Cask’s Post

Two days ago, now that it’s past midnight on what was a Thursday, the University of Texas system enacted the Governor's mandate to dissolve DEI programs. This predictably led to the downsizing of the DEI staff across its campuses. The Houston FOX station reported this, and their expert, Texas State Representative Jolanda Jones, says "It is anti-Black, and I think that Black parents shouldn't send their kids to any schools that don't have DEI, and let's see how the athletic programs go" (1). When I saw this, my superhuman abilities to think a million things in parallel kicked in. Not really. First, the title confused me, that's why I watched the video, I was intrigued. Contrary to what the title suggested, it wasn't DEI causing layoffs; rather, it was DEI personnel who were laid off. Then, my own thoughts and opinions kicked in. These are pretty plain and simple biases: 1. The education system, including almost all public and private institutions, is a failure that continually surprises everyone with how much it can degrade the quality of its output. 2. The educators, especially those in the 35-45 age bracket, are often products of this failed system. I believe the root issue isn’t education itself. The structure of core subjects like mathematics build knowledge incrementally, yet require consistent homework and effort. Generally, I believe it to be inherently equitable, but a bad teacher or two can change that. The real epiphany came realizing that Ms. Jones boiled down education to a monetary policy benefiting inflated institutions more than the students. Since 2000, the narrative around tuition fees has varied wildly. Friendly sources cite a 26% increase in recent times (2), others claim a 169% rise since 1980 (3). Yet, in reality, institutions like the University of California system have seen tuition hikes of nearly 300% since 2000 (4). In Texas, where contact sports dominate, Representative Jones advocates for student involvement in sports as a solution-- for what? They're not getting paid. She'll say their scholarship is as good as money, but then she'd be missing the point. This raises an important question: Would her stance hold if tuition cost $1M a year or $1 a year? She sweeps over the broader conflict between interests at the intersection of State, Corporate, and Institution, like a pro. I'm not complaining. Please don't be pessimistic about it. Like recognizing an addiction, identifying the problem is a first step towards recovery. We need to discuss important issues more openly and, I think, place the education system at the forefront of all considerations. (1) FOX 26 Houston (2024, April 4). UT Austin employees laid off as part of DEI [Video]. YouTube. https://lnkd.in/gqBp4Xhb (2:47) (2) https://lnkd.in/gDh3StzD (3) https://lnkd.in/gkwDJtRb (4) https://lnkd.in/gxzm2NNJ

"Thrilled to have attended the education conference at DWC organized by the Education Division (Higher Colleges of Technology). Engaging with faculty and students was invaluable, and the insights shared by keynote speakers left me inspired and motivated. Here's to fostering connections and learning from success stories! #EducationConference #Networking #Inspiration"

Impress and engage as you welcome and prepare more incoming students and their families with a beautifully branded and responsive virtual orientation platform. WHY? > Quickly adapt to diverse onboarding scenarios = ideal for hybrid orientation programs. > Personalize curated content to multiple audiences with animated, interactive, gamified, and video content. > Leverage analytic tools to measure impact in real-time.

Andy, your HEIST Awards rap was GREAT they said*. Can you do one for EAIE they said*. Sure! *I said (Verse 1) EAIE Conference, it's quite the scene, Keystone Education, we're in between, At booth #C15, let's make it keen, Learning, networking, like a dream machine. (Chorus) EAIE, EAIE, shining so bright, Keystone at #C15, it's our flight, Innovation's our might, day and night, In the education game, we're dynamite! (Verse 2) Workshops, sessions, we elevate, Global minds unite, we celebrate, EAIE's our guide, can't understate, Keystone's name, we collaborate. (Verse 3) Thursday night, drinks reception in sight, At the conference, we're feeling just right, Raise a toast to knowledge, take flight, Keystone's here to light up the night. (Chorus) EAIE, EAIE, shining so bright, Keystone at #C15, it's our flight, Innovation's our might, day and night, In the education game, we're dynamite! (Bridge) Join us at booth #C15, don't be remiss, To showcase your master's courses, here's your chance, don't miss, From far and wide, let's make it bliss, Keystone and EAIE, in the world of education, we coexist. (Outro) Breaking barriers, that's our role, With EAIE, we reach our goal, In education, we're on a roll, Keystone at #C15, let the story be told! (Obviously ChatGPT generated. I don’t have that kind of talent]

In part 2 of honoring our Society's 125th Anniversary, we're taking a moment to reflect on ASCRS U and the value that our educational resources have for both members and the wider public. In this video, Joshua Bleier, MD, FACS, FASCRS and Najjia Mahmoud, MD, FACS, FASCRS explain how education has evolved over the years while remaining at the heart of our mission. https://lnkd.in/eiABAp-e

Great to be part of GSV leaders conference in Nashville and hear Lisa Cohen Gevelber and Scott Pulsipher about degree, skilling and how they are co-existing as well as some time competing. For the longest time, the economic value of education has not been questioned as much as it's should have been! Good to see it's being talked about more often! Amazing to hear that Google career certificate has reached 600,000 learners in less than 2 years! The majority of high school students in the USA, don't make it to a college, so offering them industry certificate at the high school level can definitely open a lot of opportunities to them for sure! Traditional universities sitting on huge real estate funded by tax payers money which is not optimally utilized is mind boggling and this is something that universities like Western Governors University are questioning by offering affordable high quality degrees online and targeting minimum 10X return on investment made by learners in taking their programs as economic outcome.

I hope you can join me next Monday at 3:00 pm at OLTCA’s TiLTC conference! I’ll be sharing some practical tools and strategies that I use with clients in my consulting work to help them Redesign Culture, Teamwork and Family Relationships starting at Admissions. Here’s a bit more about the session: The admission process is crucial for the success of seniors' care, but it is often overlooked. When executed effectively, it brings benefits such as team building and trust, employee engagement, cultural empathy, reduced friction, complaints and escalations, and improved experiences for residents, families and care teams. This session will provide practical strategies to enhance the admission experience and create positive outcomes for all involved parties. By leveraging processes and transitioning from a transactional to a relational approach, we can alleviate admission anxiety and foster a sense of empowered and community among families, residents and staff. Here’s a link to OLTCA’s TWC conference: https://lnkd.in/gSr5JHhh I'd love to have you join me for this session!

Three reasons why YOU should join the Wiser Academy... 🙌 Applications for next year's cohort are open now. If you’ll be a student for 2024/25, apply via the link in the comments 🔗 #studentambassadors #studentjobs #studentambassador

Today Early Decision applications are due for many colleges. 🖊️🎓🌅 About 10% of colleges offer Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) options. I am sending a special shout-out and appreciation for all of our students applying ED or EA or submitting their QuestBridge applications and my Futures Ignite colleagues and WHEELS and IN-Tech academy teacher and counselor colleagues supporting them. 💡As Femi Ogundele wrote in the NYT responding to the end of affirmative action in July, "creating equity of access in K-12 means providing all students with the privileged schooling environment offered by better-resourced schools. Doing so exposes these students to worlds beyond their own, which strengthens their (and their families’) agency when deciding what to do after high school." 💡 What an honor to partner with NYC public schools to provide robust, grade 9-13 college and career counseling and programs. Whether our students, the majority of whom are first-gen students of color from historically disinvested communities, attend highly selective colleges, private colleges, CUNYs, or SUNYs, or choose a professional or career program, we celebrate our students having access to the best-fit college and career pathways for life after high school. #earlydecision #collegeadmissions #collegeaccess #affirmativeaction #firstgeneration #careeraccess #nycschools #education #educationequity

🚀✨ Reflecting on the Growth Journey of GRAUC: 2016-2018 ✨🚀 The past few years have been nothing short of transformative for GRAUC, marking a significant chapter in our journey towards meeting the dynamic workforce needs of our region. Let's take a stroll down memory lane and celebrate some key milestones: 🌟 **2016-2017: A Year of Transition and Transformation** - A strategic planning retreat paved the way for a renewed mission, focusing on aligning higher education with the workforce demands of our region. - The launch of the Career and Technical Education Center at Heintz (CTECH) surpassed all expectations, enrolling over 1600 students. - Winona State University's expansion in Rochester further strengthened our commitment to bridging the gap between education and industry. - Joining forces with over 30 community organizations in the Cradle to Career coalition underscored our dedication to fostering literacy and life skills at all levels. - Our 30th Anniversary and Awards Celebration Breakfast was a testament to our commitment, where we awarded our inaugural Workforce Innovator grants and bid farewell to Chancellor Lehmkuhle, while welcoming Interim Chancellor Lori Carrell. 🌟 **2017-2018: Redefining Our Purpose** - A year of continued transformation saw us revamping our website and reinforcing our understanding of evolving workforce needs through Business Briefs. - The finalization of our new Mission Statement reaffirmed our commitment to advocating for quality higher education programs, promoting opportunities, and fostering connections between education and industry. - The introduction of the GRAUC Partnership Council and a sustainable funding plan marked a pivotal moment in our organizational structure, ensuring long-term viability and impact. - As we wrapped up the year, we celebrated our achievements and geared up for new challenges ahead, recognizing the critical role GRAUC plays in driving economic success through education-industry alignment. 🔍 Looking Ahead: The landscape may evolve, but our dedication remains unwavering. As we continue to navigate the ever-changing tides of workforce demands, GRAUC stands poised to invest in our region's economic prosperity through strategic partnerships, innovative programs, and a steadfast commitment to excellence in education. Together, let's build a brighter future for our community. #GRAUC #WorkforceDevelopment #EducationForAll #BuildingTheFuture 🌟🎓💼