V&C SYNTHESIS MURIEL POSTON PITZER COLLEGE MARIAELENA ZAVALA CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE

Higher Education Landscape Demographics of students and faculty Technology as a disrupter and enabler Data is an important driver Assessment and evaluation needs in multiple venues

Leadership Use data to inform decision-making Leaders can be positional or non-positional Leaders can react to and anticipate challenges Leaders leverage resources ($$/space) to incentivize and drive change Leaders can have a collective impact within and across institutions

The Role of Faculty Professional development needed:  evidenced based teaching;  utilization of assessment tools;  leadership capacity Pilot programs:  start small and evaluate;  build on what you know  learn from failures  be ready to change and improve Develop networks for support; external advisors/advocates important

Student Experiences: put students first and the rest falls into place Student success includes:  Engagement: Research experiences  Action research relevant to communities  Authentic research: genetics and genomic datasets allow students to address real world/global problems  Tools to excel:  Writing in the discipline  Team based projects (interdisciplinary groups)  Integration of biology, math, physical sciences  Diverse Pathways:  First year courses  Different entry points to higher education

Evaluation and Assessment Gather data but you don’t have to invent the tools for analysis Use data for predictive modeling Peer review is important, particularly in determining large or small investments Assessment recognized in all 5 theme discussions and majority of posters Need for access to Assessment tools

Building Community Internal and external allies/advocates are important Enhance connectivity to like minded individuals Networks important to recognizing what has been done and to keep things moving Technology is important for sustaining but not initiating; F2F is important  Scale matters – relevant and place based  If too big, people disengage

Gaps: What didn’t we hear? Impact of Vision and Change on upper division courses? Scale up across institutions? Leadership Development at institutional level? Broadening Participation?

On the Horizon Expand our Tribe and connect across boundaries Continue to emphasize the importance of evidenced based teaching Disseminate and implement assessment practices Step up to leadership Continue to drive change in undergraduate biology education