EducationDynamics’ Post

American universities are in a defensive crouch in the face of a polarized national climate that is showing up on their campuses, dividing students & faculty, and attracting unhelpful attention from outside groups and conflict-instigators. But there is a path that higher education could take to turn this challenge into an opportunity. It begins with trusting & investing in the talent & potential of their students to lead us all to a better future. https://lnkd.in/eRnDYSCD

For APCO Worldwide, I share my perspective on the exceedingly complex landscape facing higher education. In this heated political climate, university leaders and communicators may find themselves stuck between their own inclusionary values, the pressures of their students and challenges from state governments, alumni/donors and even faculty. https://lnkd.in/gV2n3_UQ

⚠️ RESOURCE SHARE ⚠️ The objective of the California Community Colleges Transfer Guarantee to HBCUs Program is the development of transfer pathways that will facilitate a smooth transition for students from all of the CCC to partnered HBCUs. These pathways will simplify the transfer process and reduce students' need to take unnecessary courses, thereby shortening the time to degree completion and saving student costs. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gVunNJKJ

Jinann Bitar from The Education Trust sat down with our CEO Aneesh Sohoni to discuss the unique perspective of effective strategies on enhancing college completion, fostering equitable opportunities for all learners, and how policymakers can continue to invest in college completion. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g7vjUgu9

On mourning diversity in higher education in Florida. “Florida is where DEI goes to die,” Mr. DeSantis wrote on social media. I read that statement and a piece of me died. I took my undergraduate degrees at the University of Utah and took my graduate degrees at Florida State University. Where Utah was pretty homogeneous and conservative, Florida State University was a hotbed of diversity and ideas. I entered classrooms filled with students who were all shades of skin, from a dozen cultures, and all seeking to improve their lives. I was taught by professors with a deep commitment to ensuring every student had a shot at realizing their dreams. I quickly recognized it was the interplay of the diverse classroom and faculty commitment that made my learning experiences great. I thrived. I grew. I came to love Florida. I still do. But like all PhD students. I had to move on. When I joined Clemson University, I missed that thriving diverse climate - and didn't see it again until I joined the Fox School of Business at Temple University almost 20 years later - and when I did - I could breathe again - for the first time in a very long time. So when I learned the University of Florida laid off it's DEI staff with three months severance pay, and that the University of Utah and the The University of Alabama were taking related steps back, I died a little. It meant that places like FSU, UF, and University of South Florida will have to work a lot harder to keep that thriving culture, that fostered an exchanged of ideas and understanding, that forged me as an academic alive. I hope that they can. My eight years in Tallahassee changed how I thought, felt about, and interpreted the world - for the better. I hope the next wave of academics has similar opportunities. BC the world just works better, when institutions are allowed to create conversations, open minds, and teach us to build a better world together. #fsu #uf #usf #fiu #fau #unf #fgcu #florida #diversity #equity #inclusion #phdproject See more here: https://lnkd.in/eW7_AGm6

GOT PLAN? Lots of plans in #highereducation, not so much planning. Point Park University like many institutions has struggled with administrative turnover. Continuity is key to execution. https://lnkd.in/e-KaghbZ

NCMEP Partner, North Carolina Community College System, brings accessible customized training for businesses and individuals to counties across North Carolina. Listen to NCMEP director Phil Mintz and the vice president of economic development at the North Carolina Community College System, John C. Loyack, as they discuss how NCCCS aids in economic development, how North Carolina Community College caters to the current needs of the workforce and more. https://lnkd.in/eB4cQUg4

Explore just a few of the inspiring stories from UW's inaugural graduating cohort of the Path to UW program, highlighting the pivotal role of supporting transfer students in closing the education equity gap. Read my newest UAA piece, 'The Path to UW and Beyond,' at the link! #educationalequity" https://lnkd.in/gPU5MhPU

This kind of news is extremely disheartening to see, especially coming from my home state and the University of Florida. Florida holds vibrant diversity, both ecologically and culturally, and this diversity has played such a huge role in building resilient communities and cultural hubs throughout the state. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is crucial to all areas of societal advancement and improvement, and especially in the advancement of the sciences and academia. I'll highlight a study from 2022, written by my colleagues in the AMS Policy Program, that describes a Framework for the Advancement of Inclusion, Equity, and Justice in the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise, as this kind of work is needed now more than ever. AMS Policy Program study on EIJ: https://lnkd.in/enCChVHF Article on UF eliminating DEI: https://lnkd.in/e5wh8tF2