Despite all the challenges that we have faced in 2020, this year has taught us the importance of technology, resiliency, and innovation. Myself, along with my BrandIQ colleagues, have been fortunate to support an exciting education initiative happening here in the Los Angeles region—the development of an Academic Resource Innovation HUB funded by the California Strong Workforce program.
What exactly is an Academic Resource Innovation HUB? The LA Innovation HUB is a “meeting of the minds” between faculty leaders from Career Education (CE) and General Education (GE) across 19 community colleges in the Los Angeles region (CCLA19), with the goal to provide “at-scale” academic resources and program support innovation.
The HUB would be a resource for all CCLA faculty to develop shared curriculum and make program review improvements. The HUB would provide professional development opportunities to build capacity and identify ways to better serve a diverse student body facing economic disadvantage, high unemployment, pervasive racial inequality, and the disproportionate impact of Covid19 on communities of color.
It will provide a virtual space for GE/CE cross-college/cross-discipline collaboration, build alignment with industry, support regional economic growth and result in new programs to prepare students for higher wage jobs. Additional benefits include knowledge sharing, best practices, inspiration and support, professional resources, improved efficiency, reduced duplication, and comprehensive access to scalable and customizable solutions for curriculum creation.
How did the LA Innovation HUB come about? This faculty led initiative commenced in October 2019 when a regional group of CE & GE faculty leaders convened for a series of strategic planning retreats focused on developing an initial faculty-driven strategy for regional collaboration. Their goal was to create a way to accelerate the growth of our regional community colleges, local economy, and most critically, the students they serve. With defined goals, and reliable data, the initiative aims to improves student engagement, retention and program completion rates resulting in moving more students into higher wage jobs in LA County.
These BrandIQ designed and led strategy convenings, gathered representatives from 14 of the 19 CCLA19 colleges—with 60% of participants in CE disciplines and 40% in GE. Faculty members with diverse backgrounds are participating including Academic Senate Presidents, Curriculum Chairs, Senate Faculty, and many other faculty leaders.
BrandIQ is honored to support this important initiative. CCLA19 faculty are working together on a project across colleges and disciplines that is faculty-driven and results-based! As a certified “B” Corp, and a purpose-driven organization, we are excited to support these faculty innovators working to create new ways to improve student outcomes in Los Angeles County.
For more information about BrandIQ www.beta.brandiq.biz and our strategy and innovation work with the LA19 Community Colleges, other non-profits and public institutions, contact:
