Martha Dunagin Saunders’ Post

🏗️✨ Excited to share that the plan for the new Academic Learning Center at Penn State Harrisburg has advanced! This 47,000-square-foot facility will feature advanced classrooms, collaborative spaces, and a versatile common area designed for multiple uses. We are excited to be part of a project that will enhance academic excellence and foster a culture of innovation! Read more at the link below. #TheGoldStandard https://lnkd.in/emYtRAx3

I am happy to be part of the CELT cohort and looking forward to our sessions to learn more about AI and its implications in education. #ai #education #CELT #UK

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced on Wednesday that it would eliminate tuition costs next fall for all undergraduate students whose families earn less than $200,000 per year — following a national movement to try to make higher education more accessible. https://lnkd.in/eXd-32vV

When it comes to managing student safety, Australian universities are facing a perfect storm. University campuses are buzzing with on-campus student protests, community expectations are growing, and regulatory obligations have sharply increased. So how can universities keep up? And what must they do to manage their risk? (Also, a reminder about tomorrow's session on how universities can navigate the rise of Artificial Intelligence 🤖 You can still register here: https://bit.ly/3Rw2dnw) Katherine (Kate) Shaw, Dr Meredith Nash, Amanda Yee, Chris Matthews, Michelle King, Ixchel Brennan, Sohail Dossa

Featured this week on #TheEvoLLLution! 📝    🏫 Facing the changing higher ed landscape requires institutions to focus on becoming student-centered and student-ready schools. Such a shift involves providing better access, increasing flexibility, developing staff and faculty, offering students support and much more.    📌 Don’t miss this article by Vincent J. Del Casino Jr.  and Shonda Goward, Ed.D. Goward from San José State University    🔗 Link here: https://lnkd.in/gdfAySfd   #HigherEducation #StudentExperience  

In June, I highlighted an innovative convening that Binghamton University #CommunitySchools organized in collaboration with the State University of New York (SUNY). It was so incredible that I identified it as a Promising Practice for others to follow. To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/SUNY-UACS or contact Naorah Rimkunas! Tip: Click on the title at the bottom for the detailed breakdown. Potential Theory of Change (from my point of view): If key leaders in university systems regularly convened and examined the various entry points for PK-12 system integration, there would be greater alignment to meet the needs of communities through the implementation of UACS, effectively accelerating student success and community well-being.

Higher education institutions play a vital role in shaping our future. Universities, through strategic community partnerships, are empowering local schools to prepare students both socially and academically to address real-world challenges. These students—future leaders within our academic and professional communities—gain the tools needed to foster innovative solutions and ultimately this helps create sustainable living conditions for all. This collaborative approach aligns seamlessly with Mayor Parker’s vision for OnePhilly, a city united by economic opportunity and strengthened by community partnerships. We invite our university partners, locally and in the State of Pennsylvania to take note and join us in this important work. Together, we can amplify the transformative impact of higher education on our youth, building a brighter, more equitable future for everyone. #OnePhilly #EducationForAll #HigherEdImpact #CommunitySchoolsPHL #EducationPHL Community College of Philadelphia Temple University University of Pennsylvania Villanova University Drexel University Saint Joseph's University La Salle University

Good for you Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Most highly competitive schools, my alma mater Harvard University included, have incredibly high endowment funds and admit students from ultra-wealthy families at a surprisingly (well, not really surprisingly) high acceptance rate. Compared to many smaller colleges in financial distress, at the competitive schools there is usually money available. While many do offer substantial financial aid packages to families in the lowest income brackets, most of the time, many middle class families are stuck in the middle with enormous tuition bills compared to their income rates. This feels like the right thing to do and will make them even more competitive among the elite U.S. schools. https://lnkd.in/dQ_3xCGG

Massachusetts Institute of Technology just changed the future of education forever. MIT’s decision to provide free tuition for all undergraduate students is nothing short of revolutionary. By removing financial barriers, they’re unlocking the doors of one of the world’s most prestigious institutions to talented individuals from every walk of life. This bold move proves that access to quality education shouldn’t depend on your bank account but on your potential to contribute, innovate, and thrive. What excites me most about this is imagining the breakthroughs and ideas that will emerge from students who might never have had this opportunity before. These are the minds that will go on to tackle the biggest challenges facing our planet—climate change, public health, equitable technology—and shape a future we can all be proud of. MIT’s initiative isn’t just an investment in these students; it’s an investment in the solutions our world desperately needs. This step by MIT resonates deeply with anyone who values inclusivity and innovation. It’s about nurturing the minds that will solve tomorrow’s challenges and giving them the resources to succeed. As someone who’s spent years working at the intersection of creativity and strategy, I find it inspiring to see institutions take risks that align so perfectly with shaping a better future. Here’s hoping this sparks a movement—because the world needs more of this. Can you imagine the impact these graduates will have on the world?! For more insight, ingenuity, and ideas, follow Toby Bartlett.

From all angles, the rapidly changing education landscape is fueling renewed skepticism around the value of higher education. But amid all the change, there's a constant truth: education and training have the most potential to shape our future.  That's why, now more than ever, we're challenged to think differently about how design can make the on-campus experience valuable to students, faculty and communities. We asked experts in our education practice about designing for the future of the six major typologies on college and university campuses. Here's what they said: https://lnkd.in/guRM5Rwc