The Higher Edge

Founding a Nationwide University System for Democracy and Social Justice Jan 31, 2023

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.

People and the Art of Change in Higher Education IT Jan 24, 2023

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.

Innovating the Community College Mission Jan 17, 2023

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.

Data is the Fulcrum to Pivot 2023 Higher Ed Trends Jan 10, 2023

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.

CAIR Conference 2022: A Rising Tide for Institutional Research Dec 06, 2022

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:

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.

Venture Forward: Driving Technology Transformation Nov 22, 2022

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.

EDUCAUSE 2022: Taking a Stroll Down Startup Alley Nov 15, 2022

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:

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.

EDUCAUSE 2022: The Higher Education Partnerships Episode Nov 08, 2022

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.

People, Puppies, and the Pandemic: A Conversation with Phill Miller Nov 01, 2022

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:

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.

Inverting the Traditional Fundraising Pyramid Oct 25, 2022

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.

Chief Data Officers: Giving Context to the Language of Data ft. Olivia Kew-Fickus Oct 18, 2022

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.

National Student Clearinghouse: Inside Higher Education’s Data Collaborative ft. Roberta Hyland Oct 11, 2022

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.

Empowering Data-Informed Decisions for Students in the U.S. ft. Erin Velez Oct 04, 2022

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.

From Higher Education to Analytics Startup: Solving The Right Problem ft. Eric Spear Sep 27, 2022

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.

Through the Transfer Gate: Breaking Down Student Transfer Barriers ft. Darla Cooper Sep 20, 2022

An alarming number of students are not reaching a critical step in their journey toward a bachelor's degree — transferring their community college work to 4-year universities and colleges in order to continue their education.

When students can’t reach these goals, it undermines their ability to succeed after investing in themselves and their education. It feels like a fruitless task.

Darla Cooper, Executive Director of The RP Group, joins us to share what she and her research team discovered in their efforts to better understand the student transfer problem.

Join us as we discuss:

Findings from the "Through the Gate" student transfer study (5:32)
The role of gender, race, ethnicity, or region on transfer rates (12:26)
How to positively influence the student transfer journey (22:31)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

The RP Group - https://rpgroup.org/
Through the Gate Transfer Initiative - https://rpgroup.org/through-the-gate
African American Transfer Tipping Point (AATTP) Study - https://rpgroup.org/All-Projects/ArticleType/ArticleView/ArticleID/269
ECMC Foundation - https://www.ecmcfoundation.org/
Lumina Foundation - https://www.luminafoundation.org/
Continue the conversation: Darla@thehigheredge.com

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or listen on our website (https://www.thehigheredge.com) or search for "The Higher Edge" in your favorite podcast player.

Higher Education Research: The Innovation Game ft. Aeron Zentner Sep 13, 2022

With the rise of big data, traditional higher education research has been undergoing an accelerated evolution. Accessibility of information enables everyone to engage and share diverse perspectives freely.

Scientific breakthroughs seem to be happening at lightning speed. It begs the question: What qualifies as innovation today?

Aeron Zentner (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aeronzentner), Dean of Institutional Effectiveness: Research, Analytics, Accessibility, Accreditation, Planning, & Grants at Coastline College, joins me to share his insights into higher education research.

Join us as we discuss:

- The future direction of higher education research (3:32)

- Aeron’s fun take on what really qualifies as innovation today (16:40)

- How researchers can disrupt higher education (23:28)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Coastline College - https://www.coastline.edu

- Aeron@thehigheredge.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.

The New Protectors of Higher Ed Privacy ft. Pegah Parsi Sep 06, 2022

Big data has been a global hot-button issue for several years, which has led to a major focus on higher ed privacy.

Lack of transparency and ugly intentions can leave students open to abuse of their autonomy. But a passionate group of professionals are leading the charge in protecting our students from hostile actors.

Pegah Parsi, Chief Privacy Officer for the University of California San Diego, joined us to share her thoughts on privacy in the higher ed space and why it matters even more than we may think.

Join us as we discuss:

- The erroneous conflation of security versus privacy (10:24)

- Prioritizing transparency over long-winded legalese (12:31)

- Opportunities for collaboration in the privacy sector (20:00)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- University of California San Diego’s Privacy Website - https://privacy.ucsd.edu/

- International Association of Privacy Professionals - https://iapp.org/

- Pegah@thehigheredge.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.

The Importance of the Thoughtful Question ft. David Potash Aug 30, 2022

Everyone learns differently, but simply asking the right questions can open doors to innovation and growth.

David Potash, President of Wilbur Wright College, City Colleges of Chicago, stresses that real questions are critical to the human educational experience. We can learn from each other by giving people in the higher ed community spaces to collaborate and make better decisions together.

After all, the only bad question is the one that goes unasked.

Join us as we discuss:

- The importance of asking questions and how they shape us (3:31)

- Higher ed’s role in supporting America’s Latino students (20:04)

- How to measure student success beyond job placement (28:26)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- David Potash

- Wilbur Wright College, City Colleges of Chicago

- The Digital Quad

- Excelencia in Education

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.

Higher Education as a Cloud-Based Community ft. Rick Smith Aug 24, 2022

Higher education IT does more than just keep the lights on.

These men and women are also partners working to empower institutions with technology to realize operational and strategic goals and improve systems necessary for students and faculties to succeed.

In this episode, I’m joined by Rick Smith , Chief Information Officer at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine .

Rick gave us an insider’s perspective of the critical importance of IT to institutions with ambitious goals and how education compares to other industries.

Join us as we discuss:

- How PCOM escalated digital transformation after COVID (12:34)

- IT as a player in driving innovation for higher education (18:54)

- Tools for solving different IT challenges on an institutional level (24:29)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- richardsm@pcom.edu

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.Higher education IT does more than just keep the lights on.

Change-Makers and Rule Breakers in Higher Education Aug 05, 2022

Everyone loves a good story.

Brendan Aldrich believes the world of higher education is full of change-makers and rule breakers, and that their stories should be shared.

These are the tales of growth and real change that positively impact our lives for the better.

As the founder and Head of Business Development at Invoke Learning, Brendan has connected with many people like himself who have helped drive change at colleges and universities across the country.

Join us for our inaugural episode as we provide the roadmap for our new show, The Higher Edge - a podcast dedicated to diving into the stories behind our pioneers in higher education.

Join us as we discuss:

- Why storytelling is the focal point of The Higher Edge (2:58)

- Brendan’s background working with higher ed institutions (4:02)

- How negative feedback can be a vehicle for positive change (5:31)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Brendan Aldrich - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanaldrich/

- Invoke Learning - https://www.invokelearning.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.

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