Campus Sonar’s Post

For many reasons, confidence in higher education has been declining for decades. In order to uncover a solution to this ongoing issue, we used social intelligence to explore the gap between public trust and value from 13,000 organic conversations about the role, worth, and ROI of college in the last six months of 2023 and determine what leaders can do to rebuild trust. To learn more about our findings, check out our Rebuilding Public Trust in Higher Education: A Social Intelligence Report at https://lnkd.in/gz_6KzUT.

In 45 seconds learn how University of California, Riverside is a one-of-a-kind mix of social mobility, research excellence, and student success. https://lnkd.in/eGqRdGfn

We dropped our inaugural social intelligence report this week, revealing that an audience-first framework is the path to rebuilding trust in higher education. We set out to understand general perceptions of the value of higher education, why it's declining, and identify paths to rebuilding trust in higher ed’s ability to increase social mobility and have a positive impact on American society. Download the report to learn what the public thinks about the value of college and recommendations for evolving your campus with your audiences' changing needs. #HigherEd #HigherEdMarketing #HigherEdLeadership #SocialIntelligence https://hubs.li/Q02qq9LQ0

I spent some time this morning digging into the The Chronicle of Higher Education series about the challenges higher education institutions face around public perception. In looking at the data, one thing that stands out for me is we need to focus our storytelling and conversation more on graduate success and community impact. According to the data, many degree holders recognize the value of a degree. However, a much, much smaller number of people in the survey saw value in their local institutions and the ability of these institutions to impact the lives of graduates and their local community. If higher education institutions can more broadly talk about these outcomes - graduate success and supporting the community - in an easy to understand way, I think it would be a great first step in addressing the challenges of public perception. Also - highly recommend reading the series if you have a moment! #highered #highereducation #higheredmarketing #highereducationmarketing

In our social intelligence research, we found that online mentions about higher education make direct connections between the value of college and indisputable positive outcomes, such as: - Improved quality of life - Wider societal contributions - Increased individual opportunity for pursuing passions and purpose These outcomes directly match a liberal arts education. The term "liberal arts" doesn't resonate in the current market, but the outcomes do. Find ways to align your outcomes messaging with vocabulary your students understand to bridge the college value perception gap. https://lnkd.in/gj9ZSZ8T

Enjoyed working on this project that explores current trends/perceptions in college value and then narrows in on specific solutions that center access, completion and value for all students: Discover innovative ways key stakeholders are working to ensure postsecondary education remains a powerful driver of both economic and noneconomic value in Inside Higher Ed’s newest (free) compilation, “Redefining Value in Higher Education: Prioritizing Equitable Access and Economic Mobility Over Selectivity.” Download it here: https://lnkd.in/eNEkmP-J

Open education has made remarkable progress, yet the evolving landscape continues to present challenges. As #OpenEducation work continues to grow at institutions, in states, and across regions, questions increasingly surface about how we might coordinate and advocate more effectively as a field. This includes how to advance open education policies at the national and state level, how to reach institutional leaders, and how to expand sustainable funding. NCOER (a collaboration among the four regional education compacts), working together with Driving OER Sustainability for Student Success (DOERS3) and SPARC, invite members of the open education field to join us for an open conversation about the potential need for U.S. national open education strategy and discuss how we might better collaborate to advance shared priorities. This will build on a discussion started at the 2023 Open Education Conference. All who are interested in open education are encouraged to participate. Join MHEC, New England Board of Higher Education, Southern Regional Education Board, and Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education by registering for any of the following options: • February 7 at 2:00 p.m. CT • February 13 at 1:00 p.m. CT • February 15 at 3:00 p.m. CT • March 7 at 1:00 p.m. CT - Results from conversations Don't miss our conversation on the "Findings of the OER Course Marking Landscape Analysis Survey" with Jennifer Parks, Gina Johnson, and Liliana Diaz Solodukhin, Ph.D. The survey included questions related to institutions’ and systems’ course marking processes, data validation processes, use of course marking data, technology use, and motivations for course marking of OER. • February 8 at 11:00 a.m. CT Register at: https://bit.ly/3OyYyDQ #NCOER #OpenEducation #CourseMarking

🌎 Did you know that over 254 million students are enrolled in higher education worldwide? In our recent blog post, we explore the importance of global research in understanding the common challenges today’s students face. By setting aside assumptions and expectations, every stakeholder in higher education can uncover the true intricacies of the college experience in 2024. Read now 👇https://lnkd.in/ewNEbz-z

Excited to share insights from Campus Sonar’s latest research on the state of trust in higher education! Our team of Strategists and Analysts spent weeks analyzing over 13,000 online mentions across social media, forums, and blogs to uncover the truth about how people perceive the value of college today. They found that many believe that college simply isn't "worth it" anymore due to skyrocketing costs and doubts about the practical value of degrees in today's job market and that choosing the "wrong major" had long-term financial repercussions for many. But there's hope! Many also said they recognized higher education’s potential for social mobility, and as learning organizations, campuses have the potential to drive positive change for individuals and communities. Higher education is a public good that we can't afford to lose. Rebuilding trust is crucial for higher ed to remain relevant and continue serving its audiences. My hope this report contributes to leaders working together to reform and reshape the narrative and ensure that individuals and communities continue to benefit from the transformative power of education. 🤓

DECEMBER 6TH | 9:30am ET: National test scores revealed major learning losses among American students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overcoming this learning loss is critical to the development of the next generation of American workers. Failing to do so will hold back an entire generation of American students, resulting in lower human capital, earnings potential, and productivity. Featuring Dr. Jens Ludwig, Dr. Nat Malkus, and Dr. T. Nakia Towns, and drawing on themes from Dr. Jens Ludwig and Dr. Jonathan Guryan’s paper, “Overcoming Pandemic-Induced Learning Loss,” written for the AESG’s 2023 annual policy volume, this event will highlight the economic consequences of pandemic-era learning loss and discuss concrete policy solutions that can help students make up for these educational setbacks. Read Jens and Jon's paper here: https://lnkd.in/g2WysxgG Register for the event here: https://lnkd.in/gGswct-h