Question of the Week: Social Justice in Education

In light of our recent College Issues Day:

Imagine a future where Bellevue College fully embraces social justice as a central core value.  What are some of the specific ways social justice would be a part of our daily and ongoing activities at the college? [Use the speech bubble to the right or the reply link below to respond]

Please feel free to think of this question in terms of the college as a whole, as well as in relationship to your own discipline, expertise, or experience.

Strategic Planning for Diversity

Earlier this month, the College of Education at Northern Illinois University published a Diversity Strategic Plan outlining its goals to improve shared understanding of diversity, close the gap on student success, recruit diverse faculty/staff, and embed diversity issues in the curriculum. In their introduction they note a theme that is also true for BC:

“Despite our commitment to these ideals as an institution, we continue to see a gap between our stated goals and values and the lived experiences of our student body. Most notably, we continue to see a dearth of students from historically marginalized groups enrolling in and graduating from our college. Therefore, it is imperative that the COE reexamine and create an institutional context, a curriculum that actively encourages respect for diversity, fosters students’ ability to understand the fundamentals of diversity (such as identity, cultural competence, and social justice), and nurtures education professionals for whom these values are indelible characteristics.”

Check it out – view a pdf of the full report here.

Question of the Week: New Programs

What programs (courses, majors, certificates, etc.) do you think Bellevue College should consider adding over the next five years? [Use the speech bubble to the right or the reply link below to respond]

Please feel free to think of this question in terms of the college as a whole, as well as in relationship to your own discipline, expertise, or experience.

To see what we currently offer, visit the Bellevue College Programs of Study web site.

Strategic Planning at Muskegon Community College

President Dave Rule worked on the first of these two Strategic Plans when he was the President of Muskegon Community College in Michigan.

Some highlights of the first plan include goals around enhancing outreach, restructuring student services, and promoting professional development. The priorities of the second plan are much broader, focusing on academic foresight, community service, physical space, resource development and human resource management.

Let us know what you think.

Question of the week: Anticipating change

What changes do you anticipate in the Bellevue College service area over the next 1-10 years that will impact the college, and how might BC need to respond to those changes? [Use the speech bubble to the right or the reply link below to respond]

 Service Area

The BC service area covers the school districts for Bellevue, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Skykomish and Snoqualmie Valley. The outlined area in the NE corner of the map is the Bellevue College district. The color represent population density.

U of Alaska planning emphasizes regional specificity

The University of Alaska’s Academic Master Plan includes the need to develop citizenship and the importance of the region’s context. Goal 1: Educate students to become informed and responsible citizens. Objective 4 of that goal: Embrace the cultural diversity of Alaskans and promote cross-cultural understanding.

To see the complete plan: http://www.alaska.edu/files/opa/AMP-2011.pdf

Let us know what you think.

Hill Group to assist with Student Services planning process

Two representatives from Hill Group, a management consulting firm based in Pennsylvania, have completed a two-day visit to the BC campus to work with Student Services on a major planning project. John Talcott and Jordan Pallitto will focus on an approach that emphasizes equitable access and social justice. In addition to its work with Student Services, the Hill Group will coordinate closely with the Strategic Planning Committee so that planning is integrated campus-wide. Talcott and Pallitto will be on campus again twice this fall with anticipated completion of the Student Services plan during the Winter Quarter.

What is the Internet of Things?

The “Internet of Things,” also referred to as the “Web of Things” or the “Internet of Everything,” is the evolving vision of more and more devices connecting to smart networks and interacting with humans and with each other through the Internet. June 2012, the Internet switched over to Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) to prepare for the increasing number of devices with unique IP addresses that want to transmit and receive data. In addition to the expanded Internet, key technology enablers include device miniaturization, more powerful and lower cost microprocessors, and smart sensors, location devices and actuators. Currently applications are focused primarily around smartphones as hubs of connectivity. However, an increasing number of “smart devices” and “smart sensors” are taking on an IP address and connecting to the Internet resulting in ever more complex systems and interactions. –Michèle Royer, Ph.D, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, BC

For an infographic on the Internet of Things, click here