Latest ACUE news from April 6, 2023
Association of College and University Educators (ACUE)
ACUE equips faculty and staff with the evidence-based practices proven to advance student success and equity.
ACUE Convenes Inaugural Conference to Accelerate Student Success Through Great Teaching
To help colleges and universities provide all students with access to effective learning opportunities, Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) unveiled the inaugural National Higher Education Teaching Conference (NHETC) agenda, which will be held June 22–23 in New York City. This event will address the policies and practices that must be advanced to center effective teaching in the nation’s success and equity agenda, providing attendees with practical ideas to take back to campuses and implement immediately.?
To learn more and register for #NHETC2023 , visit?acue.org/national-higher-education-teaching-conference .?
Fostering Belonging and Supporting Success for First-Generation Students
Research shows that those who are the first in their family to earn a degree, known as first-gen students, struggle to gain a sense of belonging and face additional barriers. In fact, 30% of first-gen learners drop out of college after three years, and only 11% identify as first-gen and low-income graduate with a bachelor’s degree within six years of matriculation.?
On April 19, from 2–3 p.m. EDT, ACUE will host the webinar “Fostering Belonging and Supporting Success for First Generation Students: A Guide for Supporting Academic Trailblazers and Their Families.”?
Learn more in our first-gen blog and register today .
Investing in Professional Development
The climate has changed in higher education. Stress levels are higher than ever, and burnout among higher education faculty is real. To combat this, campuses nationwide have discovered that ACUE-credentialed faculty report more peer-to-peer connection, increased feelings of competence, and renewed joy for teaching—all key contributors to overall well-being.?
Additionally, after earning an ACUE credential:
On April 13, from 2–3 p.m. EDT, ACUE will host the webinar “Investing in Professional Development: An Effective Driver of Faculty Engagement and Student Success.” Attendees will learn how partnering with ACUE helped institutions mitigate faculty burnout and supported well-being and job satisfaction, as well as boosted their impact on student success and equity.?
The Student Lens
In this episode, University of Hawaii at Manoa student, Kainoa, describes how his “kumu,” meaning teacher in Hawaiian, helped him understand how to clearly articulate his learning to others while empowering him to be creative in his approach.
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Southern New Hampshire University
Serving more than 150,000 learners, Southern New Hampshire University offers approximately 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, New Hampshire. As one of the most innovative, fastest-growing, and impactful institutions of higher education in the country, a key to SNHU’s success has been its faculty, says President Paul LeBlanc.?
One of the most consistent pieces of feedback that SNHU hears from faculty is a desire for comprehensive and high-quality professional development opportunities. As a result, President LeBlanc recently sat down with American Council of Education President Ted Mitchell to discuss how SNHU’s partnership with ACUE is having a transformative impact.?
“The beauty of [ACUE] is that what I learned today I get to put to work tomorrow. It’s immediate,” LeBlanc says. “And honestly, I’ve never heard faculty gush about a professional development experience the way they talk about this.”
Listen to the full podcast and audio excerpts on our website .?
Indian River State College
ACUE is proud to partner with nationally recognized community colleges like Indian River State College (IRSC), which takes a comprehensive approach to faculty and staff professional development. Through IRSC's Institute for Academic Excellence, the latest group of ACUE-certified faculty were honored at a pinning ceremony last month.?
IRSC is one of several ACUE community college partners to receive national acclaim for its work to advance student success. Read more about ACUE’s partnership with IRSC and other high-achieving Florida colleges.
St. Cloud State University
Congratulations to ACUE-certified faculty at St. Cloud State University (Minnesota) who were recognized recently at a pinning ceremony by President Robbyn Wacker, Ph.D . Academic leaders Ajay Panicker and Michelle Kukoleca Hammes presented faculty with their ACUE Certificates in Effective College Instruction, higher education’s only nationally recognized teaching credential.
Read more about the event, hosted by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and our partnership with St. Cloud State.
Upcoming Events
If you are attending any of the following events, be sure to stop by and see us!
News in Brief
Higher Ed Dive: Colleges want to expand continuing education but don’t devote resources, survey says
A recent study has found that many colleges and universities are looking to expand their continuing education programs but may need more resources to support such growth. The report suggests that institutions can address this issue by prioritizing investments in continuing education and taking a more strategic approach to staffing. Read more. ?
Community College Daily: The role of leadership in distance learning
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, community colleges rapidly pivoted to distance learning. This article argues that leadership played a critical role in the success of this transition, emphasizing the importance of communication, flexibility, and a focus on student needs. It also highlights the need for ongoing evaluation and improvement in distance learning programs. Read more .
USA Today: Should you use college rankings to pick a good school? Here's a critical factor they miss.
When choosing a school, should students rely on college rankings to play a pivotal role in their decision? Not necessarily. Why? Despite being a critical component of student success, teaching excellence is often not included in these rankings. Read more .?
Inside Higher Ed: What Students Want (and Don’t) From Their Professors
A recent survey of over 1,000 college students found that faculty teaching style can significantly impact student academic success. According to the survey results, students who felt that their professors were unapproachable or disengaged were likelier to report lower grades and a decreased motivation to learn. The survey highlights the importance of faculty–student relationships and suggests that investing in faculty development programs could help to improve student outcomes. Read more .
The Chronicle: The New Accountability: How accreditors are measuring colleges’ diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts
Recent changes in higher education accountability measures have shifted the focus from input- to outcome-based metrics. The shift reflects concerns about the return on investment for students and families and has implications for how colleges and universities approach their missions. While this shift has the potential to reshape higher education, it may also pose challenges and unintended consequences. Read more .