When Covid-19 forced colleges and universities to transition to remote learning almost overnight, the very definition of quality in higher education was thrown into question. What’s the role of a physical campus? What’s the significance of class size? How should questions of access and equity shape programs and policies? At its heart, what is the definition of student success?
From my vantage point, nonprofit leaders in and around the education space are well-positioned to challenge paradigms and re-imagine what higher ed looks like. My nonprofit, TCS Education System, unites like-minded, mission-based colleges and universities in a resource-sharing model that leverages economies of scale to advance student success. In an industry often plagued by silos, we embrace radical cooperation as our guiding principle, meaning we tirelessly share ideas and resources to create an organizational whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.
In the spirit of extending radical cooperation beyond my organization, I invite my higher ed colleagues to consider three important truths to guide our thinking in 2021.
1. The time has come for a broader definition of excellence.
Higher education’s purpose is to promote academic and intellectual excellence. But in a changing world, we can all benefit from digging deeper into the “why” behind this goal. In the education sector, our “why” is simple: to serve students and communities.