Commission Surveys What’s Next in Higher Ed

The higher education landscape is changing quickly. Georgia Tech has been at the forefront of some of that change, including online learning and classroom methodology. Last fall, Rafael L. Bras, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, appointed a commission that will help keep Tech at the forefront of education innovation.

The goals of the Commission on Creating the Next in Education include exploration of new ideas in content delivery and nurturing a culture of lifelong learning for undergraduate, graduate, and professional education learners. 

“If we are to continue to live up to our vision of defining the 21st century technological research university, then we must be nimble and lead in creating and adapting new pedagogy and technology,” Bras said. “That will make Georgia Tech and our learners the very best and an example for all.”

The 40-member education commission is co-chaired by Bonnie Ferri, associate chair for undergraduate affairs in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Rich DeMillo, executive director, Center for 21st Century Universities (C21U). Under their direction, the commission will meet over the next 18 months. Through discovery, ideation, and design phases, the members will take a look at the Institute’s current methodologies and benchmark best practices in higher education, including issues of delivery and accessibility. Ultimately, the commission will recommend pilots and projects that will move Georgia Tech towards the optimal educational enterprise for a leading technological research university of the 21st century. 

“This commission brings together a group of Georgia Tech individuals from across disciplines and educational perspectives,” Ferri said. “That approach allows for innovative ideas that span interdisciplinary, co-curricular, and design perspectives that we know will bring new, innovative ideas about the educational landscape at Georgia Tech.” 

The commission discovery groups will explore future learning needs, demographics and populations, peer institutions, partners and competitors, societal and economic influences, and future pedagogy considerations. Throughout the 18-month period, activities and events for the campus community will include town halls, featured speakers, surveys, and focus groups. 

“As an institution, we find ourselves with an exciting opportunity as the traditions of higher education are quickly rewritten, both philosophically and pedagogically,” said DeMillo. “Georgia Tech is well positioned to be a leader among our peers and define what innovation truly means to the educational experience.” 

Along with the co-chairs, Georgia Tech President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough and C21U visiting scholar Jeff Selingo will serve as advisors for the commission. 

The commission was first suggested at an October 2015 town hall on Georgia Tech’s Educational Innovation Ecosystem — an environment defined by the efforts of C21U, the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, Georgia Tech Professional Education, and the Office of Information Technology.