Leonard Geddes’ Post

"Accreditors could, for example, require institutions to undergo professional development training in teaching. They don’t. Institutions could take steps to increase representation of underrepresented students in high-demand majors. They haven’t. Campuses could require more reading and writing. Not." Higher eduation system change can help meet the needs of a wider variety of students - this article highlights the systemic problems that plague higher education spaces and what makes students - those from under-resourced areas, BIPOC, and (I am adding) students with disabilities - have difficulties with access and success in higher education spaces. #TheCollegeOT #StudentSuccess

As an educator in the Liberal Arts, this article gave me "critical hope" for the future of education. I appreciated how faculty were empowered (and funded) at this particular community college to construct a "Great Questions Journey" for their general education students. The program shapes a coherent course selection for students, organizing courses by the "big questions" that humans ask, such as "What is Justice?" "What is Love?" I especially like these questions, "Who am I? Where am I going? And what difference does it make?" Students read crucial and "transformative" texts surrounding a big question, and then converse and discuss how the texts give them perspective on the question. Importantly, students generate their own questions (and answers) about how the bigger question is at work in their lives. This program is an example of solid learning experience design: 1) Conversation is critical to meaningful learning, especially when students are talking to a passionate teacher and also when peers are sharing their interests with each other; 2) Connecting content to prior personal experiences or disciplinary knowledge is crucial for student reflection on and integration of learning; 3) Integrating different disciplines under a common big question helps students see the interdisciplinary nature of life; 4) Questioning is a key skill that is always important to develop and enhance because critical thinking/questioning is needed for relationship building, cultural analysis, and job upskilling in life. As I read, my question was this one: How much social action or social change might this program ignite from students? A liberal education is certainly about asking big questions AND it's about acting on solutions to those questions in order to create a more equitable and democratic society.

Talent and excellence should be the only goals of higher education.

In light of the recent statement by the American Association of Colleges and Universities on free speech and academic freedom, it’s worth remembering that the pressures on academic freedom can come from all directions. In certain extreme situations, internal pressures—from passionate student activists to ideologically driven faculty—can pose as significant a threat as any external force. The challenge lies in balancing free expression with a conducive learning environment. Activism and social justice matter deeply, as does the mission to educate without intimidation or silencing dissent. I commend the AACU's defense of freedoms. Yet, I also urge our universities to stand firm not only against political overreach but also internal orthodoxy. If we are to champion intellectual inquiry and free speech, we must foster a campus culture that truly values viewpoint diversity and open inquiry. We have a responsibility to protect those who are most vulnerable and to advance social justice, but we also have a duty to strive for campuses where ideas, no matter how unpopular, can flourish. The work of doing both is never going to be easy. An additional interesting discussion is found in a recent The New Yorker and can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/eXE-jP2D Menand emphasizes the historical importance of academic freedom in the American research university system, differentiates it from free speech under the First Amendment, and highlights the increasing climate of self-censorship and external control. He calls on university leaders to take a stronger stance in defending academic freedom against both political overreach and internal orthodoxy. #AcademicFreedom #FreeSpeech #HigherEducation #ViewpointDiversity #OpenInquiry

Check out these five tips that will help college and university presidents remain committed to supporting DEI on their campuses. https://ow.ly/zqOp50R7Sa7

This article from The New York Times brilliantly highlights the timeless relevance of a liberal arts education. It underscores the value of engaging with great books that tackle life's fundamental questions and champions a broad-based education over immediate specialisation in college. Consider this thought-provoking excerpt: "Although we like to set ourselves apart from the past by appeals to modernity, the fundamental questions that we find ourselves asking are not always modern, and the latest answer is not always right. But how would you know how to think beyond the readily presented check boxes if you haven’t done the work of laying things out and putting them back together for yourself?" This piece is a must-read for anyone contemplating the true purpose of higher education: https://lnkd.in/gc8R2jix

Great article! Despite the progress we've made, the importance of maintaining and promoting diversity within higher education cannot be overstated. The journey towards true diversity is ongoing, requiring commitment from educators, administrators, and students alike. Advocating for policies that support underrepresented groups is essential to ensuring that higher education remains a place where every voice is heard and valued. In a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected, embracing diversity is not just a goal—it is a necessity for building a more inclusive and innovative future. #HigherEducation #DiversityAndInclusion #EducationMatters

Higher education folks, here's a compelling write up anticipating higher ed policy changes in a Trump presidency, shifting conservative public views, and the value of universities and what can be done to anticipate change. #highereducation #highereducationleadership #educationtrends #futurism #foresight "As an antidote to the attacks on DEI, presidents can begin to extol again the broader civic mission of universities. That broader vision includes research that provides far-seeing insight into the world we inhabit; studies that help solve a wide range of community problems; the development of new technologies to bring jobs and new wealth to states and regions; lectures and performances that bring cultural enrichment to local communities; and the cultivation of future leaders from among the undergraduate and graduate student bodies."

"It’s difficult—some say impossible—to change students’ academic trajectories once they reach high school. Now there’s evidence that participating in debate can have a powerful effect." Researchers from University of Virginia and Harvard University recently published a study with astonishing findings about the benefits of debate programs in middle and high school. The study found that participation in debate improves reading skills nearly three times as much as standard interventions, and it boosts both high school graduation and college enrollment rates by 12 percentage points. Those effects are strongest with students who enter into the programs at lower achievement levels. This new evidence gives us even more reason to establish competitive speech & debate programs at all Richmond region public middle and high schools by 2025. Learn more about how the Richmond Forum Speech & Debate Initiative is reaching that goal and find how you can get involved at richmondspeechdebate.org. #rfsdi

Should the State Government Approve Your Professor’s Syllabus? Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin's request for syllabi from courses fulfilling core curriculum requirements at George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University has raised new questions about academic independence in public universities. The courses in question include Just Societies and racial literacy. It is unusual for a sitting governor to review college curriculums, leading some to worry about potential interference with academic freedom. #HigherEducation #AcademicIndependence #VirginiaUniversities