What a 45 Minute AI Conversation Revealed About 19 Years of Leadership - with Dr. Randall VanWagoner, President, Mohawk Valley Community College

It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, sponsored by Studiosity,YOUR guest is Jack Goodman, Founder, Studiosity YOUR cohost is Dr. Carmin Chan, Vice Provost of NAU Online, Northern Arizona UniversityYOUR host is Elvin FreytesHow does a company founded 23 years ago transform from providing study support through public libraries to serving 200 universities & colleges across Australia, the UK, North America & the Middle East while maintaining its core mission to increase life chances for students everywhere?What happens when an ed tech platform re engineers its entire human powered writing feedback system using large language models trained on millions of pieces of data to deliver feedback in 2 minutes or less & successfully migrates over 70% of university customers to the new Writing Feedback Plus platform by 2024?How does the acquisition of Norvalid, a Norwegian startup, shift the focus from policing dishonest work to validating student learning through integrity quizzes & assessments that evidence understanding at the point of submission while preserving learning integrity in the age of generative AI?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠​subscribe today​⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #427, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Beth Martin, President, Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) YOUR cohost is Darius Goldman, Founder & CEO, Career-BondYOUR host is Elvin FreytesHow does a 175 year old institution sell its entire campus, go fully online & achieve zero debt while serving 80% of students online who only use 3 classrooms?What happens when a university creates a 3D virtual campus, turns all programs online in 3 years with 5 instructional designers & stacks credentials to equal master's degrees for adult learners averaging 35 years old?How does a president embed AI in every single program, partner with companies for cybersecurity & AI concentrations & prepare working parents to earn degrees asynchronously on their own time?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠​subscribe today​⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #426, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Arthur Levine, President, Brandeis UniversityYOUR co-host is Brent Ramdin, CEO, EducationDynamicsYOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe SallustioHow does a president come out of retirement for his alma mater & convince 88% of faculty to completely reinvent the liberal arts in a secret ballot vote?What happens when a university pairs every student with 2 advisors (academic & career), creates a 2nd transcript for competencies & reorganizes entire departments to combine core disciplines with real-world applications?How does a 21 year veteran college president transform a 1948 institution by partnering with Educational Testing Service to create competency based assessments & micro credentials that prepare students for careers, not just their parents' world?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠​subscribe today​⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #425, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Elder Gilbert, Commissioner of Education, Church Educational SystemYOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe SallustioHow does a religious university system serve over 160,000 students across 5 institutions & offer a $7,500 bachelor's degree without perpetual subsidies?What happens when a teaching focused university grows from 10,000 to 40,000 students while inflation adjusted costs actually DECLINE (& why year round calendars change everything)?How does religious mission drive innovation rather than prevent it & why did 100% of successful disruptive innovations in 900 firms require structural separation from the mothership?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠​subscribe today​⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025! 

It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, part of our Academic Integrity Series, sponsored by ⁠Integrity4EducationYOUR guest is Dr. Melissa Beck Wells, Associate Professor, Director of Teaching, Learning, and Faculty Development, Empire State UniversityYOUR cohost is Thomas Fetsch, CEO, Integrity4EducationYOUR host is ⁠Elvin Freytes⁠How does Empire State University, a 98% online institution with 20,000 students ranging from age 19 to 89, use Universal Design for Learning to minimize barriers & reduce the temptation to cheat by offering multimodal content delivery, flexible assessment options, & 24/7 support including tutoring & even a virtual food pantry?Why does Melissa refuse to use AI tracker tools due to false positives, & how does Empire's required AI statement in every syllabus (allowing instructors to permit, prohibit, or require citation of AI) create transparency & support proactive conversations rather than punitive measures?How does Empire's approach of 200 plus hours of monthly professional development for faculty & focusing on removing unintentional barriers lead to authentic student engagement, & why does Melissa believe that when students feel supported & can demonstrate learning in ways meaningful to them, they're less likely to violate academic integrity?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠The EdUp Experience⁠We make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠⁠​subscribe today​⁠⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, part of our Academic Integrity Series, sponsored by ⁠Integrity4EducationYOUR guest is Patricia Salkin, Senior VP for Academic Affairs, Provost of the Graduate & Professional Divisions, & Professor of Law, Touro UniversityYOUR cohost is Thomas Fetsch, CEO, Integrity4EducationYOUR host is ⁠Elvin Freytes⁠How has Touro grown from a couple dozen students 53 years ago to 20,000 students across 7 states & 4 countries, & why does Patricia believe the vast majority of students & faculty act with integrity?What innovative approach is Touro taking by hiring an associate provost for AI, implementing faculty innovation grants to teach responsible AI use, & why does Patricia believe teaching students to fact check AI outputs & craft effective prompts is better than banning the technology?How does Touro's Academic Integrity Council function with officers from every program, what does their AI addendum allow (students may use AI unless faculty specify otherwise), & why does Patricia emphasize thorough investigations, informal resolutions when appropriate, & robust student support systems?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠The EdUp Experience⁠We make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠⁠​subscribe today​⁠⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #424, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Randall VanWagoner, President, Mohawk Valley Community CollegeYOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe SallustioHow does a 19 year community college president use ChatGPT for a 45 minute leadership reflection road trip & discover he's actually leading his "3rd presidency" at the same institution?What happens when a community college braces 17 different funding streams to offer Free Fast Track training to 100 students monthly & achieves a 65% completion rate with 60% adults 25+ & 60% people of color?How does a college serving the 2nd poorest student population in New York's SUNY system increase graduation rates by 50% through Guided Pathways while maintaining a culture where 80% of employees look forward to work EVERY day (not just Tuesdays)?Extended Conversation for EdUp Premium Members: Why does a 19 year president say his greatest accomplishment isn't birthing 5 presidents from his VP ranks but staying married for 30 years & what does that reveal about presidential staying power?How did AI reflection reveal Randy was "chasing headlines" with big partnerships instead of strengthening the core & why does he now prioritize sustainable change over media releases?What are the 4 things ALL generations want at work (according to millions of Gallup surveys) & how does building these conditions create a culture where 90% of employees trust their colleagues & 98% connect to the mission?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠​subscribe today​⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

It's YOUR time to #EdUp  In this episode, sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Stephen Pruitt, President, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)YOUR cohost is Dr. G. Devin Stephenson, President, Florida Polytechnic UniversityYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow does a new accreditation leader eliminate the phrase "that's the way we've always done it" & slash 52 substantive change categories by at least half while implementing a "students first always" philosophy?What happens when an accreditor moves from "gotcha" accountability to a "carrots & sticks" approach with a sandbox of innovation that lets institutions negotiate around standards in exchange for measurable outcomes?How does SACSCOC plan to embrace AI for firewalled tools, celebrate institutional successes with 60 categories of recognition, & create different pathways for R1 universities versus technical colleges?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠​subscribe today​⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #423, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Montse Fuentes, President, Professor of Mathematics, St. Edward's UniversityYOUR co-host is Gregory Clayton, President, EducationDynamicsYOUR host is ⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How does a university ranked #2 in the West for undergraduate teaching serve students where 50% are Pell recipients & over half are 1st generation while achieving 100% internship access?Why did a new school of health sciences launched during the pandemic become the #1 major in nursing in just 1 year through data driven decisions & strategic partnerships?How does St. Edward's integrate AI training while emphasizing the ethical judgment & empathy that AI cannot replace to keep graduates relevant in an evolving workforce?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠​subscribe today​⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, President Series #422, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, & sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Dr. Michael Horowitz, Chancellor, The Community Solution Education SystemYOUR host is ⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How does a 6 university system serve 13,500 students through shared infrastructure instead of each institution maintaining separate marketing & finance departments?What happens when a clinical psychologist becomes a chancellor & launches a podcast about breaking convention in higher education?How does a "high adoption model" for AI in healthcare programs beat doctors only diagnosis while increasing radiologist positions at Mayo Clinic?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠​subscribe today​⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!