Search

Home > Future U Podcast > The Busts in Buildings, AI, and College Presidencies
Podcast: Future U Podcast
Episode:

The Busts in Buildings, AI, and College Presidencies

Category: Education
Duration: 00:40:11
Publish Date: 2026-04-07 04:00:00
Description:

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

23:13 - New Report on How AI Is Changing Jobs

29:22 - What’s Happening With the University Presidency?

32:00 - New Survey of College Presidents

33:22 - Why the Finances of College Athletics Don’t Add Up

Connect with Michael Horn:

Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter

Website

LinkedIn

X (Twitter)

Threads  

Connect with Jeff Selingo:

Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You

Sign Up for the Next Newsletter

Website

X (Twitter)

Threads

LinkedIn

Connect with Future U:

Twitter

YouTube

Threads

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn  

Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!

Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Total Play: 0