With traditional higher ed getting more scrutiny than ever in 2025, Kathleen deLaski, author of “Who Needs College Anymore?”, wants us to think much more expansively about exactly how we define college. Her goal? To make it more relevant, and more accessible, to more people.

Kathleen, a former TV correspondent and founder of the influential Education Design Lab, explains that she used to be on the “college for all” bandwagon. But she’s become persuaded that college isn’t right for everyone, and that we urgently need more and better alternatives for the “new majority learners” who she argues haven’t been well-served by many colleges and universities. 

Higher Ed Spotlight is hosted and co-produced by Ben Wildavsky, in partnership with Antica Productions.

The global race for technological dominance is transforming how nations approach education and workforce development. In the U.S., the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act is a multibillion-dollar initiative to boost semiconductor manufacturing, counter China’s influence, and drive economic growth. But what does this legislation mean for college students, higher education and workforce training?

In this episode, Shalin Jyotishi, Founder of New America's Future of Work and Innovation Economy Initiative, unpacks the Act’s impact on higher education and workforce development. He highlights its potential to meet the rising demand for skilled workers in high-tech industries by investing in education and training programs. Shalin also explores how the Act aims to strengthen community colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), supporting innovative training programs and fostering opportunities in institutions that have traditionally been underfunded in high-tech workforce initiatives.

We also examine challenges such as recent funding cuts to the National Science Foundation, political shifts, and the complexities of industrial policy. Shalin underscores the need for stronger collaboration between colleges and industry to align education with market demands and prepare students for the high-tech jobs of the future.

Higher Ed Spotlight is sponsored by Chegg’s Center for Digital Learning and aims to explore the future of higher education. It is produced by Antica Productions.

Two-thirds of future jobs are projected to require post-secondary credentials, but too few workers hold them. Western Governors University President Scott Pulsipher explains how WGU is tackling this challenge with a new approach to higher education. Its innovative competency-based education model allows students to earn college degrees for skills they've already mastered, fast-tracking their preparation for the future workforce.

Scott also discusses WGU's recent acquisition of Craft Education, a technology platform that helps convert on-the-job learning into academic credits. This acquisition supports innovative pathways that integrate work-based experiences with educational programs such as degree apprenticeships. Scott unpacks the role employers can play in upskilling their teams rather than hiring externally, as well as the cultural shift required to make higher education more accessible to everyone.

Higher Ed Spotlight is sponsored by Chegg’s Center for Digital Learning and aims to explore the future of higher education. It is produced by Antica Productions.

The troubled launch of what was supposed to be a new and improved Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, has created frustration for students and parents. The widespread delays have left students uncertain about the future of their education and sparked headlines nationwide.

In this episode, Ben sits down with Harvard professor and financial aid expert Susan Dynarski to unpack the FAFSA rollout and the turmoil it caused across higher education. The setback led to a significant drop in applications, especially among first-time college students.

Susan explores why financial aid is essential to college access and examines what went wrong with the ambitious redesign. She also discusses potential solutions, from using tax data to simplify applications for students to the possibility of eliminating the FAFSA altogether. This conversation sheds light on what’s at stake for students nationwide and what changes are needed to make financial aid more accessible and equitable.

Higher Ed Spotlight is sponsored by Chegg’s Center for Digital Learning and aims to explore the future of higher education. It is produced by Antica Productions.

In this episode of Higher Ed Spotlight, we speak with Nicholas Lemann, professor of journalism at Columbia University, about his latest book, Higher Admissions: The Rise, Decline, and Return of Standardized Testing.

Twenty-five years after his seminal work, The Big Test, Lemann revisits the role of standardized testing in college admissions during a pivotal moment in higher education.  With debates reigniting around the SAT—particularly following the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning affirmative action and the reinstatement of the test by some colleges—Lemann explores the SAT’s history in shaping the elite academic institutions, and its broader impact on student access to higher education. Lemann also considers the value of standardized scores and the potential move towards evaluating students through curriculum-based mastery.

Higher Ed Spotlight is sponsored by Chegg’s Center for Digital Learning and aims to explore the future of higher education. It is produced by Antica Productions.

In this episode, John B. King, Jr., Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY) and former U.S. Secretary of Education, explores the pivotal role public universities play in promoting student success and advancing equity in higher education. He discusses SUNY’s commitment to affordable education that opens doors to social mobility and economic advancement, particularly for low-income students and those from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. King addresses how institutions can continue to foster inclusion in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn race-based affirmative action.

Shifting the focus to career readiness, King highlights SUNY’s efforts to integrate paid internships into college programs, helping students gain valuable workforce skills. Reflecting on his tenure as U.S. Secretary of Education, he shares his experience shutting down predatory for-profit colleges. 

This conversation offers a deep dive into how higher ed can shape a more equitable future for all students.

Higher Ed Spotlight is sponsored by Chegg’s Center for Digital Learning and aims to explore the future of higher education. It is produced by Antica Productions.

In this episode, Dan Porterfield, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute and author of Mindset Matters, explains how fostering a growth mindset can unlock new learning and drive student success, empowering learners helping them to thrive in a world increasingly shaped by AI.

He shares powerful insights from his years as an educator and mentor, introducing different kinds of student mindsets like the 'discoverer'––one that drives innovation through curiosity, driving breakthroughs that can reshape industries and communities.  He highlights the need for education that prepares college students for lifelong growth while expanding access to underserved groups. Dan also gives practical advice, including how students can build a "life resume" to activate their growth mindset and succeed in college and beyond.

Higher Ed Spotlight is sponsored by Chegg’s Center for Digital Learning and aims to explore the future of higher education. It is produced by Antica Productions.

As the job market evolves at lightning speed, the conversation around skills, degrees, and higher education's role in preparing college students with both - has never been more critical.

In this episode, Matt Sigelman, President of the Burning Glass Institute, explains degree inflation—the trend of requiring college degrees for jobs that previously didn’t need them. He explores why, despite the buzz, only a small fraction of employers have moved toward skills-based hiring instead. Sigelman also shares insights into how real-time skills data can provide a clearer understanding of the job market and the need for a blend of foundational and technical skills to achieve economic mobility.

We explore the rise of what Matt calls "power skills" in the age of generative AI, and why it’s crucial to align education with these new realities to ensure workers and students are prepared for the future. Discover how skills are reshaping talent acquisition and what it means for the future of work.

Higher Ed Spotlight is sponsored by Chegg’s Center for Digital Learning and aims to explore the future of higher education. It is produced by Antica Productions.

Back to School, Back to Standoffs? CDI's Mission for Civil Discourse on College Campuses.

As the back to school season begins, fostering real dialogue amongst students, faculty, and the broader community on college campuses has never been more urgent. In this episode, we spotlight the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) and its mission to promote civil discourse in higher education. 

Our guest, Mary Aviles, Insights & Experience Lead at CDI, reveals the critical behind-the-scenes work—like updating campus protest policies—that ensures fairness and readiness when conflicts arise. She also introduces CDI’s ‘Perspectives’ program, where students with different viewpoints practise tough conversations in a safe, peer-to-peer environment. A core principle of CDI, “letting go of winning,” is highlighted as a means to shift from debate to dialogue, nurturing relationships built on understanding rather than competition. With global tensions high and a heated U.S. election on the horizon, the need for constructive campus dialogue is clear. Discover how CDI is helping to transform debates into meaningful, relationship-building discussions. 

Higher Ed Spotlight is sponsored by Chegg’s Center for Digital Learning and aims to explore the future of higher education. It is produced by Antica Productions.

Today we explore the hidden struggles faced by low-income students at elite colleges, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our guest is Anthony Abraham Jack, author of "The Privileged Poor," who sheds light on the often-overlooked challenges these students encounter. Jack's new book, "Class Dismissed," shifts focus to how external inequalities still affect students' college experiences. He argues that highly selective universities, despite their vast resources, often fail to support marginalized students adequately, prioritizing performative diversity over substantive help. Jack calls for universities to reassess their policies and genuinely support their most vulnerable students. He offers actionable suggestions for change - calling his new book both “a critique of what happened” and “an invitation about what could be.”

Higher Ed Spotlight is sponsored by Chegg’s Center for Digital Learning and aims to explore the future of higher education. It is produced by Antica Productions.