Federal City Council’s Post

I love Laura and Kelly's book Broke: The Racial Consequences of Underfunding Public Universities. It stays on top of my bookshelf today. This book is a great resource for making the case to state legislatures about the decline of state funding over the past four decades at state universities for other priorities such as health care and prisons. It is essential to understand that education and healthcare are interconnected. Investing in education not only leads to positive outcomes for healthcare but also reduces the likelihood of recidivating by 43%. Furthermore, individuals who drop out of high school are 63% more likely to be incarcerated compared to their peers with four-year college degrees. So why not hit the gas and invest more in higher education and not less?

➡️ 🔎 Did you know Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in America and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate programs? Learn more about this featured #college on CollegeXpress! #colleges #highered #highereducation #collegesanduniversities #collegesearch #collegeadmission #exploringcolleges #students #highschoolstudents #collegestudents

Amid the challenges posed by the Israel/Gaza demonstrations on American campuses, along with a rising tide of political attacks on the autonomy of American universities, shared governance is also eroding on many campuses. The internal conflict that is splitting university communities, and fueling outside criticism, is also lending momentum to university presidents, and governing boards, ignoring and downgrading the voice and role of faculty senates – to some degree joining forces with lawmakers in some states who are attacking tenure, forcing curricular changes, demanding the end to the nomenclature of DEI, and view faculty as the problem. See Ryan Quinn’s recent InsideHE article which discusses the desire of some faculty at Harvard to establish a greater role in university management in the wake of the Claudine Gay resignation, as well as a scan of legislation demoting the role of faculty in university affairs in states like Florida, Arizona and West Virginia. https://lnkd.in/g_NQNudj See also my article on the critical role of shared governance in developing the University of California’s multi-campus system. https://lnkd.in/gt8YnzRS #universities #faculty #Israelgaza #sharedgovernance

SHOUT OUT to University of California, Davis for being recognized within the TOP TEN BEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES in the United States‼️🎉🎈 ALL of the PUBLIC universities that rank higher are missing out on the full opportunity of #InclusiveCollege. 1. UCLA - who is ranked number one - has a two-year program. 2. UC BERKELEY - home of the #DisabilityRights movement - has NO #InclusiveCollege program 3. University of Michigan - NO #InclusiveCollege program 4. University of Virginia - NO #InclusiveCollege program 5. University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill - has a summer program 6. UC San Diego - NO #InclusiveCollege program TIE for #7. University of Florida - NO #InclusiveCollege program and University of Texas, Austin - has a three-semester program TIE for #9. Georgia Tech and UC Davis - BOTH have FOUR-YEAR with RESIDENTIAL LIVING #InclusiveCollege Programs‼️ Your #Education is BETTER when you are living and learning with peers who have #IntellectualDisabilities. The teaching gets better. The opportunities are better. The learning gets better. My Hot Take 🔥 Some day (and it won’t be long) #USNewsAndWorldReport will include #InclusiveCollegePrograms in their calculations for what makes the BEST universities in the nation. Over here at UC Davis, we will be ready. 💙🌲💛

As DEI programs and initiatives are losing support, I’m encouraged by the lasting impact that many DEI efforts, whether through a formalized program or not, are having on our society, and specifically at my alma mater, California State University, Fullerton. I’m glad to know that the school recognizes that not only does it “Take a Titan”, but that in many instances, it takes a Titan of color. Don’t be swayed nor dismayed that political agendas are no longer supporting some of the good work that has come from DEI programs. Yes, we know that a few of these programs could have been misguided, not properly supported, or frankly were just flops. However. There have been some bangin programs out there, already producing a quick fruitful harvest that has benefitted our society in ways that many of us may never know. And I believe that this fruit bears seeds which have been and will be planted for years to come, thereby yields a diversity of equitable and inclusive communities, organizations, and societies. WE OUTCHEA! I cautiously believe that as more of the leaders of our institutions, communities, and country are emerging, we may not even need to have DEI programs in the future, considering that these same people are those who DEI programs would have fostered, ushered in, and supported. Notwithstanding that these leaders must still have an awareness, competence, and intention to foster DEI environments, it can come far more inherently, and will likely be more effective, systemic, and sustainable from their seat of power, authority, and influence. Not only do we have seats at tables, we are sitting in the head seats of tables, where we get to dictate what’s on the menu to be served up. We are also making the tables these days! (Well, many of us know we’ve been the ones making many of the tables that we can’t sit at, but that is for another time). Now we must trust and hope that those in these seats and at these tables remain true to their calls, whatever that may be, and not getcaught up in all of the racist-ideological “isms” and “schisms” that much of our nation’s history, and frankly humanity’s history, is steeped in. Congrats brotha Ronald Rochon!! Hope to meet you some day.

Excelencia in Education congratulates 9 recertified Seal of Excelencia institutions that have earned the Seal of Excelencia certification for the second time for their continued commitment to go beyond enrollment and more intentionally SERVE Latino students. They join a community of 46 Seal-certified colleges and universities that represent less than 1% of all institutions but enroll 17% and graduate 19% of all Latino students nationwide. Excelencia recognized their efforts to become a learning environment where Latino, and all, students thrive. To earn the #ExcelenciaSeal, the institutions had to demonstrate intentionality and impact in improving outcomes such as retention, financial support, and degree completion for Latino students by aligning efforts across data, practice, and leadership. “The colleges and universities that earn the Seal of Excelencia lead the charge in meeting our nation’s degree attainment goals,” said Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Excelencia of Education. “They demonstrate commitment to Latino student success through impact and ongoing self-assessment.” Learn more about the institutions → https://lnkd.in/gpCxPw99 California State University, Fresno California State University, Fullerton Miami Dade College San Diego State University The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley University of California, Merced University of California, Riverside University of Central Florida City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College

My fiancée is currently going to college for the first time. She went directly from high school to retail management and by 25 was effectively COO of a store, managing several hundred people at a business grossing $1M+ a week. And, now, at 30, she is working towards becoming a therapist (the hours in retail suhhhhk). It's going to take six years of her life to switch (four years for her BA and two more for a Masters). And in the first two years of school, exactly 15 of those 60 credits will be in Psychology. She's spending the majority of her time and money on classes that not only don't pertain to her major, they don't pertain to real life. She's currently learning how to factor polynomial equations in Algebra. Show of hands from people who don't teach math who have ever factored a polynomial equation as an adult. She's also learning the science behind phylogenetic trees in Biology 2. Show of hands from people who aren't research biologists who have ever engaged in phylogenetic analysis as an adult. If you're 18, you probably haven't been exposed to a whole lot of career options in your young life. It's wonderful to explore everything a liberal arts education offers and see what you might truly wish to engage in for the rest of your life. Actually, who am I kidding -- see what you might wish to engage in for the next ten year before you change careers (perhaps voluntarily, perhaps not). A liberal arts education is also becoming more and more a luxury item. Someone receiving an in-state CU Boulder education will spend between $54,000 and $77,000 on tuition, and another $80,000 in room and board. Those costs are simply unfathomable for a good, but typical, state school education. Oh, and a Masters is an extra $30,000 in tuition. Given that my fiance was making $60k/yr, the total cost (direct and opportunity) to become a therapist will approach $500,000, not including living expenses. Half. A Million. Dollars. I one-hundred-percent back her play (did I mention how much the hours in retail suck?), but this is insanity. This is what higher education asks of students now. This is what too many vocations still require of its practitioners. Something has to give before an entire nation collapses under the absurd weight and cost of college degrees. Ian Bogost's interview is interesting because it illustrates how entrenched and perhaps unalterable higher education is, by its very design. As a result, the solution will probably not come from within existing institutions. If there was ever a time to consider disrupting higher ed, that time is NOW. Game on!

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

"Classical education has seen a strong revival over the past four decades. This revival has occurred in both the private and public sectors of education. It spans theological creeds, educational models, and state lines. It even extends outside the United States. This revival spans curriculum providers and publishers, colleges and universities, charter school companies, home educators, and even our own political structures. As the health and importance of this influence inevitably grows in the coming generation, it is only right to recognize and honor those who have continued to be the top voices and leaders in this historic recovery, year after year. Some individuals on this list are speakers and authors. Some are entrepreneurs and thought leaders. Some are researchers and politicians. Some are corporate executives. Some are college professors and beloved board members. Whatever post or position an individual may hold, we recognize them for having taken that opportunity to advance the cause and case of classical education in honorable and substantive ways." https://lnkd.in/ePA9SDYX

Intriguing questions in this article about ways to shorten the amount of time it takes to complete a degree, while still maintaining the integrity of academic programs. Time and money are real barriers to education for many students, and this is a prime area for higher ed to rethink some of its traditions and assumptions. (Also, great to see Chancellor Lori J. Carrell, Ph.D. and the University of Minnesota-Rochester highlighted for the innovative work they have been undertaking in this regard!) "Yes, reducing time reduces cost, but this effort isn’t just about money. The idea is to redesign the curriculum using evidence-based practices that support solid learning—the kind of innovation that promises a real payoff. The first cohort to complete the new, accelerated program at Carrell’s University of Minnesota-Rochester campus will graduate in December." #highered #studentsuccess #access #povertyinformedpractice #equity #curriculum #innovation https://lnkd.in/dirwMCc7