Only one day left...

Wow!!! It’s almost over. Tomorrow is our last day and we are celebrating like any institution of higher education would…GRADUATION day is tomorrow! I feel like I have had a crash course in leadership and deserved or not, I am looking forward to getting my certificate of COMPLETION! I can’t tell you how bless I feel to have had this opportunity and will be sharing as much as I can with my OSU colleagues and friends to “pass the gift on” to others who are interested. I have a lot of “lessons learned” that will stay with me forever. Let me also say, how grateful I am to have received 63 letters and cards during the last 3 weeks. My dorm room wall is covered with your words of encouragement, support and humorous messages. You have enabled me to feel connected to all of you which has made all the difference in the world. As you all know, being and staying connected is so important to me. THANK YOU AGAIN!

I had another wonderful weekend in Philly. One of my dearest friends, Wendy, came to visit for the weekend and she experienced it all…the Bryn Mawr college, dorm life, the summer leadership institute and downtown Philadelphia all within 48 hours! Wendy was feeling adventurous and wanted to relive her college days so we embraced the opportunity to “sneak” her into my dorm room overnight on Friday. Ironically, I think she slept better than I did. We “borrowed” the couch cushions from the community living room and made a bed for her on my dorm room floor. Her reaction the next day was classic…”I can’t believe you’ve done this for 3 weeks!” I have validation! Wendy completely validated my initial reaction that the dorms aren’t as exciting as they may seem. I had class on Saturday until noon so Wendy actually joined me for part of the morning session. We watched a documentary called the “Women of Summer” that details how Bryn Mawr welcomed women workers from industry offering summer school from 1921 to 1938. After class, we headed downtown to Philly to see the sights and walk and eat our way through South street and Penn’s Landing. It was wonderful!

Last Thursday ( July 9th), we traveled to Washington D.C. to visit the American Council on Education (ACE). This was probably the most impactful day of the entire summer institute. I had heard a little about ACE but didn’t really understand the scale and scope of this organization for higher education. ACE membership represents 80% of the colleges/institutions in the US ranging from private to public, doctorate degree institutions to community colleges and nonprofit to profit sectors. ACE advocates for higher institutions in Washington D.C. on public policy issues and provides a forum for collaboration and training on critical issues such as diversity, internationalization and leadership. It was completing eye-opening for me to hear the national perspective about the challenges that higher education faces now and in the future. Challenges or should I say “opportunities for improvement” such as student aid legislation, access and innovation. President Obama has made the declaration that he wants to have the highest percentage of college educated citizens by the year 2010. Currently, 39% of Americans under the age of 25 have a college degree (30% have a bachelors and 9% have an associate degree). Canada has the highest percentage (55%), followed by Japan (54%) and Korea. If you are interested in hearing more, ask me. J I also heard about the impact of the new GI Bill (effective August 2009), more data on the changing workforce and initiatives to increase women and underrepresented minorities in leadership roles. Things are changing and it is so important that we monitor the national perspective as well as the state’s agenda as Ohio State moves from excellence to eminence. REALLY GREAT INFORMATION!!!