EdUp Insights

Elliot Felix is a leading voice in higher education strategy, widely recognized as an author, speaker, and consultant who has worked with more than a hundred colleges and universities to improve student success. With a background in design, Felix focuses on creating “connected colleges” by reimagining spaces, services, and technology to foster belonging and streamline the student experience. He fo...

Dr. Kiko Suarez is a dynamic leader in higher education and workforce development, best known for his pioneering work in apprenticeship models and educational innovation. Currently serving as Chief Impact Officer and Head of Partnerships at Reach University, he also co-hosts the “Apprenticeship 2.0” podcast, where he discusses strategies for aligning AmeriCorps, apprenticeship frameworks, and care...

In this episode of Ed Up Insights "From the Field" , Chuck Ambrose and Therese Scanlan dive into one of the most critical yet underutilized tools in higher education—the Academic Performance and Program Viability (APPV) portfolio . They break down what an academic portfolio really is, why it matters, and how it transforms from a simple assessment tool into a powerful management resource...

Jamie Merisotis joins us for an insightful conversation on the future of work, learning, and leadership. As president and CEO of Lumina Foundation since 2008, Jamie is a globally recognized voice in higher education, human work, and public policy. His thought leadership has shaped national conversations on college affordability and workforce readiness, and his bestselling books—America Needs Talen...

The latest Ed Up Insights episode spotlights Paul Glastris, Editor in Chief of Washington Monthly , in a compelling conversation about building campuses that prepare students for citizenship and societal impact. Glastris shares actionable ideas on fostering democratic engagement, improving affordability, and aligning higher education with economic mobility and public service. This episode offers p...

The Ed Up Insights “From the Field” episode with Therese Scanlan and Chuck Ambrose explores practical strategies for higher education leaders. Together, they share decades of experience on enrollment, financial sustainability, and innovation—making this a must-listen for anyone shaping the future of colleges and universities.

Mike Nietzel is a leading voice in higher education and former President of Missouri State University. He’s served as a senior policy advisor to Missouri’s governor and now writes for Forbes on college access and affordability. With decades of experience shaping education policy and leadership, Mike offers sharp insights on the future of universities and student success.

Dr. Adam Bush is the co-founder and President of College Unbound, an accredited institution focused on adult learners and educational equity. He champions project-based learning and flexible pathways for students balancing work and family. A jazz oral historian with a Ph. D. from USC, Bush has earned national recognition for civic engagement and innovation in higher education, including the K. Pat...

Amy Privette Perko is a leading voice in college sports reform and the Chief Executive Officer of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, a role she has held since 2016 after serving as its executive director since 2005. Under her leadership, the Commission has driven transformative changes in NCAA policy, including requiring teams to meet academic benchmarks for postseason eligibility...

We’re diving into the world of higher education with Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, a trailblazing scholar and advocate for college affordability. Known for founding the #RealCollege movement and The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, Dr. Goldrick-Rab has reshaped how we think about student success by spotlighting issues like food and housing insecurity. Her groundbreaking book Paying the Pr...

In Greek mythology Cassandra was a Trojan princess who was bestowed the gift of prophecy by Apollo.  But after the two had a falling out, Apollo punished her with the curse that her prophecies would not be believed. In this episode I’ll look at several visionary innovations in higher education that were ignored, resisted and reviled for decades but eventually became widespread throughout the highe...

Higher education has intentionally plunged into the choppy cultural waters that currently engulf American society and finds that it can’t swim.  Traditional funding mechanisms are becoming uncertain as social and political swells are creating a relentless undertow that higher ed must avoid.  Calls for curricular and infrastructure reforms have institutions scrambling to stay afloat or, in some cas...

Research finds that associate and bachelor’s degree holders have similar growth in earnings right after graduation, but that the differences widen over time.  Accordingly, it has been posited that the longer out you look at growth in earnings, the better the impact of a degree can be determined. Raw numbers would appear to support the premise that the higher the degree, the greater the growth in e...

There is growing concern that students do not come to higher education prepared to engage in constructive, civil discourse, nor is this proficiency sufficiently fostered in the higher education community. Politics and social issues have become personal matters in America, and higher education has allowed itself to be unduly influenced by polarizing external factors. The result is that bias is impe...

In an effort to recover from the blowback of having taken public positions on political and social issues, institutions of higher education are seeking refuge in the shelter of institutional neutrality.  By wading into the contentious fray of current events, institutions have learned the difference between being an impartial facilitator dedicated to fostering open discourse and an active advocate...

There is considerable angst being expressed about the impact that the new administration will have on higher education.  There is worry that the sector is being targeted in the executive orders that are flowing from Washington, as well as by state governments.  In this episode I’ll try to sort out some of the rhetoric from reality.  I’ll look at the evolving relationship of government to higher ed...

Authority in higher education is a dicey issue. It has traditionally been assumed that faculty own the curriculum, protected by the principles of academic freedom that allow them the license to pursue controversial topics in teaching and research. This stands apart from the First Amendment right of free speech enjoyed by all American citizens. Recent actions by state boards of trustees and legisla...

There is considerable disagreement these days over what constitutes general education and who determines what the curriculum should be.  One point of view characterizes the core of general education as a body of content that provides students with a common, unifying body of knowledge that all educated Americans can build upon.  Another view sees the core as including a survey of culturally relevan...

Recently, the higher education sector has been attempting to redefine its role in both the education ecosystem and society. This episode looks at how the function, but not the form, of higher education has evolved from serving an agrarian society to today’s knowledge-based economy. Specifically, I’ll maintain that the struggles of higher education to re-establish a self-identity come from higher e...

The ongoing debate about how students figure into the higher education business model has a new entry.  They should be treated as “clients.” In this episode I’ll contrast this view with the traditional view of students as empty vessels to be filled and the student-as-customer view. In all cases, I’ll reveal that the models are not really about serving students; they are about faculty, institutions...

Higher education is facing a perilous metaphor.  It is approaching a demographic cliff, a precipitous decline in student population that could have devastating consequences for the higher ed ecosystem. Recent studies chide higher education for not responding to a change that has been projected for some time, and that apparently comes as a shock to many institutions. In this episode I’ll explain ho...

Noam Chomsky once said, “Nobody is going to pour truth into your brain. It's something you have to find out for yourself . ” As I reflect on some of the turmoil in higher education—and society in general—it occurs to me that Chomsky’s counsel is falling on deaf ears.  Increasingly, the public is relying on the media as a proxy for direct access to information and the truth. This has resulted in th...

A recent study by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association outlines trends in the relative contributions made by states, the federal government, and students to the cost of higher education. The study also makes several policy recommendations that might ease the burden on students. That sounds promising, except that the recommendations all involve increasing state and federal allo...

There is considerable speculation about what a new administration in Washington will mean for higher education in America, and in particular for the Department of Education. It is likely that issues like DEI, rising costs, campus unrest, and federal policy missteps could lead to increased scrutiny of the education sector and possible policy changes.  But would this be a bad thing? In this episode...

There’s a lot of conflict in higher ed these days. Students battle with institutions. Faculty battle with students. Everybody battles with state and federal government. But there is relatively little compromise or resolution. And that is because the fine art of negotiation has been abandoned. Combatants in higher education, as well as in broader society, have rejected compromise in favor of chaoti...