A donor recently gave $3 billion to Carnegie Mellon University, in part to build a new campus in Florida. It’s just the latest example of colleges staking out new territory far from their main campuses. Jeff and Michael give their analysis of the trend, as they reflect on a range of recent developments in higher education. Other topics this episode include the enrollment crisis at Syracuse University, a report out of Cornell on the purpose of the university, and how colleges can balance academic rigor and student success. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

0:00 - Intro
1:56 - What Should Students Still Have to Work Through?
6:39 - Balancing Mastery Learning and AI
9:55 - Knowing When to Bring In AI
10:49 - Rethinking Assessment
12:12 - A Case Study on Northeastern’s Co-Op Program
18:57 - Geography’s Increasingly Role In Higher Ed
26:03 - Colleges Face New ‘Enterprise Risks’
30:34 - Sponsor Break
31:17 - Colleges Look to Clarify Their Purpose
27:31 - Do Colleges Really Prepare Students for Jobs?
35:26 - Judgement Requires Knowledge
38:14 - Moving ‘Beyond Silos’
41:33 - Making Pathways Dependable
43:51 - Wrap-Up

“Northeastern University: A New Model for Higher Education?,” Harvard Business School cast study.

“Why some universities are gobbling up campuses all over the place,” by Michael Horn in The Boston Globe.

“After Missing Its Enrollment Goal, Syracuse is Questioning Everything,” in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

“MIT’s Ad Hoc Committee on AI Use in Teaching, Learning, and Research Training Report,” by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“The State of Higher Education 2026,” by Jeff Selingo.

“The Future of the American University,” a report from Cornell University.