The Key with Inside Higher Ed

Ep. 189: How the Three-Year Degree Could Save Higher Ed With Robert Zemsky

Robert Zemsky is a pioneer in market analysis of higher education and served as the founding director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Research on Higher Education, one of the country's leading public policy centers specializing in educational research and analysis. In this episode of The Key, Zemsky speaks with Inside Higher Ed's editor in chief Sara Custer about his biggest project yet: championing three-year bachelor's degrees in the U.S. 

He argues that higher education is seeing "product rejection" from students and that three-year degrees are the solution. But Bob is careful not to be proscriptive about how colleges develop shorter programs. His message to educators is: try it, you might like it.

Ep. 188: Accreditation, the Budget Bill and Rumors of a Second Compact

News editor Katherine Knott joins editor in chief Sara Custer for an IHE newsroom updated on federal policy. Katherine shares what she expects will be on the agenda in the negotiated rule making for accreditation and how the department will run the process. At the time of recording the government was shut down, but Katherine explains how the budget bill awaiting passage in the House is far more generous to higher ed than the White House’s proposals. And rumors are swirling that the administration will unveil a second compact soon. 

 

Thanks to our partners The Gates Foundation for sponsoring this episode. 

Ep. 187: AI, Writing and Student Agency with John Warner

Best-selling author, Inside Higher Ed columnist and educator John Warner joins IHE’s editor in chief Sara Custer to discuss how institutions can continue to help students learn and grow when AI threatens to do everything for them.

Read John’s IHE column “Just Visiting”

Check out John’s latest book More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI

Ep. 186: What Does a Student-Centered Data Strategy Look Like?

Collecting and analyzing student data and then acting on any findings to support student success is a struggle for many institutions. Often data is in the wrong format, inaccessible to the right teams or there are so many analytics colleges don’t know where to start. Many administrators also lack the data literacy needed to make accurate, data-informed decisions.

In this episode, we’re sharing a discussion Inside Higher Ed Editor in Chief Sara Custer had with higher ed leaders at IHE’s Student Success 2025 event. Courtney Brown, vice-president of strategic impact and planning at the Lumina Foundation, Elliot Felix, the higher education advisory practice lead at Buro Happold and Mark Milliron the president of National University bring unique experiences and perspectives to the question of how institutions can be data-driven and student centered.

This episode is sponsored by the Gates Foundation.

Ep.: 185: Three Stories that Defined Higher Ed Policy in 2025

In the final Key episode of 2025, IHE’s news editor Katherine Knott and federal policy reporter Jessica Blake join editor in chief Sara Custer to discuss the three stories that encapsulate the year in state and federal policy.

Ep. 184: Voices of Student Success: 2025 Trends and 2026 Predictions

In her final episode of Voices of Student Success, Inside Higher Ed reporter Ashley Mowreader walks through some of the latest trends in student success in higher education including generative artificial intelligence tools, mental health resources for students, affordability in higher education and internship requirements for students.

Later, hear from Joshua Bay, Inside Higher Ed’s new Student Success reporter, who started Dec. 4.

This episode is sponsored by TimelyCare.

Ep. 183: Voices of Student Success: AI Tool Provides Predictive Analytics Data

This series of Voices of Student Success focuses on the use of generative artificial intelligence in higher education and how technology can support student success goals. 

Central New Mexico Community College is deploying a new AI-powered predictive analytics tool, CampusLens, part of CampusWorks, to improve data visibility in student retention, early alerts and career outcomes.  

In the latest episode of Voices of Student Success, Tracy Hartzler, president of Central New Mexico Community College, discusses the risks with taking on new tools, the college’s approach to change management and the need for more responsive data.  

Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success reporter Ashley Mowreader, this episode is sponsored by TimelyCare. 

Read a transcript of the podcast here. 

Ep. 182: Voices of Student Success: A Liberal Arts College Embraces AI

This series of Voices of Student Success focuses on the use of generative artificial intelligence in higher education and how technology can support student success goals. 

Since 2022, there’s been a surge in the number and types of applications using generative AI, but not all tools are the same. So how can faculty, staff and students learn to identify the differences and determine when it’s appropriate to leverage these tools? 

Colby College developed a platform, called Mule Chat, that allows users to explore several large language models, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and LLaMA. The platform provides a safe “on ramp” into GenAI usage and relies on student tutors to disseminate information to their peers.  

In the latest episode of Voices of Student Success, David Watts, the Director of Colby College's Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and Michael Yankoski, Davis AI research and teaching scientist, discuss the college’s AI institute and how Mule Chat works. 

Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success reporter Ashley Mowreader, this episode is sponsored by TimelyCare. 

Read a transcript.

Ep. 181: TRIO Cuts, Compact Responses and Looking for Signs of Life at ED

In this episode, Katherine Knott, Inside Higher Ed’s news editor, is back to help us unpack the latest higher ed news out of Washington. She speaks with editor in chief Sara Custer about the Trump administration’s higher ed compact—who’s said no, who’s said yes please and who’s artfully dodging the question. We’ll give you the latest on the current round of negotiated rule making. Plus: the TRIO funding cuts affecting 40,000 students, UVA’s zero-dollar settlement that still cost them their president and looking for signs of life at the Department of Education.

 

Track how institutions have responded to the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education 

"Reading Between the Lines on Compact Responses", Inside Higher Ed, Oct. 24, 2025

Ep. 180: Voices of Student Success: Integrating AI in the Classroom

This series of Voices of Student Success focuses on the use of generative artificial intelligence in higher education and how technology can support student success goals. 

A 2025 Inside Higher Ed survey of college provosts found that nearly 30 percent of respondents have reviewed curriculum to ensure that it will prepare students for AI in the workplace, and an additional 63 percent say they have plans to review curriculum for this purpose.  

Touro University in New York was an early adopter of AI-powered tools for experiential learning, encouraging faculty to integrate AI simulations into academic programs to advance students’ career success.   

In the latest episode of Voices of Student Success, Shlomo Argamon, associate provost for artificial intelligence at Touro, discusses the university policy for AI in the classroom, the need for faculty and staff development around AI and the risks of gamification of education.  

Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success reporter Ashley Mowreader, this episode is sponsored by TimelyCare. 

Read a transcript of the podcast here.