Learning Resources

Abstract: Public universities have a responsibility to deliver high-quality education safely to a large number of students. Planning effective instructional delivery while minimizing transmission of COVID is a timely, complex example of balancing disparate educational needs. We'll discuss how the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a public flagship university with a large residential population, changed instructional delivery through a process of design, implementation, and evaluation across academics, educational, and residential spaces. Join us to gain insight on our post-pandemic approach, encompassing planning, execution, and monitoring based on public health guidance, institutional needs, physical space, and academic requirements.

Abstract: As the chief academic officer of the University of Massachusetts system and as a labor market sociologist, Katherine Newman will provide valuable insight on how global changes are affecting the academic, research, and public service mission of higher education. The current public health crisis—as well as other factors such as automation and social change—is accelerating efforts to attract, educate, and retain a range of high achieving, diverse, and unskilled populations of learners. Come learn how your institution can provide experiential learning and hybrid course delivery options that meet the needs of students and employers who are experiencing multiple tectonic shifts in their industries.

Abstract: The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) is implementing its Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) to transform the physical environment into a premier destination for students, patients, faculty, staff, and the community. While this vision remains intact, the pandemic has tested campus resiliency. We will share how UCSD is navigating the fall semester and its overall vision for the campus, including opening a living and learning neighborhood to enhance student life and success in the midst of the pandemic. Come learn about this project’s guiding principles, research-based design, lessons learned, and best practices for adapting to a changing environment.