem26:50 - Opting Out of Adulting31:52 - Masculinity and Majors34:22 - K12 Solutions: Nobody's Fault, Everyone's Responsibility37:32 - What Higher Ed Can Do41:47 - International Parallels 44:38 - Rebalancing Education Systems49:06 - Zero-Sum Game or Growing the Pie?Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
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51:02
Season 8 Wrap Up: Looking Back and Ahead
Jeff and Michael conclude the eighth season of Future U. with a one-on-one discussion of the lessons and themes from this year’s conversations. They address the range of topics covered - from the transformative effects of AI to the recent flurry of Federal executive orders to the reckoning to be done in higher education. For each, they summon the insights from this season’s guests to analyze how they have shaped the higher ed landscape and consider how they will continue to do so going forward. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.Chapters0:00 - Intro1:39 - Jeff’s Next Book5:17 - Trump’s Effect on the Year of Reckoning15:20 - The Shifting Power Balance20:13 - Demonstrating Value25:27 - Colleges’ Core Competencies38:11 - Who’s Looking Forward?42:19 - Saying Goodbye for Summer Further Reading2025 Higher Education Trends Report | Deloitte InsightsComprehensive analysis of the challenges facing higher education in 2025, including financial pressures, risk management, and strategic planning that aligns with the "year of reckoning" discussion.12 Higher Ed Challenges in 2025 and Exemplars Solving ThemDetailed examination of enrollment declines, AI disruption, and institutional responses with real-world examples of colleges successfully addressing these challenges.Trump Administration Executive Orders on Higher Education | U.S. Department of EducationOfficial statements and details about the executive orders affecting higher education, including accreditation reform and foreign funding transparency.How Will AI Influence Higher Ed in 2025? | Inside Higher EdExpert predictions and guidance for how colleges and universities will navigate AI integration in 2025, directly supporting the AI theme in the podcast.The Future of AI in Higher Education | EDUCAUSESurvey results showing how higher education professionals view AI's future role in learning analytics, accessibility, and institutional operations.Combating the Enrollment Cliff | NAFSAAnalysis of how the demographic cliff beginning in 2025 might offer opportunities for international student recruitment and institutional adaptation.Bill Ackman: How to Fix Harvard | The Free PressAckman's detailed critique of Harvard and higher education, providing context for the discussion about his views on institutional reform and federal funding.How Can College Leaders Navigate Mergers and Closures in 2025? | Higher Ed DiveExpert guidance on merger strategy and the complexities of "Big Scary Change" that institutions face, relating to the slow merger discussion.Sian Beilock Leadership Profile | Aspen IdeasBackground on Dartmouth's president who was highlighted as exemplifying strong leadership during campus challenges and free speech issues.AI and Education: Shaping the Future | Inside Higher EdInsights from Stanford's AI+Education Summit 2025 about coordinated efforts needed across higher education for responsible AI implementation.AI in Education: 2025 Statistics & Future of LearningData-driven analysis showing that 89% of students use ChatGPT for homework and other statistics relevant to the AI adoption discussion.Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
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46:46
Former Governor Dishes on Connecting Work and College
In this episode, former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift joins Jeff and Michael to explore how to rebuild the broken college-to-career pipeline. Now leading Education at Work, a nonprofit that provides work-based learning opportunities for undergraduates, Swift shares how her organization supports first-generation and Pell-eligible students with paid, career-relevant jobs during college. The conversation also dives into the policy vacuum left by congressional inaction, the role of states in driving innovation, and where bipartisan opportunities still exist in connecting higher education to the workforce. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.Publications Mentioned:Handshake 2025 Annual Report Chapters0:00 - Intro02:57 - Fixing the College to Career Pipeline14:48 - Building Soft Skills17:47 - The Higher Ed Policy Vacuum24:28 - Federal Policy Enablers for Work-Based Learning28:06 - State Governments to the Rescue?30:46 - The Opportunity for Bipartisanship Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedIn Connect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
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34:34
Higher Ed on the Hill: Getting College Back on the Congressional Agenda
With higher education policy increasingly driven by executive action, Michael and Jeff explore why Congress has been largely absent from the conversation—and what that means for students and institutions. They’re joined by James Kvaal, former Under Secretary of Education under the Biden Administration, and Preston Cooper of the American Enterprise Institute, for a bipartisan discussion about stalled reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, cuts to the Department of Education, the future of international students at American colleges, and more. This episode is made with support from the Gates Foundation.Chapters0:00 - Intro04:44 - The Cost of Congressional Inaction13:28 - Unlocking Movement on Higher Ed19:53 - Areas for Bipartisan Compromise23:15 - The Big Change We Need28:33 - The Impact of Cuts to the Department of Education32:58 - Immigration and International Students38:23 - Agreement Across the Aisle43:55 - Changes Since the Last HEA Reauthorization48:12 - Too Much Focus on the Elites? Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.
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.
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