Author: Greg Ash

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Why One-Size Fits All Isn’t Enough Supporting Students of All Types at Southeastern Community College

In 2022, the CDC reported that ​​students with learning differences make up 19% of the undergraduate population, yet only 37% of undergraduate students report their learning disability to their respective colleges. With such diverse student types, colleges must rethink their approach to providing accessible education, particularly in an environment where success depends greatly on a student’s ability to navigate college independently.

 

After recognizing that 1 in 5 of their students have a learning difference, Southeastern Community College chose to reassess its approach to learning accommodations and student support. Led by Angela Mickelson, SCC’s Disability Services Coordinator, SCC established a series of accommodations that provide engaged student support and empower students to understand and advocate for their needs.

Consider Sydney, a sophomore with Dyslexia, Dysphonia, and Dysgraphia. Despite those challenges, Sydney has become one of the first in her family to attend college, choosing to study welding, a traditionally male-dominated field. Her determined spirit, matched with SCC’s personalized support, has driven Sydney to break stereotype after stereotype.

 

“A lot of kids don’t think we can do things because of our learning disabilities, but, no, we can!” – Sydney ‘24, SCC Student

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Students Choose Their Own (Admissions) Adventure

Background

Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is a premier Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri. SLU prides itself in providing an immersive, hands-on, and community-centric education rooted in giving students a strong foundation from which they can launch. The school’s mascot, the Billiken, heralds from regional and global lore and serves as a good luck omen, reminding those to continue to dream of what ought to be. 

Approach

Across a variety of initiatives, we wanted to provide ways for students to see the world as a Biliken, both figuratively and literally. As opposed to the standard admissions approach of over sending collateral that clogs mailboxes and is rarely read, we invited students to select their own admissions communications through a series of surveys attached to their application process. Students could select from a hand drawn poster map of the city, a customizable journal for composing all their aspirations, or a viewfinder with custom illustrations that revealed inspiration from alumni.

Results

By May 1, 2023 admissions applications had increased by 1,000 more over the previous year, with one week in April adding over 300 times more than the average week, leading to twice as many deposits in 2022. Additionally, following the launch of their EXPeriential Learning program, international student applications are coming in from over 100 countries and have doubled the number of graduate and undergraduate enrolled students.

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Cobbs Creek partners with TGR Foundation

The Challenge:

The Cobbs Creek Golf Course has an incredible history and legacy that helped transform the game and solidified the course as a special place in the Philadelphia community. One that was the first to open its doors to people of color and women – priding itself as the course where Charlie Sifford was welcomed and honed his skills alongside golf giants like Howard Wheeler.

Despite this, Cobbs Creek Golf Course has lost its relevance in recent years and lost its connection to the people that brought it to greatness in the first place. The course has fallen into disrepair, faced environmental challenges and lost the ability to compete with well-funded courses in the area.

The Opportunity:

In order to re-capture its greatness and become an even stronger pillar in the community, a massive effort is underway to build a new Cobbs Creek Golf Course. One that is modern, sustainably developed and offers tremendous opportunities not just for golfers, but for kids, families and partners to make an even greater impact.

 

In a first-ever-of-its-kind partnership with TGR, The Cobbs Creek Foundation will elevate and share its story alongside one of the most iconic golfers of all time. The founder of the TGR Foundation obviously has a deep understanding of how golf can be used as a vehicle for positive social change.

This collaboration will maximize the collective resources and knowledge to enhance both organizations — working towards a common goal of creating meaningful impact in the community and inspiring the next generation of golfers and leaders.

 

We believe that golf is more than a game – it’s a pathway to transform lives on and off the green. That’s why Cobbs Creek Foundation and TGR Foundation have united behind a shared vision of impact and inspiration, to elevate the next generation of Philadelphians on their journey toward greatness. Through a focus on education, outreach and community involvement, we are coming together behind the game we love, for good.

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Clearly Not Done. The Case for Furman University.

Furman University is the oldest private liberal arts university in South Carolina. Furman’s last fundraising campaign was described as “the largest fundraising campaign ever among private colleges in South Carolina, and is also among the largest undertaken by any of the nation’s liberal arts colleges.” The Because Furman Matters began in 2004 and ended in 2013 leaving a decade gap and time for the University to prepare for their next chapter.  

Following the lead of President Davis and her strategic plan, we set out to support the internal communications team and the vision they named Clearly Furman. Their team provided us with the building blocks of a name, logo mark, and case statement – we were challenged to bring it to life in a way that would inspire and motivate Paladins of all generations.

We began with developing an eternal voice, translating the technical case statement content into the colloquial voice that has all the trimmings of South Carolina. From their we matched a video content strategy with a series of scripts to ensure the team had everything they needed to build momentum through the next three years of the campaign. In parallel we developed a campaign microsite to educate, inspire and inform donors, alumni and friends of what to expect in the third century for Furman. 

 

Furman is well on their way to meeting and most likely exceeding their goal having raised $300 million so far.

 

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We are Cincinnati

As the University of Cincinnati prepares to celebrate its induction into the Big 12 Conference, they’re also looking to celebrate their regional impact when it comes to being an established community leader within the city of Cincinnati. Through programs and initiatives that help to define the city’s future, the University continues to be a strong voice when it comes to developing the specific goals for the city and its partners.

 

 

It’s not often that we see a university embrace their local impact so heavily, but because of UC’s reciprocal relationship with its community, they can do just that. And their commitment to the city as well as their nationally recognized successes, is what has moved them into a competitive class of universities—right where they belong.