ACE's dotEDU Podcast

​​​​​Welcome to Season 5 of dotEDU, ACE's higher education podcast! Join our hosts Jon Fansmith, Mushtaq Gunja, and Sarah Spreitzer as they delve into the policy aspects of issues that impact campuses, students, and higher education leaders. They're joined by guest experts to explore topics such as student aid policy, the Department of Education regulatory agenda, diversity in admissions, the value of higher education, and much more.

Latest Episodes


FAFSA Glitches Leave Students, Colleges in Limbo

Hosts Jon and Mushtaq are joined by special repeat guest Justin Draeger, president and CEO of NASFAA, to talk about the Education Department’s flawed rollout of the new FAFSA form and the implications for students and colleges as well as what happens next. They also dive into the proposed legislation that would extend Pell Grants to short-term career training programs. (​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Aired March 1, 2024)



dotEDU Live: Is Higher Education Act Reauthorization Finally Happening?

ACE’s Emmanual Guillory, senior director of government relations, joins hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer to talk about the College Cost Reduction Act—the new Higher Education Act reauthorization bill from House Republicans—as well as the status of funding the federal government for FY 2024 and the latest on the Department of Education’s problematic FAFSA rollout. (​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Aired February 22, 2024)

All Episodes

 Season Five

FAFSA Glitches Leave Students, Colleges in Limbo
March 1, 2024
FAFSA Glitches Leave Students, Colleges in Limbo
Jon, Sarah, and Mushtaq are thrilled to speak with ACE Board member and American University President Sylvia Burwell as she prepares to finish out her final year at the helm of the Washington, DC, campus.
dotEDU Live: Is Higher Education Act Reauthorization Finally Happening?
February 22, 2024
dotEDU Live: Is Higher Education Act Reauthorization Finally Happening?
ACE’s Emmanual Guillory, senior director of government relations, joins hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer to talk about the College Cost Reduction Act—the new Higher Education Act reauthorization bill from House Republicans.
Beyond Berkeley: Lessons from a University Chancellor on the Front Lines
February 8, 2024
Beyond Berkeley: Lessons from a University Chancellor on the Front Lines
Nicholas Dirks joins Jon, Sarah, and Mushtaq to discuss his new book City of Intellect and his time as chancellor of University of California, Berkeley.
dotEDU Live: New Year, Same Congress—What’s Next for Higher Ed?
January 25, 2024
dotEDU Live: New Year, Same Congress—What’s Next for Higher Ed?
Hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer discuss how the 2024 presidential election might impact higher education and look ak problems with the new FAFSA, the latest House Higher Education Act reauthorization bill, short-term Pell, and more.
AU President Shares Challenges, Triumphs of Presidency
January 11, 2024
AU President Shares Challenges, Triumphs of Presidency
Jon, Sarah, and Mushtaq are thrilled to speak with ACE Board member and American University President Sylvia Burwell as she prepares to finish out her final year at the helm of the Washington, DC, campus.
dotEDU Live: The Year in Higher Education Policy
December 14, 2023
dotEDU Live: The Year in Higher Education Policy
The overarching theme is working through the chaos in Washington, and the lineup includes student loan forgiveness, the Supreme Court's decision on race in admissions, institutional accountability, the uptick in international students, and more.
Carnegie Classifications Reimagined
December 5, 2023
Carnegie Classifications Reimagined
ACE President Ted Mitchell dives into the upcoming changes to the renowned Carnegie Classifications along with Timothy Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
dotEDU Live: The Pre-Thanksgiving Policy Roundup
November 16, 2023
dotEDU Live: The Pre-Thanksgiving Policy Roundup
Hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer are joined by their ACE colleague Steven Bloom to discuss how the never-ending threats of a government shutdown are impacting funding legislation for higher education.
Equity and Inclusion in Silicon Valley and Beyond
November 2, 2023
Equity and Inclusion in Silicon Valley and Beyond
SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson joins the podcast to talk about her first year at the California campus in the heart of Silicon Valley, particularly how to create equitable spaces at public institutions.
dotEDU Live: Chaos in Congress and the Higher Ed Agenda
October 19, 2023
dotEDU Live: Chaos in Congress and the Higher Ed Agenda
Hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer discuss the House speaker race and its implications for the packed agenda—such as the ongoing spending battle—in Congress, as well as its impact on the Biden administration.
Higher Ed Trends to Watch with Scott Jaschik
October 5, 2023
Higher Ed Trends to Watch with Scott Jaschik
Scott Jaschik, formerly of Inside Higher Ed, joins the podcast to talk about what he sees as the top 10 leading trends shaping higher education this year and his predictions for what’s ahead.
dotEDU Live: What’s on the Policy Agenda for Higher Ed This Fall?
September 21, 2023
dotEDU Live: What’s on the Policy Agenda for Higher Ed This Fall?
A government shutdown is looming on the horizon, and ACE’s Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer are back to answer your questions and break down what this means for the higher education community, as well as other issues on this fall’s policy agenda.

 Season Four

Biden’s Loan Forgiveness Program Fails Supreme Court Test. What Now?
July 13, 2023
Biden’s Loan Forgiveness Program Fails Supreme Court Test. What Now?
Hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer are once again joined by NASFAA president Justin Draeger to talk about financial aid in the wake of the Supreme Court's decisions striking down race-conscious admissions and student loan forgiveness.
dotEDU Live: The Supreme Court’s Ruling on Race and Admissions
July 7, 2023
dotEDU Live: The Supreme Court’s Ruling on Race and Admissions
Madelyn Wessel and Peter McDonough join Mushtaq Gunja to offer initial thoughts about the ruling and potential implications while considering what all of this means for the future of diversity, access, and opportunity on campus and beyond.
Partnering to Solve Pandemic Learning Loss
June 15, 2023
Partnering to Solve Pandemic Learning Loss
The NPSS's Mariko Yoshisato Cavey visits the podcast to discuss how campuses can work with P-12 schools to help with the problem of post-pandemic learning loss.
dotEDU Live: Gainful Employment Rules 3.0, Student Loan Payments Return
June 1, 2023
dotEDU Live: Gainful Employment Rules 3.0, Student Loan Payments Return
Hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer are joined by Emmanual Guillory, ACE’s newest government relations staffer, to discuss the ongoing saga of the Education Department’s gainful employment rules.
Raising the Bar in Texas
May 18, 2023
Raising the Bar in Texas
Texas State President Kelly Damphousse explains how he plans to take Texas State University to the next level of research excellence and explores why new funding for higher education can help raise the bar for some colleges in his state.
Diversifying the College Presidency Is Essential
May 11, 2023
Diversifying the College Presidency Is Essential
Recorded live at the American Council on Education’s recent annual meeting, this episode features Bill Pink and Leslie Gonzales in a conversation about how we can continue to diversify the presidency and why it’s essential.
dotEDU Live: Why Should Higher Ed Care About Debt Ceilings and Other Budget Battles?
May 4, 2023
dotEDU Live: Why Should Higher Ed Care About Debt Ceilings and Other Budget Battles?
With the deadline to raise the federal debt ceiling fast approaching, Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer explain why the outcome matters to higher ed, including how it will impact budget proposals over the next few months.
Where Are All the Women College Presidents?
April 26, 2023
Where Are All the Women College Presidents?
Recorded live at ACE2023, this is the first of two episodes unpacking results from ACE’s new report, The American College President: 2023 Edition.
Student Athletes and NIL: How We Got Here, and Where It's Going
April 6, 2023
Student Athletes and NIL: How We Got Here, and Where It's Going
UGA's Welch Suggs joins the podcast to look at the state of the NIL landscape for student athletes and college campuses.
dotEDU Live: The Future of Academic Freedom on Campuses; Hope for HEA?
March 23, 2023
dotEDU Live: The Future of Academic Freedom on Campuses; Hope for HEA?
Hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer are joined by their Government Relations colleague Steven Bloom to talk about the troubling trend of elected officials intruding on academic freedom and restricting instruction on divisive concepts.
Does Your Campus Outsource Its Online Programs? Prepare for Changes
March 9, 2023
Does Your Campus Outsource Its Online Programs? Prepare for Changes
The Education Department’s recent guidance on third-party servicers and OPMs is shining a spotlight on contracts created to expand online offerings. Why did these relationships grow dramatically during the pandemic, and why are they needed now?
dotEDU Live: New Rules from ED, Culture War Rhetoric Ramps Up, the End of the COVID Emergency, More
February 17, 2023
dotEDU Live: New Rules from ED, Culture War Rhetoric Ramps Up, the End of the COVID Emergency, More
In this live episode, hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer take audience questions on a range of topics, from the Education Department moving quickly on new regulations to the House hearing on the “crisis” in American education to ChatGPT.
The Culture Wars Have Come for American Higher Ed. Again.
February 9, 2023
The Culture Wars Have Come for American Higher Ed. Again.
PEN America’s Nadine Farid Johnson joins the podcast to talk about the status of “educational gag orders” at the state level, or the legislative efforts to restrict K-12 and college teaching on topics like race, gender, and more.
What the New Congress and Biden Administration Have in Store for Higher Ed in 2023
January 26, 2023
What the New Congress and Biden Administration Have in Store for Higher Ed in 2023
House Republicans have announced committee assignments and are already talking oversight hearings, and the debt ceiling debate begins. The hosts also discuss ED’s aggressive regulatory agenda for 2023.
Faculty, Staff Are Burned Out. How Should Higher Ed Respond?
January 12, 2023
Faculty, Staff Are Burned Out. How Should Higher Ed Respond?
Andy Brantley, president and CEO of CUPA-HR, joins the podcast to talk about employee burnout and retention strategies institutions should be thinking about post-pandemic.
The Year in Higher Education Policy
December 21, 2022
The Year in Higher Education Policy
Hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer are joined by ACE Senior Vice President Terry Hartle to discuss the federal policy developments in 2022 that impacted students and higher education institutions.
States Step in as Federal Action on Dreamers Goes Nowhere
December 8, 2022
States Step in as Federal Action on Dreamers Goes Nowhere
Political activist Tyler Montague and ACE’s Derrick Anderson visit the podcast to talk about Arizona’s newly passed Proposition 308, which gives in-state tuition for non-citizen residents of the state.
Midterm Election Aftermath
November 21, 2022
Midterm Election Aftermath
Terry Hartle and Jon Fansmith talk about what the midterm elections mean for higher education policy in the lame-duck session and beyond.
Making the Case for Sustainability in Higher Ed
November 10, 2022
Making the Case for Sustainability in Higher Ed
Heidi VanGenderen, chief sustainability officer at the University of Colorado Boulder, talks about why higher education is perfectly poised to take on the climate crisis, despite the political divides.
What to Watch For in the Oct. 31 Supreme Court Hearing on Race in College Admissions
October 27, 2022
What to Watch For in the Oct. 31 Supreme Court Hearing on Race in College Admissions
Pace University President Marvin Krislov and ACE General Counsel Peter McDonough join host Jon Fansmith for a preview of the Oct. 31 Supreme Court oral arguments on race in college admissions.
BONUS: Prepping for a Supreme Court Hearing Starts at Georgetown
October 27, 2022
BONUS: Prepping for a Supreme Court Hearing Starts at Georgetown
In this bonus episode, Jess Ellsworth drops by the podcast to talk about how attorneys prepare for an appearance before the U.S. Supreme Court. She also describes the significant public service role that the Moot Court Program at Georgetown.
Nasser Paydar Talks Mental Health, Student Debt Relief, and Other Priorities for the Education Dept.
October 13, 2022
Nasser Paydar Talks Mental Health, Student Debt Relief, and Other Priorities for the Education Dept.
Nasser Paydar, assistant secretary for postsecondary education at the Department of Education, joins the hosts to talk about what the department is doing to improve access and affordability for college students.
Higher Ed Policy Predictions for the Fall
September 29, 2022
Higher Ed Policy Predictions for the Fall
Jon Fansmith and Terry Hartle are back to give their predictions for what Congress will dive into this fall before they adjourn ahead of midterm elections, including a continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of the year.
Breaking Down Biden's Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
September 15, 2022
Breaking Down Biden's Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the NASFAA, helps break down what the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness plan means for borrowers, institutions, parents, and the higher ed community as a whole.

 Season Three

How Colleges Can Avoid the Dreaded Data Dump
July 28, 2022
How Colleges Can Avoid the Dreaded Data Dump
Mamie Voight, president and CEO of the Institution for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), joins the podcast and talks with Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer about IHEP’s work.
New Proposed Title IX Regulations are Here. Now What?
July 14, 2022
New Proposed Title IX Regulations are Here. Now What?
ACE's Anne Meehan and Peter McDonough talk about what the newly proposed Title IX regulations mean for college campuses and the effort to address and prevent sex-based discrimination.
Breaking the Grip of the College Rankings Game
June 30, 2022
Breaking the Grip of the College Rankings Game
Colin Diver visits the podcast to talk about how U.S. News & World Report and other rankings force colleges into standardized hierarchies and threaten the institutional diversity and social mobility that is the hallmark of American higher education.
Midterm Elections Loom Over Higher Ed
June 16, 2022
Midterm Elections Loom Over Higher Ed
How will issues like student loan forgiveness, immigration, and on the state level—academic freedom and critical race theory play out as November approaches?
Do Americans Value Higher Education?
June 2, 2022
Do Americans Value Higher Education?
With the midterm elections looming, what are voters thinking about the value of college? Kristen Soltis Anderson joins the podcast to talk about the American public's perception of higher education.
The Policy and Politics of Student Loan Forgiveness
May 19, 2022
The Policy and Politics of Student Loan Forgiveness
Almost everyone has an opinion about student loan forgiveness. But it's often more complicated than many think. Jon Fansmith and Terry Hartle look at what might happen in the coming months.
Federal Dollars, Creative Leaders Help Two-Year Colleges Post-COVID
May 5, 2022
Federal Dollars, Creative Leaders Help Two-Year Colleges Post-COVID
Community colleges saw steep declines in enrollment during the pandemic. Grand Rapids Community College Pres. Bill Pink shares how he used federal and state dollars to invest in helping students continue their college journey.
The Higher Ed Agenda as Congress Returns From Spring Break
April 21, 2022
The Higher Ed Agenda as Congress Returns From Spring Break
Congress comes back to DC next week to a full agenda and an attention span increasingly absorbed by the midterm elections. What’s in store for higher education?
dotEDU Brief: Student Loan Repayment on Pause (Again); Is Double Pell in the Cards?
April 7, 2022
dotEDU Brief: Student Loan Repayment on Pause (Again); Is Double Pell in the Cards?
Guest host Stephanie Giesecke from NAICU joins the podcast to talk about the Biden budget for the upcoming fiscal year and the prospects for increasing funding for Pell Grants.
Congress Springs Forward and Passes Spending Bill; New Regulations Coming
March 25, 2022
Congress Springs Forward and Passes Spending Bill; New Regulations Coming
ACE Senior Vice President Terry Hartle joins host Sarah Spreitzer to discuss Congress’s last-minute push to pass the FY 2022 omnibus spending package and what it means for higher education ED's final negotiated rulemaking session.
Baylor President on the Changing World of College Athletics
March 17, 2022
Baylor President on the Changing World of College Athletics
Linda Livingstone joins the podcast to break down how the NCAA is working to change with the times, its recent shift on issues such as name, image and likeness, and how the recently adopted NCAA constitution will affect student-athletes moving forward.
Title IX, DACA, Gainful Employment: New Rules Coming for Higher Ed
February 24, 2022
Title IX, DACA, Gainful Employment: New Rules Coming for Higher Ed
Host Sarah Spreitzer and ACE Senior Vice President Terry Hartle discuss the myriad regulations waiting to be finalized at the Education Department and other federal agencies.
Reimagining College Admissions Through an Equity Lens
February 10, 2022
Reimagining College Admissions Through an Equity Lens
NACAC's Angel Pérez and Terri Taylor of Lumina Foundation visit the podcast to talk about how broad-based, systemic change is the only path to true change in college admissions.
Higher Ed in 2022: Unfinished Business and Election Year Politics
January 27, 2022
Higher Ed in 2022: Unfinished Business and Election Year Politics
ACE Senior Vice President Terry Hartle joins hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer of the ACE government relations team to discuss what Congress still needs to finish from 2021.
Debates on Critical Race Theory, Academic Freedom Are Not Going Away
January 14, 2022
Debates on Critical Race Theory, Academic Freedom Are Not Going Away
Michelle Deutchman, executive director of the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement returns to the podcast to talk about a range of issues related to critical race theory and academic freedom.
2021 in Higher Education Policy (A Good Year, Not a Great One)
December 16, 2021
2021 in Higher Education Policy (A Good Year, Not a Great One)
ACE Senior Vice President Terry Hartle reviews the higher education policy successes and failures of 2021, and what we can expect from Congress and the administration in 2022.
The Future of Student Loan Forgiveness
December 2, 2021
The Future of Student Loan Forgiveness
Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, comes on the podcast to talk about student loan forgiveness and other topics important to borrowers.
End of Year Countdown: What’s on the Congressional Agenda for Students and Colleges
November 19, 2021
End of Year Countdown: What’s on the Congressional Agenda for Students and Colleges
In this live conversation, hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer discuss the status of the Build Back Better Act and more as Congress pushes toward the end of the year with a lengthy to-do list. ​
Higher Ed Waits for Congress to Act; ACE Takes Pulse of College Presidents
November 4, 2021
Higher Ed Waits for Congress to Act; ACE Takes Pulse of College Presidents
With the House heading toward a vote on the Biden administration’s domestic spending plan, the hosts talk about what is in the bill for higher education and speak with Morgan Taylor about ACE’s latest Pulse Point survey of college presidents.
Capitol Hill Fall Showdown: Will Higher Ed Get Left Behind?
October 21, 2021
Capitol Hill Fall Showdown: Will Higher Ed Get Left Behind?
he hosts look at what we know so far about the higher ed provisions in the budget reconciliation bill, the future of Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and the president's order mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for federal contractors.
The Legacy of Underfunding Colleges That Serve Black Students
October 7, 2021
The Legacy of Underfunding Colleges That Serve Black Students
Adam Harris, author of The State Must Provide and staff writer for The Atlantic, discusses the state and federal funding mechanisms that continue to support a separate and unequal system of higher education in the United States.
What’s Going on With Budget Reconciliation, and Why Should Higher Ed Care?
September 23, 2021
What’s Going on With Budget Reconciliation, and Why Should Higher Ed Care?
ACE Senior Vice President Terry Hartle and dotedu host Sarah Spreitzer unpack where Congress stands on reconciliation and what it means for students and institutions.

 Season Two

 dotEDU Brief: Broadband Access, Free Community College, Support for Dreamers All on the Table
August 13, 2021
dotEDU Brief: Broadband Access, Free Community College, Support for Dreamers All on the Table
The hosts discuss the Senate’s $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package which includes support for expanding broadband access, before diving into the FY 2022 budget resolution and its provisions for free community college and more for higher ed.
dotEDU Brief: Congress Returns to Full Agenda, Groups Launch National Campaign to Double Pell Grants
June 15, 2021
dotEDU Brief: Congress Returns to Full Agenda, Groups Launch National Campaign to Double Pell Grants
The hosts preview the rest of the summer session in Congress and their hopes for a smooth August break, and listeners will learn more about how they can take action through the #DoublePell campaign website.
Episode 46: Translating Support for International Students Into Policy
July 1, 2021
Episode 46: Translating Support for International Students Into Policy
David Winston of the Winston Group, lays out the data around public attitudes toward international students and how leaders can make the case for the positive contributions they make to the U.S. economy and on our campuses.
Episode 45: What COVID-19 Has Taught Higher Education Leaders
June 17, 2021
Episode 45: What COVID-19 Has Taught Higher Education Leaders
David Richardson, managing director of research for the TIAA Institute, and ACE’s Jon Turk review the year's worth of ACE's Pulse Point survey of presidents on COVID-19.
Episode 44: Where Is Congress on Student Voter Access and Public Service Loan Forgiveness?
June 3, 2021
Episode 44: Where Is Congress on Student Voter Access and Public Service Loan Forgiveness?
Hosts Jon Fansmith and Mushtaq Gunja talk with Rep. John Sarbanes about the For the People Act, a comprehensive election reform bill that could have an impact on how colleges register voters, and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
Episode 43: COVID-19 Relief Dollars at Work: East Carolina University and the Greenville Community
May 20, 2021
Episode 43: COVID-19 Relief Dollars at Work: East Carolina University and the Greenville Community
Philip Rogers, chancellor of East Carolina University, talks about how ECU has used federal pandemic relief to help students and the university at large, along with the surrounding community of Greenville.
Episode 42: A Safe Campus for All This Fall? What College Leaders Need to Know
May 6, 2021
Episode 42: A Safe Campus for All This Fall? What College Leaders Need to Know
ACE Vice President and General Counsel Peter McDonough visits the podcast to talk about what college leaders should know about vaccine requirements and the legal issues associated with making campuses safe when students return in the fall.
Episode 41: Is College a Risky Investment? An Economist Weighs In
April 22, 2021
Episode 41: Is College a Risky Investment? An Economist Weighs In
The hosts are joined by Beth Akers, an economist and resident scholar at AEI, to discuss the debate over the cost of college and what policymakers, students, and parents should consider when it comes to investing in postsecondary education.
Episode 40: (College) Credit Where Credit is Due
April 8, 2021
Episode 40: (College) Credit Where Credit is Due
An ACE Task Force of higher education leaders released a report last month offering recommendations on reimagining policies on transfer of credit. Task Force members Anne Holton and Anne Kress visit the podcast to talk about their work.
Episode 39: A Conversation With NASPA’s SA: Voices From the Field Podcast
March 25, 2021
Episode 39: A Conversation With NASPA’s SA: Voices From the Field Podcast
Jon and Sarah are joined for a special crossover episode by Jill Creighton to talk about how COVID-19 has affected student life, the impact Title IX regulations are having on campuses and the future of those regulations, and other issues.
Episode 38: What's Next for Federal Student Aid?
March 12, 2021
Episode 38: What's Next for Federal Student Aid?
Julie Peller, executive director of Higher Learning Advocates, visits the podcast to talk about the financial aid policies and programs that might be proposed by Congress in the coming months.
Episode 37: A Conversation With Congressman Bobby Scott
February 25, 2021
Episode 37: A Conversation With Congressman Bobby Scott
Hosts Jon Fansmith, Sarah Spreitzer, and Mushtaq Gunja talk with House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) about the recent past, present, and future of higher education legislation under his committee’s purview.
Episode 36: What Colleges Can Expect From Miguel Cardona's Education Department
February 12, 2021
Episode 36: What Colleges Can Expect From Miguel Cardona's Education Department
ACE President Ted Mitchell joins Jon, Sarah, and Mushtaq to talk about his impressions of incoming Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona and about his own experience working in the Education Department.
Episode 35: A New Era for Higher Ed Under the Biden Administration
January 29, 2021
Episode 35: A New Era for Higher Ed Under the Biden Administration
The hosts take the full episode to discuss how President Biden’s actions in his first week in office will impact higher ed as well as how a slim majority for Democrats in the House and the Senate could impact legislation moving forward.
Episode 34: Responding to Last Week's Attack on the Capitol; International Student Policy in the Biden Administration
January 14, 2021
Episode 34: Responding to Last Week's Attack on the Capitol; International Student Policy in the Biden Administration
Jill Allen Murray, deputy executive director for NAFSA: Association of International Educators, discusses the current policy climate for international students in the United States and what the higher ed community would like the Biden administration.
Episode 33: Mental Health on Campus as 2020 Winds Down
December 11, 2020
Episode 33: Mental Health on Campus as 2020 Winds Down
Cognitive scientist and Barnard College President Sian Beilock discusses how she is using her own research as a psychologist to talk about the need for new ways to improve mental health and well-being on campus.
Episode 32: What Higher Education Can Expect From the Biden Administration
November 13, 2020
Episode 32: What Higher Education Can Expect From the Biden Administration
​​​​​​​The Biden-Harris platform unveiled during the 2020 presidential campaign suggests that higher education will be a primary focus of the new administration. ACE's Terry Hartle joins the hosts to talk about what we can expect come January.
Episode 31: Debates, Flies, and Political Engagement at the University of Utah
October 29, 2020
Episode 31: Debates, Flies, and Political Engagement at the University of Utah
Jason Perry of the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics talks about hosting the vice presidential debate, getting students involved in the debate process, and promoting student engagement during the pandemic.
Episode 30: What Higher Ed Needs to Know About the New Supreme Court
October 15, 2020
Episode 30: What Higher Ed Needs to Know About the New Supreme Court
Phi Beta Kappa CEO Fred Lawrence joins the hosts to explore how Amy Coney Barrett’s inevitable confirmation as the next Supreme Court justice will affect colleges and universities on issues such as diversity in admissions policies and immigration.
Episode 29: Preparing for the 2020 Election on Campus
October 2, 2020
Episode 29: Preparing for the 2020 Election on Campus
Jonathan Alger, president of James Madison University, talks about promoting civic democracy and engagement on campus and how JMU is approaching the 2020 election in light of the pandemic and the extreme partisanship that has gripped the country.
Episode 28: Dreamers and Immigration Policy: Past, Present, Future
September 17, 2020
Episode 28: Dreamers and Immigration Policy: Past, Present, Future
Listen to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, filmmaker, and immigration rights activist, Jose Antonio Vargas talk about the prospects of DACA, immigration policy in general, and what colleges and universities can do to help.

 Season One

Episode 27: dotEDU Turns One!
August 13, 2020
Episode 27: dotEDU Turns One!
As colleges settle into their reopening plans and Congress takes a break from negotiating a relief bill, the dotEDU hosts look back on the first year of the podcast and talk about their favorite episodes.
Episode 26: More COVID Funding From Congress; Supporting Students' Return to Campus
July 27, 2020
Episode 26: More COVID Funding From Congress; Supporting Students' Return to Campus
Hosts Jon Turk and Sarah Spreitzer discuss the next round of COVID funding coming out of Congress, and then talk with Lamar Hylton about how Kent State is preparing for a very unique and challenging fall semester.
Episode 25: “Horrifying” Guidance on International Students; All About the Title IX Final Rule
July 13, 2020
Episode 25: “Horrifying” Guidance on International Students; All About the Title IX Final Rule
Hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer talk to Anne Meehan and Holland & Knight Senior Counsel Jeff Nolan to talk about the Department of Education’s new rule on Title IX and how colleges must handle sexual assault and sexual harassment complaints beginni
Episode 24: Supreme Court Protects DACA, LGBTQ Workers; Prioritizing DEI During COVID-19
June 29, 2020
Episode 24: Supreme Court Protects DACA, LGBTQ Workers; Prioritizing DEI During COVID-19
Hosts Jon Fansmith and Lorelle Espinosa discuss the recent Supreme Court decisions on DACA and LGBTQ workers, and are joined by Lori White, incoming president of DePauw University, to talk about the fall semester.
Episode 23: How Campuses Can Encourage Racial Healing; the Future of Blockchain in Education
June 15, 2020
Episode 23: How Campuses Can Encourage Racial Healing; the Future of Blockchain in Education
Hosts Lorelle Espinosa and Jon Fansmith discuss the murder of George Floyd and how colleges and universities can encourage racial healing. Also, the Department of Education's Sharon Leu and Louis Soares talk about blockchain and higher ed.
Episode 22: Thinking Through an Uncertain Fall
June 1, 2020
Episode 22: Thinking Through an Uncertain Fall
ACE Senior Vice President Terry Hartle joins co-hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer to discuss what higher education institutions need to support reopening this fall and how Congress can help.
Episode 21: Making Scientific Research More Nimble
May 18, 2020
Episode 21: Making Scientific Research More Nimble
Hosts Lorelle Espinosa and Jon Turk discuss higher eduction's response to COVID-19 and sustainability on college campuses with Lisa Graumlich of the University of Washington.
dotEDU Episode 20: Can We Promise College for All?
May 4, 2020
dotEDU Episode 20: Can We Promise College for All?
Hosts Jon Turk and Sarah Spreitzer talk with College Promise CEO Martha Kanter about the future of college promise programs nationwide, particularly in light of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on higher education.
dotEDU Episode 19: A College at the Crossroads of COVID-19 and DACA
April 20, 2020
dotEDU Episode 19: A College at the Crossroads of COVID-19 and DACA
Carrie Hauser, president of Colorado Mountain College, talks with co-hosts Jon Fansmith and Lorelle Espinosa about how her institution has responded to the pandemic and how its unique, interest-free income share agreement for DACA students has adapted.
dotEDU Episode 18: Higher Education in the Time of COVID-19
April 7, 2020
dotEDU Episode 18: Higher Education in the Time of COVID-19
Recording from various remote workplaces around the DC area, the dotEDU team comes together to discuss the implications of the coronavirus pandemic on higher education.
dotEDU Episode 17: Access, Affordability, and the Future of Independent Colleges
March 9, 2020
dotEDU Episode 17: Access, Affordability, and the Future of Independent Colleges
The common narrative surrounding independent colleges and universities is that they are either elite ivy institutions or small colleges on the brink of closure. NAICU President Barbara Mistick dispels this black and white view in the latest episode of do
dotEDU Episode 16: Preventing Sexual Harassment in Academia
February 24, 2020
dotEDU Episode 16: Preventing Sexual Harassment in Academia
Frazier Benya, senior program officer at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine talks with Lorelle Espinosa and Sarah Spreitzer about how institutions can go beyond legal solutions to tackle the problem.
dotEDU Episode 15: College Admissions Under the Microscope
February 10, 2020
dotEDU Episode 15: College Admissions Under the Microscope
NACAC CEO Joyce Smith talks about the many changes the field has undergone in the past three decades and what can be done to reshape it for the future.
dotEDU Episode 14: Community Colleges Bring Dreams Within Reach
January 27, 2020
dotEDU Episode 14: Community Colleges Bring Dreams Within Reach
Former President of Montgomery County Community College Karen Stout, now president and CEO of Achieving the Dream​, talks with hosts Jon Fansmith and Jonathan Turk about the challenges faced by the new generation of community colleges.
dotEDU Episode 13: Organizing a Campus Based on Equity and Social Justice
January 13, 2020
dotEDU Episode 13: Organizing a Campus Based on Equity and Social Justice
Julie Posselt, associate professor of education at the University of Southern California, talks about her new book, Higher Education Administration for Social Justice and Equity, and how to carry out basic administrative operations with a clear commitment
dotEDU Episode 12: Giving All Learners a Chance
December 23, 2019
dotEDU Episode 12: Giving All Learners a Chance
Former Secretary of Education John B. King, now president and CEO of The Education Trust, talks about his passion for giving all learners, particularly those in poverty and prisons, access to higher education.
dotEDU Episode 11: Meeting Students Where They Are on Mental Health
December 9, 2019
dotEDU Episode 11: Meeting Students Where They Are on Mental Health
​Nance Roy, chief clinical officer at the Jed Foundation, and Jan Collins-Eaglin, associate dean of students for wellness and personal success at Pomona College and an advisor at the Steve Fund, talk about effective strategies to help at-risk students.
dotEDU Episode 10: Talking Free Speech on Campus
November 25, 2019
dotEDU Episode 10: Talking Free Speech on Campus
Hosts Lorelle Espinosa and Jon Fansmith speak with civil discourse and campus speech experts Lara Schwartz and Michelle Deutchman on the latest episode of dotEDU.
dotEDU Episode 09: Student Success Is Institutional Success
November 12, 2019
dotEDU Episode 09: Student Success Is Institutional Success
Co-hosts Jon Fansmith and Lorelle Espinosa talk with ACE President Ted Mitchell about how higher education is re-imagining student success and the need for institutions to adapt to the changing face of their student bodies.
dotEDU Episode 08: Setting Up Student Veterans for Success
October 28, 2019
dotEDU Episode 08: Setting Up Student Veterans for Success
Jared Lyon, president and CEO of Student Veterans of America, joins hosts Sarah Spreitzer and Jon Turk to talk about why student veterans are considered the “tip of the spear” for the upcoming wave of post-traditional students.
dotEDU Episode 07: Asian American Students in Higher Ed . . . It’s Complicated
October 15, 2019
dotEDU Episode 07: Asian American Students in Higher Ed . . . It’s Complicated
A week after a district court judge rejected claims that Harvard intentionally discriminates against Asian Americans, Julie J. Park talks with hosts Jon Fansmith and Lorelle Espinosa about what the decision means for diversity in higher education.
dotEDU Episode 06: Big Data Goes to College
September 30, 2019
dotEDU Episode 06: Big Data Goes to College
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Lindsay Wayt, director of analytics for NACUBO, discusses how colleges and universities are using analytics to achieve the essential goals of a 21st century campus.
dotEDU Episode 05: Beyond the Admissions Letter: Helping Disadvantaged Students Succeed in College
September 16, 2019
dotEDU Episode 05: Beyond the Admissions Letter: Helping Disadvantaged Students Succeed in College
Listen to the latest episode of ACE's dotEDU podcast featuring a conversation with Anthony Jack, Harvard professor and author of The Privileged Poor: How Elite Colleges are Failing Disadvantaged Students.
dotEDU Episode 04: The Current Climate for International Students in the United States
August 15, 2019
dotEDU Episode 04: The Current Climate for International Students in the United States
Back from a trip to China, ACE's Brad Farnsworth talks about trends in international student enrollment, student visa delays, global partnerships, and if Trump administration policies and rhetoric are affecting international higher education.
dotEDU Episode 03: HSIs Are Narrowing Racial Gaps for Latinx Students
August 14, 2019
dotEDU Episode 03: HSIs Are Narrowing Racial Gaps for Latinx Students
Hispanic student enrollment in higher education has doubled in the last decade. Where are these students going, what do they need, how do Hispanic-serving Institution (HSIs) fit into the equation, and how is the current political climate affecting them?
dotEDU Episode 02: Lifting Up Men of Color in Higher Ed
August 13, 2019
dotEDU Episode 02: Lifting Up Men of Color in Higher Ed
African American and Latino men face myriad barriers to college completion, a complex problem that institutions, educators, and policymakers are trying to address. But finding ways to apply research to practice requires a community-wide effort.
dotEDU Episode 01: Closing the College Success Gap for Low-income Students
August 12, 2019
dotEDU Episode 01: Closing the College Success Gap for Low-income Students
More low-income students are going to college than ever before. But even as the attendance gap between rich and poor shrinks, the gap in the number of graduates has grown. How can we close the first gap and begin addressing the second?
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