Advancing Innovation in Work and Learning | feb. 3, 2021
How does Xavier University of Louisiana — a historically Black university home to 3,300 students — produce more Black students who become medical doctors than any other institution in the country? How did XULA come to rank among Harvard economist Raj Chetty’s top 10 universities for improving the economic mobility of low-income students after graduation? And what can other institutions learn from XULA’s success?
In a recent interview on Strada’s “Lessons Earned” podcast, XULA President Reynold Verret outlined how Xavier approaches student success:
Focus on faculty. XULA screens faculty candidates for their human skills, their belief in educational equity, and their ability to connect with students.
Believe in and teach the students you have. Not all students arrive at college having had the education they deserve, Verret said.
Prioritize collaboration over competition. Xavier faculty challenge students to collaborate and ask: “How do we all come across the finish line?”
Build a culture of service. Regardless of what areas of study they pursue, XULA students understand their learning “will have meaning when they put it to the service of another person,” Verret said. That culture of service helps students look outside of themselves to find their passion and their purpose.
Begin at the beginning — long before college. Setting up students for success starts with parents and elementary school teachers who encourage students’ interests and demonstrate confidence in their capabilities. “That talent is there,” Verret said, “and that talent needs to be cultivated.”
SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE What innovative ideas will soon hit the market to address the realities of the pandemic and the long-term future of the global workforce? Register for the Feb. 11 Workforce Development Demo Day, a virtual session where 12 entrepreneurs and founders — funded by Strada and other investors through the Workforce Development Accelerator — will unveil their solutions.
WHY SKILLS? WHY NOW? Join Emsi Chief Innovation Officer Rob Sentz for a conversation about the importance of skills data for maintaining the relevance and value of higher education. In this 2 p.m. Thursday webinar, Sentz will cover how a skills-based approach can help institutions equip learners with work-ready skills and credentials.
TRENDS TO WATCH The need for student crisis support. The future of online learning. The notion of lowering tuition costs. The InsideTrack team, devoted to implementing student success programs that improve educational outcomes for all, examined the higher ed landscape and offers 12 trends to watch in 2021.
EDUCATION-CAREER LINK Connected Pathways, a personalized, scalable, adaptable technology solution from CAEL that empowers underserved learners to make informed choices as they navigate educational and career options, will be available at no cost to all users through a new U.S. Department of Education grant.
THE HYBRID CAMPUS Could the dislocations brought on by COVID-19 lead to a long-term upside? Join Strada’s Ben Wildavsky and expert panelists such as higher education author Jeff Selingo and Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis for a Feb. 18 webinar discussion about blending physical and digital worlds in the reimagined future of higher education.
Lessons Earned
In our podcast, we explore bold ideas to help Americans navigate between learning and earning throughout their lives.
