In this episode of the FutureU Podcast, hosts Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo explore how colleges can better support today’s students with Mike Larsson, co-founder and CEO of Duet. Duet partners with Southern New Hampshire University to provide hybrid college programs that combine online learning with on-the-ground coaching and physical spaces, designed to improve access and completion rates for nontraditional students. The conversation highlights the need for wraparound support services, such as personalized coaching and flexible schedules, to address barriers many students face, including financial challenges and balancing work, school, and family responsibilities.
Larsson emphasizes the importance of rethinking higher education’s support systems:
“Higher ed, for whatever reason, there’s this idea that it’s something that you should do by yourself, right? Even though other hard things where the payoff is down the road, like trying to stay healthy, like trying to stay fit, it’s commonplace to have someone with you to help set goals for you, help stay on you.”
The episode also examines strategies to reengage students who have stopped out and how innovative models like Duet’s could scale to serve students nationwide.