The Busts in Buildings, AI, and College Presidencies - Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed | Lyssna här

As winter thaws and spring arrives, Jeff and Michael reflect on six big issues facing higher education. First up, why they think the campus building boom is over — and what comes next. They also discuss how AI is changing both higher ed and the world of work; what recent scandals involving college presidents mean for the sustainability of that job; and why the finances of college sports just don’t add up. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.

Relevant Links:

“From Building to Stewardship,” by Jeff Selingo.

“Labor market impacts of AI: A new measure and early evidence,” by Anthropic.

“AI Isn’t Lightening Workloads. It’s Making Them More Intense,” in The Wall Street Journal.

“2026 Survey of College and University Presidents,” in Inside Higher Ed.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

1:59 - The Campus Building Boom Is Over

4:30 - Moving to ‘Facilities Stewardship’

12:47 - Is Higher Ed Too Negative About AI?

17:47 - ‘AI-Native Universities Will Be Pretty Disruptive’

21:13 - Why the Cost of Acquiring Students Is Key