Podcast
signals in higher ed
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signals in higher ed cuts through the noise to surface what’s actually working across admissions, enrollment, student success, and institutional strategy—told by the leaders building what’s next. Each episode turns real-world challenges into clear, actionable takeaways you can apply on your campus today. Expect candid conversations on innovation, policy, and the data behind better decisions. Host: Darin Francis—CEO & Managing Partner at Harbinger Lane Consulting and former host of DisruptED.
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Higher Ed's Seed Round: How Universities Decide Which Programs to Build
2d ago01:01:25Tap to summarizeFor years, the decision to launch a new online program rested largely on instinct and institutional appetite. But as competition intensifies and budgets tighten, universities can no longer afford to guess. The programs that succeed are increasingly the ones backed by rigorous market analysis, conservative enrollment modeling, and a clear-eyed view of the costs involved.So when a department wants to build or expand an online program, how should an institution decide whether it is actually worth funding?On this episode of Signals in Higher Ed, host Darin Francis sits down with Fritz Andover, Director of Online Program Support Services at the University of Minnesota, to unpack how that decision really gets made. Andover walks through the process his office uses across all five campuses, from the first conversation with a department chair to the financial modeling that determines whether a program can stand on its own. He explains why he deliberately discounts his own enrollment projections, how his team structures funding to carry programs through the lean early years, and what it takes to knit teaching capacity together across a large public university system.Key takeaways from the conversation…Successful online program decisions start with defensible market research and intentionally conservative enrollment projections, not optimism. Andover discounts his own numbers to avoid building a case on a rosy picture.Andover's office structures support as a two-year, loan-style investment, carrying programs through the ramp-up period before enrollment revenue can offset launch and marketing costs, then stepping back as the program repays the investment over roughly five years. He calls it a booster-rocket model.The "distributed" mandate goes beyond online launches. Part of the work is connecting teaching capacity across campuses so students can complete a program from different locations, online or in person, without administrative friction, a use of scale smaller institutions cannot replicate.Fritz Andover is the Director of Online Program Support Services at the University of Minnesota, where his office works across all five campuses to evaluate market opportunity, model enrollment scenarios, and help academic units secure funding for new and expanded programs. He brings an unusually broad background to the role, having started as a history PhD student at Washington University in St. Louis before moving into educational technology, spending nearly a decade working directly with faculty at Macalester College, earning a doctorate in higher education policy and administration at Minnesota, and working at a small online program management firm before returning to the university system. That combination of faculty-side experience, institutional research, and OPM market work shapes how he approaches program decisions today.
Transcribe →From Measuring Memory to Measuring Thinking: How Simulation-Based Learning Could Reshape Higher Education
3w ago00:37:50Tap to summarizeAs artificial intelligence continues reshaping the workforce, higher education faces growing pressure to demonstrate its value beyond content mastery. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, employers expect 39% of workers’ core skills to change or become outdated by 2030, while 69% identify analytical thinking as the most essential workforce skill. As a result, employers are increasingly prioritizing critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities—capabilities that AI cannot easily replicate.If employers care less about what students can memorize and more about how they think, how can colleges effectively measure and develop those durable human skills at scale?On this episode of Signals in Higher Ed, host Darin Francis sits down with Chad Wilson, Founder and CEO of immersionED, to explore how AI-powered simulations are creating new opportunities for experiential learning. Wilson shares his journey from studying history and classics to founding an education technology company focused on immersive, adaptive learning experiences. Together, they discuss how simulation-based learning can bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and workforce readiness while offering institutions new ways to assess student growth.Key takeaways from the conversation…Simulation-based learning is helping students develop real-world skills faster than traditional instructional methods, particularly among students who have historically struggled in conventional academic environments.Generative AI has unlocked a new era of scalable experiential learning, enabling adaptive simulations that respond dynamically to student decisions rather than relying on predetermined pathways.The future of assessment may be a dynamic skills transcript, allowing institutions to track and measure critical thinking, communication, empathy, and problem-solving across courses, disciplines, and career pathways.Chad Wilson is the Founder & CEO of immersionED, a Techstars-backed edtech startup building AI-powered adaptive simulations that measure learners’ reasoning, decision-making, and competencies in real time. He brings a rare mix of education, product, venture, and finance experience, having worked as a high school history teacher, EdTech investing intern at Owl Ventures, and investment banking analyst at Morgan Stanley. His career highlights include growing immersionED to roughly 4,000 school signups, raising funding from angels and accelerators, partnering with organizations such as Arizona State University, The Gilder Lehrman Institute, and NVIDIA, and improving student engagement and test scores through game-based learning.
Transcribe →Scaling Experiential Learning in the Curriculum: How Iron Range Engineering Transformed Engineering Education
Jun 100:54:08Tap to summarizeEngineering has transformed nearly every part of modern life, from the phones in our pockets to the systems powering global industry. But the way engineers are educated has often moved far more slowly than the profession itself. Employers are asking for graduates who can navigate ambiguity, communicate across teams, and contribute meaningfully from the start. At the same time, AI is making it harder to rely on closed-answer assessments as proof of real understanding. Together, those pressures are forcing colleges to rethink what real mastery looks like in technical fields—and whether the traditional classroom-first model is still enough.So what would it take to redesign an engineering degree around real work, real projects, and real professional development—with community college transfer students at the center?On Signals in Higher Ed, host Darin Francis speaks with Dr. Ron Ulseth, founder of Iron Range Engineering, about how the program moved from project-based learning to a long-form work-based model. Their conversation covers Iron Range Engineering’s origins, its use of community college pathways, its shift toward 24-month work placements, and what other institutions can learn from its approach to curriculum, assessment, employer alignment, and student preparation.Top insights from the talk…Experiential learning can be an equalizer. Dr. Ulseth describes Iron Range Engineering as a model that helps “normal people” become engineers by giving students structured, applied experiences rather than relying only on traditional admissions filters or exam performance.Assessment has to move beyond closed-answer tests. Instead of relying primarily on written exams, the program uses verbal exams, whiteboard demonstrations, reflection, and feedback loops to assess whether students can explain, validate, and apply engineering knowledge.Employer relationships are built through student value. Rather than starting with a fixed list of employer partners, the program trains students to become strong job seekers, interviewers, and workplace contributors. When students perform well, companies come back asking for more.Dr. Ron Ulseth is the founder of Iron Range Engineering. He began his teaching career in the U.S. Navy, teaching undergraduate engineering subjects including thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer, and later spent decades in community college engineering education. His work at Iron Range Engineering has helped earn national recognition, including ABET accreditation and an ABET innovation award for the program’s project-based model.
Transcribe →Creative Confidence and Moral Courage: The Leadership Traits Business Schools Should Be Betting On
May 2500:54:48Tap to summarizeWhat students need from higher education is becoming harder to pin down than it once was. As higher education faces mounting pressure—from student disengagement to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence—institutions are being forced to rethink not just what students learn, but who they become. New research and industry signals suggest that technical knowledge alone is no longer enough; employers increasingly value adaptability, ethical reasoning, and real-world problem-solving. Against this backdrop, experiential learning and values-driven leadership are emerging as critical differentiators, especially as AI reshapes both the workforce and the classroom.So what does it actually take to prepare students—not just to succeed in business—but to lead with purpose in an unpredictable, tech-driven world?Welcome to Signals in Higher Ed. In the latest episode, host Darin Francis sits down with Dr. Dayle Smith, Dean of the College of Business Administration at Loyola Marymount University, to explore how moral courage and creative confidence are being embedded into modern business education. Their conversation spans Jesuit pedagogy, experiential learning design, and how institutions can cultivate leaders equipped to navigate ethical complexity while driving innovation.Top insights from the talk…Moral courage as a leadership competency: Students are trained to make ethical decisions that balance profitability with responsibility to communities, employees, and stakeholders.Creative confidence through experiential learning: A “fail forward” mindset encourages risk-taking, adaptability, and innovation in real-world contexts.Education beyond the classroom: Programs like LMU’s CBA Advantage integrate reflection, application, and co-curricular experiences to deepen student development.Dr. Dayle Smith is Dean of the College of Business Administration at Loyola Marymount University and a globally recognized leader in business education, having previously served as dean at Clarkson University and holding extensive academic leadership experience at institutions including Georgetown and the University of San Francisco. Her expertise spans leadership development, organizational behavior, experiential learning, and values-driven business education, complemented by international teaching, a Fulbright fellowship in Hong Kong, and consulting work with organizations such as Cisco, Wells Fargo, and the U.S. State Department. She is also a published author and active board leader across global education and business organizations, with multiple recognitions including repeated selection to the LA 500 list of most influential business leaders.
Transcribe →Higher Ed Must Build a Talent Supply Chain to Fix Workforce Readiness
May 1800:54:36Tap to summarizeThe traditional pathway from college to career is starting to break down—and both universities and employers are feeling the strain. Higher education is under mounting pressure to prove career outcomes as employers question graduate readiness and internships decline. In fact, many institutions are reporting shrinking internship pipelines even as employers continue to prioritize prior experience—creating a growing structural mismatch in the talent market. As a result, universities are being pushed to rethink how they prepare students—not just through isolated programs, but through scalable, system-wide approaches to career readiness. The stakes are clear: institutions that fail to adapt risk losing relevance in an increasingly outcomes-driven era.So what happens when traditional pathways—like internships—can no longer carry the full weight of workforce preparation? And how can universities proactively build a more reliable, scalable “talent supply chain” for industry?These questions sit at the heart of the latest episode of Signals in Higher Ed. Host Darin Francis sits down with Steve Russell, Chief Partnership Officer at Bowling Green State University, to explore how institutions can move beyond transactional employer relationships toward deeply integrated partnerships that reshape student outcomes. The conversation spans experiential learning, industry engagement, and the evolving infrastructure needed to connect education with workforce demands.What you’ll learn…Why internships alone can’t meet demand—and how scalable, project-based learning can fill the gap.How to turn employer relationships from one-off transactions into long-term, value-driven partnerships.What a “talent supply chain” really means—and how it could reshape collaboration between universities and industry.Steve Russell is a higher education executive with over a decade of experience leading corporate engagement, workforce development, and career design initiatives that connect universities with industry. He currently serves as Chief Partnership Officer at Bowling Green State University, where he builds strategic partnerships to scale work-integrated learning, research collaboration, and talent pipelines that drive student career outcomes. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong track record in partnership development, team leadership, and launching large-scale student success initiatives, including building a multimillion-dollar student success center and expanding corporate engagement efforts across institutions.
Transcribe →Engineering Education Needs to Be Human-Centered, Purpose-Driven, and Grounded in Real-World Problem Solving
May 1100:41:04Tap to summarizeStudent disengagement, the rapid rise of AI, and shifting workforce expectations are pushing higher education to rethink how it prepares graduates. Engineering programs—long defined by rigor and technical depth—are now under pressure to stay relevant, improve retention, and produce graduates who can actually solve real-world problems, not just theoretical ones. And the numbers back that up: engineering programs in the U.S. see dropout rates as high as 40–50%, with even higher attrition at regional universities, pointing to deeper structural issues in how these programs are designed and delivered.So how can engineering education evolve without sacrificing its rigor—and still attract, engage, and retain a broader, more diverse group of students?Welcome to Signals in Higher Ed. In the latest episode, host Darin Francis sits down with Dr. Marcello Nitz, Rector of the Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia in Brazil, to explore how human-centered engineering and experiential learning are reshaping the future of engineering education. Their conversation spans curriculum design, student motivation, faculty alignment, and the measurable impact of embedding purpose into technical training.Top insights from the talk…Human-centered engineering reframes technical work through impact: By connecting engineering projects to real human outcomes, students develop deeper motivation and broader perspective.Experiential learning builds true competency—not just knowledge: Hands-on, real-world problem solving helps students apply theory and develop critical skills like empathy and judgment.Retention improves when students find meaning: Programs that integrate purpose-driven learning have seen dropout rates cut in half in early semesters.Dr. Marcello Nitz is an academic leader and the Rector of Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia, where he oversees institutional strategy, academic operations, and large-scale curriculum transformation. With nearly three decades of experience as a professor and administrator, he has led engineering programs, taught core subjects like thermodynamics and transport phenomena, and driven initiatives to strengthen faculty research and industry collaboration. A researcher in particulate systems and fluid dynamics, Nitz also brings industry and startup experience, along with a strong record of funded projects, publications, and international partnerships.
Transcribe →Scaling Career-Ready Skills: How Adaptive Learning and Generative AI Are Transforming Higher Education
May 400:56:02Tap to summarizeSkills-based learning has moved from buzzword to mandate as colleges face mounting pressure to connect credentials, employability, and measurable learner outcomes. Employers are increasingly using skills-based hiring practices, and NACE’s Job Outlook 2026 notes that students need to demonstrate concrete examples of skills in action during hiring processes. At the same time, higher education leaders are rethinking cost, ROI, and the value of credentials as institutions confront uncertainty and changing workforce expectations.So, if the traditional credit-hour model is under pressure, can adaptive learning, simulations, and generative AI help institutions build more relevant pathways from coursework to career readiness?On this episode of Signals in Higher Ed, host Darin Francis speaks with Phillip Miller, CEO of Skillwell, about the growing momentum behind adaptive learning, immersive simulations, and generative AI-powered course design. Their conversation explores why institutions are rethinking online learning, how Skillwell is combining adaptive pathways with simulation-based practice, and where higher ed can better align with corporate learning and workforce needs.Top insights from the talk…Skills-based learning has reached a “fever pitch.” Miller says ASU GSV reflected a broader willingness among universities to rethink legacy models, including the credit hour.Generative AI is changing the economics of adaptive learning. What once required building dozens of course pathways manually can now be supported by AI-assisted content and simulation design.Higher ed and corporate learning are converging around outcomes. Miller argues that career-focused online programs and corporate training share similar needs: assess skills, close gaps, and validate learning.Phillip Miller is the CEO of Skillwell, a company focused on immersive and adaptive simulations for higher education and corporate learning. He has more than 20 years of experience in edtech, including leadership roles with Open LMS, Blackboard, and Angel Learning. Miller previously led Open LMS through three acquisitions that helped create the world’s largest Moodle provider, and he has advised early-stage learning technology companies on product strategy, fundraising, and go-to-market growth.
Transcribe →Closing the Education-to-Employment Gap: The Rise of the Career Center as Campus Infrastructure
Apr 2800:52:45Tap to summarizeHigher education is under mounting pressure to prove its value. As student debt, shifting demographics, and employer expectations reshape the landscape, institutions are being forced to rethink how they prepare students for life after graduation. At the same time, new data shows a sharp rise in internship-to-full-time hiring, with recent cohorts converting at their highest rate in years—underscoring how critical hands-on experience has become. Yet many institutions still stop short of requiring structured career education, creating a widening gap between how students are prepared and how they ultimately enter the workforce.So what happens when the traditional “career services office” is no longer enough? How can universities evolve career centers into something more embedded, scalable, and essential to student success?On this episode of Signals in Higher Ed, host Darin Francis sits down with Dr. Patrick Madsen, Associate Dean of Advising & Experiential Learning at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, to explore a fundamental shift: moving from career services as a standalone function to a fully integrated campus ecosystem. The conversation dives into how institutions can embed experiential learning at scale, align stakeholders across campus, and redefine career readiness as a shared responsibility.What you’ll learn…How career centers are shifting from optional support services to core drivers of institutional value and ROI.Why experiential learning must go beyond traditional internships—and what scalable, flexible models actually work today.How leading institutions use data, infrastructure, and cross-campus collaboration to deliver measurable student outcomes.Dr. Patrick Madsen is a senior higher education leader who specializes in integrating academic advising, career education, and experiential learning into scalable, data-driven student success systems, most notably through the development of the “Charlotte Model.” Dr. Madsen has led large, cross-functional teams and multimillion-dollar portfolios, driving innovation in career ecosystems, employer partnerships, and experiential learning infrastructure to improve retention, graduation, and workforce outcomes. With over 20 years of experience—including leadership roles at institutions like UNC Charlotte, Johns Hopkins University, and UNC Greensboro—he is also an experienced educator, national speaker, and consultant on career development, organizational strategy, and university-industry alignment.
Transcribe →If Higher Ed Wants Experiential Learning at Scale, It Needs a Broader Playbook
Apr 2101:01:19Tap to summarizeThe ground is shifting under higher education. AI is changing how people learn almost overnight—and at the same time, more than half of graduates are underemployed after finishing their degrees. That’s forcing a more uncomfortable question into the open: what is a college credential really worth today? As employers and governments shift their focus toward skills, experience, and job readiness, institutions are under growing pressure to adapt—or risk falling behind.So what comes next for higher education—and how can it adapt quickly enough to meet the demands of students, employers, and society?Welcome to Signals in Higher Ed. In this episode, guest host Dr. Nicole Crevar convenes a founders roundtable on experiential learning with Jason Blackstock of How to Change the World, Dana Stephenson of Riipen, and Jeffrey Moss of Parker Dewey. Together, they unpack how experiential learning—hands-on, real-world problem solving—is shifting from the margins to the core of higher education, and what it will take to scale it across institutions.Top insights from the talk…Experiential learning is no longer optional—it’s becoming the central pillar of higher education, driven by AI and workforce demands.The biggest gaps in today’s system are relevancy, signaling, and trust, with employers increasingly skeptical of traditional credentials.Scaling experiential learning requires a mix of models—curricular, co-curricular, employer-led, and community-based—rather than a single standardized approach.Jason Blackstock is a social entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of How to Change the World, with a career spanning quantum physics, technology innovation, and higher education leadership. He has taught and led research at leading institutions including Harvard, Oxford, and University College London, where he founded and led the STEaPP department, and has authored over 100 publications and multiple patents. Today, he works at the intersection of education, policy, and innovation, advising global organizations and driving large-scale experiential learning initiatives through his ventures.Dana Stephenson is the co-founder and CEO of Riipen, the world’s largest experiential learning marketplace, focused on connecting students with real-world industry projects to bridge the gap between education and employment. He has spent over a decade building partnerships between employers and academic institutions, enabling businesses to access pre-vetted emerging talent while helping learners develop in-demand skills, including those shaped by AI and new technologies. His work centers on scaling work-integrated learning, driving innovation in talent pipelines, and improving career outcomes through hands-on, project-based experiences.Jeffrey Moss is the founder and CEO of Parker Dewey, where he pioneered micro-internships as a model for experiential recruiting and improving the college-to-career transition. With a background spanning venture capital and senior leadership roles at organizations like Educational Testing Service (ETS), he has driven innovation at the intersection of employer branding, skills-based hiring, and workforce development. His work focuses on helping employers better assess early-career talent while expanding access to meaningful work opportunities for students and recent graduates.
Transcribe →Career-Connected Health Care: Why the Apprenticeship Degree Is the Future
Apr 1300:45:25Tap to summarizeHospitals across the country are feeling the strain—too many open roles, not enough trained professionals, and a growing gap between what students learn and what the job actually demands on day one. Training is getting more expensive, timelines are stretching, and healthcare leaders are being forced to rethink how new clinicians enter the field. Add in rapid changes like AI and increasingly complex patient needs, and the pressure is on to prepare people faster—and better—than ever before.So the question becomes: if traditional degrees aren’t keeping pace with workforce needs, what model actually will?Welcome to Signals in Higher Ed. In the latest episode, host Darin Francis sits down with Geoffrey M. Roche, Senior Vice President of Healthcare Solutions at Risepoint, to explore how apprenticeship degrees and career-connected learning could fundamentally reshape healthcare education. Their conversation spans policy, workforce development, clinical training, and the evolving role of higher education in preparing the next generation of clinicians.Top insights from the talk…Apprenticeship degrees may be the missing link between classroom learning and real-world clinical readiness—embedding students directly into healthcare systems.Healthcare education must become fully career-connected, with continuous feedback loops from employers shaping curriculum and training models in real time.Systemic bottlenecks—like clinical placements and outdated regulations—are limiting innovation, but can be addressed through stronger partnerships between industry and academia.Geoffrey M. Roche is a healthcare and higher education executive specializing in workforce development, academic strategy, and building scalable, employer-aligned training programs. As Senior Vice President at Risepoint and former Director of Workforce Development at Siemens Healthineers, he has led national initiatives to create future-ready healthcare talent pipelines and advance health equity. His career spans executive leadership in healthcare systems, academia, and policy, with a strong track record of forging cross-sector partnerships, driving innovation, and shaping workforce transformation at scale.
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