Aaron K. Olson, Executive Vice President at Aon, shares his expertise in corporate strategy and leadership development. He discusses the critical role of strategic leadership in navigating change in higher education. Olson emphasizes adaptive strategic thinking and systems thinking to tackle interconnected challenges. He warns provosts about potential pitfalls in implementing strategic change and highlights when directive leadership is crucial. Olson also recommends Richard Rumelt's book, The Crux, as a key resource for understanding effective strategy.

In this episode, EdUp Provost hosts Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner and Dr. Karen Blakely discuss the concept of leading with love, particularly in the context of academia. Dr. Blakeley explores the challenges leaders face, including fear and ego, and emphasizes the importance of self-love and emotional intelligence in effective leadership. She also highlights the need for cultural change within organizations to foster an environment of collaboration and trust, and she provides practical strategies for leaders to cultivate love in their practices. Takeaways • Leading with love is essential for effective leadership. • Fear is a significant barrier to leading with love. • Self-love is a prerequisite for leading with love. • Understanding one's inner critic is crucial for personal growth. • Ego can hinder authentic leadership.

In this episode of EdUp Provost, host Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner engages in a thought-provoking conversation with award-winning essayist and critic Dr. William Deresiewicz. He discusses the growing disconnect between academia and public sentiment and explores the challenges of ideological polarization on college campuses. He critiques the current state of the humanities and the progressive ideological orthodoxy he sees on many campuses while advocating for a renewed commitment to academic freedom amidst political pressures. Dr. Deresiewicz emphasizes the importance of fostering intellectual diversity, cultivating rigorous inquiry, and respecting the lived experiences of students to create a more vibrant and inclusive academic environment. Takeaways • The academic community is increasingly disconnected from mainstream public opinion. • There is a pressing need for greater intellectual diversity on college campuses. • Respecting students means allowing them to express their true selves without ideological pressure. • Humanities disciplines are struggling to attract students and need to adapt to remain relevant. • Academic freedom is essential for restoring trust in higher education.

In this conversation with EdUp Provost host Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner, Dr. Jules White discusses the transformative impact of AI on higher education, emphasizing the need for universities to embrace AI technologies and rethink traditional educational practices. He highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in fields like nursing and law, and introduces Vanderbilt's innovative AI platform, Amplify. The discussion also addresses concerns about academic integrity in the age of AI and the limitations of AI detection software. In this conversation, Jules White discusses the complexities and ethical implications of AI detection in education, emphasizing the need for transparency and the potential biases inherent in AI systems. He advocates for innovative assessment methods that focus on student learning rather than merely detecting cheating. White also explores the transformative potential of AI in education, highlighting the importance of teaching students how to effectively use AI tools to enhance their learning experience. Takeaways • AI has fundamentally transformed education and requires a shift in perspective. • Universities should focus on teaching how to use AI innovatively. • Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for leveraging AI's potential. • Early adopters can drive AI adoption across campus. • Prompt engineering is a vital skill for all disciplines.

In this conversation with EdUp Provost Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner, Dr. Mary Wright discusses the significance of Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTLs) in higher education, their impact on faculty and student success, and the challenges they face, including faculty resistance and the integration of new technologies like AI. She emphasizes the need for continuous professional development in teaching, the importance of aligning CTLs with institutional priorities, and the balance between teaching and research in academia. In this conversation, Wright and Thuswaldner discuss the evolving landscape of teaching excellence in higher education. They explore the importance of continuous professional learning, the need to rethink reward structures for teaching, and the role of Centers for Teaching and Learning in promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and diversity, equity, and inclusion. They also address the challenges faced by these centers in demonstrating their value and the necessity of supporting change agents within educational institutions. Takeaways • Assessment of CTLs should include participation and satisfaction. • Faculty engagement with CTLs is crucial for perceived value. • Teaching is a complex and continuous professional activity. • CTLs can help navigate resistance to new teaching methodologies. • AI integration in education requires nuanced approaches.

This conversation with EdUp Provost host Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner explores the essential business practices in higher education, focusing on the roles of provosts, the concept of students as co-producers, the impact of rankings, and the importance of strategic planning and fundraising. Dr. Erica Eckert and Dr. Mark Kretovics discuss their book, which serves as a guide for administrators, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of business concepts in academia. In this conversation, Drs. Eckert and Kretovics discuss the evolving landscape of higher education, focusing on the importance of engaging alumni for lifelong learning, addressing demographic shifts and enrollment challenges, and navigating cultural resistance within institutions. They emphasize the need for academic leaders to balance traditional educational values with necessary business practices to ensure sustainability. The discussion also highlights the significance of understanding faculty incentives and the role they play in student retention and institutional success. Takeaways • Provosts must transition from experts in their field to generalists. • Understanding budgeting and human resources is crucial for new administrators. • The student as a co-producer model emphasizes active engagement in learning. • Rankings can lead institutions to make detrimental decisions. • Strategic planning should be a dynamic, ongoing process.

In this conversation with EdUp Provost host Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner, Perry Klebahn of Stanford University’s renowned d.school and co-author of “Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric that Matters,” discusses the challenges of fostering innovation in higher education, particularly for provosts. He emphasizes the importance of overcoming thinking traps, utilizing the ideaflow framework to generate numerous ideas and prototypes, and engaging students in the course creation process. Klebahn also addresses the need for academic leaders to encourage risk-taking among faculty and staff while adapting to the rise of AI in education. In this conversation, Perry Klebahn discusses the integration of AI in education, emphasizing its role as an augmentation tool rather than a replacement for human effort. He highlights the importance of collaboration among educators to foster innovation and improve student engagement. The discussion also touches on measuring ideaflow in academic settings, balancing tradition with innovation, and the essential leadership qualities needed for provosts to effectively lead in higher education. Takeaways • Innovation in higher education is often hindered by planning versus doing. • Provosts can encourage creative problem-solving by recognizing thinking traps. • The Idea Flow framework emphasizes generating many ideas to find successful outcomes. • Engaging students in course creation can lead to more relevant and exciting classes. • Creating a culture of experimentation can lead to significant improvements in academic settings. AI can help generate more ideas for problem-solving.

In this episode of EdUp Provost, Dr. Cate Denial discusses her book A Pedagogy of Kindness and the importance of fostering kindness in academic settings. She shares her experiences with unkind teaching practices and emphasizes the need for a culture of kindness that supports both students and faculty. The conversation explores the distinction between kindness and niceness, the challenges of implementing kindness in higher education, and practical strategies for provosts and academic leaders to create a more supportive and inclusive environment. Takeaways • Kindness can transform the educational enterprise. • Provosts can model kindness and implement kind policies. • Kindness is distinct from niceness; it has boundaries. • Teaching with kindness supports student success and engagement. • Kindness fosters a sense of belonging in academic settings.

In this conversation with EdUp Provost host Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner, Dr. Michael Lamb discusses the significance of character formation in leadership and education. He emphasizes that character is essential for building trust and relationships, which are fundamental to effective leadership. Dr. Lamb outlines the importance of integrating character education into academic institutions, highlighting various strategies for fostering character development among students. He also addresses the unique needs of diverse student populations, including undergraduates, graduates, and adult learners, and shares insights on measuring the success of character education programs. In this conversation, Michael Lamb discusses the importance of character development in education and leadership. He emphasizes that character is not fixed and can be developed throughout life. Lamb shares strategies for academic leaders, particularly provosts, to cultivate their character and lead by example. He addresses the cynicism surrounding leadership and the need for integrity and authenticity. Looking ahead, he expresses optimism about the future of character formation in higher education, especially in light of recent initiatives and the evolving landscape of education. Takeaways • Leadership is fundamentally relational, requiring trust and integrity. • Character education promotes the flourishing of students. • Exemplars of character can inspire students' development. • The moral ecology of a university shapes students' character. • Character education can enhance academic integrity and success.

In this conversation, EdUp Provost host Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner sits down with Harvard University's Wendy Fischman and Dr. Howard E. Gardner to discuss the current state of higher education, emphasizing the need for a clear mission and purpose in colleges. They explore the disconnect between student expectations and institutional goals, the importance of fostering intellectual curiosity, and the role of provosts in bridging these gaps. The discussion also touches on the significance of liberal arts education, the challenges of a transactional mindset in education, and the necessity of integrating character and ethical learning into the academic experience. The conversation concludes with book recommendations that reflect the themes of morality and education. Takeaways • Higher education has lost its way and needs to refocus. • Students often view their college experience as transactional. • A clear mission is essential for educational institutions. • Intellectual curiosity should be central to the college experience. • Provosts play a crucial role in defining and communicating the mission