Hi #EdUp Community!

Before we jump into your episode highlight, we wanted to let you know that EdUp is officially registered as a media brand serving the higher education sector. The lightbulb that has been with our logo for five years has now turned into the registered mark.

We have another incredible episode to highlight for you this week, brought to you by Coursedog.

Guest: Dr. Arlene Rodriguez, Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Middlesex Community College​
​Host: Dr. Joe Sallustio with Co-Host Bridget Moran (Senior Content Manager, Coursedog)

Dr. Arlene Rodriguez shared insights on building equity-minded practices and community partnerships at Middlesex Community College in Massachusetts. The conversation explored how combining academic and student affairs under one leadership umbrella creates synergy, and how institutions can build belonging through intentional cultural practices and data-driven decision-making.

Key Highlights:

• Integrated Leadership Model: Academic and student affairs operate under unified leadership, creating natural collaboration where teams work together on enrollment, curriculum, and student support rather than in silos

• Learn and Earn Programs: Pioneered biotech internships during COVID where students earned $20-30/hour at companies like Pfizer and Moderna while completing coursework, expanding this model across other industries

• Pedagogy of Real Talk: Professional development framework emphasizing relationship-building over transactional interactions, encouraging staff to share personal stories and vulnerabilities to connect with students

• Belonging as Ongoing Process: Recognition that belonging must be recreated every semester, every class, and every interaction—not a one-time achievement but continuous cultural work

• Equity-Driven Data Practices: Uses 15 key metrics with dashboards, conducts annual data summits, and employs zip code analysis through the community vibrancy framework to understand economic and educational gaps

• Mass Reconnect Impact: Benefits from Massachusetts free community college programs (Mass Reconnect for 25+, Mass Educate for all eligible students), removing financial barriers

The episode emphasized that successful community college leadership requires seeing students holistically, building confidence at every touchpoint, and creating systems where people and processes work together to support student success.

​CLICK HERE to #EdUp & please share with a colleague.

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It's YOUR time to #EdUp, with EdUp Editorials​ The Next Generation of Students Isn’t Waiting for Higher Ed to Catch Up​ by Chris Montagnino Chris Montagnino, Executive Vice President of Champlain College Online, wrote this article, citing a new national survey from Champlain College Online that reveals that nearly 90% of Gen Z students would consider an online degree, up dramatically from 73% just two years ago. The data challenges outdated assumptions about who chooses online education, showing that one in seven new online students are 18-24 years old. Click Here - Article

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​Reimagining Higher Education: A Strategic Framework for Student-Centered Innovation in the Post-Pandemic Era​

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