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CONNECTION TO SOMETHING BIGGER
Universities can often feel like their own little
cities, whether they are in a small town or
part of a Gateway city. However, there are a
myriad of benefits linking the daily life of a
college with its surrounding community. This
connection offers opportunities for students
to connect with the business and cultural
communities outside the university walls, and
provides resources for partnership between
corporations, students, faculty, and civic
institutions. And, it helps connect students’
ongoing learning with real-life application.
COLLABORATION
It may have been at one point
that the
main benefit of postsecondary education
was to spend time learning from professors
who lectured on their areas of expertise.
However, now learning is more active and
collaborative, which means that professors
are less founts of knowledge and more
mentors, subject matter experts, and
facilitators. In addition to rubbing elbows
with professors, the value of an education is
increasingly found in the connections that
are made with:
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Other students from diverse backgrounds
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Alumni
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Industry experts and current professionals
in students’ field of study
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Business incubators
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Extracurricular activities and groups /
societies
STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY
Students entering college these days
were
born in the 2000s, and they have never
known a world without mobile phones,
public WiFi, and flat screen televisions.
In fact, they may not even remember a
world without smart phones and internet-
connected home appliances. Their
expectations are that the technology offered
on and around campus will be seamless and
streamlined. Beyond just the staples of WiFi
and cell service, today’s students expect
video conferencing tools and modern A/V
options around campus. Schools have to
fight to keep up with technology amenities,
and are also essentially mini-tech companies
with responsibility for data security and
growing provision of education services via
online formats.
RESORT-STYLE AMENITIES
Universities spend millions of dollars on
student “consumption” amenities like rock-
climbing walls and lazy rivers. New residence
halls often have infinity pools, putting greens,
fitness centers, gaming rooms, fire pits, grills,
and saunas. One private dorm in London
offers a cinema room and concierge. These
features can significantly add to the cost
of a college education, but studies indicate
that such features help to attract students
regardless of the added cost. The desire for
new and better is not limited to residence
halls. Universities are also spending billions
of dollars on upgrading classrooms, libraries,
computer labs, and athletic facilities.
Six university trends
we’re seeing as a result
of these market-shaking
global forces
DISRUPTION
In a 2017 survey of college and
university deans conducted
by 2U and The Academy for
Innovative Higher Education,
91.5% of respondents indicated
their institution will provide more
online programs in 10 years than
they do today.
30 The Occupier Edge