In this time of uncertainty and pullback of federal support for higher education, is it time for states to step up and play a greater leadership role in helping colleges better serve students? And if so, how? Jeff and Michael debate those questions on this episode. To set the stage, they talk with Ruth Watkins, president of postsecondary education for Strada Education Foundation and a former college president, about Strada’s new State Opportunity Index. A key theme: the state level may be the ideal one to match educational offerings with available jobs, especially as AI reshapes so many industries. This episode is made with support from Strada Education Foundation.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

3:40 - How a New Report Measures State Higher Ed Efforts

5:53 - Is This a Time for States to Lead?

8:17 - How to Encourage Competition Among States

10:12 - Which States Lead In Higher Ed ROI

12:52 - Low Tuition Doesn’t Guarantee Good ROI

15:39 - What Can Colleges Do If Job Prospects Are Low in a State?

19:00 - Who Is the Audience for the State Opportunity Index?

21:09 - How Can State Measure Return on Investing in Higher Ed?

23:52 - What Can States Do in Higher Ed to Respond to AI?

26:45 - Sponsor Break

27:55 - Some Context for How States Interact With Federal Higher Ed Support

29:40 - Why Jeff Thinks States and the Feds Aren’t ‘Rowing in the Same Direction’

32:00 - Why Michael Sees More Alignment in State and Federal Efforts

34:15 - Will States Step In to Support Research?

37:07 - Are Some States Doing Better on Work-Based Learning?

40:54 - Colleges Still Aren’t Comfortable in Their Role of Getting Students Jobs

46:29 - New Leadership Opportunity In Human Capital in the AI Era

48:18 - A Better Way to Measure State Investment

51:56 - Lightning Round With Ruth Watkins

Relevant Links:

2025 Strada State Opportunity Index

Strada Education Foundation 

2025 Grapevine Report

State Higher Education Executive Officers Association

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