The Problem

Higher education is facing a crisis of trust, the public is questioning the value of a degree, there is significant growth in the credentialing market, and outcomes for students and alumni are grim. Higher education needs to mobilize systemic change quickly, and that takes an investment in human capital and leadership development to innovate and lead service design from within the walls of the institution itself.

The Challenge 

Emerging innovators in higher education rarely have enough time, resources, and training to move change initiatives forward. Professional development organizations in higher education are siloed, and there are clear barriers to collaboration between these communities of practice. Teams are struggling to better meet the needs of students and alumni at scale.

The Solution

The Higher Education Innovation Fellowship

This program is designed for ambitious emerging innovators in higher education who want to learn best practices to scale innovation at their institutions and advance themselves as a change agent on campus. 

There's no experience level requirement; however, most applicants have at least five years of work experience in education or elsewhere. Fellows are action-oriented, outcomes-driven, collaborative, innovative, and seek to learn from models and case studies across campuses and industries. The program teaches fellows to break down professional development silos that exist in higher education. Fellows represent various departments and roles in their institutions, staff, faculty, doctoral students, alumni volunteers, and so on.

As a participant in the HEIF program, I am gaining not only a better intellectual understanding of the challenges facing higher ed, but also a practical skillset grounded in design thinking. It is an action-oriented curriculum that will benefit my institution and my career.

Kayla McCulley
Director of Alumni Learning and Career Programs
Pomona College

Meet the Fellows