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Live from Milken: One-on-One with Bill Ackman
Manage episode 481704530 series 2106010
In this second part from the Milken Global Institute, Jeff Selingo engages in a provocative conversation with investor and Harvard critic Bill Ackman. They discuss the challenges facing elite higher education today—from DEI rollbacks and government funding threats to what Ackman describes as Harvard's financial crisis and governance failures. Ackman argues that administrative bloat, viewpoint homogeneity, and an unsustainable business model have undermined top institutions, while suggesting Harvard's $53 billion endowment may be significantly overvalued. The discussion explores contentious issues in admissions fairness, including legacy preferences, and concludes with Ackman's vision for higher education's future, where competition from new models might force established universities to reform or risk irrelevance.
Key Moments
0:00 - Intro
1:04 - Federal Funding as a Lever of Influence
8:07 - Board Insulation at Harvard
13:08 - Limiting Class Size
14:25 - Fairness in Admissions
18:27 - Where We Go From Here
Connect with Michael Horn:
Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter
Connect with Jeff Selingo:
Sign Up for the Next Newsletter
Connect with Future U:
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.
196 episodes
Manage episode 481704530 series 2106010
In this second part from the Milken Global Institute, Jeff Selingo engages in a provocative conversation with investor and Harvard critic Bill Ackman. They discuss the challenges facing elite higher education today—from DEI rollbacks and government funding threats to what Ackman describes as Harvard's financial crisis and governance failures. Ackman argues that administrative bloat, viewpoint homogeneity, and an unsustainable business model have undermined top institutions, while suggesting Harvard's $53 billion endowment may be significantly overvalued. The discussion explores contentious issues in admissions fairness, including legacy preferences, and concludes with Ackman's vision for higher education's future, where competition from new models might force established universities to reform or risk irrelevance.
Key Moments
0:00 - Intro
1:04 - Federal Funding as a Lever of Influence
8:07 - Board Insulation at Harvard
13:08 - Limiting Class Size
14:25 - Fairness in Admissions
18:27 - Where We Go From Here
Connect with Michael Horn:
Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter
Connect with Jeff Selingo:
Sign Up for the Next Newsletter
Connect with Future U:
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.
196 episodes
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