In this episode of On Campus, we welcome Dr. Corey Seemiller, a leading researcher on Generation Z and co-author of "Generation Z Goes to College," for a candid conversation about what Gen Z students truly want from higher education. Drawing on years of national research and direct student voices, Dr. Seemiller challenges common assumptions—emphasizing that Gen Z is not simply an extension of previous generations, and that traditional practices in admissions, pedagogy, and campus life must evolve to meet new realities. The discussion explores the critical factors Gen Z weighs when deciding if college is "worth it," including cost, lost wages, alternative career paths, and the need for institutions to demonstrate clear return on investment.

The episode also delves into issues of trust, transparency, and the student experience, highlighting Gen Z’s skepticism toward institutional messaging and their desire for authentic, student-driven content. Dr. Seemiller shares insights on microcredentials, the evolving value of a degree, and the impact of AI on learning and recruitment. She underscores the importance of holistic support services, mental health resources, and flexible learning modalities, urging colleges to rethink outdated structures and actively engage Gen Z in shaping the future of higher education. The conversation closes with a call for institutions to listen, adapt, and create positive change in response to Gen Z’s expectations and needs.

In this episode of On Campus, we explore what high-quality online and blended learning looks like today with Director of Instruction Design, Dr. Rhiannon Pollard, from the University of Central Florida’s Center for Distributed Learning. As colleges and universities continue to expand hybrid and digital offerings, Dr. Pollard shares practical insights on course design, student engagement, faculty support, and the evolving expectations of learners who are balancing school with work, family, and other responsibilities.

We discuss what makes an online or blended course truly effective in 2026, how institutions can move beyond emergency remote teaching toward intentional design, and the role instructional designers play in helping faculty create meaningful, flexible learning experiences. Whether you’re a faculty member, administrator, or higher-ed professional thinking about the future of teaching and learning, this conversation offers actionable ideas and a look at where the digital classroom is headed next.

Links:

• CITI Program’s Navigating Online and Hybrid Teaching course
  https://about.citiprogram.org/course/navigating-online-and-hybrid-teaching/
• UCF’s Center for Distributed Learning
  https://cdl.ucf.edu/

In this Season 4 kickoff episode of On Campus, we set the stage for higher education in 2026 by exploring three defining trends shaping today’s campuses: how colleges and universities are marketing to Gen Z and today’s high school students, what the 21st-century classroom really looks like, and why AI has become the new normal across teaching, learning, and campus operations. From shifting enrollment and digital recruitment strategies to reimagined learning spaces, hybrid instruction, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence, this episode previews the conversations ahead this season and invites listeners to reflect on how higher education is evolving. We also invite listeners to share topic ideas or reach out if they’re interested in joining the conversation as a future guest on the podcast.

Please reach out if you have:

• An idea for a topic you’d like to hear covered this season
• A perspective you think deserves more attention
• Or if you’re interested in being a guest on the podcast

Ed Butch - ebutch@citiprogram.org

As Season 3 of On Campus comes to a close, this wrap-up episode offers a moment to reflect and look ahead. In this, we revisit key themes from the season: student engagement, community connection, professional development, and global learning, while highlighting major shifts that shaped higher education throughout 2025, including the growing role of AI, evolving career pathways, and renewed attention to student belonging. The episode also previews what’s planned for Season 4, with new topics, fresh voices, and timely conversations that continue to explore the changing landscape of higher education.

Unsure if the job listings you see on LinkedIn are ghost posts, spam, or how to investigate red flags as to why a role is open? Wondering how to stand out as a job applicant with AI analyzing resumes? Concerned about whether the compliance profession has a positive outlook? Unsure what a compliance profession really means or includes?

In the third and final installment of the Professional Development trilogy, we speak with Matt Kelly, who provides insights into the power of networking, things to avoid when using AI to apply for jobs (hint: try not to use “Easy Apply”), and the importance of the reporting structure to a job.

Matt Kelly is editor of Radical Compliance, a newsletter linked below that follows the corporate compliance and audit fields. He has published Radical Compliance since 2016, and was editor of Compliance Week for 10 years before that. He writes or speaks about corporate compliance issues often.



Additional Resources

• Matt Kelly’s Radical Compliance Newsletter: https://www.radicalcompliance.com/author/admin/
• Matt Kelly’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkellycompliance/
• CITI Program’s Health and Safety Solution: https://about.citiprogram.org/solutions/health-safety/
• CITI Program’s Biomanufacturing Solution: https://about.citiprogram.org/solutions/biomanufacturing/
• CITI Program’s Healthcare Solution: https://about.citiprogram.org/solutions/healthcare/

What does it mean for a university to truly be global? In this episode, we explore how international partnerships and global engagement enrich both universities and the communities they serve. My guest, Dr. Paulo Mussi Agusto, and I share our experience co-creating the American Academy – a unique collaboration between the Pontifical Catholic University in Parana, Brazil and Kent State University that blends liberal arts education with cross-cultural learning. We discuss why global engagement matters, what makes partnerships successful, and the lessons learned from building a program designed to expand access and opportunity across borders.



Additional Resources:

• CITI Program’s International Student Success Series: https://about.citiprogram.org/series/international-student-success/
• The American Academy: https://www.pucpr.br/american-academy-en/

Studying abroad offers life-changing opportunities for students, but international travel also comes with health risks that universities must address. In this episode, Dr. Wilbur Chen, infectious disease physician and vaccine researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, joins us to discuss the role of travel medicine in higher education. From essential vaccines and preventive measures to equity in access for students, Dr. Chen explores how institutions can prepare students, faculty, and staff for safe, healthy, and successful experiences abroad.

Additional Resources:

• CITI Program’s Campus Health and Wellbeing Series: https://about.citiprogram.org/series/campus-health-and-wellness/

An effective compliance program, as outlined in the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, incorporates seven key elements to prevent and detect organizational misconduct. First, organizations must establish clear standards and procedures to ensure legal and ethical conduct, supported by comprehensive training and communication to promote awareness. Second, high-level personnel must oversee the program, ensuring accountability, while specific individuals are responsible for its implementation. Finally, regular monitoring, auditing, a system for confidentially reporting violations, consistent enforcement, and periodic risk assessments ensure the program's ongoing effectiveness.

Two CITI Program colleagues, Andra M. Popa, JD, LLM, Assistant Director of Healthcare Compliance, and Anne Hawkins-Badge, DHSc, MSPH, Assistant Director of Environmental Health and Safety, discuss their respective regulatory expertise that directly aligns with the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines' seven key elements. In their discussion, they highlight the similarities and skills that may apply to a professional compliance position from their respective backgrounds.

Additional Resources:

• CITI Program’s Healthcare Solution: https://about.citiprogram.org/solutions/healthcare/
• CITI Program’s Health and Safety Solution: https://about.citiprogram.org/solutions/health-safety/
• CITI Program’s Higher Education Training Solution: https://about.citiprogram.org/solutions/higher-education/