State Data Needs Meeting: Promoting Racial Justice in Higher Education through Data

A number of state agencies, national and regional organizations, federal agencies, and others have been working in recent years to improve postsecondary and employment data infrastructure. This work is important in any context, but it becomes even more crucial now as we face growing disparities among student populations against the backdrop of COVID-19. This conversation is a continuation to the State Data Needs meeting that the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) hosted in June 2020 and is cohosted by the four regional education compacts: Midwestern Higher Education Compact, New England Board of Higher Education, Southern Regional Education Board, and WICHE.

By the end of this meeting, participants will have had the opportunity to:
1. Discuss what their state agency, system, and/or institution is doing to promote racial justice through policy and practice and to hear from others.
2. Discuss the key metrics and data that are necessary to close the opportunity gap among racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

WICHE Task Force Meeting IV

WICHE’s Task Force on Closing Postsecondary Attainment Gaps will convene virtually on August 11, providing an opportunity for the project’s state teams to share progress, collaboratively address challenges, and jointly develop regional recommendations for the West.

Rural but Reachable: How to Build Grief Support by Creating Community

Session three of three: Rural Social Isolation and Loneliness Series

What are the unique qualities of our rural environments which lend to us creating community surrounding our common denominator of grief? Come explore in this engaging and interactive webinar where we will discuss how you can start the thread of connection in your own community to support those in grief. How has COVID-19 changed this and where are we now as we create new avenues of support for each other and grief becomes even more of our common experience and language?

Register for the webinar

The Evolving Nature of Social Connections: Promoting Well-Being in Times of Crisis

Session two of three: Rural Social Isolation and Loneliness Series

This session will address programs designed to make connections between and among individuals and organizations to promote well-being in the aging population.

  • Social Connect: Mindful Stress Management is a six-session program delivered virtually through a Zoom platform or telephonically. The program was revised during the early stages of the current pandemic to address the concern of increasing isolation among the elderly population. Social Connect draws on mind-body stress management strategies, in particular, Mindfulness-Based Stress Management. The session will provide the overview of the program, conceptual foundation, program elements, and lessons learned from the first pilot offerings.
  • Central Minnesota Council on Aging (CMCOA) is a non-profit organization designated by the Minnesota Board on Aging as the Area Agency on Aging for the 14 county Central Minnesota region. In partnership with public and private organizations, CMCOA helps older adults age successfully by building community capacity, advocating for aging issues, maximizing service effectiveness, and linking people with information. 
  • Chisago Age Well is one of four Silos to Circles communities whose mission is to increase awareness of, access to, and satisfaction with, existing services and health resources in the community. 

Register for the webinar

WCET|SAN: Professional Licensure Notifications Now Required!

Join us to learn the specific aspects of the Federal regulations requiring notifications, strategies for Federal compliance, and notification requirements for institutions that participate in reciprocity for state institutional compliance through State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).

This webinar is hosted in partnership with WCET’s State Authorization Network.

Learn more and register here.

WCET: Good Practices in Online Teaching from Those Who Wrote the Books

Join us for an informal conversation with two experts who have written the books on online teaching, Dr. Tony Bates, author of Teaching in a Digital Age, and Dr. Shannon Riggs, author of Thrive Online: A New Approach to Building Expertise and Confidence as an Online Educator.

Bring your questions and experiences to this conversation.

Our experts will discuss:
•    Not all online learning is created equally.
•    Trends in online and the rapid move to remote learning in spring 2020.
•    Principles of effective teaching in the digital age.
•    Frameworks for developing online courses including backward design.
•    Advice for academic leaders.
•    Quality course design.
•    Building and leading teams.

Learn more and register here.

WCET: What Campus Leaders Need to Know about Copyright and Intellectual Property

With the rapid move to online learning, many questions have arisen around copyright and intellectual property. What are the policy implications when moving from face-to-face to online? What are essential principles you and your staff need to know to ensure IP is protected and that your institution is proactive about compliance?

Join us for a conversation with experts who will answer your questions and cover the following:

  • Intellectual property.
  • Legal definitions of college-owned intellectual property.
  • Copyright.
  • Patents.
  • Commercial benefits.
  • Implications for face-to-face and online.
  • Open Educational Resources.
  • Who needs to be included in policy conversations?

Learn more and register here.

WCET 32nd Annual Meeting Seminar Series

In these uncertain times, we have decided to move WCET’s 32nd Annual Meeting to a virtual seminar series in lieu of hosting it in Indianapolis. The two-part series of topic-focused virtual discussions and experiences will bring together higher education community members, practitioners, and experts. Each seminar will include strategic work group collaborations and networking events.

Attendees can register for individual seminars or the full series.

Find more information and register on the WCET website.

Effective Institutional Agreements Between Tribes and Colleges and Universities

Discussion of effective tribal partnerships and higher education institutions. View the complete webinar here.

 

 

 

Strengthening Institutional Practices to Support Native American and Alaska Native Student Attainment in Higher Education

An annual convening of institutional leaders and key educational stakeholders focused on sharing promising practices for Native student success, collaborate and share resources across Native American-Serving, Nontribal Institutions, and share developments from state, federal, and tribal policy. Click here to view the complete agenda for the convening.