AI Ethics, Governance, Policy, and Practice in Higher Education: A Strategic Webcast for Leaders and Practitioners

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Join us for an insightful and comprehensive webcast as we delve into the critical intersection of AI ethics, governance, policy, and practice within the realm of higher education.

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) integration has become increasingly prevalent across various sectors, including higher education. AI presents unprecedented opportunities to enhance teaching, learning, and administrative functions within academic institutions, from personalized learning platforms to chatbots and predictive analytics for student success. However, with these opportunities come a host of ethical considerations, governance challenges, and policy implications that demand careful navigation and strategic planning. Join this webcast to:

  • Understand the key equity, fairness, and inclusivity considerations surrounding AI in teaching, learning, admissions, student support, and administration.
  • Learn about best practices and emerging frameworks for governing and implementing AI ethically and responsibly.
  • Explore examples, case studies, and success stories showcasing innovative AI applications across teaching, research, student services, and administrative functions.

Don’t miss this timely and important conversation! Register now to secure your spot.

#AIinHigherEd #Ethics #Governance #Policy #Practice

RFP Info Session: Technology & Partnerships for Transfer Success

Please join us for an information session and to ask your questions about WICHE’s Request for Proposals for funds available to accredited colleges and universities partnering around shared transfer student flows, to develop and implement technological solutions that result in improved transfer student outcomes and metrics.

WICHE seeks to support up to six institutional partnerships that will work together to develop relevant technology improvements and pilot them in their settings over a two-year grant period.  Partnerships may apply for up to $30,000. These partners will focus on specific transfer student populations that are important in their transfer student flows, prototype and test tools that they would want to be implemented in their information systems, and provide critical information to advisors and students to enable the successful transfer of credits and progress through major coursework at the receiving institution. The RFP and link to submit applications online are available at www.wiche.edu/technology-partnerships-for-transfer-success/.

Applications will be accepted through 11:00 p.m. MST on Sunday, March 31, 2024, with consideration will be given to early submissions.

 

Seismic Shifts in Distance Ed Regulations: Gauging Department of Education Rulemaking

Did you feel that quake? In its recent rulemaking, the U.S. Department of Education proposed major changes that will cause institutions to check how the shifting sands will affect their distance education offering and their provision of digital books. In brief, these changes are huge. 

The U.S. Department of Education’s goals are to protect students as consumers and to ensure that federal financial aid funds are spent appropriately. We applaud those goals, but are still trying to decipher the possible impact on students, faculty, and staff.  

Join the WCET and SAN policy team for updates on the Department’s proposals, which include:  

  • limiting greatly state authorization reciprocity benefits,  
  • eliminating “inclusive access” programs that include books and resources in tuition and fees, 
  • requiring attendance taking for all distance education courses, and 
  • categorizing all distance education programs as a “virtual location.”  

Additionally, we will provide a brief update on the professional licensure regulations going into effect on July 1, 2024.  

Come prepared with your questions. We will do our best to provide answers, outline next steps, and inform you on how to get involved.  

This webcast will be free and open to all via Zoom. Register to receive the recording. 

Distance Ed at a Crossroads: The Changing Landscape of New Regulations

Significant changes are being proposed for distance education courses and programs. If implemented, these new regulations will majorly affect your online courses, programs, and services to students. Join the WCET and SAN policy team for an in-person event to help you navigate the changing landscape of new regulations.

Topics will include:

  • Cash Management – Limitation of Books and Supplies as Part of Tuition & Fees
  • State Authorization – Reciprocity, State Oversight Exemptions
  • Distance Education – Additional Location, Removal of Aid for Clock Hour Asynchronous Distance Education
  • Return to Title IV – Taking Attendance for Distance Education Courses
  • Accreditation – Substantive Change Approvals, State Nursing Board Recognition

The full program will be announced soon. Register today to save your seat!

Registration Categories and Pricing

  • WCET or SAN member: $500
  • Non-Member: $900

Accessibility in EdTech: How Do Your Products Rate?

Hosted in partnership with NWHeat

Ensuring accessibility in digital learning products is essential to providing all learners with equal educational opportunities. This webcast provided an overview of a rubric designed to support institutions and edtech suppliers in their efforts to address accessibility.

This tool allows institutional leaders to leverage expertise from accessibility professionals across education and supplier organizations. It provides a common framework for evaluating non-technical aspects of accessibility in technology products and services that can impact purchasing decisions.

Do We Need a National Open Education Strategy? An “Open” Conversation

Open education has made remarkable progress, yet the evolving landscape continues to present challenges. As open education work continues to grow at institutions, in states, and across regions, questions increasingly surface about how we might coordinate and advocate more effectively as a field. This includes how to advance open education policies at the national and state level, how to reach institutional leaders, and how to expand sustainable funding.

NCOER (a collaboration among the four regional education compacts), working together with DOERS3 and SPARC, invite members of the open education field to join us for an open conversation about the potential need for U.S. national open education strategy and discuss how we might better collaborate to advance shared priorities. This will build on a discussion started at the 2023 Open Education Conference.

To include as many voices as possible, there are three options for when to join. All who are interested in open education are encouraged to participate.

RECORDING – Wednesday, February 7 at 3:00pm-4:00pm ET / 12:00pm-1:00pm PT
RECORDING – Tuesday, February 13 at 2:00 pm-3:00pm ET / 11am-12pm PT
RECORDING – Thursday, February 15 at 4:00pm-5:00pm ET / 1:00pm-2:00pm PT

RECORDING – Results from our Community “Open” Conversations
Thursday, March 7 at 2:00pm-3:00pm ET / 11:00am-12:00pm PT

2024 Legislative Advisory Committee Meeting

The Legislative Advisory Committee (LAC) informs the WICHE Commission and staff about significant legislative issues related to higher education and offers a forum for members to discuss promising initiatives from across the region and to learn about policy-relevant research. This year, the annual LAC meeting will be held in Denver, CO from September 11-12.

Understanding College Mental Health Needs and Solutions in 2024

This 2-part webinar series addresses the current trends of mental health on college campuses and technology based options as a way to effectively address them.

As colleges and universities move to address the ever-growing student mental health needs on and off campus, coupled with complex hybrid learning environments as a result of the pandemic, many institutions are now offering a plethora of student support resources across multiple modalities. Despite the increases in offered services, many counseling centers continue to be stretched thin. The causes are many including, but not limited to continuously increasing student behavioral health needs (with onsets both prior to and post-enrollment), disconnected messaging of offered services; and unintentional systemic barriers that can disproportionately impact underrepresented student populations. Given these dynamics, it is essential that campus communities focus on behavioral health models that meet students on their terms, connecting them with the right level of care at the right time.

In Session 1, using current data, this presentation will review and analyze macro behavioral health trends on campus over the past decade. In Session 2, we will follow up with an explanation of the benefits of implementing an integrated multi-modal stepped-care model to support and sustain student mental health and well-being. These models ensure effective use of available student support resources, decrease institutional/systemic barriers with a “no wrong door approach,” and thus increase engagement, health outcomes, and student success. This will be presented through case studies of several campuses highlighting successes, challenges, and replicable insights. Several interactive components will be utilized including live polls and interactive whiteboarding allowing participants to identify strengths, growth, edges, and ways to impart change on their campuses in real time. Both trainings will be recorded for later viewing.

Leadership Development in 2024: Fireside Chat

Join the Western Academic Leadership Forum (Forum) and the Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders (Alliance) on January 24th at 2:00 p.m. MST for a conversation about leadership development in higher education. This fireside chat will include Raymonda Burgman Gallegos, Vice President of Programs & Services, Laura Woodworth-Ney, Principal of AGB Search, and participants from the WICHE Academy for Leaders in the Humanities who will discuss the importance of identifying leaders on your team, providing professional development, and self-advocacy.  Information about WICHE’s leadership academies and tips for producing standout nominations will be shared. If you are thinking about professional development in 2024, please join us for this conversation.

For more information about the Western Academic Leadership Academy, please visit this site.

For more information about the WICHE Academy for Leaders in the Humanities, please visit this site.

Findings of the OER Course Marking Landscape Analysis Survey

The presentation will include an introduction to the work the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) and the National Consortium of Open Educational Resources (NCOER) have conducted recently related to OER, including this survey. Presenters include WICHE’s Liliana Diaz Solodukhin, Senior Policy Analyst, Policy Analysis and Research.

Learn more and register here.