Why universities should consider merging library and IT departments Cultural differences and the need for excellent communication mean that such merging libraries and information technology departments is not easy, but the outcomes can provide tremendous value, says Ravi RavishankerRavi RavishankerWellesley College
Pedagogical wellness specialist: the role that connects teaching and well-being Does faculty well-being affect student outcomes? Exploring this question in the wake of post-Covid burnout and trauma led UCI to create a new position that prioritises teacher wellnessAndrea AebersoldUniversity of California, Irvine
Zero cheating is a pipe dream, but we still need to push academic integrityDavid Rettinger and Erica Price Burns offer key points for institutions to consider when creating systems that encourage academic integrity among studentsDavid Rettinger, Erica Price BurnsUniversity of Mary Washington
What’s the story? Creative ways to communicate your researchEarly in your academic research, you should ask how you can creatively communicate it to a wide audience. The results may surprise you, says Steven BeschlossSteven BeschlossArizona State University
Engineering schools are riddled with issues – reinvention is requiredFrom increasing diversity to embracing flexibility, engineering schools must enter a period of self-reflection if they are to remain viableDavid PooleLiaison International
Rejecting hybrid conferences as the new norm reeks of ableism Failure to offer a virtual component for conferences makes organisers complicit in a system that excludes particular academics, says William E. DonaldWilliam E. DonaldRonin Institute
Why online learning must remain part of the education toolkitCritics of online learning often blame the medium itself rather than ineffective instruction, when the focus should be on how to deliver the best teaching possible using all available tools and formats, writes Andreina Parisi-AmonAndreina Parisi-Amon Engageli
Address STEM inequality by reconceiving meritThe cultural yardsticks used to measure merit in STEM are warped with bias and often devalue women, people of colour and LGBTQ+ scientists with records equal to white heterosexual male peers. To fix STEM inequality, academia must reconceive meritMary Blair-Loy , Erin A. CechUniversity of California San Diego , University of Michigan
THE podcast: what makes research and teaching interesting?Find out what universal tricks and traits can make things more interesting whether introducing a new concept in class or drafting a research paper for fellow academicsKurt Gray, Manuel Goyanes, Emily Corwin-RennerUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), University of Tübingen
It is time to bring back peace studiesRecent world events point towards the need for a commitment to peace at every level of society, writes Annelise Riles, as she explains how universities can promote peace-making and related skills through teaching, research and collaborationAnnelise RilesNorthwestern University
The transformative potential of narrative writing explainedNarrative writing is one way academics can meaningfully communicate their work to the public but it can be hard to master. Steven Beschloss shares a guide to improve narrative writing skillsSteven BeschlossArizona State University
It may be time to rethink the ‘edtech adoption curve’ A new survey of higher ed faculty reveals more early adopters of edtech than previously thought, says Nicole BarbaroNicole Barbaro WGU Labs
What ‘norms’ support successful learning design collaborations?How to promote consistency of processes and expectations among university course designers and external edtech providers, explained by Rae Mancilla and Nadine Hamman in the third part of a series looking at strategies for successful learning design partnershipsRae Mancilla , Nadine HammanUniversity of Pittsburgh, University of Cape Town
An exciting project to guide students to cultural self-definitionEveryone, at some point, experiences conflicting representations of their culture. Stone Meredith explains how to explore those conflicts in your classroomStone MeredithColorado State University Global
Build your teaching presence to better engage studentsA strong ‘presence’ in the classroom can help imbue students with a passion for your subject and willingness to learn. Catherine Wehlburg explores simple ways to enhance teaching presenceCatherine WehlburgAthens State University
Yes, online learning can teach you to thinkThe idea that online learning ‘doesn’t teach people to think’, which was suggested by one of our peers recently, is short-sighted and falseValerie Wood, Laura ShannonQueen's University
What is tenure in higher education – and how to get itFor many scholars, permanent employment is the light at the end of a years-long tunnel. Here, Henry Reichman explains the US tenure system and why it is key to protecting academic freedom Henry ReichmanCalifornia State University, East Bay
The US should admit Ukrainian medical students to help them rebuild their countryA caveat for recipients of such aid would be committing to moving back to Ukraine to practise after they have completed their studiesDavid Lenihan Ponce Health Sciences University
THE podcast: what Freeman Hrabowski wants you to know about inclusivityThe outgoing UMBC president and civil rights activist speaks about the difficult conversations around inclusivity and how it is work that benefits all of humanityFreeman HrabowskiUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County
The summer life of a teacher can be a boon for creativity in the classroom For me, what makes a teacher interesting in the classroom is proportional to what interests them outside it, says Zachary Michael JackZachary Michael JackNorth Central College
Women in academia are doing too much non-promotable work – and that has to stopThe No Club shares advice for women about how to spend their time at work, how to change the environment to stop saddling women with unrewarded work, and prioritise the tasks that get noticedLinda Babcock, Brenda Peyser, Lise Vesterlund, Laurie WeingartCarnegie Mellon University , University of Pittsburgh
Simple ways universities can collaborate to bring more refugees into higher educationThere’s strength in numbers when it comes to meeting the unique learning and support needs of refugee studentsRebecca GranatoBard College
Education for humanity: designing learner-centric solutions for refugee studentsKey tenets to successfully, and sustainably, designing university initiatives that support refugee learners around the globe using digital resources, based on five years of running the Education for Humanity initiative at Arizona State UniversityNicholas Sabato, Joanna ZimmermanArizona State University
A guide to writing grant proposalsTo write a successful grant proposal, academics need to focus on the relevant details that will help sell their research idea to the reviewer and this requires a shift of mindset, as Kaycie Butler explainsKaycie ButlerButler Science Communications
Synchronous communication strategies for a successful learning design partnership Synchronous communication strategies that build rapport between university course designers and external edtech providers, shared by Rae Mancilla and Nadine Hamman, in the second part of a series looking at strategies for successful learning design partnershipsRae Mancilla , Nadine HammanUniversity of Pittsburgh, University of Cape Town
I’m a Columbia student, and I don’t want my grade inflatedNormalising failure could improve students’ mental health, give them the freedom to learn more effectively and make them more resilient all at once, says Jacob ClayJacob ClayColumbia University
Coaching students in self-care lessons that will help them manage stressFrom setting a consistent wake-up time to sound financial planning, there are many beneficial changes that you can encourage to help your students Matthew L. Brown Colorado State University Global
For students’ sake, we shouldn’t be too proud to seek collaboration It’s difficult to admit as an institution where you aren’t delivering for students, but we must be self-aware enough to seek help when needed Michael A. Baston Rockland Community College
Campus webinar: What’s the future of higher education assessment?A panel of teaching and learning experts from Campus+ institutions around the world discuss how can institutions create evaluations that are fair, robust and credibleCampus teamCampus
Educating trainee teachers in critical thinkingEffective approaches to training student teachers in critical thinking so they can apply it across multiple disciplines and pass on their knowledge to their own pupils, by Joseph SanacoreJoseph SanacoreLong Island University
The ‘25 method’ for forming a writing routine when you have limited timeOlivia Burgess shares her abbreviated form of the pomodoro method for being productive in only 25 minutes a dayOlivia BurgessColorado State University Global
Developing a library service continuity plan focused on digital services and cybersecurityHow can library teams prepare and protect their digital services from cybersecurity threats? Amy Pawlowski and Gwen Evans draw on three real-life examples to offer important lessonsAmy Pawlowski , Gwen EvansOhioLINK
Improving learning through physical action and sensory perceptionDrawing on movement and sensory perception as part of learning can enhance outcomes, research shows. Sheila L. Macrine and Jennifer M. B. Fugate explain how to put this into practiceSheila L Macrine, Jennifer MB FugateUniversity of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Kansas City University
The top three engagement challenges facing admissions teams and how to solve themWhether it's due to ‘ghosting’ or ‘student melt’, prospective students are harder than ever before to attract and hold on to, but a combination of tech and human solutions is at handArdis KadiuElement451
10 essential tips for your next academic presentationUsing examples and practical tips, Dorsa Amir explains the techniques that ensure your presentation communicates its message effectively – from slide design to structuring your talkDorsa AmirUniversity of California, Berkeley
Teaching your students proofreading skills brings them huge benefitsBeing able to produce error-free written communication helps students project competence in class and beyond, says Stone MeredithStone MeredithColorado State University Global
Introducing an activeflex teaching model into pre-existing online coursesSteps for designing and implementing an activeflex model of teaching in pre-existing online courses, shared by Marla WilliamsMarla Williams Athens State University
Using digital technology to get student affairs and faculty working together for better resultsWhen student affairs staff and faculty work together, it results in better learning experiences for students. Amy Greenstein and Steven Goss explain how digital tools can be used to support such partnershipsAmy Greenstein, Steven GossManhattan College, Northeastern University
How humanities and social sciences PhD programmes can adapt to a challenging job landscapePostgraduate studies in humanities and social sciences help graduates build skills that are applicable across multiple sectors and career paths. Ray Haberski Jr explains how to shape relevant and adaptable PhD programmes in these disciplinesRaymond Haberski JrIndiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Diversity statements: the good, the bad and the uglyDiversity statements can be created with good intentions but still manage to perpetuate inequality. Henrika McCoy and Madeline Lee detail what to look out for and suggested actionHenrika McCoy, Madeline Lee University of Illinois Chicago, California State University San Marcos
Enhancing learning from digital, audio and video resourcesPrint textbooks have serious competitors from digital texts, podcasts, audiobooks and video. The medium – and how each is used – can affect how much students learn, as Naomi Baron explainsNaomi BaronAmerican University
Using communities of practice to drive teaching innovationIn the lead-up to Digital Universities Week US, we asked four university leaders about the barriers, ambitions and faculty needs when it comes to supporting the adoption of digital teaching methodsCampus teamCampus
Don’t lose sight of learning outcomes in pursuit of digital innovation, counsels task forceInstitutions should also think carefully about what is considered ‘innovative’Campus teamCampus
Educational gag orders could destroy the structure of higher educationUniversities and programmes could lose their accreditation and students could lose their financial aid if governors continue signing these legislative restrictionsJeremy C. YoungPEN America
Developing interstate course sharing to boost graduation ratesExpanding course sharing between higher education institutions in different US states would help students pursue more flexible learning pathways and transfer credits to complete their studies and secure a degree, as Jay Field explainsJay FieldQuottly
Naming students is even more crucial in online classesNaming learners fosters a community in which the teacher is clearly all in and focused on individual members in the unique, shared space of the online classroomStone MeredithColorado State University Global
Beyond the limits of the LMS: ways to communicate effectively with students How to communicate with students in the online environment in effective and creative ways that go beyond relying on the learning management system, described by Kris Erskine Kris Erskine Athens State University
Asynchronous communication strategies for successful learning design partnerships Asynchronous communication that builds rapport among university course designers and external edtech providers, explained by Rae Mancilla and Nadine Hamman in the first part of a series looking at strategies for successful learning design partnershipsRae Mancilla , Nadine HammanUniversity of Pittsburgh, University of Cape Town
Lifelong learning needs a reboot – here’s how to do itInstead of untangling a miscellany of education products, lifelong learners should find the structure and purpose of their degree continues into their professional lifeMatt RileyBlueprint Prep
The mechanics of teaching a multi-section “activeflex” courseLessons on the mechanics of bringing faculty together to teach a multiple-section class using the activeflex learning model, by Morgan Stanford Morgan StanfordAthens State University