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EPISODE · Oct 30, 2025 · 55 MIN

Visiting Butler: Sparking a Culture of Innovation

from Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed · host Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn

On the latest stop of Future U.'s campus tour, Michael and Jeff visit Butler University to talk with Butler president Jim Danko and other campus leaders. They explore how, out of a mix of excitement about serving students and fear of potential competitive threats on the horizon, the university built a culture and infrastructure to encourage innovation.Relevant LinksButler University’s Transformation Lab website.Chapters0:00 - Why We Wanted to Visit Butler University3:46 - What Butler’s President Said He Would Do When He First Started7:22 - Some Early Wins In Sparking Innovation9:16 - The Importance of Time and Patience in College Leadership13:25 - How Presidents Can Best Work With Trustees to Encourage Innovation15:46 - How a Business Background Influenced Leading a University19:37 - Why Did Butler Push for Innovation?21:11 - Putting a Vision Into Practice22:50 - The Importance of Wanting to Win28:01 - A Chief Strategy Officer’s Viewpoint35:35 - A Faculty Perspective on Innovation37:04 - The 50-50 Rule of Running the Board of Trustees38:53 - What Butler Ventures Looks Like Today47:43 - What Grade Would Butler Give Its Innovation Efforts?52:00 - Closing ObservationsConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign 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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On the latest stop of Future U.'s campus tour, Michael and Jeff visit Butler University to talk with Butler president Jim Danko and other campus leaders. They explore how, out of a mix of excitement about serving students and fear of potential competitive threats on the horizon, the university built a culture and infrastructure to encourage innovation.

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Visiting Butler: Sparking a Culture of Innovation

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