Higher Voltage

Be Visible, Be Engaged, but Be Circumspect

Dr. William 'Brit' Kirwan, chancellor emeritus of the University System of Maryland, joins host Kevin Tyler to discuss university presidents' precarious position when they make or abstain from statements on emotionally charged issues.

What’s Your Institution’s McDonald’s Order?

Dr. Marcus Collins, author, professor and devoted cheeseburger lover, joins host Kevin Tyler to discuss the importance of understanding the cultural characteristics of a community and finding congruence between the values of the institution and the values of potential students.

The End of Affirmative Action: What Now?

Natasha Warikoo, Lenore Stern Professor in the Social Sciences Department of Sociology at Tufts University, rejoins host Kevin Tyler to discuss the recent SCOTUS decision and how institutions may move forward in the post-affirmative action era.

Degree Choices Hopes to Reduce U.S. News’ Dominance

David Levy, head of data for Degree Choices, joins Kevin Tyler to discuss how higher ed rankings are doing a disservice to Black applicants, the importance of comprehensive data collection to highlight topics such as underfunding, and why challenging U.S. News' dominance in the industry will help students make informed decisions.

How to Recruit More First-Gen and Underrepresented Students

Jonathan B. Williams, AVP for undergraduate admissions, access and pipeline programs at NYU joins host Kevin Tyler to talk about ways institutions can partner more with communities in their quest to recruit more diverse and first-gen students to their campuses.

The End of Affirmative Action?

The Supreme Court is weeks away from handing down a decision that will impact the future of affirmative action in higher education, with many court observers speculating the conservative-leaning court will rule that colleges can no longer consider race a factor when admitting students. Natasha Warikoo, the Lenore Stern Professor in the Social Sciences Department of Sociology at Tufts University, joins Higher Voltage host Kevin Tyler to discuss the potential implications of such a ruling.

Study Hall is Tackling Student Debt and the Entire Higher Ed Model

An estimated 40 percent of Americans with student debt have not completed a four-year college degree. Hank Green, vlogger, entrepreneur, cofounded Study Hall to change that. The online learning platform will offer individual college courses, accredited through Arizona State University, allowing students to earn transferrable college credits without enrolling in college or setting foot on campus. In the latest Higher Voltage, Green explains why this is essential to tackling the student debt crisis and making college more accessible.

Breaking the College Ranking Industry

As the furor around the college ranking system grows, Colin Diver, joins Higher Voltage. The author of "Breaking Ranks: How the Rankings Industry Rules Higher Education and What to Do about It" discusses what's wrong with the system and how to fix it. Specifically, he argues that colleges and universities should be judged by how well they prepare their graduates to lead fulfilling lives, not by how they fit into a highly exclusionary admissions process.