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College Matters from The Chronicle

College Matters from The Chronicle

The Chronicle of Higher Education 73 Episodes Aug 5, 2026

College Matters is a podcast from The Chronicle of Higher Education that explores the biggest stories in higher education. It provides analysis and context on issues affecting colleges and universities, from campus politics to academic research. The show aims to help listeners understand the complex world of higher education.

Episodes

Reading 'Stoner'
Reading 'Stoner' Aug 5, 2026 3070 More than 60 years after its publication, John Williams’s novel Stoner remains a revelatory portrait of higher education and the professoriate. Spanning much of the first half of the 20th century, the novel follows William Stoner from his undergraduate days at the University of Missouri through his career as an English professor at the same institution. The common tropes of the academic
The Endlessly Divisive SAT
The Endlessly Divisive SAT Jul 22, 2026 2362 The pandemic prompted many universities to drop standardized-testing requirements for applicants, and a lot of institutions remain test-optional today. But some high-profile universities, including all of the members of the Ivy League, have since reinstated their testing requirements. Even the University of California, which has been a leader in the “test free” movement, now plans to revisit its p
Higher Ed and America
Higher Ed and America Jul 8, 2026 1774 As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, the nation’s colleges and universities are experiencing some growing pains. Older than the country itself, American higher education is a big, bold, polarizing enterprise that people don’t trust as much as they once did — but still can’t imagine living without. Sound like America? It is. Related Reading ‘Animal House’ at 30: O Bluto, Where Ar
Another U. of Florida Search Goes Sideways
Another U. of Florida Search Goes Sideways Jun 24, 2026 1932 The leadership carousel at the University of Florida has turned swiftly of late. Now on its second interim president in as many years, and fresh off of a failed presidential search last summer, the state’s flagship is desperate to install a permanent leader. This month, the university's Board of Trustees voted to give the job to Stuart Bell, defying critics who have assailed the former University
Is Michigan State’s Board Broken?
Is Michigan State’s Board Broken? Jun 3, 2026 3296 College Matters listeners, we want to hear from you. Please help us to improve our show by completing a brief audience survey at chronicle.com/podcastsurvey. Last week, Kevin Guskiewicz took a pay cut to leave Michigan State University’s presidency for the top job at Clemson University. And he lobbed a grenade on the way out by criticizing the institution’s trustees, a group of eight elected
Dan Ariely and the Epstein Files
Dan Ariely and the Epstein Files May 20, 2026 3058 College Matters listeners, we want to hear from you. Please help us to improve our show by completing a brief audience survey at chronicle.com/podcastsurvey. Dan Ariely has made a career of examining the dark side of humanity. As a social scientist and a Duke University professor, he has drawn attention — and some criticism — for his research into subjects like lying, cheating, and criminality
What the Canvas Hack Revealed
What the Canvas Hack Revealed May 13, 2026 2295 College Matters listeners, we want to hear from you. Please help us to improve our show by completing a brief audience survey at chronicle.com/podcastsurvey.  Last week’s shutdown of Canvas, an online learning-management system used by thousands of colleges and schools, was a sharp illustration of higher education’s increasing reliance on technology. Students, too, are leaning on artificia
Ken Burns Names the 'Greatest Danger' Facing Higher Ed
Ken Burns Names the 'Greatest Danger' Facing Higher Ed May 6, 2026 1915 Ken Burns, who has helped to tell the story of the nation's history through celebrated documentaries, attributes much of his success to the education he received at Hampshire College. Faced with the recent news that his financially struggling alma mater will soon close its doors, Burns is reflecting on the larger forces that helped to seal the college’s fate. Hampshire bills itself as a learning l
Everybody Wants to Rule the University
Everybody Wants to Rule the University Apr 29, 2026 1647 In recent months, politicians from both sides of the aisle have been busy exerting influence on state universities. In Virginia, a newly elected Democratic governor has quickly put her stamp on higher ed, adding political allies to university governing boards and reportedly forcing out some members with whom she disagrees. Citing concerns about recent personnel decisions at the University of Kentu
Despair Isn’t On Frank Bruni’s Syllabus
Despair Isn’t On Frank Bruni’s Syllabus Apr 22, 2026 3143 Frank Bruni’s classroom has gotten a bit bleak lately. As a professor of the practice of journalism and public policy at Duke University, the longtime New York Times writer often finds himself talking about grim trends: the decline of local news, threats against a free press, and the corrosive nature of political polarization. But Bruni says he’s trying to strike a delicate balance with his s
A Gender-Studies Icon Strikes Back
A Gender-Studies Icon Strikes Back Apr 15, 2026 2970 In states across the country, conservative lawmakers and university governing boards are purging what they describe as gender ideology from college campuses. As part of a larger backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, several universities have in recent years shut down women’s and gender-studies programs and closed LGBTQ-focused campus spaces. These developments are particularl
Are the Kids Alright? We Asked Ian Bogost.
Are the Kids Alright? We Asked Ian Bogost. Apr 8, 2026 2406 As a professor of computer science and engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, Ian Bogost spends a lot of time trying to connect with his Gen Z students. He knows the stereotypes about this crop of young people: lazy, grade-grubbing, incapable of resolving problems without running to an administrator. But Bogost, who frequently writes about his teaching experiences for The Atlantic

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