Is Higher Ed Irrelevant?

This is an interesting time in higher ed. There are news stories every day about the effects of crippling student loans, disparities in who is able to access higher education, and whether a college degree is even a good investment. At the same time, the demographics of the average student are changing. Students once considered non-traditional are quickly overtaking the typical image of a college student as a teenager straight from high school who goes away to a four-year residential campus. The new majority will be students who are older, already have workplace experience, and who expect flexible, mobile-enabled learning experiences that fit more easily into their busy lives. Today we’ll be talking with Dr. Patrick Bennett about these issues and how his team’s approach is turning some of these challenges into opportunities for creative design. As Vice President of the International Institute for Innovative Instruction, Dr. Bennett leads a diverse team of faculty and staff dedicated to improving learning. The Institute unites the university's curriculum design capabilities with teaching and learning assessment in order to develop and deliver successful education solutions. Dr. Bennett works closely with Franklin’s centers of excellence to assist in the development and implementation of high-quality learning solutions for Franklin and external partners. Clients include universities (domestic and international), Fortune 100 corporations, and governmental entities. In addition, Dr. Bennett serves as Dean of the School of Education (SOE) at Franklin and Urbana University. Dr. Bennett has more than eighteen years of experience in higher education. He provides executive leadership and management for projects that are mission critical to the university’s strategic objectives and worldwide partnerships.