Takeaways from 2025 and Predictions for Next Year

As the year comes to a close, Jeff and Michael step back to review some themes from recent episodes. They home in on how to build innovative campus cultures, and how colleges can respond to AI. And they look ahead, offering predictions for higher ed for 2026. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group, Adobe, and Butler University.

Episode 213 of the Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed podcast, hosted by Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn, titled "Takeaways from 2025 and Predictions for Next Year" was published on December 9, 2025 and runs 45 minutes.

December 9, 2025 ·45m · Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

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Summary

As the year comes to a close, Jeff and Michael step back to review some themes from recent episodes. They home in on how to build innovative campus cultures, and how colleges can respond to AI. And they look ahead, offering predictions for higher ed for 2026. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group, Adobe, and Butler University.

Episode Description

As the year comes to a close, Jeff and Michael step back to review some themes from recent episodes. They home in on how to build innovative campus cultures, and how colleges can respond to AI. And they look ahead, offering predictions for higher ed for 2026. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group, Adobe, and Butler University.

Relevant Links

“A Looming Crisis: New Analysis Shows Dozens of Well-Known Colleges Are Near Financial Trouble,”

Michael Horn and Steven Shulman

"The Financially Sustainable University,"

Jeff Denneen and Tom Dretler

Chapters

0:00 - Introduction

4:22 - A Case for Massive Experimentation

6:30 - Making Shared Governance an Asset

10:00 - Building Innovation Into Campus Culture

11:41 - Lessons From Silicon Valley

13:17 - What Parents Are Asking About AI at Colleges

14:54 - Importance of Experiential Learning

18:40 - How Liberal Arts Can Be Taught Differently in the AI Age

21:11 - Being Creative v. Being a Creator

22:20 - Time for Colleges to Step Back and Strategize About AI

28:00 - New Research Reveals Mid-Size Colleges Could At Financial Risk

33:43 - Understanding the Details of New Student Loan Caps

37:37 - Breaking Down the Latest Enrollment Numbers

40:07 - Michael’s Predictions for 2026

41:56 - Jeff’s Predictions for 2026

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