Master of Science in Business Program’s Post

Should higher ed be everything to everyone? I’m noticing a trend right now in that direction: - community colleges offering 4-year degrees - liberal arts schools offering hard science specializations - public university systems offering PhD programs. There is nothing wrong with adapting and evolving. It’s critical if schools hope to remain relevant. Society is changing; higher ed should, too. But those changes should be guided by fulfilling your school’s unique mission. Who are you here to serve? You can try to be everything to everyone. But in my experience, schools succeed when they are true to themselves. #highereducation #highereducationleadership

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The University of Michigan's "Report of the Advisory Committee on the University of Michigan Principles on Diversity of Thought & Freedom of Expression" has been released, and contains many useful principles and commitments for #university leaders, staff and students to consider. The Report includes the findings of several Subcommittees, including the following: “It is entirely reasonable to expect members of the University community to abide by norms of civility, respect free expression, and be broadly supportive of the University’s fundamental missions. But a bright line can and must be drawn between promoting the norms of civility and pluralism and asking employees – both faculty and staff – for pledges of fealty to specific ideologies or endorsements of worldviews, political projects, philosophies, contested solutions to pressing problems. A central premise of pluralism is that thoughtful people can disagree, and the University should take great care in avoiding a culture where people feel they cannot disagree.” (p.12) We are in an environment where, for a variety of career or social reasons, "... pledges of fealty to specific ideologies or endorsements of worldviews..." are increasingly hard to avoid, and indeed are arguably even reinforced by many in the academic community itself or imposed through the administrative apparatus of the institution (i.e via mandatory training, such as debunked "unconscious bias training"). But it's great to see such a commitment from the leaders at the University of Michigan, and hopefully, many other universities will follow. You can find the Report here: https://lnkd.in/g8us7356 #viewpointdiversity #freedomofexpression #freedomofinquiry

Maybe the even more perplexing question is why are the views of former college and university leaders so diametrically opposed to those of sitting presidents? One group points to the urgency of needed change and the rapidity with which the existential threats are closing in on higher educational institutions (and the institution of US higher ed itself). The other asserts with inexplicable confidence (80% of those surveyed) that “their institution will be financially stable over the next decade.” UNC Wilmington’s Kevin McClure refers to this as “operating more on hope than on strategy.” Others are far less gentle in describing this disconnect from reality with sitting presidents having to balance leading their institution, addressing myriad challenges, managing change, respecting shared governance, and keeping their jobs. They are walking a thin line, endeavoring to balance optimism and realism – the former to build support and lift morale, the latter very carefully metered so as not to invoke a challenge. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited with the saying “the only constant in life is change.” Change has been a constant since the dawn of humanity. So, too, has been the fear of change. But without change there is no progress, no growth, no adaptation, no evolution. While far less philosophical, I have asserted in my own writing on higher education that “refusal to change – in a changing world – is not a strategy.” And in the words of Benjamin Franklin, “when you are finished changing, you are finished.”

As a DEI thought leader who worked in academia (both as faculty and administration) for over 18 years and who has consulted with universities such as the University of Michigan, Cornell, Harvard, and MIT, my focus has always been two-fold: 1) To attract, retain and educate a diverse body of students who experience equitable opportunities and a sense of belonging on campus. 2) To equip those same students with the cultural intelligence needed to thrive in our diverse and global world. In light of ongoing attacks against DEI in higher education, this excellent report by Shaun Harper, and several other scholars, breaks down "DEI Myths vs Facts" on college campuses. I say all the time, we must not be distracted or deterred by the backlash. However, part of our DEI strategy should include staying aware and wise about the things happening around and to us. https://lnkd.in/e3kr53hh #DEIStrategy #MakeItLast

#TruthMatters! Calling all current and aspiring university leaders. Don’t forget to remember the reasons why colleges and universities across America created programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion, the positive impact of these programs, and why they are still needed. Rather than quietly acquiescing to the partisan political whims of elected officials, lead by articulating why and how DEI programs are consistent with the mission of your university to serve all students, and how inclusive excellence makes America a more prosperous and secure nation. Lead by educating both the populace and the policy makers. Don’t forget to remember the profile of American higher education before the era of inclusive excellence and what it will look like without those efforts.

Forbes calls National Education Equity Lab efforts “game-changing”! Leveling the playing field - at scale - for talented scholars in low-income high schools nationwide. We deliver college credit-bearing courses, and supports, from our nation’s top universities to over 25K scholars since 2019. Talent is evenly distributed. Opportunity is not. We aim to change that.  We salute our college partners: Stanford University; Howard University; Wesleyan University; The Wharton School; Brown University; Morehouse College; Cornell University; Spelman College; University of Pennsylvania; Barnard College; Georgetown University; Princeton University; Arizona State University; University of California (all campuses). #HigherEd #Equity Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/ehDrBEi6

Thought for the Day: Someone close to me recently asked me why I obtained a history degree. As the author in this Forbes piece argues, a liberal arts degree helps us develop important communication and analytical skills, and helps us challenge our own ideas and assumptions. I will always be grateful for my time at Western Washington University! I use what I learned every day. #selfhelp #personaldevelopmentcoaching #coaching #teaching #highereducation #Toastmasters https://lnkd.in/gfyRfUDN

Have you ever wondered what truly defines the value of a college education? The latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report on the best-value national universities offer some intriguing insights. Considering these rankings, we must consider what "value" means to us individually. Is it the return on investment, the quality of education, or something more intangible? I’d love to hear your thoughts on how we can best measure the value of higher education. #HigherEducation #CollegeRankings #ValueOfEducation https://lnkd.in/gdgmajUe

The figures for a few select USA offers look ravishing. Believe us - we know what we're doing! 1. New York University - 24 admits; 2. Columbia University - 18 admits; 3. Duke University - 4 admits; 4. Stanford University - 3 admits; 5. University of Chicago - 5 admits; 6. Cornell University - 12 admits; 7. UCLA - 8 admits; 8. Georgetown University - 32 admits; 9. University of Pennsylvania - 13 admits; and 10. University of Michigan - 6 admits; These achievements come with great excitement as the total 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 offers exceed a staggering sum of $𝟕𝟐𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎. Ready to embark on your magical journey? Reach out to us and discover how our counsel can help you achieve your academic ambitions. Apparently, #Hogwarts isn't the only place where dreams come true. #llmwizards #overseaseducation