Today's Students, Tomorrow's Talent

Twenty-four states allow community and technical colleges to issue bachelors degrees. Proponents argue that these programs are tightly aligned to workforce needs, more affordable, and meet the needs of people who live far or otherwise can't attend a university. Critics are concerned about the quality of education, financing these programs, and competing for enrollment with nearby universities. Guests Dr. Debra Bragg, Jim Reed, and Sunaina Virendra talk through these issue and discuss recent efforts to launch new community college baccalaureate programs.

Discover how higher education serves as a catalyst for climate solutions and societal progress in this live taping of Today's Students, Tomorrow's Talent podcast from the 2025 SXSW Podcast Lounge. Leaders in academia, policy, and environmental advocacy will unpack the role learning beyond high school plays in driving innovation, creating climate resilient economies, and preparing the next generation of changemakers. From cutting-edge research to community engagement initiatives, this show explores how higher education leverages resources to tackle climate challenges, advances equity, and builds a more sustainable future. Gain insights into transformative projects and actionable strategies that demonstrate the societal impact of aligning education with environmental stewardship.

Guests: Tessa LeSage, Chief Impact Officer, Collaboratory Alex McBride, Senior Program Officer, Waverly Street Foundation

Nearly 9 in 10 Americans that currently do not have a degree believe that earning an academic credential is valuable. And yet, there is waning confidence in higher education across the country, as many people ask if they will get a return on their investment. In this episode, we visit Lupita Trujillo, a mother of three, who shares how these decisions sounded in her household. We also review the latest Gallup-Lumina Foundation reports about perceptions of higher education with Dr. Courtney Brown.

REPORTS:

The State of Higher Education 2025 - https://www.gallup.com/analytics/644939/state-of-higher-education.aspx

U.S. Confidence in Higher Education - https://news.gallup.com/poll/646880/confidence-higher-education-closely-divided.aspx

2025 Aspen Prize Winner - https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/press-releases/southwest-wisconsin-technical-college-named-winner-1-million-2025-aspen-prize

This live session, taped at SXSW 2025, explores the interplay between higher education and artificial intelligence, delving into how academic institutions are responding to the proliferation of AI in the workplace and economy. Leaders from academia, economic development, and industry discuss how universities and colleges are advancing research and equipping students with the skills to lead in an AI-powered future. From addressing social inequities to preparing cities for the economy of the future, the conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI when nurtured within higher education, and the tradeoffs that must be made in an education system wired for the past.

• Alisa Miller, Chief AI Officer, Board Director and Co-founder, Pluralytics, Aletheia Marketing and Media; Board Chair, Lumina Foundation
• John McDonald, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Tulsa Innovation Labs
• Julie Schell, Assistant Vice Provost of Academic Technology and Director of the Office of Academic Technology, University of Texas at Austin

In this special edition, we have a conversation on how to drive economic growth, strengthen civic life, and equip individuals to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Experts from workforce, higher education and philanthropy will dive into how learning after high school cultivates a skilled workforce, fosters innovation, and improves quality of life for American communities. This show was recorded live from the podcast lounge at SXSW.

Community colleges play a critical role in America, but many struggle to tell their own story. This episode dives into how schools are using SEO, branding, and mobile-friendly marketing to reshape perceptions and connect with their communities. Guests from Iowa Lakes, Great Falls, and marketing firm TrendyMinds share insights on innovative strategies—including how a mascot helped one college rebrand. Listen in to hear how community colleges are changing the way they communicate.

Show Links: The Social Media InstituteIowa Lakes "Get To It" CampaignMo the River Otter

Steal These Strategies by Mary Laphen Pope

In a word, the 2024 FAFSA season was rough. Released late, riddled with errors, and issues with processing led to a chaotic college enrollment season for schools and families. With the 2025 FAFSA now released, we took some time to catch up with James Kvaal, Under Secretary of Education to learn how they went about fixing the form. We also talked with Sam Aleinikoff and Dr. Corey Sheffield of College AIM, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, that participated in a pilot group to test the 2025 form.

Show Links:

College AIM - https://collegeaim.org/Ron Lieber's Piece about 2025 FAFSA - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/23/your-money/fafsa-financial-aid-college.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gk4.yk3g.8fYt7EJK8hb-&smid=url-share

Colleges and universities are facing a demographic shift now dubbed the "enrollment cliff." Concerns over a decline in the number of traditional age students has led some institutions to rethink admissions processes. Lumina Foundation's Melanie Heath joins Rathi Sudhakara from the Washington Student Achievement Council and Jonathan Gagliardi from Northern Arizona University to discuss innovative new practices and policies.

Lessons from the Great Admissions Redesign: https://www.luminafoundation.org/news-and-views/the-great-admissions-redesign-three-things-we-learned-when-we-asked-the-nation-to-redo-college-admissions/

States across the country have proposed or enacted legislation that hampers or eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on college campuses. These efforts range from removing diversity statements from job posting to outright elimination of student support services. Erin Gretzinger and Maggie Hicks from the Chronicle of Higher Education gives us a national overview and Veronica Selzler from Hattaway Communications talks about a new toolkit designed to help bridge the communications gap.

The Chronicle's Tracker - https://www.chronicle.com/article/tracking-higher-eds-dismantling-of-dei

Communicating about Racial Equity - https://www.luminafoundation.org/talking-about-racial-equity-and-racial-justice/racial-equity-framework/

Making Opportunity Real: A framework to communicate about racial equity - https://www.luminafoundation.org/resource/making-opportunity-real-a-framework-for-communicating-about-racial-equity/

Recently released data on Lumina's Stronger Nation tool shows that the national education attainment rate has reached 54.3 percent. The country has increased in education attainment by 16 percentage points since 2008. Dr. Courtney Brown and Dr. Chris Mullin of Lumina Foundation share the stories, insights, and considerations under these banner numbers.