NACU’s podcast — Connect, Collaborate, Champion — focuses on higher education’s challenges and opportunities as well as its impact on local and global communities in an effort to provide practical insight for higher education professionals. Each episode features a unique perspective from higher ed insiders, private industry experts, and other voices to capture new ways of thinking about higher education and its influence on society.
If you have an idea for a podcast guest, please email Michelle Apuzzio.
Political Science and Experiential Learning in a Divided Society (Dec. 4, 2024)
Chris Haynes, associate professor in International Affairs, National Security, and Political Science at the University of New Haven talks about the changing nature of political science, the increasing political divide, and the impact of experiential learning on student development. Dr. Haynes is an expert on immigration, political framing, presidential elections, race and ethnicity, and the impact the changing media landscape is having on politics and public opinion. He is also the co-author of the book Framing Immigrants: News Coverage, Public Opinion, and Policy; founder and director of the University’s Model United Nations program; and the primary liaison between the University and the Washington Internship Institute.
Building Community and Confidence in First-Gen College Students (Oct. 30, 2024)
Imposter syndrome and a lack of confidence in navigating college can happen to anybody, but it can especially be a problem for students who are the first in their families to attend college. These feelings can lead to poor academic performance and a lack of engagement with the campus community, making the path to graduation more challenging. Our guest is Julie Carballo, Assistant Dean of Students for First-Generation and Military-Affiliated Initiatives at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, which has nearly 40% first-generation students. We’ll talk about how their Cardinal First program provides essential support from enrollment through graduation, how the campus community values and supports first-generation students, and tips on what other institutions can learn from the Cardinal First program. To stay up-to-date, follow them on Instagram @firstgencardinals.
Navigating Tenure in Times of Change: Lessons from the Mitchell Hamline Merger (Oct. 2, 2024)
We discuss the story of how the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, born from the merger of two established institutions, undertook the complex process of rewriting its tenure code. As mergers in higher education become more common, the challenges of blending distinct cultures, policies, and faculty expectations are increasingly in the spotlight. Our guests are Linda Hanson, president emerita at Hamline University, and David Larson, law professor at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law and a Senior Fellow at the Dispute Resolution Institute.