Higher Ground

In this episode of Higher Ground, we explore the critical topic of digital well-being in higher education with insights from both Sara Trettin of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education (Department) and Laurie Fritsch, Assistant Director of Wellness from Virginia Tech. 

• Sara discusses the Department’s focus on digital health, safety, and citizenship, highlighting their new initiatives to bridge the digital divides in access, usage, and design. She also touches on the importance of co-designing device policies with students to foster healthier tech habits. 
• Laurie then shares her journey of promoting digital mindfulness at Virginia Tech, starting with small, targeted interventions that grew into comprehensive campus-wide initiatives like the four-week Digital Well-being Challenge. From classroom tools to community programs like phone boxes and conversation cards, Laurie emphasizes the importance of collaboration with students and faculty. She discusses how these efforts helped Virginia Tech become the world's first digitally well university and offers advice on how institutions can take small steps to create a lasting impact in digital wellbeing.

A resource shared by Laurie Fritsch is the Coalition for Collegiate Digital Well-Being’s Digital Well-Being Action Planning Worksheet. You can learn more about Virginia Tech’s Digital Well-Being Program and the Weekly Digital Well-Being Challenges mentioned in this podcast on the Hokie Wellness website.

0:00 - 2:00 - Introduction to Digital Well-Being in Higher Education: Overview of the "Higher Ground" podcast series and the focus on digital well-being
2:01 - 6:45 - Understanding the U.S. Department of Education's Approach: Sara Trettin explains digital divides and the Department's focus on digital health, safety, and citizenship.
6:46 - 9:00 - Specific Resources and Their Relevance to Higher Education: The co-designed  Planning Together: A Playbook for Student Personal Device Policies and the Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force report, and their potential applications in higher education.
9:01 - 11:30 - Connecting Digital Citizenship to Higher Education: The importance of digital citizenship education and the need for faculty modeling and open communication with students.
11:31 - 14:55 - Virginia Tech's Journey to Becoming a Digitally Well University: Laurie Fritsch’s background and the initial observations that led to the focus on digital well-being.
14:56 - 22:00 - Implementing Digital Well-Being Practices at Virginia Tech: Integrating digital well-being into existing programs, community-based interventions, and the digital well-being challenge.
22:01 - 26:19 - Lessons Learned and Future Directions: Advice for other institutions, the formation of the digital well-being coalition, and the need for better measurement tools.

For all questions or feedback, you can email [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Please note, the contents of this podcast do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the U.S. Department of Education, nor does it imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education.

This episode of the Higher Ground podcast explores dual enrollment programs, which allow high school students to take college courses while concurrently enrolled in high school. The episode features interviews with key figures including a successful dual enrollment student, Makenzie Kelley, who shares her journey and challenges, and policy expert Alex Perry, who discusses the significant increase in dual enrollment participation and its implications. Karla Phillips-Krivickas, a disability rights advocate, highlights the barriers and opportunities for students with disabilities in dual enrollment, while researcher John Fink emphasizes the need for equitable access and the business case for community colleges to support these programs. The episode underscores dual enrollment as a critical strategy for educational access and success, advocating for systemic changes to make it more inclusive and impactful.

0:00 - 0:29 - Introduction to Higher Ground and the focus on dual enrollment.
0:37 - 1:25 - Overview of dual enrollment and its impact on higher education pathways.
1:25 - 2:39 - Makenzie Kelley’s personal experience with dual enrollment and its benefits.
2:52 - 3:30 - Mackenzie discusses challenges with credit transfers and accessibility issues.
4:22 - 5:17 - Alex Perry introduces policy perspectives on dual enrollment and related programs.
5:24 - 6:20 - New data from IPEDS on dual enrollment showing increased participation rates.
6:43 - 7:54 - Discussion on dual enrollment’s impact in states like Idaho, highlighting its scale.
8:16 - 9:59 - Karla Phillips-Krivickas discusses dual enrollment for students with disabilities.
10:00 - 11:07 - Barriers faced by students with disabilities and the need for transition plans.
11:08 - 12:12 - Misconceptions about disabilities and the need for better inclusion in dual enrollment.
12:30 - 13:29 - Legal and systemic barriers in supporting dual enrollment for students with disabilities.
13:29 - 14:22 - The role of MOUs and state guidance in ensuring accessibility for students with IEPs.
14:50 - 15:48 - John Fink discusses the role of educators in broadening access to dual enrollment.
15:49 - 16:36 - Challenges faced by underrepresented students and local advocacy efforts.
16:36 - 17:47 - Importance of colleges’ involvement in dual enrollment planning and student support.
17:47 - 18:56 - The economic impact of declining community college enrollments and dual enrollment.
18:56 - 19:55 - Investing in dual enrollment as a strategy for community colleges’ survival.
20:04 - 21:24 - Dual enrollment as a transformative force for equity and access in education.
21:24 - 22:03 - Closing remarks on the need for systemic change to expand dual enrollment access.

For all questions or feedback, you can email [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Please note, the contents of this podcast do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the U.S. Department of Education, nor does it imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education.

In this episode we delve into the pressing issues of mental health in higher education with Dr. Sunny Patel, a Senior Advisor at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). Dr. Patel discusses the significant mental health challenges faced by college students, such as anxiety, depression, and substance misuse, sharing data from SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health. He outlines the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive, community-centered approach to mental health. Dr. Patel also highlights practical actions and resources that institutions can implement to create safe and supportive learning environments. Throughout the conversation, he underscores the critical role of student voices in shaping effective mental health strategies. Dr. Patel also discusses proactive solutions aimed at fostering a culture of care in higher education.

0:00 - 00:23 - Introduction to the podcast and the topic of mental health in higher education.
0:37 - 1:19 - Overview of the mental health landscape in colleges with Dr. Sunny Patel.
1:19 - 2:02 - Dr. Patel discusses the critical period of college years for mental health intervention.
2:10 - 3:17 - Data on mental health issues, highlighting substance misuse and depression among college students.
3:17 - 4:18 - Statistics on mental health challenges such as depression, substance misuse, and suicidal thoughts among young adults.
4:18 - 5:13 - Discussion of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and its key areas of focus.
5:14 - 6:16 - SAMHSA’s frameworks like Zero Suicide and peer support initiatives on college campuses.
6:16 - 7:35 - The importance of building a culture of care on campuses through everyday actions.
 7:57 - 8:27 - Colleges can take actions to create supportive learning environments.
8:27 - 9:14 - Dr. Patel discusses how well-being impacts academic performance and overall student success.
9:14 - 9:58 - Strategies for institutions to prioritize mental health as part of their strategic goals.
10:00 - 11:05 - Resources and frameworks available from SAMHSA to support mental health in colleges.
11:29 - 12:15 - Emphasis on the importance of student voices in shaping mental health strategies on campuses.
12:15 - 13:13 - Closing remarks on fostering a culture of care and prioritizing mental health on campuses.

For all questions or feedback, you can email [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Please note, the contents of this podcast do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the U.S. Department of Education, nor does it imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education.