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In their lively and entertaining weekly discussion of issues related to higher education, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger explore the topics of higher education, lifelong learning, and exercising the brain. Ed and Jennifer practice what they preach, too, by introducing math puzzlers and brain teasers to keep listeners on their toes.

Higher Ed: What Keeps Alumni Coming Back To Their Alma Mater

Some alumni just love the schools they attended and cannot wait to go back for Homecoming and Reunion. Other alumni say "good riddance" as soon as they get their diploma and never want to hear from their schools again. In this episode of KUT's podcast Higher Ed, KUT's Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss what keeps alumni connected to their schools and how social media has impacted that relationship.

Ed and Jennifer unpack the sometimes complex relationship between a school and its alumni. Ed believes that many alumni come back to Homecoming and Reunion to be "re-nourished" in the way they were doing school. And since alumni can now keep up with each others' lives and news so easily on social media, they can connect with each other and the school at a deeper lever during those return visits. Click here for more of Ed and Jennifer's discussion about how schools support their alumni and how alumni support their schools. Plus, does Ed think alumni ever come back to Homecoming or Reunion just to "show off" a little?

One thing Ed does think for sure is that the puzzlers as of late have gotten a little too easy. So in this episode, Ed introduces what may be the trickiest puzzler yet about pathways on a checkerboard.

This episode was recorded Sept. 22, 2017.

For all of the Higher Ed episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here.

Jennifer Stayton is the local host for NPR's "Morning Edition" on KUT. Got a tip? Email her at jstayton@kut.org. Follow her on X @jenstayton.