Cultivating a campus culture that embodies both global diversity and interconnectivity should be central to the mission of universities today. Reminders persist that our current environment and economy are not confined to our immediate geographic surroundings. Modern-day technologies, transportation, international trade, and politics significantly diminish distances that used to seem great. At the University of […]
In today's higher ed world, no department can work in a vacuum, least of all IT. From understanding the business plan to knowing how a web page or application will be used and by whom before it is designed and built, the days of CIOs and their teams working independently are gone. IT administrators are […]
When it comes to online education, careful course development is hardly the only piece needed for successful student outcomes. "Some institutions, eager to jump in the field, think once they've developed their online courses, they are set to launch," says Jacqueline Moloney, executive vice chancellor at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. "But many neglect to […]
As violent crime has steadily increased on college campuses in the last three decades, institutional leaders have reacted by creating more stringent policies to restrict visitors from entering their academic, administrative and residential buildings. Along with technology—including surveillance cameras, building access systems and even ID badges with proximity chips that could allow officials to track […]
In March, Excelsior College launched its new Online Writing Lab or OWL , a comprehensive, media-rich, open-source resource designed for students making the transition to college-level writing. Developed with funding from the Kresge Foundation, this free, publicly available OWL uses extensive multimedia and gaming activities to help reinforce important writing concepts and skills, and provide […]
Some of the nation's leading film schools, of course, are nestled in the heart of Hollywood. Enter stage left—the Los Angeles Film School. This creative arts institution offers an immersive film learning experience; leading edge campus facilities; high profile faculty from the entertainment industry; and a supportive culture that helps students network for near-term gainful […]
Recently, the White House Council on Women and Girls issued a report pledging to "make our campuses safer" from sexual assault. According to their research, "1 in 5 women has been sexually assaulted while she's in college," a troubling statistic which the authors explain by "the dynamics of college life." Female undergraduates, we are told, […]
With funding cuts, falling enrollments and increased competition from MOOCs and other low-cost online programs, higher education has been under enormous pressure in recent years. But pressure often leads to positive change, and many schools are looking at continuing education as an ideal area for that change. Approached strategically, CE offers an untapped opportunity to […]
How many members of your faculty would enjoy teaching the same courses, day in and day out, throughout a 30-, 40- or even 50-year career? Not many. Staying motivated and intellectually challenged is not always possible at schools where promotions or lateral career moves are rare. Faculty may find themselves disengaged, even downright bored, teaching […]
For an increasing number of faculty members, class prep has gone high tech. It's not about simply reviewing notes and planning course exercises. It also involves stepping in front of a video camera. Whether it's for distance learning programs or flipped classrooms, colleges and universities now need faculty who are able and willing to teach […]