CUMU Conference 2019

Doubts about higher education’s value are a clarion call to create more value, more equitably, for millions more Americans. Studies consistently find a positive return on higher education. But efforts to better communicate this value are, alone, insufficient. The national average graduation rate of approximately 50% indicates we can expand the value we generate simply by retaining and graduating more well-prepared and career-ready students. Launching more well-prepared students into the world is not only good public relations—it’s our mission.

In this interactive session, facilitators will prompt attendees to consider how they create and communicate the value of higher education at their institutions, with a particular focus on instructional quality and student success. Participants will explore the questions: How does high-quality teaching contribute to institutional value? What is the role of faculty in retaining and graduating more well-prepared students, who communicate the value of their education as alumni?

The Gallup-Purdue Index finds that faculty can double the odds of graduates thriving in their work and lives. Participants in this session will reflect on the preparation and support faculty members need—and deserve—to create the meaningful learning experiences that change students’ lives and serve as the genesis of our value.