• AASCU, Strada Education Network Co-host Symposium on Consumer Insight Data

    For the third year, AASCU’s Leadership Development and Partnerships Division, led by Dr. Toyia Younger, has collaborated with a partner to offer a symposium for AASCU presidents, chancellors and other cabinet-level leaders. Strada Education Network sponsored and hosted the 2019 AASCU Spring Symposium for Presidents at its headquarters in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, from April 23-24. Nineteen presidents, vice presidents and provosts attended this day-and-a-half event and represented a cross-section of AASCU’s membership, including historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, some of AASCU’s largest and most diverse institutions, and members from all U.S. regions.

    The theme, “Strengthening the Impact of AASCU Institutions Through Consumer Insight Data,” offered leaders the opportunity to delve into what has become an imperative of higher education: examining the value of the bachelor’s degree in the changing job market. Since 2017, Strada, in collaboration with Gallup, has conducted groundbreaking research into attitudes toward higher education after graduation and the extent to which former students of all backgrounds view the impact of their education once in the workforce. 

    Attendees agreed this research has and will continue to be a significant driver of perceptions about public universities, and therefore it is vitally important that presidents, chancellors and their cabinets understand this data and how to use it effectively. While Strada researchers have been immersed in this data for years, the symposium also provided them with a rare opportunity to hear from educational leaders who are involved in the daily work of making higher education relevant for students at AASCU institutions, including many students who are first generation and/or adult learners. 

    AASCU continues to serve our membership by hosting symposia for our presidents, chancellors and other campus leaders on relevant topics that provide tangible value and action items for their teams. We invite all our members to take advantage of the leadership development opportunities AASCU offers.