Robert Pearl Starks

Kathy, I definitely knew what you meant and wanted to comment on it so that others don't misinterpret as I have had similar conversations in which the other party assumed "elitism" was being suggested when this is far from the truth. Perhaps you can start with suggesting that other leaders within the institution take this course and perhaps it will help get them on the same page to re-think "career services" :) It is challenging but continue being the champion of the cause and do the best you can do to advocate for perpetual improvement. This is part of serving… >>>

Kathy, This is a common barrier for many who are in non-traditional employment situations (freelance/contract work, self-employment). Massage graduates certainly fit this category more so than do other types of graduates such as computer engineers who have a more defined career path and more opportunities for traditional employment. Non-traditional employment is one of the fastest growing sectors of the labor market known as the "gig economy." In a down economy (structural barrier), it becomes even more difficult to earn sufficient income through non-traditional employment. Kathy - you may find this podcast interesting and enlightening: The Gig Economy: Innovation Hub [PODCAST]… >>>

Kathy, When you say you'd love it if your school could be "more selective" in the admissions process, this statement can be misconstrued. The goal isn't to be "more selective" per se but rather, identify opportunity to have more appropriate evidence-based admissions criteria that correlate to student success (student success defined as becoming employed upon graduation vs. simply graduating). I know this is likely what you mean but I wanted to re-state this because although it may seem as if it is semantics, I think it makes a big difference when we communicate it this way because it more accurately… >>>

Carolyn, The support from your President is great! Thank you for sharing and providing real-world examples of how partnerships (i.e. Your OneStop relationship) and buy-in from other internal groups (Faculty, Campus Leadership, etc.) can expand capabilities. You have many of the best practices in place and as your school grows, the challenge will be to scale them and to continue refining the foundation you have built. Thanks again for engaging so much and participating in discussion which is, in my opinion, the most important aspect of the learning experience. It enhances everyone's experience. I appreciate it. Take care! Robert Starks… >>>

Thomas, Thank you for the thorough description of how you currently use social media. You say you let graduates know the different ways to "stay connected." To some, "staying connected" means "being in the loop" and receiving outbound messages whereas, to others, it means building a sense of community through shared affinity. Can you elaborate on what you mean by "staying connected" and why it is important for your department and the school? Although it may seem obvious, I think it is helpful/important to articulate how you define "connection" and why this is an important strategy because it provides insight… >>>

@tesstribo : This is an amazing real-world example of how one can personalize learning to the individual student and make the topic highly relevant to the student.  Thank you for sharing.  I'm curious if other instructors have their own examples.  This example alone is very helpful.  Very thoughtful on your part - what made you think of this and what other examples might you have to share?

Thank you for sharing!