Best Graduation Initiative 2025 Podcasts (2025)

1
Let's Talk About Sex Ed: Examining Its Place and Purpose in Higher Education 22:36

1+ y ago22:36

22:36

About This Episode: In many parts of the U.S., comprehensive sex education is startlingly absent. With only 16 states mandating contraception education, 34 states focusing primarily on abstinence, and 13 states lacking age-appropriate and evidence-based standards, the current landscape of sex education is fragmented. This disparity becomes even sta…

1
Weighted Judgments: The Unspoken Bias in Higher Ed 23:38

1+ y ago23:38

23:38

About This Episode: In this enlightening episode, we dive deep into an often-silent challenge faced by plus-sized students in the realm of higher education. Despite more than two-thirds of adults in the US being over a size 14, there exists an underlying bias against students based on their body size, overshadowing their academic achievements. From…

1
Beyond the Degree: Discovering Unexpected Careers 19:35

2y ago19:35

19:35

About This Episode: In this episode we uncover the surprising ways a degree can serve us throughout our careers. Our esteemed guests, all accomplished alumni from various fields, share their personal experiences of how their education has equipped them with lifelong adaptive skills that have proven invaluable in unexpected ways. Discover how social…

1
ChatGPT: Pushing the Boundaries of Higher Education 23:05

2y ago23:05

23:05

ChatGPT is the latest in the rapidly growing realm of AI programming. The program understands and responds to human language, which has been shown to be beneficial in assisting students in higher education by providing personalized support and resources and creating interactive learning experiences. However, the darkside to AI programs such as Chat…

1
Beyond Borders: Unpacking the Black Study Abroad Experience 22:18

2+ y ago22:18

22:18

About This Episode: Of the 160,000 American students who studied abroad, in the 2019-2020 academic year, only 5.5 percent were Black. Although the percentage of Black students who travel abroad was slowly increasing, the impact of COVID-19 lowered the percentages - yet another example of how the Black community was disparately affected by the pande…

1
Reassessing the Impact of Affirmative Action in Higher Education 22:35

2+ y ago22:35

22:35

About This Episode: Instituted by executive order in 1965, affirmative action is a race-conscious policy that aims to address discrimination and provide equal access to education and jobs. Since its inception, organizations have opposed its implementation arguing that it is unfair, unnecessary, and unconstitutional and today, it is once again under…

1
Embracing the Importance of Activism in Higher Education 25:26

2+ y ago25:26

25:26

About This Episode: Activism in higher education has a long history going back to the 1930s, starting with opposition to the military, racial discrimination, and support for labor unions. Nowadays, on-campus activism is widespread and research shows that student activism can disrupt taken-for-granted norms by providing more context to campus leader…

1
Examining The Stop WOKE Act and The Threat to Academic Freedom in Higher Education 25:07

2+ y ago25:07

25:07

LAbout This Episode: In April 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 7, also known as the “Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act” or the “Stop WOKE act”. This bill prohibits teaching certain concepts related to race and sexual orientation in schools. This is just one legislative act across the country that attempts to limit a…

1
Refocusing Basic Needs (Part 2): Can Policy Fix the Higher Ed Housing Crisis? 21:07

2+ y ago21:07

21:07

About This Episode: According to the Census Bureau, California’s population grew three times more in the last ten years than available housing units. As enrollment at the University of California and California State University systems increased, the statewide housing shortage has made it challenging for campuses to address the situation. State pol…

1
Refocusing Basic Needs: The Student Housing Crisis in Higher Education 23:45

2+ y ago23:45

23:45

About This Episode: The current housing crisis for students cannot be ignored. A survey conducted in 2019 found on-campus that most students in California have experienced some type of housing insecurity with the highest risk being students from marginalized communities. The traditional on campus basic needs centers are not enough to help the stude…

1
This Virtual Life: How the Pandemic is Reshaping the Higher Ed Experience 22:35

3y ago22:35

22:35

About This Episode: Higher education is beginning to reassess the college experience in response to the pandemic. Universities are updating curricula to offer larger or more robust professional programs, expanding remote options to ensure students with disabilities and other needs have equal access, and adopting innovative pedagogical methods to ef…

1
Fixing the Financial Aid Crisis 21:34

3y ago21:34

21:34

About This Episode: In 2021, Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes introduced assembly bill, AB469 to make applying for financial aid through the FAFSA and the California Dream Act application a requirement for high school seniors in California. The idea behind the assembly bill is that if completing these forms is mandatory, then more underr…

1
Esports: Changing the Game in Higher Ed 22:36

3y ago22:36

22:36

About This Episode: During the worldwide pandemic, esports programs stepped in to fill the void that social distancing created. Students in these programs had the unique opportunity to gather in virtual worlds and stay connected. The sense of belonging the programs fostered did not go unnoticed and universities began to view esports as a remedy for…

1
Project Rebound: Redeeming Lives Through Education 23:53

3+ y ago23:53

23:53

About This Episode: In 1967, Project Rebound was created to matriculate formerly incarcerated students into the CSU directly from the criminal justice system. Since the program’s inception, hundreds of Project Rebound students have obtained bachelor’s degrees and beyond. Project Rebound students system-wide have earned an overall grade point averag…

1
Reevaluating the Role of Education in the Workplace 22:23

3+ y ago22:23

22:23

About This Episode: In 2019, amidst rising tuition and student debt, The Gates Foundation created a new panel called the Postsecondary Value Commission to examine the return on investment of the college degree across gender and race. Members of the panel measured “postsecondary value” in terms of earnings, access to high-quality jobs, and economic …

1
Redefining the Value of The College Degree 23:02

3+ y ago23:02

23:02

About This Episode: For colleges and universities, the “great resignation” might be an opportunity to reach working adults looking to upskill for a new job. They could transform the college experience from a four year academic experience... to a lifelong learning experience. So how are colleges adapting to stay competitive? And will these demands c…

1
Rewiring Mental Health Services For A Post Pandemic Campus 20:35

3+ y ago20:35

20:35

About this episode The COVID-19 pandemic revealed structural weaknesses and inequities across the nation in all major industries - housing, government, finance, health care, and education. This revelation resulted in educational institutions across the nation successfully reworking the more traditional aspects of student success such as instruction…

1
SAT: Rethinking College Admission Criteria 22:12

3+ y ago22:12

22:12

In a sweeping decision amid the height of the pandemic, universities across the nation decided to remove the SAT/ACT as an admission requirement and go test-optional. In the absence of this tool, institutions have been forced to rethink their approach to admissions and take a holistic look at the students who apply. Higher Ed Rewired spoke with Gar…

1
Beyond the Pandemic: System Leaders on Driving Student Success 24:20

4y ago24:20

24:20

The complexity and challenges of the pandemic have posed extraordinary shifts to education as we have known it. Unique opportunities have risen out of the stay-at-home orders and the shift to remote learning, presenting a transformative time for postsecondary leaders. A number of these changes would have never been envisioned pre-pandemic, but rapi…

1
Conversation with Leading Authors on Equity 26:05

4y ago26:05

26:05

Higher Ed Rewired engages listeners in a conversation with a panel of nationally recognized authors who will discuss their recent books and share insight on equity and student success. Listen to Tia Brown McNair “From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education“ (2020) and “Becoming A Student …

1
Name, Image and Likeness – The Future of College Sports 24:29

4+ y ago24:29

24:29

College athletics is more than just sports. It includes televised broadcasts, beverage contracts and apparel sponsorships turning athletics into a $14 billion-dollar industry. The Fair Pay for Play Act, which passed through California legislators in 2020, will allow student-athletes to profit for their name, image and likeness. A vote to these rule…

1
Fostering a Sense of Belonging for First-Generation Students 23:23

4+ y ago23:23

23:23

For many students, navigating the college experience is unfamiliar and may sometimes feel alienating. Many institutions don’t operate much differently than they did 400 years ago, despite the student body being dramatically more diverse than it was back then. College campuses are beginning to transform to support students with their diversity of ba…

1
From Jobs to Career: Rethinking Student Employment 20:27

4+ y ago20:27

20:27

Topping the list of why students attend college is the desire to successfully enter into a career upon graduation. On-campus employment provides opportunities for students to gain experience in their future careers with academic and professional development opportunities, while at the same time, serving as a source of a financial resource. Higher E…

1
Making and Keeping a College Promise 23:18

4+ y ago23:18

23:18

College Promise programs are not new to higher education, but they have gained momentum in recent years with the rise of “free college” initiatives across the country. They emerged from the need to increase a workforce to meet the labor demands of local communities and have evolved to address higher education access and equity. Given the variety of…

1
COVID-19: A Teachable Moment 21:51

4+ y ago21:51

21:51

College campuses are part of their larger communities, which positions them to be leaders during times of crisis. The border of the college facilities does not isolate itself from what is taking place beyond the gates into the surrounding community. In fact, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans (2005), The Camp Fire in Chico, California (2018) and COVI…

1
Mind the Gap: Going beyond diversity and rethinking inclusion 25:18

4+ y ago25:18

25:18

Whereas there is ample evidence of persistent equity gaps across the education pipeline, successfully closing the gap has thus far eluded higher education leaders and policy makers. What do we know about what works, what are emerging best practices, and why are equity gaps so stubborn? Higher Ed Rewired spoke with postsecondary education researcher…

1
Welcome to a Season 2 of Higher Ed Rewired with Dr. James T. Minor, California State University 8:33

4+ y ago8:33

8:33

By James T. Minor, Annet Rangel

1
Higher Ed Leaders Discuss: What’s Next for Student Success? 24:10

5+ y ago24:10

24:10

As a thought-provoking conclusion to season one, Higher Ed Rewired highlights a conversation on the future of higher education between three national higher education innovators and experts. Doug Lederman, editor and co-founder of Inside Higher Ed, Michelle Weise, senior vice president of Workforce Strategies and Chief Innovation Officer for Strada…

1
A Brighter Future – Students Build and Deliver Solar Power 25:05

5+ y ago25:05

25:05

CSU East Bay students engage in hands-on learning by building off-grid solar power and lighting systems designed to alleviate energy poverty—a lack of access to modern energy services. These programs introduce students to careers in STEM, engage students to work alongside K-12 in peer-led service-learning projects and address energy needs across th…

1
Students get ‘Real-life’ Experience through Virtual Reality Simulation 24:44

5+ y ago24:44

24:44

Using virtual reality (VR), CSU Channel Island nursing students learn beyond the boundaries of the traditional classroom. Dr. Jaime Hannans, California State University Channel Islands, shares how students are able to rehearse and get feedback on their helping skills through VR simulations, and develop empathy through connecting with their virtual …

1
Artificial Intelligence Enhances Student Learning and Engagement 28:33

5+ y ago28:33

28:33

Campuses are using artificial intelligence technology to respond and advise, on-demand, to students, faculty and staff via text or auditory messaging. Meet Cal State Fullerton’s iTuffy and Cal State Northridge’s CSUny, chatbots that extend the accessibility of student support services 24/7 and engage students in a manner most conducive to them. If …

1
Neuroscience Lab Driving Student Success Beyond the Undergrad Experience 22:49

6y ago22:49

22:49

Undergraduate students at California State University Dominguez Hills participate in meaningful experiences ranging from observational studies and laboratory experiments to biomedical and psychophysiological research. Students work closely with faculty mentors in the neuroscience lab partnering on scholarly writing and research. The program has bee…

1
Active Learning in Mathematics 21:40

6y ago21:40

21:40

Dr. Amarasinghe has led teams of math faculty to rethink instructional approaches to introductory mathematics courses. His strategies and interventions transform mathematics instruction and inspire students towards careers in STEM and teaching. Department of Mathematics STEM Summer Academy at Fresno State: If you haven’t already, please review us o…

1
Leading the Research on Food and Housing Insecurity 24:45

6y ago24:45

24:45

Dr. Rashida Crutchfield’s experience working at a shelter for youth experiencing homelessness informed her research agenda on housing and food insecurity in higher education. She offers insight on how the California State University has become a national leader with the Basic Needs Initiative and the importance of supporting students facing food an…

1
Global Service-Learning and First-Gen 29:29

6y ago29:29

29:29

Dr. Jefferies teaches critical approaches to education by taking groups of students on global service-learning experiences to Latin American countries. First-generation, Latinx students apply course concepts to their interactions with community-based organizations on study-abroad trips. Through these experiences, they gain greater self-awareness, i…

1
Introducing Higher Ed Rewired 9:31

6y ago9:31

9:31

Student success initiatives are increasing nationally and pushing the boundaries of innovation in higher education. Assistant Vice Chancellor and Senior Strategist, Dr. James T. Minor leads Graduation Initiative 2025, a systemwide effort to increase degree completion and remove equity gaps for the more than 484,000 students across the 23 campuses o…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Graduation Initiative 2025 Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide