Podcasts about college unbound

In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark sits down with Dennis "Doc" Littky, an educational innovator whose work with Big Picture Learning and College Unbound is reshaping the landscape of personalized and experiential education. From the inception of Big Picture Learning, which challenges conventional schooling with its "leaving to learn" model, to the founding of College Unbound, a transformative institution serving adult learners, Littky shares his journey and insights. He discusses the importance of making education relevant and personalized, with each student following their unique path. Tune in to discover how Littky's visionary approach is influencing schools worldwide and paving new pathways for students of all ages. Outline (00:00) The Beginnings of Big Picture Learning (00:59) A Conversation with Dennis Littky (04:58) Innovative Education Models (17:08) Expanding the Vision: College Unbound (27:01) Reflections and Future Plans Links Watch the full video here Read the full blog here Dennis Littky Bio The MET High School Big Picture Learning

In this episode, host Jeff Yan continues engaging with Sylvia Spears, Provost and Vice President for Lifelong Learning at College Unbound.Discover the unique approach of College Unbound to creating a community-based and project-driven educational environment.Learn how the institution's innovative model focuses on relationship building, reframing failure, and organizational leadership.Gain insights into the importance of personal learning networks and meaningful education's impact on students and their communities.Don't miss this insightful conversation about transforming higher education!For more information about this podcast, please visit our podcast website using the link below: https://bit.ly/3MfBqboListen on Apple Podcasts using the link below: https://apple.co/3OkFVEnFollow us on Social Media!Twitter: https://bit.ly/3M9J7QtFacebook: https://bit.ly/3OgnIYwInstagram: https://bit.ly/3Mjm4D8Please visit our website at https://bit.ly/3IgGVFP#MakeLearningVisible #CommunityEngagement #LifeLongLearning #RelationshipBuilding

In this episode of Digication Scholars Conversations, host Jeff Yan interviews Sylvia Spears, Provost and Vice President for Lifelong Learning at College Unbound.Sylvia reflects on her journey from a traditional second-grade classroom to a transformative career in higher education, advocating for an inclusive, community-based learning model.She shares her experiences and thoughts on the limitations of traditional education systems and the innovative, student-centered approach at College Unbound.For more information about this podcast, please visit our podcast website using the link below: https://bit.ly/3MfBqboListen on Apple Podcasts using the link below: https://apple.co/3OkFVEnFollow us on Social Media!Twitter: https://bit.ly/3M9J7QtFacebook: https://bit.ly/3OgnIYwInstagram: https://bit.ly/3Mjm4D8Please visit our website at https://bit.ly/3IgGVFP

In this episode, host Jeff Yan interviews Jose Rodriguez, Assistant Vice President of Community and Belonging at College Unbound.They discuss the unique educational philosophy of College Unbound, which prioritizes community partnership and inclusivity. The conversation covers how the institution maintains its core values amidst growth, providing flexible learning environments and support for non-traditional students. Jose highlights the importance of adapting education to meet student needs and the future potential of expanding their model to traditional colleges.For more information about this podcast, please visit our podcast website using the link below: https://bit.ly/3MfBqboListen on Apple Podcasts using the link below: https://apple.co/3OkFVEnFollow us on Social Media!Twitter: https://bit.ly/3M9J7QtFacebook: https://bit.ly/3OgnIYwInstagram: https://bit.ly/3Mjm4D8Please visit our website at https://bit.ly/3IgGVFPThe MET stands for Metropolitan Regional Career And Technical Center https://www.themethighschool.orgCU, as used in this conversation, means College Unbound.For more about Dennis Littky, visit https://www.bigpicture.org/presenter/dennis-littkyYou can follow Jose Rodriguez on LinkedIn to learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-rodriguez-6592857aWatch Part One of our Digication Scholars Conversation with Adam Bush, co-founder and Provost of College Unbound: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s1-e25-the-new-college-unbound-turns-chaos-of-life/id1538850043?i=1000518019620#CommunityEngagement #CommunityPartnership #CollegeUnbound #MakeLearningVisible #AlternativeEducation

Join host Jeff Yan in an inspiring conversation with Jose Rodriguez, Assistant Vice President of Community and Belonging at College Unbound.Discover College Unbound's unique educational model, which focuses on community engagement and passion-based projects. Dive into Jose's journey from dropping out of school and incarceration to achieving a bachelor's degree and making impactful changes through non-violent initiatives.Learn how College Unbound empowers adult learners by recognizing their lived experiences and providing a platform for real-world projects.Listen to the stories of transformation and the importance of a supportive learning community.CU, as used in this conversation, means College unbound.To learn more about our previous conversation with Lizz Colon, see: https://podcast.digication.com/episodes/episode-147-benefits-of-community-based-learning-how-college-unbound-s-unique-approach-empowers-adult-learners-part-1 For more about Dennis Littky, visit https://www.bigpicture.org/presenter/dennis-littkyYou can follow Jose Rodriguez on LinkedIn to learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-rodriguez-6592857aWatch Part One of our Digication Scholars Conversation with Adam Bush, co-founder and Provost of College Unbound: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s1-e25-the-new-college-unbound-turns-chaos-of-life/id1538850043?i=1000518019620NECHE stands for New England Commission of Higher Education.#PassionProject #CommunityEngagement #LearningInPublic #CollegeUnbound #NonViolence #CreditForPriorLearning

In this episode of the Digication Scholars Conversations, host Jeff Yan continues the insightful discussion with Lizz Colon, Director of Learning in Public at College Unbound.Lizz shares her journey from dealing with lead poisoning to becoming a nationally respected expert in lead poisoning prevention. The conversation emphasizes the importance of lived experiences in education, community organizing, and the development of ePortfolios.Discover how College Unbound supports students through reflective learning and a supportive community.

In this episode, host Jeff Yan interviews Lizz Colon, the Director of Learning in Public at College Unbound.Discover College Unbound's unique approach to addressing educational trauma and fostering adult learning. Learn how their program supports students from diverse backgrounds by providing flexibility, community support, and a commitment to lifelong learning.Join us for an insightful discussion on the transformative power of education.For more information about this podcast, please visit our podcast website using the link below: https://bit.ly/3MfBqboListen on Apple Podcasts using the link below: https://apple.co/3OkFVEnFollow us on Social Media!Twitter: https://bit.ly/3M9J7QtFacebook: https://bit.ly/3OgnIYwInstagram: https://bit.ly/3Mjm4D8Please visit our website at https://bit.ly/3IgGVFPListen to Part One of our Digication Scholars Conversation with Adam Bush, co-founder and Provost of College Unbound: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s1-e25-the-new-college-unbound-turns-chaos-of-life/id1538850043?i=1000518019620#DigicationScholars #EducationalTrauma #AdultLearning #LifelongLearning #CollegeUnbound #CommunityEducation

In this week's special episode, we're bringing you a live discussion our host, Dustin, moderated at the recent Times Higher Education Student Success Summit. The panelists discussed how adult learners are enrolling in higher education in record numbers, and the looming enrollment cliff is predicted to put more pressure on colleges to enroll working learners. Adults often require different kinds and modes of support to succeed, so the group shared ways that institutions can adapt their offerings to serve them better.Guest Names:Chris Dickson - Assistant Dean for Student Success at College UnboundAshley Flood - Manager of Student Success Coaching at Purdue GlobalChristopher Guymon - Associate Provost for Academic Programs & Director of Graduate Studies at Utah Tech UniversityGuest Social Handles:Chris D. AshleyChris G.Guest Bios: Chris Dickson is the assistant dean for student success for College Unbound. As a student-centered college, his role is to best support students in finding their way to the center of the college. This happens through supporting students when they fall behind, to the fringes, and out of the peripheries of staff and faculty. He ensures that every student and their unique voices and talents are heard and harnessed. As a professor of pedagogy for the College Unbound Prison Education program, Dickson has redesigned its five-course sequence of class curricula and instructs these classes.Ashley Flood is a manager of student success coaching at Purdue Global. With experience in success coaching and K-12 education, she is committed to putting people first to drive student success. She manages a team of eight success coaches who work with students to create success plans to help them in their academic and personal achievements at the institution. This includes helping students navigate through basic-needs insecurities that they may be facing. Her major contributions include developing comprehensive training for the coaching teams, developing processes to implement Purdue Global's best-in-class basic-needs support, and working with the tech team to develop tools and solutions to further enable coaching. Christopher Guymon is associate provost for academic programs and director of graduate studies at Utah Tech University. During his tenure, he has led the development of several online degrees; significantly increased enrollment in degrees and certificate programs; developed strategic relationships in Europe, East Asia, and South Asia; and created and executed a $2 million fundraising campaign to support students and faculty. Before joining Utah Tech in August 2020, he served at The University of Chicago as interim dean, and senior associate dean and COO. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/https://twitter.com/HigherEd_GeekAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and I Wanna Work There. Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com. Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:Exciting news — Dustin will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we'd love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI. Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $99! This early bird pricing lasts until March 31. Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can't wait to see you there!

Last season, Jeff and Michael explored the reinstatement of the Pell Grant for incarcerated learners. The question now is what's next for these learners and where can they actually get to use their federal funds? In this episode, Jeff and Michael look at the innovative College Unbound model with co-founder and president Adam Bush and Jose Rodriguez, the assistant vice president for community and belonging. College Unbound is an accredited college with a single degree and a model that allows learning to happen wherever it happens, in kitchens or even in prisons. The episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group.Key Moments(0:00) - Intro(1:15) - Innovative college model and accreditation(5:34) - Prison education program and its impact on inmates' lives(9:19) - Scaling a non-traditional college model(12:02) - College Unbound's innovative approach to adult education(19:31) - Higher education for incarcerated individualsLinksCollege Unbound Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

DR. ADAM BUSH, COFOUNDER AND PROVOST, COLLEGE UNBOUND, JOINS THE SHOW TO DISCUSS THE IMPLICATIONS OF TODAY'S SCOTUS RULING ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of College UnBound, Focus Collegiate Founder and Principal Grant Leibersberger and Enrollment and Outreach Director Ann-Marie Stripling discuss the Focus Collegiate Summer Cohort and the importance of college prep. The Summer Cohort is a three-week in-person college readiness experience in Boston designed for rising college first-years who need extra support before they land on campus in the fall.  The program addresses academics, life, digital literacy, and independent living skills. Students take classes, work on study habits, and basically get a taste for college life. See sample schedule here. The staff at Focus Collegiate knows that in the novel setting of college, some of the assumptions a student has about their own learning profile can start to fall away. In the Summer Cohort, before they are inundated with the new responsibilities of college, the student and our staff start to see where a student might struggle and begin to shore up their strengths, creating long-term strategies for college success. At the Summer Cohort, students practice in a safe environment what college will be like and how they will face its rigors. “It's very important for both students and parents to practice what it is going to be like going away to college…For students, it's about previewing all the things they will need to learn; for parents, it's about ‘what am I going to do with myself now that my son or daughter is gone? What kinds of things are going to change for me as a person?'” said Ann-Marie Stripling.“Forming great relationships is an important output of the Summer Cohort… particularly for the students who are going to be getting to know the staff they are going to be working with in the fall,” said Grant Leibersberger. 

In this episode I interview Autumm Caines and Lance Eaton about ChatGPT and how they see it affecting higher ed and instructional design from a variety of perspectives. This episode is insightful and also humorous at times. Autumm Caines:Autumm Caines is a liminal space. Part technologist, part artist, part manager, part synthesizer she aspires to be mostly educator. You will find Autumm at the place where different disciplines and fields intersect, always on the threshold, and trying to learn something new. Autumm currently works full-time as an Instructional Designer at the University of Michigan – Dearborn and part-time as Instructional Faculty at College Unbound where she teaches courses in Digital Citizenship as well as Web and Digital Portfolio. Lance Eaton: Lance Eaton is the Director of Digital Pedagogy at College Unbound, a part-time instructor at North Shore Community College and Southern New Hampshire University, and a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts, Boston with a dissertation that focuses on how scholars engage in academic piracy. He has given talks, written about, and presented at conferences on artificial intelligence generative tools in education, academic piracy, open access, OER, open pedagogy, hybrid flexible learning, and digital service-learning. His musings, reflections, and ramblings can be found on his blog: http://www.ByAnyOtherNerd.com as well as on Twitter: @leaton01Support the showPlease consider making a donation to my Patreon account to help support this podcast financially: patreon.com/rjhogue

Imagine being at a school where 80% of the students look like you…but you're the only one like you who is in the honors and advanced classes. That's where this week's guest, Carlon Howard, found himself as he readied to graduate from high school. And that experience put him on the pathway that landed him as a leader and impact-maker in educational equity.   Carlon has a passion for supporting individuals who feel stuck in cultural narratives due to a lack of equity, inclusivity, and diversity in leadership. And his organization, Equity Institute, is taking what they've created and teaching organizations how to develop these initiatives in their own communities.   In this episode, Carlon and I talk about doing the work in the messy gray space, why teacher pathway programs are so valuable, why schools need support outside the traditional education space, and how he built Equity Institute organically from a place of connection and decompressing.   I love Carlon's philosophy of teaching others to do the work, rather than assuming his organization knows the answers for every situation. We need more of this in leadership roles. About Carlon Howard: Carlon is the Chief Impact Officer and Co-Founder of Equity Institute. In his role, he leads organization-wide strategic and operational planning, ensuring EI's vision is realized through clear prioritization and high-impact operational execution. In addition to helping launch the Equity Institute, he also co-founded re*generation (formerly EduLeaders of Color R.I.). Now an initiative of the Equity Institute, re*generation hosts monthly meetups designed to support education leaders from underrepresented backgrounds.   Before entering his current role with Equity Institute, Carlon was executive director of Breakthrough Providence, served as a City Year AmeriCorps member and Impact Manager, was a classroom teacher, and was a policy fellow for a former Colorado Senator. He graduated from the University of Georgia with undergraduate degrees in criminal justice and political science and completed his graduate degree in education from Rhode Island College. He also earned a graduate certificate in nonprofit management and leadership from the Institute of Nonprofit Practice, in affiliation with Tufts University's Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life. Additionally, he completed formal training as a leadership and performance coach. Outside of his full-time work, Carlon is an adjunct instructor at College Unbound. Jump in the Conversation: [1:39] - How education transformation began for Carlon [3:39] - In an 80% black school, Carlon was the only black male in the honors classes [5:09] - A quarter life crisis [7:03] - All the world's problems exist in schools but schools don't have the means to solve them [7:59] - The origins of the Equity Institute in 2019 [10:10] - Students weren't being served in a way that made sense [10:50] - Helping design and implement innovative solutions to build more diverse, equitable, inclusive, professional learning environments [12:35] - What other profession goes home and does more work for free [13:22] - TA to BA educator pathway program [17:51] - Well-meaning initiatives are challenged by getting into new communities [19:40] - Has insights to help others; can be inspiration and accountability [20:30] - Things aren't black or white; the real work happens in the gray area [21:46] - First steps to take to create to support others in educator pathway [25:39] - Turbo Time [28:05] - Carlon's passion in equity work [31:42] - Carlon's Magic Wand [33:40] - Maureen's Takeaways Links & Resources Equity Institute Connect with Carlon on LinkedIn College Unbound Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich Email Maureen Maureen's TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools The Education Evolution Facebook: Follow Education Evolution Twitter: Follow Education Evolution LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution EdActive Collective Maureen's book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids Micro-school feature on Good Morning America The Micro-School Coalition Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition LEADPrep

Welcome to The Academic Life! In this episode you'll hear about: How both of today's guests became involved in higher education in prison. Why this work is personal to them. Funding and representation issues in higher education in prison. The complexities of supporting students who are incarcerated without supporting the carceral system. And a discussion of the Journal of Higher Education in Prison. Our guest is: Dr. Erin Corbett, who earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, where her dissertation examined the relationship between educational attainment level and post-release employment outcomes for formerly incarcerated people in Connecticut. While pursuing her doctorate, Erin launched a nonprofit that provides not-for-credit, postsecondary level courses in three correctional facilities in Connecticut. She has also taught in correctional facilities in Rhode Island with College Unbound, and guest lectured to incarcerated students in the Iowa through the University of Iowa Liberal Arts Beyond Bars (UI LABB) program. Erin was the Assistant Director for Applied Research at the Institute for Higher Education Policy focusing on federal policy related to the intersection of higher education policy and policy related to educational access for justice-impacted people; and she was the Director of Policy at the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice before transitioning to working with SCEA full time and consulting. Our guest is: Dr. Breea Willingham, incoming Associate Professor of Criminology at UNC Wilmington. Dr. Willingham earned her Ph.D. in American Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo. As an interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Willingham's research examines the intersections of race, gender, higher education, and the injustice system. She is particularly interested in examining Black women's pathways to incarceration, their experiences with higher education in prison, and providing a platform for Black women impacted by the injustice system to tell their stories. Influenced by her experiences as a sister and aunt of two men serving life sentences, Dr. Willingham's research also focuses on the societal ramifications of mass incarceration, especially its impact on families. Her work on incarcerated fathers and their children, Black women's prison narratives, teaching in women's prisons, and Black women and police violence has been published in academic journals and edited collections. In 2020, Dr. Willingham was appointed Managing Editor of the Journal for Higher Education in Prison, a peer-reviewed journal that publishes on the topics and issues in higher education in prison. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, the co-creator of the Academic Life. Listeners to this episode might also be interested in: The Journal of Higher Education in Prison The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison Ear Hustle, a podcast hosted by persons who are incarcerated at San Quentin  A conversation about the Emerson Prison Initiative Dr. Erin Corbett on Beyond Prisons Abolition. Feminism. Now. edited by Angela Davis et al. Punishment and Society, by Breea Willingham Privilege and Punishment, by Matthew Clair No Mercy Here, by Sarah Haley You are smart and capable, but you aren't an island and neither are we. We reach across our mentor network to bring you experts about everything from how to finish that project, to how to take care of your beautiful mind. Here on the Academic Life channel, we embrace a broad definition of what it means to be an academic and to lead an academic life. We view education as a transformative human endeavor and are inspired by today's knowledge-producers working inside and outside the academy. Wish we'd bring on an expert about something? DMs us on Twitter: @AcademicLifeNBN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this episode, I spoke with educator and social justice scholar Dr. Sylvia Spears. She currently serves as the Vice President for Administration and Innovation as well as the Distinguished Professor of Educational Equity and Social Justice at College Unbound. She is a member of the Narragansett Tribe and was named one of the 50 Most Influential People of Color in Higher Education by Get Konnected. We spoke about how her experience working within the Narragansett Tribe inspired her career in higher ed, the difference between DEI and social justice work, and what we can do to create a more just society. Enjoy! Would love to hear your thoughts.Subscribe & Follow  for Episode Updates: https://linktr.ee/drjaewilliamsFor Episode Notes & Exclusive Content: https://www.drjaewilliams.com/dr-jaes-gems

Welcome to The Academic Life! In this episode you'll hear about: How both of today's guests became involved in higher education in prison. Why this work is personal to them. Funding and representation issues in higher education in prison. The complexities of supporting students who are incarcerated without supporting the carceral system. And a discussion of the Journal of Higher Education in Prison. Our guest is: Dr. Erin Corbett, who earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, where her dissertation examined the relationship between educational attainment level and post-release employment outcomes for formerly incarcerated people in Connecticut. While pursuing her doctorate, Erin launched a nonprofit that provides not-for-credit, postsecondary level courses in three correctional facilities in Connecticut. She has also taught in correctional facilities in Rhode Island with College Unbound, and guest lectured to incarcerated students in the Iowa through the University of Iowa Liberal Arts Beyond Bars (UI LABB) program. Erin was the Assistant Director for Applied Research at the Institute for Higher Education Policy focusing on federal policy related to the intersection of higher education policy and policy related to educational access for justice-impacted people; and she was the Director of Policy at the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice before transitioning to working with SCEA full time and consulting. Our guest is: Dr. Breea Willingham, incoming Associate Professor of Criminology at UNC Wilmington. Dr. Willingham earned her Ph.D. in American Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo. As an interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Willingham's research examines the intersections of race, gender, higher education, and the injustice system. She is particularly interested in examining Black women's pathways to incarceration, their experiences with higher education in prison, and providing a platform for Black women impacted by the injustice system to tell their stories. Influenced by her experiences as a sister and aunt of two men serving life sentences, Dr. Willingham's research also focuses on the societal ramifications of mass incarceration, especially its impact on families. Her work on incarcerated fathers and their children, Black women's prison narratives, teaching in women's prisons, and Black women and police violence has been published in academic journals and edited collections. In 2020, Dr. Willingham was appointed Managing Editor of the Journal for Higher Education in Prison, a peer-reviewed journal that publishes on the topics and issues in higher education in prison. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, the co-creator of the Academic Life. Listeners to this episode might also be interested in: The Journal of Higher Education in Prison The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison Ear Hustle, a podcast hosted by persons who are incarcerated at San Quentin  A conversation about the Emerson Prison Initiative Dr. Erin Corbett on Beyond Prisons Abolition. Feminism. Now. edited by Angela Davis et al. Punishment and Society, by Breea Willingham Privilege and Punishment, by Matthew Clair No Mercy Here, by Sarah Haley You are smart and capable, but you aren't an island and neither are we. We reach across our mentor network to bring you experts about everything from how to finish that project, to how to take care of your beautiful mind. Here on the Academic Life channel, we embrace a broad definition of what it means to be an academic and to lead an academic life. We view education as a transformative human endeavor and are inspired by today's knowledge-producers working inside and outside the academy. Wish we'd bring on an expert about something? DMs us on Twitter: @AcademicLifeNBN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Welcome to The Academic Life! In this episode you'll hear about: How both of today's guests became involved in higher education in prison. Why this work is personal to them. Funding and representation issues in higher education in prison. The complexities of supporting students who are incarcerated without supporting the carceral system. And a discussion of the Journal of Higher Education in Prison. Our guest is: Dr. Erin Corbett, who earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, where her dissertation examined the relationship between educational attainment level and post-release employment outcomes for formerly incarcerated people in Connecticut. While pursuing her doctorate, Erin launched a nonprofit that provides not-for-credit, postsecondary level courses in three correctional facilities in Connecticut. She has also taught in correctional facilities in Rhode Island with College Unbound, and guest lectured to incarcerated students in the Iowa through the University of Iowa Liberal Arts Beyond Bars (UI LABB) program. Erin was the Assistant Director for Applied Research at the Institute for Higher Education Policy focusing on federal policy related to the intersection of higher education policy and policy related to educational access for justice-impacted people; and she was the Director of Policy at the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice before transitioning to working with SCEA full time and consulting. Our guest is: Dr. Breea Willingham, incoming Associate Professor of Criminology at UNC Wilmington. Dr. Willingham earned her Ph.D. in American Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo. As an interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Willingham's research examines the intersections of race, gender, higher education, and the injustice system. She is particularly interested in examining Black women's pathways to incarceration, their experiences with higher education in prison, and providing a platform for Black women impacted by the injustice system to tell their stories. Influenced by her experiences as a sister and aunt of two men serving life sentences, Dr. Willingham's research also focuses on the societal ramifications of mass incarceration, especially its impact on families. Her work on incarcerated fathers and their children, Black women's prison narratives, teaching in women's prisons, and Black women and police violence has been published in academic journals and edited collections. In 2020, Dr. Willingham was appointed Managing Editor of the Journal for Higher Education in Prison, a peer-reviewed journal that publishes on the topics and issues in higher education in prison. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, the co-creator of the Academic Life. Listeners to this episode might also be interested in: The Journal of Higher Education in Prison The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison Ear Hustle, a podcast hosted by persons who are incarcerated at San Quentin  A conversation about the Emerson Prison Initiative Dr. Erin Corbett on Beyond Prisons Abolition. Feminism. Now. edited by Angela Davis et al. Punishment and Society, by Breea Willingham Privilege and Punishment, by Matthew Clair No Mercy Here, by Sarah Haley You are smart and capable, but you aren't an island and neither are we. We reach across our mentor network to bring you experts about everything from how to finish that project, to how to take care of your beautiful mind. Here on the Academic Life channel, we embrace a broad definition of what it means to be an academic and to lead an academic life. We view education as a transformative human endeavor and are inspired by today's knowledge-producers working inside and outside the academy. Wish we'd bring on an expert about something? DMs us on Twitter: @AcademicLifeNBN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/academic-life

Welcome to The Academic Life! In this episode you'll hear about: How both of today's guests became involved in higher education in prison. Why this work is personal to them. Funding and representation issues in higher education in prison. The complexities of supporting students who are incarcerated without supporting the carceral system. And a discussion of the Journal of Higher Education in Prison. Our guest is: Dr. Erin Corbett, who earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, where her dissertation examined the relationship between educational attainment level and post-release employment outcomes for formerly incarcerated people in Connecticut. While pursuing her doctorate, Erin launched a nonprofit that provides not-for-credit, postsecondary level courses in three correctional facilities in Connecticut. She has also taught in correctional facilities in Rhode Island with College Unbound, and guest lectured to incarcerated students in the Iowa through the University of Iowa Liberal Arts Beyond Bars (UI LABB) program. Erin was the Assistant Director for Applied Research at the Institute for Higher Education Policy focusing on federal policy related to the intersection of higher education policy and policy related to educational access for justice-impacted people; and she was the Director of Policy at the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice before transitioning to working with SCEA full time and consulting. Our guest is: Dr. Breea Willingham, incoming Associate Professor of Criminology at UNC Wilmington. Dr. Willingham earned her Ph.D. in American Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo. As an interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Willingham's research examines the intersections of race, gender, higher education, and the injustice system. She is particularly interested in examining Black women's pathways to incarceration, their experiences with higher education in prison, and providing a platform for Black women impacted by the injustice system to tell their stories. Influenced by her experiences as a sister and aunt of two men serving life sentences, Dr. Willingham's research also focuses on the societal ramifications of mass incarceration, especially its impact on families. Her work on incarcerated fathers and their children, Black women's prison narratives, teaching in women's prisons, and Black women and police violence has been published in academic journals and edited collections. In 2020, Dr. Willingham was appointed Managing Editor of the Journal for Higher Education in Prison, a peer-reviewed journal that publishes on the topics and issues in higher education in prison. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, the co-creator of the Academic Life. Listeners to this episode might also be interested in: The Journal of Higher Education in Prison The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison Ear Hustle, a podcast hosted by persons who are incarcerated at San Quentin  A conversation about the Emerson Prison Initiative Dr. Erin Corbett on Beyond Prisons Abolition. Feminism. Now. edited by Angela Davis et al. Punishment and Society, by Breea Willingham Privilege and Punishment, by Matthew Clair No Mercy Here, by Sarah Haley You are smart and capable, but you aren't an island and neither are we. We reach across our mentor network to bring you experts about everything from how to finish that project, to how to take care of your beautiful mind. Here on the Academic Life channel, we embrace a broad definition of what it means to be an academic and to lead an academic life. We view education as a transformative human endeavor and are inspired by today's knowledge-producers working inside and outside the academy. Wish we'd bring on an expert about something? DMs us on Twitter: @AcademicLifeNBN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/education

Welcome to The Academic Life! In this episode you'll hear about: How both of today's guests became involved in higher education in prison. Why this work is personal to them. Funding and representation issues in higher education in prison. The complexities of supporting students who are incarcerated without supporting the carceral system. And a discussion of the Journal of Higher Education in Prison. Our guest is: Dr. Erin Corbett, who earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, where her dissertation examined the relationship between educational attainment level and post-release employment outcomes for formerly incarcerated people in Connecticut. While pursuing her doctorate, Erin launched a nonprofit that provides not-for-credit, postsecondary level courses in three correctional facilities in Connecticut. She has also taught in correctional facilities in Rhode Island with College Unbound, and guest lectured to incarcerated students in the Iowa through the University of Iowa Liberal Arts Beyond Bars (UI LABB) program. Erin was the Assistant Director for Applied Research at the Institute for Higher Education Policy focusing on federal policy related to the intersection of higher education policy and policy related to educational access for justice-impacted people; and she was the Director of Policy at the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice before transitioning to working with SCEA full time and consulting. Our guest is: Dr. Breea Willingham, incoming Associate Professor of Criminology at UNC Wilmington. Dr. Willingham earned her Ph.D. in American Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo. As an interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Willingham's research examines the intersections of race, gender, higher education, and the injustice system. She is particularly interested in examining Black women's pathways to incarceration, their experiences with higher education in prison, and providing a platform for Black women impacted by the injustice system to tell their stories. Influenced by her experiences as a sister and aunt of two men serving life sentences, Dr. Willingham's research also focuses on the societal ramifications of mass incarceration, especially its impact on families. Her work on incarcerated fathers and their children, Black women's prison narratives, teaching in women's prisons, and Black women and police violence has been published in academic journals and edited collections. In 2020, Dr. Willingham was appointed Managing Editor of the Journal for Higher Education in Prison, a peer-reviewed journal that publishes on the topics and issues in higher education in prison. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, the co-creator of the Academic Life. Listeners to this episode might also be interested in: The Journal of Higher Education in Prison The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison Ear Hustle, a podcast hosted by persons who are incarcerated at San Quentin  A conversation about the Emerson Prison Initiative Dr. Erin Corbett on Beyond Prisons Abolition. Feminism. Now. edited by Angela Davis et al. Punishment and Society, by Breea Willingham Privilege and Punishment, by Matthew Clair No Mercy Here, by Sarah Haley You are smart and capable, but you aren't an island and neither are we. We reach across our mentor network to bring you experts about everything from how to finish that project, to how to take care of your beautiful mind. Here on the Academic Life channel, we embrace a broad definition of what it means to be an academic and to lead an academic life. We view education as a transformative human endeavor and are inspired by today's knowledge-producers working inside and outside the academy. Wish we'd bring on an expert about something? DMs us on Twitter: @AcademicLifeNBN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Academic Life! In this episode you'll hear about: How both of today's guests became involved in higher education in prison. Why this work is personal to them. Funding and representation issues in higher education in prison. The complexities of supporting students who are incarcerated without supporting the carceral system. And a discussion of the Journal of Higher Education in Prison. Our guest is: Dr. Erin Corbett, who earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, where her dissertation examined the relationship between educational attainment level and post-release employment outcomes for formerly incarcerated people in Connecticut. While pursuing her doctorate, Erin launched a nonprofit that provides not-for-credit, postsecondary level courses in three correctional facilities in Connecticut. She has also taught in correctional facilities in Rhode Island with College Unbound, and guest lectured to incarcerated students in the Iowa through the University of Iowa Liberal Arts Beyond Bars (UI LABB) program. Erin was the Assistant Director for Applied Research at the Institute for Higher Education Policy focusing on federal policy related to the intersection of higher education policy and policy related to educational access for justice-impacted people; and she was the Director of Policy at the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice before transitioning to working with SCEA full time and consulting. Our guest is: Dr. Breea Willingham, incoming Associate Professor of Criminology at UNC Wilmington. Dr. Willingham earned her Ph.D. in American Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo. As an interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Willingham's research examines the intersections of race, gender, higher education, and the injustice system. She is particularly interested in examining Black women's pathways to incarceration, their experiences with higher education in prison, and providing a platform for Black women impacted by the injustice system to tell their stories. Influenced by her experiences as a sister and aunt of two men serving life sentences, Dr. Willingham's research also focuses on the societal ramifications of mass incarceration, especially its impact on families. Her work on incarcerated fathers and their children, Black women's prison narratives, teaching in women's prisons, and Black women and police violence has been published in academic journals and edited collections. In 2020, Dr. Willingham was appointed Managing Editor of the Journal for Higher Education in Prison, a peer-reviewed journal that publishes on the topics and issues in higher education in prison. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, the co-creator of the Academic Life. Listeners to this episode might also be interested in: The Journal of Higher Education in Prison The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison Ear Hustle, a podcast hosted by persons who are incarcerated at San Quentin  A conversation about the Emerson Prison Initiative Dr. Erin Corbett on Beyond Prisons Abolition. Feminism. Now. edited by Angela Davis et al. Punishment and Society, by Breea Willingham Privilege and Punishment, by Matthew Clair No Mercy Here, by Sarah Haley You are smart and capable, but you aren't an island and neither are we. We reach across our mentor network to bring you experts about everything from how to finish that project, to how to take care of your beautiful mind. Here on the Academic Life channel, we embrace a broad definition of what it means to be an academic and to lead an academic life. We view education as a transformative human endeavor and are inspired by today's knowledge-producers working inside and outside the academy. Wish we'd bring on an expert about something? DMs us on Twitter: @AcademicLifeNBN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lance Eaton is the Director of Digital Pedagogy at College Unbound, a part-time instructor at North Shore Community College and Southern New Hampshire University, and a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts, Boston with a dissertation that focuses on how scholars engage in academic piracy. He has given talks, written about, and presented at conferences on open access, academic piracy, open pedagogy, hybrid flexible learning, and digital service-learning. His musings, reflections, and ramblings can be found on his blog: http://www.ByAnyOtherNerd.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/rjhogue)

In this episode, I interview Dennis Littky, the founder of Big Picture Schools and College Unbound. With 150 schools around the world, BPS focuses on educating one student at a time and helping students get real world experience. Dennis tells about how he came up with the ideas for BPS and CU, the challenges he's faced along the way, and his amazing vision for education. I particularly love this episode because Dennis is hilarious! I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Lance Eaton is the Director of Digital Pedagogy at College Unbound, a part-time instructor at North Shore Community College and Southern New Hampshire University, and a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts, Boston with a dissertation that focuses on how scholars engage in academic piracy. He has given talks, written about, and presented at conferences on open access, academic piracy, open pedagogy, hybrid flexible learning, and digital service-learning. His musings, reflections, and ramblings can be found on his blog: http://www.ByAnyOtherNerd.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/rjhogue)

Lance Eaton is the Director of Digital Pedagogy at College Unbound, a part-time instructor at North Shore Community College and Southern New Hampshire University, and a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts, Boston with a dissertation that focuses on how scholars engage in academic piracy. He has given talks, written about, and presented at conferences on open access, academic piracy, open pedagogy, hybrid flexible learning, and digital service-learning. His musings, reflections, and ramblings can be found on his blog: http://www.ByAnyOtherNerd.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/rjhogue)

In this episode of The Bill Cartwright Show, Bill sits down with co-founder and Provost of College Unbound, Adam Bush. College Unbound is a degree completion college working both inside and outside carceral spaces of Rhode Island to ensure all adult learners are valued as scholar-practitioners, and have access to a Bachelor's degree pathway.

Our theme for Season Two of College UnBound is, “You don't know what you don't know.”  We consult teachers, counselors, authors, directors of DEI and accessibility offices, college readiness experts, parents, students, and our listeners about the most pressing questions college students who learn differently face as they transition to college.In this season introduction, Focus Collegiate Enrollment and Outreach Director, Ann-Marie Stripling and podcast host C. Jane Taylor interview Focus Collegiate's Managing Director and Parent Support and Program Development Consultant, Leslie O'Brien about what parents don't know they don't know. Did you know that for new college students, academics may not be as high a priority as the rest of the transition? The first semester is often more focused on setting a great foundation for ‘everything else.' In this episode, we look beyond the academics at what ‘everything else' means. We explore the areas of self-advocacy, social life on campus, expectation management, changing parental roles, accommodations, and the dreaded and often unanticipated list of mandatory requirements colleges send out during the all-too-short window of preparation after acceptance and before the first day of class. 

* INTERVIEW: Gard Goldsmith, creator of "College Unbound" series — a free online class exposing the secrets of Marxism at MRCeducation.org* An American STASI — massive military industrial complex of SECRET identities to fight “domestic terrorists”, aka conservatives* Cuomo makes a KILLING with pandemic. In spite of nursing home deaths he is given $5M for book about pandemic leadership* SCOTUS will decide when life begins, again and it unanimously rules against Biden on seizing guns w/o search warrant* Follow the money — Biden decides NOT to overrule IP patents/profits for #BigPharma vaccines for “humanitarian emergency” reasons* A third pastor arrested in Canada as a specific warrant has been used now as a general warrant to arrest anyone in a group of more than 6TOPICS by TIMECODE1:56 American STASI: At Least 60,000 Strong Secret Army in USA. The Military Industrial Complex goes dark & deep with fake identities to spy on Americans domestically — as Feds say the greatest threat to USA is “domestic extremists”, their political enemies18:46 Newsom Was Ready to Use Military Jets Against Protestors. Another indication of US politicians' willingness to use military against its own citizens — LA Times reports Air National Guard members complain about Newsom's plan to intimidate protestors with low pass flyovers of military jets (as they've done in Iraq & Afghanistan) — but COVID protestors didn't show up.30:34 Cuomo makes a KILLING off his “pandemic leadership” with a book deal about his expertise despite 15,000 dying in nursing homes. Used his staff to shield him from investigation and to “help” write the book40:48 Homeschooling Doubles — Black Homeschooling is 5X's More Post-Lockdown. It's safer, but there are other factors that make it far superior…46:57 Fauci is saying HIS pandemic shows America is racist. Rand criticizes Fauci over masks as totally unnecessary for children who have no risk. So why doesn't Rand criticize VACCINES for children — since they have no risk from COVID? 51:30 A 3rd Christian pastor arrested in Canada as pro-Palestinian protestors are unmolested by police as they gather by the thousands — and get violent54:41 Rio's “Christ the Redeemer” statue lit up with “Vaccines Save” message — kind of what Franklin Graham is doing with his relentless vaccine promotion56:16 Chelsea Handler loses hearing in one ear from vaccine. But just before the “approved for experimental use” vaccine is halted, an 18 yr old girl is in serious condition with 3 blood clots in her lungs from the vaccine1:02:52 INTERVIEW: Gard Goldsmith — The Dirty Secrets of Marxism. If you want to understand the goals of the current restructuring of society, you need to understand the philosophy and tactics of Marxism. Gard Goldsmith joins — the creator of "College Unbound" series — a free online class exposing the secrets of Marxism at MRCeducation.org1:40:39 Unanimous repudiation of Biden by Supreme Court and an abortion case is on the docket — but SCOTUS is NOT Supreme: We Must STOP Judicial SupremacyFind out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation through,PayPal at:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/davidknightshowVenmo at:  venmo@davidknightshowCash App at:  $davidknightshowBTC to:  bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Mail: David Knight, POB 1323, Elgin, TX 78621

INTERVIEW: Gard Goldsmith, creator of "College Unbound" series — a free online class exposing the secrets of Marxism at MRCeducation.org An American STASI — massive military industrial complex of SECRET identities to fight “domestic terrorists”, aka conservatives Cuomo makes a KILLING with pandemic.  In spite of nursing home deaths he is given $5M for book about pandemic leadership SCOTUS will decide when life begins, again and it unanimously rules against Biden on seizing guns w/o search warrant Follow the money — Biden decides NOT to overrule IP patents/profits for #BigPharma vaccines for “humanitarian emergency” reasons A third pastor arrested in Canada as a specific warrant has been used now as a general warrant to arrest anyone in a group of more than 6 TOPICS by TIMECODE 1:56 American STASI: At Least 60,000 Strong Secret Army in USA.  The Military Industrial Complex goes dark & deep with fake identities to spy on Americans domestically — as Feds say the greatest threat to USA is “domestic extremists”, their political enemies 18:46 Newsom Was Ready to Use Military Jets Against Protestors.  Another indication of US politicians' willingness to use military against its own citizens — LA Times reports Air National Guard members complain about Newsom's plan to intimidate protestors with low pass flyovers of military jets (as they've done in Iraq & Afghanistan) — but COVID protestors didn't show up. 30:34 Cuomo makes a KILLING off his “pandemic leadership” with a book deal about his expertise despite 15,000 dying in nursing homes.  Used his staff to shield him from investigation and to “help” write the book 40:48 Homeschooling Doubles — Black Homeschooling is 5X's More Post-Lockdown.  It's safer, but there are other factors that make it far superior… 46:57 Fauci is saying HIS pandemic shows America is racist.  Rand criticizes  Fauci over masks as totally unnecessary for children who have no risk.  So why doesn't Rand criticize VACCINES for children — since they have no risk from COVID? 51:30 A 3rd Christian pastor arrested in Canada as pro-Palestinian protestors are unmolested by police as they gather by the thousands — and get violent 54:41 Rio's “Christ the Redeemer” statue lit up with “Vaccines Save” message — kind of what Franklin Graham is doing with his relentless vaccine promotion 56:16 Chelsea Handler loses hearing in one ear from vaccine.  But just before the “approved for experimental use” vaccine is halted, an 18 yr old girl is in serious condition with 3 blood clots in her lungs from the vaccine 1:02:52 INTERVIEW: Gard Goldsmith — The Dirty Secrets of Marxism.  If you want to understand the goals of the current restructuring of society, you need to understand the philosophy and tactics of Marxism. Gard Goldsmith joins — the creator of "College Unbound" series — a free online class exposing the secrets of Marxism at MRCeducation.org 1:40:39 Unanimous repudiation of Biden by Supreme Court and an abortion case is on the docket — but SCOTUS is NOT Supreme: We Must STOP Judicial Supremacy Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation through, PayPal at:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/davidknightshow Venmo at:  venmo@davidknightshow Cash App at:  $davidknightshow BTC to:  bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7 Mail: David Knight, POB 1323, Elgin, TX 78621

Dr. Dennis Littky is co-founder and co-director of The Met School, co-founder of Big Picture Learning and founder and President of College Unbound. He is nationally known for his game changing and extensive work in secondary education in urban, suburban, and rural settings, spanning over 40 years and now in higher education. His work as an educator has been featured in a movie, A Town Torn Apart, as well as a book, Doc: The Story of Dennis Littky and His Fight for a Better School. He is an author and the recipient of many awards and honors, and is the recipient of two earned doctoral degrees in psychology and education from the University of Michigan. Described as a ‘radical educator', as ‘someone who works up against the edge of convention and out of the box', and as ‘someone who has changed the conversation in this country about education', Littky has dedicated his life to making education possible for all. For more information: https://www.bigpicture.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=584289&type=u&pREC_ID=915338

Adam Bush, co-founder and Provost of the newly accredited College Unbound, shares his story of stepping out of the box to create an accessible, affordable and equitable college education. Adam shares how College Unbound provides adult learners with a college education integrated into their daily lives with courses focused on Organizational Leadership at community centers, libraries, or public housing. Adam says that he “wants the student experience of navigating our college to be as funky and natural as one that really reflects the learning that they're a part of regularly in their daily practice. And the school is an advocate for that learning. There's an institutional way to look at what we did that's really not so funky for the student." Adam speaks about the importance of students bringing their full selves to their education experiences, and how College Unbound nurtures those students to do so. Hear how Adam and College Unbound are advocating for change in learning.

College Unbound, a small, newly accredited college in Providence, Rhode Island, has been garnering a lot of positive attention lately—with good reason.   It serves adult, working, parenting students, just the kind who are generally been ignored or underestimated by American higher education.  In contrast to the short-term job training that many leaders believe nontraditional students want and need, CU offers an undergraduate degree grounded in project-based learning, peer cohorts, and a culture of full-throated support.  Its graduation rate is around 80%.  Its cost is around $5000 a term. Its students passionately love the program.   In this episode, I speak with Provost Adam Bush about CU's program and values, the college's response to the pandemic, and the implications of its model of transformative education not only for adult learners, but for higher ed as a whole.   Along with visiting the College Unbound website, you can learn more by reading:   “Colleges Struggle to Serve Millions of Dropouts.  Have These Men Cracked the Code?” (Chronicle of Higher Education, January 16, 2020) “College Unbound Helps Working Adults Earn Fast Affordable Degrees” (Forbes, April 22, 2019)   The Way Forward is a production of Bringing Theory to Practice; to learn more about our work, visit us at www.bttop.org.  Send us your thoughts—and suggestions for future episodes—at info@btop.org.  The podcast is produced by Jabari Butler, and Dan Rudin composed our music.

Adam Bush, co-founder and Provost of the newly accredited College Unbound, shares his story of stepping out of the box to create an accessible, affordable and equitable college education. Adam shares how College Unbound provides adult learners with a college education integrated into their daily lives with courses focused on Organizational Leadership at community centers, libraries, or public housing. Adam says that he “wants the student experience of navigating our college to be as funky and natural as one that really reflects the learning that they're a part of regularly in their daily practice. And the school is an advocate for that learning. There's an institutional way to look at what we did that's really not so funky for the student." Adam speaks about the importance of students bringing their full selves to their education experiences, and how College Unbound nurtures those students to do so. Hear how Adam and College Unbound are advocating for change in learning.

This week on College UnBound, our topic is the acquisition of life skills. Many parents, and many school counselors for that matter, focus almost exclusively on academic skills. While paramount in college, this focus is only one part of a much bigger picture. Research shows, that how students use information to solve real-life problems and manage their daily lives may be a better indicator of success than cognition. Focus Collegiate students generally already know how to use a digital calendar and check their email; they already have a sense of what is expected of them in school, even if they may not know exactly what is coming around the corner in college. Our challenge is to assist their development of the self-discipline or self-management necessary to make the best, most consistent use of the tools they have. Thus we work with students on developing repeatable, recurring ways to engage these skills within their novel context of college life. Focus is one of the main pillars of self-discipline and dependent on what neuroscientists call executive functions. Working memory, impulse control, and cognitive flexibility are essential elements of executive functions and underly the student's ability to set and pursue goals, prioritize activities, filter distractions, and control impulses. All of which are core to implementing life skills, regardless of the strategy. That's where we start... 

In this week's podcast, we discuss the student learning profile. In the previous episode of College UnBound, we talked about the importance of college prep and how the Focus Collegiate Summer Cohort meets the needs of incoming students. Part of our ability to meet these needs relies on our understanding of each student's unique learning profile. Each profile is often related to, if not determined by, one or more psycho-educational diagnosis. And though the accommodations and IEPs students depend on in high school are also based on the diagnosis, many students don't know or fully understand what their diagnosis is or how these characteristics relate to becoming an independent learner. When they are ready, we help students appreciate that their learning profile can be used as a tool for strengths building and growth.While our adage is people on paper aren't real people, Focus Collegiate uses its own assessment tools to encourage students to explore their learning profile in a non-stigmatizing way. We balance our own findings and those of each diagnosis with each student's abilities and volition to build comprehensive and appropriate strategies for academic and social success. 

Preparation before college is one of the strongest predictors of future success; but many high school students look at college readiness in terms of simply applying to and getting into a university. Acceptance is just the beginning. In this episode of College UnBound, we discuss the activities and outcomes students can expect to enjoy at our Summer Cohort.Focus Collegiate's college-readiness experience, Summer Cohort is a metaphor for the college life. During three weeks in residence at a private dormitory in Boston's Back Bay Neighborhood on Beacon Street, students get a taste for college. Through coursework, skills building, structured self-directed activities, and fun social events, students deepen self-awareness, build resilience, and develop their independent living skills. 

A great deal of news coverage has been focused on students and teachers. This week we  focus on parents and how we support them.The early college years are an important time of individuation. It's time for students to find and build their independence, to figure out who they are and what they want to do with their life. Staying home makes that fledging more difficult for the student. It also  makes it more difficult for parents to let go. Many colleges are using extended breaks or remote learning as COVID-19 precautions which means more young adults than ever are home now than would be during a “normal” academic year.  Some parents feel like they are in the hot seat.Join us as we discuss the ways Focus Collegiate supports families as they gain skills for a smoother transition to college. 

This week our topic is Resilience. The pandemic has been a global demonstration of our need for it. Resilience is the ability to adapt and thrive despite adversity. We've seen how resilience plays out in business. Adaptation has become the key to business survival. The same thing is true for college students. The development and cultivation of resilience is one of the primary predictors of college success.Psychologist, Angela Duckworth, calls it grit. Duckworth says, “Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is staying with your future day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years…Grit is living life like it's a marathon, not a sprint.” The marathon sounds like a tall order for a new college student. Join us as we discuss the ways in which we support our students develop resiliency and get ready for the long run

Welcome to Episode 7 of College UnBound. Our topic of discussion this week is Self-Advocacy. The experiential learning model we use with our college students is focused on the long-term predictors of college success. Primary among them is self-advocacy. It is one of the core competencies that impacts independent living.No longer guided by an IEP, college students must seek out their own accommodations, find and fit into a new social niche, overcome stigmas, and beat low expectations—activities all demanding self-advocacy. Such skills enable students to participate actively in their learning and that of others.          In this episode we discuss why and how we support students in the development of the self-advocacy skills they will benefit from for a lifetime. 

This week we dig into the Student Support Agreement which is an expression of each student's Learning Agenda. While the Learning Agenda outlines what students work on, the  Student Support Agreement pinpoints how.                 Focus Collegiate's approach is based on student goals and student buy-in, without them, we and our students are nowhere. The Student Support Agreement ensures the incorporation of goals and commitment as it presents a Personal Balance Sheet of Strengths and Gaps. Knowing these suggests a framework for growth. Built upon life skills, mental health, executive function, and resiliency self-assessments, the Student Support Agreement gives each student invaluable input into how we work together with them. 

In Episode 5 of College UnBound, we discuss the Learning Agenda. An integral part of the Intentional Change Theory at the center of the unbounded support we provide college students who learn differently, the Learning Agenda is our road map.Each unique Learning Agenda is the expression of how a student builds on their existing strengths while reducing their perceived gaps. Through honest dialogue with our students, we design the Learning Agenda to help them make decisions that accentuate their talents and abilities and keep them moving forward.

When he founded Focus Collegiate, Grant Leibersberger adopted the Intentional Change Theory (ICT) as the novel way to engage college students.Having studied experiential education and directed trailblazing young adult transition programs, he knew that students striving to enter a more independent phase of their life needed a more innovative, less prescriptive approach more in keeping with the self-determination college represents. While Intentional Change Theory has applications for organizational change and leadership development, it is the perfect solution for young adults because of its relationship focus.In this episode, we delve further into the neuroscience behind ICT, discuss positive emotional attractors and negative emotional attractors, and the importance of finding the balance between the two. 

This week on College UnBound we explore Intentional change theory. Initially developed by the Professor of Organizational Behavior, Psychology, and Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University, Richard Boyatzis, intentional change theory is the evidence-based, cyclical process we use with our students to create lasting positive change.

In our previous podcast, we discussed resonant relationships. Today we'll delve into how Focus Collegiate inspires student engagement and collaboration. College can be a tricky time for anyone. Students can easily lose their direction and fall behind. How does the Focus Collegiate Team encourage students to get onboard with their own success?We have talked about acknowledging and capitalizing on a student's strengths, what do you do to help students develop lagging areas? How does Focus Collegiate keep students accountable to their goals?How does Focus Collegiate keep parents accountable to their student's goals?

Focus Collegiate was started to fill a gap in the higher education system. While high school students who learn differently are supported with IEPs and 504 learning plans, college students who learn differently are not. They are expected to fend for themselves, to find and ask for their own accommodations, to make and follow through with their own schedules, and just figure it all out. This is where Focus Collegiate come in.We're here today with Focus Collegiate founder, Grant Leibersberger to talk about how Focus Collegiate makes a difference for diverse learners in college. 

Jayne Conway, podcaster for The Rhode Island Guide to Personalized Learning, interviews Dennis Littky about educational philosophy, how and why he started The Met, Big Picture Learning and College Unbound, and why personalized education is powerful and being both adopted and ignored.