The Higher Edge

Today’s sociopolitical climate has been drastically influenced by the rise of digital media and 24-hour news sources. Unfortunately, a gradual decline in civics exposure in our classrooms has also contributed to an unsettling polarization in our society. Joe Kahne, Co-Director of the Civic Engagement Research Group (CERG) and Professor at the University of California-Riverside, is fighting to re-engage students at all levels in the civics conversation. Through initiatives like Connecting Classrooms to Congress, Joe hopes to give the next generation a desire to get involved in American democracy and challenge their own perspectives. Join us as we discuss: - The impact of affective polarization on democracy (4:11) - Digital media’s influence on the civics discourse (16:32) - A lesson in civics leadership and political word association (25:19) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - joekahne@ucr.edu - Civic Engagement Research Group - Connecting Classrooms to Congress - University of California-Riverside To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Any number of socioeconomic roadblocks may prevent underserved college students from fulfilling their higher education dream. As someone with a disadvantaged upbringing himself, Galen Dehay, President of Tri-County Technical College, believes circumstances shouldn’t define potential. His administration has partnered with multiple nonprofits to give under-resourced students a chance at meaningful careers. Galen shares how community collaboration and authentic engagement are setting up under-resourced students for success.   Join us as we discuss: - Wraparound services, I-BEST, and SC Thrive(8:03) - DACA and other policies impacting underserved students (21:04) - Designing an educational experience that benefits students (29:03) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Gdehay@tctc.edu - Galen Dehay - The Future of Education - Tri-County Technical College - Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) - SC Thrive - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - Aspen Institute To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Some in higher ed assume that colleges and university information technology departments are simply tasked with fixing computer glitches and resetting passwords. But IT does far more than just “keep the lights running.” IT leaders are pioneering innovation in real-time, even if it means ruffling a few feathers along the way. In this episode, we’re joined by Dave Johnston, Director of Information Technology at Mendocino College, and Andy Specht, Director of Information Technology Services at Allen Hancock College. Dave and Andy talk about their first 90 days in IT leadership roles, keeping the human connection in technology, and their upcoming presentation at the CISOA 2023 Technology Summit. Join us as we discuss: - Becoming an accidental IT leader through attrition (2:22) - Getting colleagues and cabinet members on board in innovation (20:06) - An intentional focus on advancing projects with “10% time” (23:21) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - CISOA 2023 Technology Summit - Dave Johnston - djohnston@mendocino.edu - Mendocino College - Andy Specht - aspecht@hancockcollege.edu - Allen Hancock College To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

State commissioners have the exceptional duty of coordinating with public and independent institutions to define public college and university initiatives that will shape the higher education infrastructure across their state. In this episode, Chris Lowery, a recently appointed commissioner with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, gives his unique perspective on the inner workings of his state’s governing body. Chris brings a wealth of experience from the public, private, and academic sectors as he tells us about collaborative partnerships that will help give Indiana students The Higher Edge. Join us as we discuss: The importance of academic and workforce partnerships (8:28) Collaborative partnerships with a Pentagon of People (17:38) Strategic initiatives to improve the college-going rate (25:10) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Email: clowery@che.in.gov Linkedin: Chris Lowery Website: Indiana Commission for Higher Education  Website: Independent Colleges of Indiana Website: Frank O’Bannon Grant Website: 21st Century Scholars Program To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

College and university provosts are tasked with a unique mission in higher education. Now called Chief Academic Officers at many institutions, provosts ensure that business-minded school administrations never lose sight of their core purpose: preparing their students for life through quality education. As a former provost herself, Kara Monroe, Founder and President of Monarch Strategies, never lost her passion for helping others navigate the complexities of higher academia.   Kara talks about the value of collaboration and continuous learning, as well as the ongoing fight for education reform.   Join us as we discuss: - The role of the modern provost in a corporatized administration (7:06) - Strategic coaching and learning new administrative skills (19:23) - The need for higher ed reform and competency-based education (25:28) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - kara@monarchstrategiesllc.com - Kara’s Blog - Monarch Strategies - Ivy Tech Community College - The Higher Learning Commission - WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

HBCUs were birthed out of necessity during America’s segregation period, giving black students a place of belonging in higher education. Today, they continue that mission while leading the charge in educating and promoting diverse, global-minded talent. For instance, Rochelle L. Ford, Ph.D., APR, President of Dillard University, and her colleagues are sharing real life experiences through the reestablished National Center for Black-Jewish Relations. Rochelle gives her passionate insight into how HBCUs are advancing our country — and the world — by actively bringing communities together in a polarizing climate. Join us as we discuss: - How HBCUs provide a place of belonging for black students (11:30) - Microaggressions and misguided expectations (20:40) - Articulation agreements and promoting global-minded talent (31:55) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Rochelle L. Ford, Ph.D., APR - Dillard University - The National Center for Black-Jewish Relations - The Council of Independent Colleges To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In 2019, Bill Groves, Chancellor of Antioch University, and the school’s board agreed that affiliation was key to advancing their mission of social justice. Their search for a sister school ultimately led them to their very own backyard in Ohio as John Comerford, President of Otterbein University, and his peers answered the call. Together, these institutions are forming a perfect partnership built on strengthening the future of our nation’s foundation of democracy and social justice. Bill and John share how this union came to pass and how it will benefit their institutions, this nation, and the higher education landscape. Join us as we discuss: - The schools’ founding principles and parallel missions for justice (6:13) - Why Antioch began their affiliate search and Otterbein’s selection (11:18) - The higher ed community’s reaction to the schools’ partnership (25:07) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - John Comerford Email - Otterbein University - Bill Groves Email - Antioch University - The Council of Independent Colleges 2023 Presidents Institute - AAC&U 2023 Annual Meeting To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

As a young man, Joe Moreau dreamed of a career in the arts. But an early job in media production at a small university planted the seed for his love of higher education. After a rewarding journey as a Chief Information Officer, Joe is now in a Senior Consultant role with HIGHER DIGITAL. And, today, he’s still on a mission to propel higher ed into the digital age, including by helping advance the State of California’s Community College systems. In this episode, Joe talks about his collaborative efforts with California Community Colleges and how other CIOs can gain the Higher Edge by putting people first. Join us as we discuss: How practical art and technology skills mirror each other (4:30) The California Community College system’s tech renaissance (12:35) From systemwide LMS to systemwide ERP in California (25:19) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Joe Moreau - HIGHER DIGITAL - California Virtual Campus - Online Education Initiative (CVC-OEI) To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Higher ed institutions rose to the challenge of accelerating innovation during the pandemic. And schools like Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon, are riding that momentum to give working adults a boost in their career trajectories. Jessica Howard, President and CEO of Chemeketa, talks about their Bachelor of Applied Sciences program, an offering unique to the community college landscape. With this blend of traditional and polytechnic education, employees can gain the Higher Edge in leadership and management skills. Join us as we discuss: - Higher ed’s potential for post-pandemic innovation (9:26) - Chemeketa’s BAS program and its regional reception (17:42) - A VP’s personal demonstration of a two-year degree’s value (25:40) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Jessica Howard - Chemeketa Community College To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Predicting the future is never easy. However we can make some educated guesses on what the Higher Education space will see and have to do to stay competitive in 2023. I’m joined today by Lige Hensley, Founder and CEO of Invoke Learning, who helps to peer into the future of 2023 to see how the following will shake out for the industry this year: - Remote and Online’s Evolution Post COVID-19 (5:04) - Using Data in 2023 to see why Every School is Different (20:25) - Is AI a job boosting tool, or a terrifying Terminator (27:35) Is 2023 the year of AI, or is it the year of the remote course?   It’s tough to say, but we’ll make sure that a follow-up episode for this comes out later this year to see what we got right and where we missed the mark! Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Brendan Aldrich - Lige Hensley - Invoke Learning To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We’re on the road again with the Higher Edge Mobile Podcasting Rig! This week, we’re headed to sunny California and the floor of the California Association of Institutional Research “CAIR” Conference 2022 in La Jolla, California. We caught up with some great folks from across the IR space and got their thoughts on the conference and their collaborations... and gained insight into some of the great sessions and projects in progress at their institutions. A huge thank you to all our guests who took the time to tell us a bit more about how they’re pursuing “The Higher Edge” in California! Join us as we meet: Donald Everhart, VP of CAIR ( California Association for Institutional Research) & Senior Director Of Institutional Research at AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts  Oliver Zambrano , Research Analyst at Imperial Valley College  Dr. David Ulate , Executive Director of Institutional Research & Planning at Foothill-De Anza Community College District  Nick Barbulesco , Business Intelligence Program Manager at UC Davis Erica Jackson , Assistant Director of Institutional Analysis at UC Davis  Michael Le , Director of Institutional Research, Analytics, and Reporting at Cal Poly Humboldt   Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: CAIR Conference 2022  Student Centered Funding Formula  California Virtual Campus Online Education Initiative  IR and Assessment Connections in Support of Data Literacy for Improvement   To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Pete Williams ’s journey as an Information Communication Sciences post-grad took him through multiple tech-heavy industries, but he knew his heart would bring him back to higher education. Now, as the Chief Information Officer for Butler University , Pete is spearheading innovation through servant leadership. He shares what he’s learned managing Butler’s venture fund to gas pedal innovation and how he helps give others the Higher Edge through mentoring. Join us as we discuss: How data impacts and serves organizations (7:51) ClearScholar’s development as a value proposition for students (19:24) Why higher ed CIOs are in the change business (31:03) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Pete Williams Butler University pete@thehigheredge.com ClearScholar To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Technology and new platforms are one of the most exciting parts of any convention, and Educause 2022 was no different. In our second episode of coverage, direct from the Educause show floor, we take a stroll down Startup Alley, and meet a fantastic cast of talented characters that each have a platform you should know about for your institution. From engaging students more deeply to eliminating grading biases — these are just some of the glimpses of the Higher Ed future we’ll hear from today. Join us as stop by the booths for: Ribbon Education  Read.AI  Public Insight  Pressbooks  Level.io  Wildflower Education  Interact123  Gyan.AI  Rah Rah  Kritik   We had a great time chatting with all of this episode’s interviewees and cannot thank them enough for the time they gave us to share their insights and platforms! To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Did you miss out on Educause 2022? Fear not! We saddled up our mobile podcast rig and took it to the floor of the show where we went in search of some of the greatest partnerships in higher education. Join us as we bring you a trio of success stories, direct from the floor of the conference. We’ll hear from: Ken Connelly and Zach Meyers about how Breakpoint Labs has helped the University of Northern Iowa better secure their campus both physically and digitally (2:12) Troy Burnett and Deborah Lee and their partnership of engaging more students sustainably across their institution via the deployment of Pathify at Concordia University - Irvine (11:05) Joshua Sine and Jason Hill on their collaboration using Qualtrics to help Utah Valley University monitor university health and cleanliness (22:45)   We had a great time interviewing these folks and certainly hope they inspire you to find the Higher Edge at your institution with their innovations. To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Learning management systems (LMS) are important vehicles for data delivery and instruction in higher education. But can also be expensive software platforms that may not give institutions the flexibility and value to highlight their uniqueness. Phill Miller, Managing Director at Open LMS, shares how open-source platforms help cultivate collaboration to empower academic institutions around the world with a powerful, yet cost-effective, LMS solution that's giving them... The Higher Edge. Join us as we discuss: What is open source in the world of the LMS? (2:48) The appeal of open source LMS systems for institutions (9:47) Supporting community and corporate collaboration for institutions (20:15)   Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Phill Miller  Open LMS  phillip.miller@openlms.net EDUCAUSE Annual Conference  The eLearn Podcast  eLearn Magazine   To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Historically, institutional development in higher education has always revolved primarily around meeting fundraising goals. But modern Development and Advancement Services teams at colleges and universities around the country are inverting the traditional fundraising pyramid. Teresa Goddard , Director of Development Services at Depauw University , shares how focusing on and strengthening the relationships between the institution, prospective donors,and the community in which they serve is transforming traditional fundraising in exciting ways. Join us as we discuss: Inverting the pyramid of traditional fundraising (6:02) The importance of engagement and community to advancement (9:54) Opportunities for philanthropic engagement in higher education (13:04) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Teresa Goddard - Depauw University - teresa@thehigheredge.com - The Monon Bell Classic - Old Gold Weekend To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

With data becoming increasingly important to people in many roles, the Chief Data Officer has become an exciting new position that’s replicating quickly throughout higher education. The CDO is tasked with empowering institutions by providing key insights and critical context that help make sense of this vast array of information. Olivia Kew-Fickus (https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-kew-fickus-53aa3023/), Chief Data Officer and Executive Director, Data & Strategic Analytics at Vanderbilt University (https://www.linkedin.com/school/vanderbilt-university/), shares how her experience working at the boundaries of different cultures has helped her advance the strategic use of data within the institution. Join us as we discuss: Carving the role of CDO from a blank slate (7:24) How early work in Ukraine has shaped her approach as a Chief Data Officer (14:09) How studies in languages and liberal arts helps with understanding data (18:52)    Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Vanderbilt University: (https://www.vanderbilt.edu/ ) Vanderbilt and MRNA Research: (https://news.vanderbilt.edu/tag/covid-19-research/ ) and (https://news.vanderbilt.edu/vanderbilt-responds-to-covid-19/ ) and (https://www.vumc.org/medicine-public-health/covid-19-research ) Timothy Snyder's book, "Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin": (https://www.timothysnyder.org/books/bloodlands)  Continue the conversation: olivia@thehigheredge.com      And check out these additional resources: 2022 EDUCUASE Horizon Report for Data & Analytics: (https://library.educause.edu/resources/2022/7/2022-educause-horizon-report-data-and-analytics-edition ) Higher Education Strategic Planners Association: (https://hespa.ac.uk/ )     To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) is a mission-driven organization that drives collaboration amongst institutions to support students across the country.  As a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization, the NSC plays a key role in supporting these institutions that enroll over 97% of higher education students and more than 70% the nation’s high-school students.  Roberta Hyland (https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberta-hyland-7825bb5/), Chief Data Officer at National Student Clearinghouse, takes us inside to share how she and her team are working to give school administrations The Higher Edge.  Join us as we discuss: The NSC’s goals as a mission-driven nonprofit (3:19) Helping school administrations understand their unique data (9:49) Using data to aid students in natural disasters (20:19)  Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Hyland@studentclearinghouse.org National Student Clearinghouse - (https://www.studentclearinghouse.org/) NSC Research Center - https://nscresearchcenter.org/  To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

There are so many organizations that work to support higher education that *aren't* colleges and universities, such as RTI International, and the work they do to help empower data-informed decisions for students. From the Department of Education's College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ ) to preparing for the College Transparency Act (https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/839) currently going through the U.S. Congress, their work actively supports students across the country.  Erin Velez (https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-velez-82b11543/), Director of Education Research at RTI International (https://www.rti.org/), shares how she and the team at RTI are working to give students the higher edge when choosing a college or university.  Join us as we discuss: RTI’s impartial role in higher education transparency policies (3:49) What the College Transparency Act means for student-level data networks (SLDN) (10:49) Prepping for the launch of a Federal SLDN (15:30)   Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast Email address: evelez@rti.org  RTI International - https://www.rti.org/  College Transparency Act - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/839  Department of Education College Scorecard - https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/  To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The demand for better analytics solutions is peaking at a time when many institutions are struggling to keep up.  What role do collaboration and on-the-ground experience play in accelerating higher education analytics?  Eric Spear (https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-spear-84158b100/), President of Precision Campus (https://precisioncampus.com/), tells us about his journey from working in higher education to founding a growing reporting and analytics company dedicated to advancing institutional research capabilities.   Join us as we discuss: - Why vendor solutions in higher education are not plug-and-play (3:50) - The collaborative nature of working in higher education (11:23) - Overcoming challenges in institutional analytics (19:01)  Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: -eric.spear@precisioncampus.com - PrecisionCampus.com  To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.