Why Colleges Must Stop Designing for the “Typical” Student

Why Colleges Must Stop Designing for the “Typical” Student

From The Innovating Together Podcast by University Innovation Alliance

May 13, 2026 · 19 min · Season 1 · Episode 207

About this episode

The episode discusses how higher education leaders can effectively integrate AI and innovation to better serve diverse student populations.

AI in higher education is moving fast, but the real question is not whether colleges should use AI. The real question is how higher ed leaders can use AI, edtech, and innovation to help students learn well, finish strong, and build better futures. In this live episode from the ASU GSV Summit, we sit down with Mark Milliron, President and CEO of National University, to explore how colleges can move new ideas from “novel” to normal. Mark shares why higher education must avoid AI hype, focus on real student outcomes, and design learning for today’s actual learners: working adults, parents, military students, veterans, and people balancing school with life. This conversation is for higher ed leaders, faculty, ed-tech founders, student success teams, policymakers, and anyone asking how AI will change college, online learning, adult education, workforce learning, and student support. You’ll hear a practical, human-centered view of AI adoption, change management, collective intelligence, and the future of higher education. What you’ll learn: how leaders can evaluate new technology without falling for hype, why AI should be seen as part of collective intelligence, how colleges can better…

People in this episode

Host: University Innovation Alliance

Guest: Mark Milliron

Topics covered

  • AI in higher education
  • nontraditional students
  • edtech
  • student outcomes
  • innovation
  • change management

Keywords

  • AI
  • higher education
  • student support
  • edtech
  • nontraditional students
  • innovation
  • learning outcomes

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National University

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