Navigating the New Normal

The higher education world within the US changed markedly and permanently with the COVID-19 shutdown in March of 2020. The exact impact of this change will vary by institution and be evolving for years, but higher education leaders will need to negotiate this changed environment in the most effective way possible for their individual institution. Unlike previous major changes, the COVID-19 shutdown greatly restricted options and resources at the disposal of higher education leaders. This presents an unprecedented challenge to those who are tasked with preserving and furthering their institutions. However, in the midst of this unexpected challenge to the very existence of some institutions, many now have developed the necessary capabilities to carry out their missions more broadly than ever before. It is the purpose of this chapter to explore the changes that are influencing colleges and universities in the US and to propose ways that chancellors and presidents can navigate these conditions to allow their institutions to survive and even thrive.

It is about time: Birthdays as modern rites of temporality

What do birthdays mean? Why are they so obligatory for modern people? Based on neo-Durkheimian perspectives on ritual, this article suggests the anthropological history of the western birthday as a key to understand its meaning. The article points at the unique ritual system developed by modern industrial culture, such as birthdays, jubilees, and other anniversaries—designated here as Rites of Temporality—which latch on to the numerical milestones marking the passage of time to which the celebrant (individual, institution, settlement, state, and so forth) is subject. Comparing the birthday with classical rites of initiation then reveals how over and above individualism, consumer culture, state bureaucracy, and historical consciousness, the birthday honors time’s most noticeable markers since the industrial era—numbers—thus objectifying conventionalized time as a central meaning maker for modern people.

Public Relations, Media Relations, and Reputation Management

Reputation and trustworthiness are crucial values to acquire and sustain for every individual, institution, organization, and society. Reputation is neither a gift acquired from birth nor a feature that can be bought in exchange of money. In order for media to acquire reputation, mass media and employees must be respected. In this chapter, the use of media for reputation and the importance of credibility, authenticity, objectivity, and the like for media or journalism is analyzed through specific examples.

THE PROCESSES AND STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING INNOVATIONS IN SCHOOLS

The paper attempts to discuss processes and strategies for innovations in schools. Committed and thoughtful teacher educators, translate their knowledge, expertise, skills and research work for bringing innovations in the teaching learning process in order to keep the system most engaged and updated. The notion of shared explicit philosophy of teaching learning is central, to innovations in the schools. There are mainly four responsible factors perceived in implementation of innovation in any organisation more so, in educational institutions, namely systems support, encouragement to creativity, autonomy and conformity. Fundamentals of innovations provide some insight in to the scope of educational innovation in school education in India. These are mostly based on unique personalised experiences of the learners and the learners retain centrality of focus. Rewards and recognition are the motivating force for fresh innovative ideas and practices. Individual, Institution and Implementation were three vital points for Innovation.

Taiwan's underwater cultural heritage documentation management

Taiwan is an important trading and maritime channels for many countries since ancient time. Numerous relics lie underwater due to weather, wars, and other factors. In the year of 2006, Bureau of Cultural Heritage (BOCH) entrusted the Underwater Archaeological Team of Academia Sinica to execute the underwater archaeological investigation projects. Currently, we verified 78 underwater targets, with 78 site of those had been recognized as shipwrecks sites. Up to date, there is a collection of 638 underwater objects from different underwater archaeological sites. Those artefacts are distributed to different institutions and museums. As very diverse management methods/systems are applied for every individual institution, underwater cultural heritage data such as survey, excavation report, research, etc. are poorly organized and disseminated for use. For better communication regarding to Taiwan’s underwater cultural heritage in every level, a universal format of documentation should be established. By comparing the existing checklist used in Taiwan with guidelines that are followed in other countries, a more intact and appropriate underwater cultural heritage condition documentation system can be established and adapted in Taiwan.

Utah Tuning Project

<p>Tuning is a faculty-driven initiative designed to improve the quality of higher education by establishing transparent and fully assessable learning outcomes and proficiencies for degrees, discipline by discipline. Unlike many other initiatives in the United States which function within an individual institution, the Utah Tuning Project involved all institutes of higher education within the state of Utah. The purpose of this paper is to document the findings from an evaluation of a multiyear project targeting four undergraduate degree programs involved in a tuning initiative. A summary of recommendations and best practices is provided, along with the challenges and benefits to individuals and programs engaged in this process.</p>

Cancer Clinical Research: Return on Investment in the Era of Value-Based Purchasing

What is the return on investment (ROI) for participation in cancer clinical trials for an individual institution, or practice?