Tag: Ways

  • Five Ways Higher Ed Teams Can Improve AEO This Month

    Five Ways Higher Ed Teams Can Improve AEO This Month

    There’s a growing tension I’m hearing across higher education marketing and enrollment teams right now: AI is answering students’ questions before they ever reach our websites, and we’re not sure how, or if, we’re part of those answers.

    That concern is valid, but the good news is that Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) isn’t some futuristic discipline that requires entirely new teams, tools, or timelines. 

    In most cases, it’s about getting much more disciplined with the content, structure, and facts you already publish so that AI systems can confidently use your institution as a source of truth.

    And with some dedicated time and attention, there’s meaningful progress you can make starting today.

    Here are five actions higher ed teams can realistically take right now to improve how they appear in AI-powered search and answer environments.

    1. Run a Simple “Answer Audit” to Establish Your Baseline

    Before you can improve how you show up in AI-generated answers, you need to understand where you stand today, and that starts with asking the same questions your prospective students are asking.

    Identify Real Student Questions

    Select five to ten realistic, high-intent student questions, ideally pulled directly from admissions conversations, search query data, or inquiry emails. 

    Test Visibility Across Major Answer Engines

    Run those questions through a handful of major answer engines, such as:

    • Google AI Mode or AI Overviews
    • ChatGPT
    • Gemini
    • Perplexity
    • Bing Copilot or AI Overview search mode

    This isn’t a perfect science, as your geography and past search history does affect visibility, but it will give you a quick general idea.

    Document What Appears—and What Doesn’t

    For each query, document a few critical things:

    • Does your institution appear in the answer at all?
    • If it does, what information is being shared, and is it accurate?
    • How is your institution being described? Is the tone neutral, positive, or cautious, and does it align with how you want to be perceived?
    • Which sources are cited or clearly influencing the response (your site, rankings, Wikipedia, third-party directories)?

    Log this in a simple spreadsheet. What you’ve just created is your initial visibility benchmark, and it’s far more informative than traditional rankings or traffic reports in an AI-first discovery environment.

    Where We Can Help

    In Carnegie’s AEO Audit, we expand this approach across a much broader and more structured evaluation set. Over a 30-day period, Carnegie evaluates visibility, sentiment, and competitive positioning to show how often you appear, what AI engines are saying about your brand and programs, how you compare to peers, and where focused changes will have the greatest impact on AI search presence.

    >> Learn More About Carnegie’s AEO Solution. 

    2. Fix the Facts on Your Highest-Impact Pages

    If there’s one thing AI systems punish consistently, it’s conflicting or outdated information, and those issues most often surface on pages that drive key enrollment decisions.

    Identify Your Highest-Impact Pages and Core Facts

    Start by identifying ten to twenty priority pages based on enrollment volume, traffic, revenue contribution, or strategic importance. These typically include:

    • High-demand program pages
    • Admissions and application requirement pages
    • Tuition, cost, and financial aid pages
    • Visit, events, and deadline-driven pages

    These pages frequently influence AI-generated answers and early student impressions, and where inaccuracies can have an impact on trust and decision-making, particularly as search continues to evolve toward more experience-driven models.

    For each priority page, verify that the core facts are correct, complete, and clearly stated wherever they apply.

    Program Name and Credential Type

    Ensure the official program name and credential are clearly stated upon first mention. For example, fully spell out the name—Bachelor of Arts in English—in the first paragraph of the page and abbreviate to B.A. in English, Bachelor’s in English, and/or English major in future mentions.

    Delivery Format

    Clearly indicate whether the program or experience is offered on-campus, online, hybrid, or through multiple pathways.

    Time to Completion or Timeline Expectations

    Include full-time, part-time, and accelerated timelines, or key dates where applicable.

    Concentrations or Specializations

    List available concentrations or specializations clearly and consistently.

    Tuition and Fees

    Confirm how costs are expressed and whether additional fees apply.

    Admissions Requirements and Deadlines

    List requirements and deadlines explicitly, avoiding conditional or outdated language.

    Outcomes, Licensure, and Accreditation

    Document licensure alignment, accreditation status, and any verified outcomes data.

    Align Facts Across Every Source

    Once verified, align that information everywhere it appears, including:

    • Primary program, admissions, and visit pages
    • Catalog and registrar listings
    • PDFs, viewbooks, and other downloadable assets
    • Major program directories and rankings where edits are possible

    Signal Freshness with Clear Update Dates

    For content that is time-bound or interpretive—such as admissions pages, deadlines, visit information, policies, blog posts, and thought leadership—clearly signaling recency helps reduce confusion for both students and AI systems.

    In those cases, a visible “last updated” date can help establish confidence that information reflects current realities.

    The goal isn’t to add dates everywhere. It’s to be intentional about where freshness signals meaningfully support clarity, trust, and accuracy.

    3. Restructure a Small Set of Program Pages for AI Readability

    With your facts aligned, the next step is making sure your most important program pages are structured in a way that both humans and machines can easily understand.

    Use a Predictable Page Structure AI Can Parse

    Choose five to ten priority programs and apply a clear, predictable structure that answer engines can parse with confidence, such as:

    • Program overview
    • Who this program is designed for
    • What students will learn
    • Delivery format and scheduling
    • Time to completion
    • Cost and financial support options
    • Admissions requirements
    • Career pathways and outcomes
    • Frequently asked questions

    Add Information Gain to Differentiate Your Program

    Rely on descriptive headings and bullet points, and avoid unnecessarily complex language. Most importantly, include at least one element of information gain: a specific detail that differentiates the program, such as outcomes data, employer partnerships, or experiential learning opportunities.

    Answer Student Questions Explicitly with FAQs

    And if you want to influence AI-generated answers, you need to be explicit about the questions you’re answering—FAQ sections remain one of the most effective ways to do that.

    On each optimized program page, add four to six student-centered questions that directly address decision-making concerns. 

    Answers should be brief, factual, and supported by links to official institutional data wherever possible. 

    Use FAQ Schema Where Possible

    If your CMS and development resources allow, mark these sections up with FAQ schema so answer engines can more reliably identify and reuse them.

    If you don’t clearly answer these questions, AI will still respond, but it may not use your content to do so.

    4. Build a Net-New Content Strategy for AI Visibility

    Program pages matter, but institutions won’t win in AI search results by maintaining existing content alone.

    Why AI Systems Prefer Explanatory Content

    In practice, we’re seeing AI tools cite blog posts, explainers, and articles more often than traditional program pages, especially for the broader, earlier-stage questions students ask before they’re ready to search for a specific degree.

    That means AEO success requires more than restructuring what already exists. It requires a proactive content strategy that consistently publishes new points of expertise, experience, and trust around the topics students care about.

    The Types of Student Questions AI Is Answering

    For many institutions, that’s not just about program marketing. It’s about painting a credible picture of student life, outcomes, belonging, and the real-world value of higher education. The kinds of pieces AI systems surface tend to answer questions like:

    • What should I look for in an MBA program with an accounting concentration?
    • Is community college a good first step?
    • What kinds of jobs can I get in energy?
    • What does it mean to be an Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution?

    In other words: content that helps students frame decisions before they compare institutions.

    Start with a Small, Intent-Driven Content Pipeline

    Start small. Choose five to ten priority student questions tied to your recruitment goals, informed by existing keyword research tools and site data from sources like Google Search Console.

    Use those insights to build a simple content pipeline that produces a handful of focused articles:

    • 3–5 new blog or explainer topics aligned to student intent
    • Outlines built around direct answers + structured headings
    • A short list of internal contributors or Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
    • Clear calls-to-action that connect early-funnel content to next steps

    This is one of the fastest ways to expand your presence in AI-generated answers, and to build brand awareness earlier in the funnel, when students are still defining what they want.

    Where We Can Help

    Our AEO solution for higher ed turns insights from the audit into sustained visibility gains. Our experts deliver ongoing content development, asset optimization, visibility tracking and technical guidance to build your authority and improve performance across AI-driven search experiences.

    >> Learn More About Carnegie’s AEO Solution. 

    5. Establish a Lightweight Governance and Maintenance Cadence

    One of the biggest threats to long-term AEO success in higher education isn’t technology, it’s organizational drift.

    You don’t need an enterprise-wide governance overhaul to make a difference. Start with something intentionally simple:

    • A defined list of high-impact pages (programs, tuition, admissions, financial aid)
    • A basic owner matrix outlining responsibility for updates
    • A short monthly review checklist
    • A quarterly content review cadence by college or school

    Even a modest governance framework can dramatically reduce conflicting information and ensure your most important pages remain current as programs evolve.

    Good enough beats perfect every time.

    The Bigger Picture

    AEO isn’t about chasing every AI update or trying to “game” emerging platforms. It’s about being consistently clear, accurate, and helpful in the moments when students are asking their most important questions.

    If you do these five things this month, you won’t just improve your institution’s visibility in AI-driven search, you’ll build trust at the exact point where enrollment decisions are being shaped.

    Ready to go deeper?

    Download The Definitive Guide to AI Search for Higher Ed for practical frameworks, examples, and checklists that will help your team move from experimentation to strategy without the overwhelm.

    Frequently Asked Questions About AEO in Higher Education

    What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?

    Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of improving how institutions appear in AI-driven search and answer environments like ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Overviews, Gemini, and Perplexity. Instead of focusing only on rankings and clicks, AEO emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and structured content so AI systems can confidently cite and summarize your institution.

    How is AEO different from traditional SEO?

    SEO is designed to improve visibility in search engine results pages, while AEO focuses on how content is interpreted and reused by AI systems that generate direct answers. AEO prioritizes structured content, consistent facts, explicit question answering, and information gain over keyword density alone.

    Why does AEO matter for higher education institutions?

    Students increasingly ask AI platforms questions about programs, outcomes, cost, and fit before visiting institutional websites. AEO helps ensure your institution is accurately represented in those early discovery moments, when perceptions are formed and enrollment decisions begin taking shape.

    What types of content help improve AEO performance?

    AI systems tend to favor content that is clearly structured and informative, including program pages with consistent facts, FAQ sections, explainer articles, and blog posts that directly answer student questions. Content that demonstrates expertise, outcomes, and real-world context is more likely to be cited.

    Who can we help implement AEO for higher education?

    Institutions can begin improving AEO internally by auditing content, aligning program facts, and adding structured FAQs. For more advanced support, higher education–focused partners like Carnegie provide AEO audits, content optimization, technical guidance, and ongoing visibility tracking tailored to AI-driven search environments.

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  • College Search Help: 5 Ways to Find Your Perfect College Fit without Stress

    College Search Help: 5 Ways to Find Your Perfect College Fit without Stress

    If you’ve been scrolling “best colleges” lists and feeling more stressed than inspired, you’re not doing it wrong—you’re just starting in a place that’s designed to overwhelm you. Rankings can be interesting later, but they’re not a significant first step because they’re not personal. Your best match is the school that fits your life, learning style, and goals.

    Begin with a short list of non-negotiables. Think of these as the filters that keep you from wasting time on campuses that look impressive but don’t actually work for you.

    Here are common non-negotiables to choose from:

    • Distance from home: Staying in San Diego, somewhere in California, or open to out of state

    • Setting: big city, beach town, suburb, college town, rural

    • Campus size: small and intimate vs large and energetic

    • Budget range: realistic yearly cost after aid, not sticker price

    • Academic direction: undecided, specific major, pre-health, engineering, arts

    • Support needs: tutoring, advising, mental health resources, disability services

    • Culture: social scene, Greek life presence, faith-based options, commuter-friendly

    San Diego students often have a unique set of priorities—maybe you want to stay close to family, keep a part-time job, or find a campus that feels similar to the Southern California vibe. That’s not “limiting yourself.” That’s being strategic.

    Once you have your non-negotiables, add 3–5 “nice to haves.” Examples: study abroad strength, ocean access, strong internships in LA, guaranteed housing, smaller class sizes, or a campus with a big sports atmosphere.

    Your goal in this step is clarity. When you know what you need, the search gets calmer because you’re not trying to make every college work.

    Build a balanced list with a simple three-bucket system

    A lot of stress comes from an unbalanced list—either everything feels like a reach, or everything feels too safe, or you have 25 schools and no idea how to narrow it. A better approach is a list that’s intentionally built to give you strong options no matter what.

    Use a three-bucket system:

    • Likely: you’re confidently in range for admission, and you’d genuinely attend

    • Target: you’re competitive, and it’s a realistic match

    • Reach: admission is more selective or unpredictable, but it’s still worth a shot

    Try this ratio for a first draft:

    • 3–4 likely

    • 4–6 target

    • 2–3 reach

    If you’re applying in California, remember that some schools can be unpredictable even for strong students. That’s normal. The point of a balanced list is that you’re not placing your entire future on a few outcomes.

    To keep this step grounded, base your buckets on real indicators:

    • Recent admitted student averages (GPA ranges, course rigor, test policy if relevant)

    • Major-specific selectivity (some programs are more challenging to get into than the school overall)

    • Your transcript strength over time (upward trends matter)

    Then add one more filter: Would I actually be excited to attend if it’s the only option I get? If the answer is no, it doesn’t belong on the list.

    Research like a detective: look for proof, not vibes

    College fit scorecard and campus research materials used to compare schools and reduce stress during the college decision process.College fit scorecard and campus research materials used to compare schools and reduce stress during the college decision process.

    College marketing is excellent at making every campus feel perfect. Your job is to look for evidence that a school will support the life you want.

    Think of research in three layers:

    1: the basics

    • Majors and concentrations

    • Typical class sizes in your intended department

    • First-year requirements and flexibility to change majors

    • Housing policies and meal plans

    • Cost and financial aid clarity

    2: the student experience

    • Clubs and communities related to your interests

    • Support programs (first gen, transfer support, cultural centers)

    • Career services and internship pipelines

    • Safety and transportation, especially if you won’t have a car

    3: outcomes

    • Internship participation and where students intern

    • Job placement support, career fairs, and alumni networks

    • Graduate school acceptance support if that’s your path

    If you’re in San Diego or elsewhere in Southern California, you can also research a school through a local lens:

    • Does it connect to opportunities in San Diego, Orange County, or LA?

    • Are there strong relationships with regional employers?

    • Is it easy to travel home without stress?

    A practical tip: for each college, create a simple note with three headings:

    • Why it fits me

    • What I’m unsure about

    • What I need to confirm

    That turns “research” into a decision tool instead of endless scrolling.

    Make your campus visits smarter, even if you can’t travel far

    Not everyone can fly across the country to tour schools. The good news is you can get a clear sense of fit without spending a fortune.

    If you can visit in person, go in with a short plan:

    • Take a student-led tour

    • Sit in one class if possible

    • Walk through the neighborhood just off campus

    • Eat where students eat

    • Visit the department you care about (or attend an info session)

    Pay attention to things students rarely say out loud:

    • Are students staying on campus between classes or escaping to their cars?

    • Do people look comfortable, rushed, social, or stressed?

    • Does the campus feel navigable and safe for you?

    If you can’t visit, use “virtual proof”:

    • Student vlogs that show ordinary days (not the perfect highlight reel)

    • Online campus maps and walking tours

    • Department events or webinars

    • Student panels where you can ask questions live

    Southern California students sometimes underestimate how different campus life can feel outside the region. If you’re considering out-of-state, ask about the weather, housing during breaks, and travel logistics. Those details matter more than people admit, especially your first year.

    Compare colleges with a scorecard so decisions feel obvious

    Students walking on a palm tree lined campus walkway in Southern California, representing the college environment and campus life.Students walking on a palm tree lined campus walkway in Southern California, representing the college environment and campus life.

    When everything starts blending, stress spikes. A scorecard brings things back to reality.

    Create a simple rating system from 1 to 5 for categories that actually matter to you. Here are good categories:

    • Academic strength for your interests

    • Flexibility if you change your mind

    • Cost after aid and scholarship opportunities

    • Campus culture and community

    • Support and advising quality

    • Housing and day-to-day comfort

    • Career support and internships

    • Location fit (distance, vibe, weather, transportation)

    Then add two written prompts for each school:

    This is where you’ll notice patterns. One school might score slightly lower academically but feel far more supportive. Another might be impressive on paper but doesn’t offer the environment you need to do your best work.

    If you’re feeling torn between two schools, do a “real life week” test:
    Picture a typical Tuesday. What time do you wake up? How far do you walk? Where do you study? Who helps when you’re stuck? What happens when you’re homesick? The right fit usually becomes clearer when you stop imagining the highlight moments and start imagining the routine.

    Reduce stress with a simple timeline and decision plan

    The final stress trigger is not the search itself—it’s the feeling that you’re behind, or that one wrong decision will ruin everything. You can calm that down with an easy-to-follow plan.

    Here’s a simple structure that works well:

    1: Two weeks to build your list

    • Set your non-negotiables

    • Draft your likely, target, and reach buckets

    • Remove any school you wouldn’t attend

    2: Two to four weeks to research deeply

    • Fill in your notes for each school

    • Attend a webinar or student panel for your top choices

    • Confirm costs using net price calculators when possible

    3: Finalize and prepare

    • Lock your final list

    • Track requirements in one place (deadlines, essays, letters, portfolios)

    • Start essays with stories, not speeches—small moments that show who you are

    For San Diego and Southern California students juggling sports, jobs, family responsibilities, or multiple activities, the key is consistency over intensity. A calm college search is usually built with small weekly steps, not last-minute marathons.

    One more mindset shift that helps: you’re not searching for one “perfect” school. You’re building a set of great options where you can succeed in different ways. That’s what takes the pressure off.

    At College Planning Source, we help students and families navigate every step of the college admissions process. Get direct one-on-one guidance with a complimentary virtual college planning assessment—call 858-676-0700 or schedule online at collegeplanningsource.com/assessments. 

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  • 4 ways AI can make your PD more effective

    4 ways AI can make your PD more effective

    Key points:

    If you lead professional learning, whether as a school leader or PD facilitator, your goal is to make each session relevant, engaging, and lasting. AI can help you get there by streamlining prep, differentiating for diverse learners, combining follow-ups with accessibility for absentees, and turning feedback into actionable improvements.

    1. Streamline prep

    Preparing PD can take hours as you move between drafting agendas, building slides, writing handouts, and finding the right examples. For many facilitators, the preparation phase becomes a race against time, leaving less room for creativity and interaction. The challenge is not only to create materials, but to design them so they are relevant to the audience and aligned with clear learning goals.

    AI can help by taking the raw information you provide–your session objectives, focus area, and audience details–and producing a solid first draft of your session materials. This may include a structured agenda, a concise session description, refined learning objectives, a curated resource list, and even a presentation deck with placeholder slides and talking points. Instead of starting from scratch, you begin with a framework that you can adapt for tone, style, and participant needs.

    AI quick start:

    • Fine-tune your PD session objectives or description so they align with learning goals and audience needs.
    • Design engaging PD slides that support active learning and discussion.
    • Create custom visuals to illustrate key concepts and examples for your PD session.

    2. Differentiate adult learning

    Educators bring different levels of expertise, roles, and learning preferences to PD. AI can go beyond sorting participants into groups; it can analyze pre-session survey data to identify common challenges, preferred formats, and specific areas of curiosity. With this insight, you can design activities that meet everyone’s needs while keeping the group moving forward together.

    For instance, an AI analysis of survey results might reveal that one group wants practical, ready-to-use classroom strategies while another is interested in deepening their understanding of instructional frameworks. You can then create choice-based sessions or breakout activities that address both needs, allowing participants to select the format that works best for them. This targeted approach makes PD more relevant and increases engagement because participants see their own goals reflected in the design.

    AI quick start:

    • Create a pre-session survey form to collect participant goals, roles, and preferences.
    • Analyze survey responses qualitatively to identify trends or themes.
    • Develop differentiated activities and resources for each participant group.

    3. Make PD accessible for those who miss it

    Even the most engaging PD can lose its impact without reinforcement, and some participants will inevitably miss the live session. Illness, scheduling conflicts, and urgent school needs happen. Without intentional follow-up, these absences can create gaps in knowledge and skills that affect team performance.

    AI can help close these gaps by turning your agenda, notes, or recordings into follow-up materials that recap key ideas, highlight next steps, and provide easy access to resources. This ensures that all educators, regardless of whether they attended, can engage with the same content and apply it in their work.

    Imagine hosting a PD session on integrating literacy strategies across the curriculum. Several teachers cannot attend due to testing responsibilities. By using AI to transcribe the recording, produce a well-organized summary, and embed links to articles and templates, you give absent staff members a clear path to catch up. You can also create a short bridge-to-practice activity that both attendees and absentees complete, so everyone comes to the next session prepared.

    This approach not only supports ongoing learning but also reinforces a culture of equity in professional development, where everyone has access to the same high-quality materials and expectations. Over time, storing these AI-generated summaries and resources in a shared space can create an accessible PD archive that benefits the entire organization.

    AI quick start:

    • Transcribe your PD session recording for a complete text record.
    • Summarize the content into a clear, concise recap with next steps.
    • Integrate links to resources and bridge-to-practice activities so all participants can act on the learning.

    4. Turn participant feedback into action

    Open-ended survey responses are valuable, but analyzing them can be time-consuming. AI can code and group feedback so you can quickly identify trends and make informed changes before your next session.

    For example, AI might cluster dozens of survey comments into themes such as “more classroom examples,” “more time for practice,” or “deeper technology integration.” Instead of reading through each comment manually, you receive a concise report that highlights key priorities. You can then use this information to adjust your content, pacing, or format to better meet participants’ needs.

    By integrating this kind of rapid analysis into your PD process, you create a feedback loop that keeps your sessions evolving and responsive. Over time, this builds trust among participants, who see that their input is valued and acted upon.

    AI quick start:

    • Compile and organize participant feedback into a single dataset.
    • Categorize comments into clear, actionable themes.
    • Summarize insights to highlight priority areas for improvement.

    Final word

    AI will not replace your skill as a facilitator, but it can strengthen the entire PD cycle from planning and delivery to post-session coaching, accessibility, and data analysis. By taking on repetitive, time-intensive tasks, AI allows you to focus on creating experiences that are engaging, relevant, and equitable.

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  • Ways to optimize college for real world experience

    Ways to optimize college for real world experience

    “Top Ways To Optimize College Education For

    The Real World Work Environment”

    There’s a tremendous amount of work—and sustained effort—that goes into guiding a high school student through graduation and into a great college or university. But once they arrive on campus at their dream school, students quickly learn that a whole new set of exciting (and often challenging) expectations awaits them.

    One of the most important things we do as advisors is help families optimize their efforts—not just in high school, but throughout the college years as well. Preparing for a successful college experience and a rewarding career takes more than financial planning. It requires strategy, self-awareness, and an understanding of what truly matters over the next four years.

    Because here’s the reality: getting into college is a big achievement, but it doesn’t mean much if a student becomes part of the roughly 32% of college freshmen who never complete their bachelor’s degree. And even among those who do graduate, many enter the workforce without the skills, direction, or experiences that make them competitive job candidates.

    With this in mind, this month’s newsletter highlights several key steps students can take to make their college years meaningful preparation for life after graduation. Students who use these strategies early and intentionally can avoid the frustration far too many new graduates face—earning a diploma but struggling to find a rewarding job.

    After reviewing this month’s newsletter, if you have questions about helping your student prepare for college—and everything that comes after—please reach out. We’re here to support both the academic and the financial pieces of the journey, and our guidance can strengthen your family’s planning for the exciting years ahead.

    1) Begin With the End in Mind

    Some students start college with a clear career path. Many do not. Both situations are perfectly normal—but students without a firm plan should use the early college years to explore interests, build strong academic habits, and open doors for future opportunities.

    A smart first step is front-loading required courses. Knocking out general education classes early gives students more flexibility later—exactly when internships, major coursework, and professional opportunities start to emerge. It also helps them adjust to the academic rigor of college without the added pressure of advanced major-specific classes.

    Students who enter college knowing their intended career path can benefit from the same approach. General education courses are unavoidable, but careful planning—often with the help of an advisor—can reveal classes that count toward both major and core requirements. This streamlines the path to graduation and keeps future options wide open.

    2) Work With Good Academic Advisors

    A good academic advisor is worth their weight in gold. Many colleges assign advisors simply by last name or department availability. While these advisors can help students understand which classes meet which requirements (and that’s important!), they aren’t always the best resource for career-specific guidance.

    Most campuses also have specialty advising offices for competitive career tracks like medicine, law, engineering, or business. These advisors understand the nuances of graduate school applications, interviews, and prerequisite planning.

    Outside of campus, professionals in a student’s field of interest can offer invaluable real-world insight. A strong advisor—whether found inside or outside the university—helps students understand not just what to study, but why it matters for their long-term goals.

    The bottom line: students should actively seek accurate, timely, and career-aligned advice—not just settle for the first advisor they’re assigned.

    3) Don’t Ignore the Value of a Minor

    Majors get most of the attention, but minors can be incredibly useful. They require fewer courses, yet they still add depth and versatility to a student’s academic profile.

    A minor can:

    • highlight a secondary area of interest

    • demonstrate broader skills

    • add practical abilities (like a second language or computer programming)

    • naturally emerge from completing certain prerequisites

    For example, many pre-med students accidentally complete a chemistry minor simply by taking the courses required for medical school applications.

    Minors also look great on résumés. They show commitment, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to explore beyond the basics.

    4) Diversify Your Options

    We always encourage students to work hard toward their goals—but to stay open-minded, too. Success rarely follows a straight line. Career paths evolve, interests shift, and opportunities arise in unexpected places.

    Students who diversify their plans—by exploring different fields, staying curious, and being open to new experiences—often discover opportunities they never knew existed. Flexibility, paired with ambition, is a powerful combination.

    Encourage your student to aim high, stay engaged, and keep their eyes open. College is a time of tremendous discovery, and the students who embrace that mindset often enjoy the most rewarding outcomes.

    Until next month,

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  • 12 Ways to Improve College for Military Learners

    12 Ways to Improve College for Military Learners

    Colleges can support military-affiliated students through peer connections and community.

    SDI Productions/Getty Images

    Approximately 5 percent of all undergraduate learners are active-duty military, reservists, National Guard or veterans, but many systems within colleges aren’t set up to accommodate their needs.

    A November research brief from the Center for Higher Education Policy and Practice outlines some of the barriers to military students’ success while they’re enrolled and offers strategies to improve their college experiences. The report draws on interviews with students, recent graduates, higher education faculty and staff, policy experts, and past research.

    1. Clearly outline program costs and the support services available to military-connected learners. Colleges should also share data on military student enrollment, completion and job outcomes, such as on a dedicated military-student web page.
    1. Streamline credit transfer policies using the American Council on Education’s Military Guide as a starting point for military experience. Providing quality transfer advising can also ensure maximum allowable credits are awarded for prior service and can explain how a major program may increase or decrease transferred credits.
    2. Provide financial aid counseling for military-connected students so they know the benefits available for them at federal, state and institutional levels. The college should also allocate dollars in the case of benefit delays or work with appropriate offices to expedite funds.
    3. Create peer mentorship programs to connect incoming students with currently enrolled military learners who have similar lived experiences. Affinity groups on campus, such as the Student Veterans of America, can also instill a sense of belonging.
    1. Offer professional development training for faculty and staff to be culturally competent about military-specific needs. Green Zone Ally Training is one example that helps higher education professionals support veterans on campus.
    2. Offer flexible courses that accommodate active-duty service members and their families, who may be navigating deployments or relocations. These could include online classes or competency-based education.
    3. Establish policies for service-related disruptions including deadline extensions, rescheduling exams or alternative-format course materials to mitigate disruptions to students’ academic timelines.
    1. Provide accessibility across systems so veterans with disabilities gain equitable access to resources. In instances when accommodations are needed, creating a streamlined process to qualify for accommodations through the disability services office ensures veterans can access all resources.
    2. Create partnerships with external agencies who also support military-connected individuals, such as Veterans Service Organizations and the local Veterans Affairs office.
    3. Connect students with career coaches who can translate their military experience and training into the civilian workforce as well as liaise between veteran-friendly employers and students. Some military-connected students may need additional advice on how professional demeanor and formality expectations vary in the civilian workforce, the report noted.
    1. Expand access to co-op programs and internships that are tailored to military learners and career exploration opportunities. Military-focused career events can make the match between veteran-friendly organizations and future employees.
    2. Track career outcomes for military-affiliated students and align offerings with labor market opportunities.

    How does your college or university provide specialized resources to military-affiliated students? Tell us more here.

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  • 6 Effective Ways to Build Attention and Boost Student Participation – Faculty Focus

    6 Effective Ways to Build Attention and Boost Student Participation – Faculty Focus

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  • Sleep Hygiene for Teens: Proven Ways for Teens to Get Better Sleep

    Sleep Hygiene for Teens: Proven Ways for Teens to Get Better Sleep

    It’s 11:00 pm. You’re still scrolling through your phone, telling yourself, “Just five more minutes.”

    Then all of a sudden, it’s midnight, and your brain is somehow more awake than it was an hour ago.

    Sound familiar?

    Late nights make mornings miserable. When you wake up tired, focusing in class or during activities becomes impossible.

    But getting enough rest isn’t always as simple as going to bed earlier. Distractions can easily keep you up. And even if you do make it to bed on time, you might toss and turn instead of drifting off to sleep right away.

    Sleep hygiene for teens is all about building healthy habits that make it easier to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed.

    These practical tips will help you give your mind and body the rest they need.

    (Don’t forget to download your free quick action guide below.)

    Why do teens stay up late?

    Teens stay up too late for several reasons, and most of them stem from habits and lifestyle choices.

    After a long day of school, extracurriculars, and homework, nighttime can feel like your only chance to relax. That’s when activities like scrolling through social media, gaming, or chatting with friends can push past bedtime.

    Many of these activities also involve screen time, which makes things worse. According to the Sleep Foundation, using screens at night can delay the release of melatonin. This is the hormone that helps you fall asleep. As a result, you may find yourself staying awake much later than planned.

    Additionally, biology plays a role. During puberty, hormonal changes naturally push the body’s internal clock later, often by an hour or two. That’s why you might not feel sleepy until significantly later.

    With all these factors at play, the relationship between teens and sleep can be complicated. But understanding why this happens is the first step to better rest.

    Why do teens need more sleep?

    Why do teens need more sleep?

    Teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night.

    During this stage of life, you are undergoing rapid physical and mental growth. So, sleep isn’t just “rest time” for your body; it’s when your brain and body do some of their most important work.

    Here’s why sleep is so important for teens:

    • Better focus and learning: Sleep supports brain development. It also strengthens memory and helps your brain process what you learned during the day. This means you can absorb new information and feel more confident in your learning.
    • Stronger mood regulation: Without enough sleep, it’s easy to feel cranky or anxious. A good night’s rest helps you manage stress, control emotions, and handle challenges more calmly.
    • Improved performance: Sleep can enhance your performance in sports, music, and other activities. Proper rest sharpens your reaction time, creativity, learning, and overall performance.
    • Healthy growth and development: Your body needs sleep for important functions. Sleep helps to support growth, repair muscles, and keep you energized for the next day.
    • Stronger immune system and long-term health: Sleep gives your body the time it needs to recharge and fight off illnesses. It also supports a healthy heart, balanced metabolism, and overall well-being.

    Sleep deprivation in teens is more common than you might think.

    When you consistently get less than 8 hours of sleep, the effects build up over time. You might notice yourself feeling more irritable, struggling to concentrate, or getting sick often.

    The good news? Once you start prioritizing sleep, your body can recover, and you’ll typically begin feeling better within a few days.

    Why do teenagers sleep so much on weekends?

    Why do teenagers sleep so much on weekends?

    If you find yourself sleeping until noon on Saturdays, you’re probably dealing with what’s known as “sleep debt.”

    When you don’t get enough rest during the week, your body tries to catch up on weekends.

    While recovery sleep can help you feel better temporarily, it’s not a long-term solution. The goal is to get consistent, quality sleep every night so you don’t need to crash on weekends.

    In short, getting enough sleep isn’t just about avoiding morning grogginess. It’s essential for supporting your body’s rapid growth during the teenage years and protecting your health in the long run.

    Sleep hygiene habits for teens that actually work

    Sleep hygiene means building habits and creating an environment that helps you get high-quality sleep every night.

    You don’t have to completely overhaul your life to improve your sleep hygiene. Even a few small changes to your routine can make a huge difference in how quickly you fall asleep and how rested you feel the next morning.

    Let’s explore some practical sleep hygiene tips for teens.

    Set a consistent bedtime and wake-up time

    Your body works best on a routine. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends, helps to keep your internal clock on track.

    Start by setting a realistic bedtime and sticking to it as consistently as you can. Try not to shift your sleep schedule by more than an hour, even if it’s tempting to stay up late on weekends.

    When you keep a steady routine, your body begins to recognize when it’s time to wind down. You’ll naturally start feeling sleepy around bedtime. This makes it easier to fall asleep and wake up feeling refreshed the next morning.

    Create a pre-sleep routine

    A calming bedtime routine signals to your brain that it’s time to get ready to sleep.

    Pick one or two self-care activities that help you feel calm. Examples include reading a book, listening to soft music, taking a warm bath, or doing some light stretching.

    Avoid anything too stimulating before bed. Activities like doing homework, watching an intense show, or playing a fast-paced game might make you stressed or excited.

    Once you’ve found what works for you, commit to doing it for about 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. Over time, this routine will train your body and mind to shift into “sleep mode” easily.

    Limit screen time at least 30 minutes before bed

    Limit screen time at least 30 minutes before bed

    Phones, tablets, and laptops give off blue light, which can interfere with the production of melatonin. As a result, your brain may find it harder to wind down at night.

    To avoid this, try putting away your devices at least 30 to 60 minutes before bed. Use that time to do something relaxing that doesn’t involve screens, such as reading, journaling, or listening to calming music.

    If that feels challenging, start small. Try going screen-free just 10 minutes before bed and gradually increase the time every one or two weeks.

    Keep your room cool and dark

    Your sleep environment matters more than you might think.

    If your bedroom is too bright, your body may still think it’s daytime, which can lower melatonin levels and make it harder to fall asleep. Your body also needs to cool down to get good quality rest.

    Here are a few ways to create a sleep-friendly environment:

    • Use blackout curtains or a sleep mask to block out light.
    • Keep your room cool with an air conditioner or fan.
    • Use earplugs or a white noise machine.
    • Turn off your devices or mute notifications before bed.

    Avoid caffeine in the late afternoon and evening

    Energy drinks, coffee, and some sodas contain caffeine. Caffeine stays in your system for hours, keeping you awake long after the time you intend to go to bed.

    Try switching to caffeine-free drinks in the late afternoon and evening. Avoid caffeine for at least 6 to 8 hours before going to bed.

    In general, teens should also limit their daily caffeine intake to under 100 mg, which is approximately equivalent to one cup of coffee.

    Don’t nap too late in the day

    Naps can boost energy and focus, but long or late naps can make it harder to fall asleep at night.

    If you really need to nap, keep it short. Set an alarm to wake you up after 20 to 30 minutes. Make it a point to nap earlier in the afternoon rather than close to bedtime. That way, you’ll still feel refreshed during the day without disrupting your nighttime sleep.

    Tips to promote better sleep quality

    In addition to improving your sleep hygiene, other lifestyle habits can help you fall asleep faster and enjoy deeper sleep.

    Use your bed only for sleep

    Reserve your bed strictly for sleeping. Avoid using it for other activities, such as studying, scrolling through your phone, or watching shows.

    When your brain associates your bed only with sleep, it becomes easier to relax and drift off when you get into bed.

    If you enjoy reading, journaling, or listening to music, try doing those activities in another cozy spot, like a sofa or chair. Only move to your bed when you’re ready to sleep.

    Exercise during the day

    Exercise during the day

    Regular physical activity can significantly improve the quality of your sleep. Exercise helps reduce stress and promotes deeper, more restorative sleep.

    Teens should get about 60 minutes of exercise daily. But if that feels overwhelming, start small. Try 30 minutes of activity on most days and gradually build up from there.

    Just remember to avoid intense workouts close to bedtime, as they can leave you feeling energized rather than sleepy.

    Manage stress before bed

    Maybe you’re lying in bed replaying an awkward conversation from lunch, or you can’t stop thinking about tomorrow’s biology test. When your mind races like this, falling asleep becomes nearly impossible.

    Here are some ways to manage stress and clear your mind before bedtime:

    • Create a to-do list to organize your thoughts and reduce mental clutter.
    • Do deep breathing exercises.
    • Write in a journal to release your worries or reflect on your day.
    • Practice gratitude by reflecting on a few positive things that happened.
    • Listen to calming music or nature sounds.

    Consider using a sleep tracker

    If you’re curious about your sleep patterns, using a sleep tracker can provide valuable insights.

    Many phone apps and smartwatches can track how long and how deeply you sleep, helping you understand your sleep patterns better. They can also show how certain habits, such as exercise, caffeine intake, or screen time, impact your sleep.

    With this information, you can make small but effective adjustments to improve your overall sleep quality.

    Conclusion

    Building better sleep habits is just the beginning. When you learn how to take charge of your routines, you don’t just sleep better. You also think more clearly, handle stress with confidence, and feel more in control of your life.

    Through my 1:1 coaching program, I’ve helped teens transform not just their sleep, but their entire approach to school, stress, and life. If you’re ready to build habits that actually stick and create lasting change, I’d love to help!

    (And if you haven’t already downloaded your free quick action guide, you can get it below.)

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  • 4 Ways to Support Military Students

    4 Ways to Support Military Students

    An estimated 820,000 students in higher education are military-affiliated, including current and former active-duty service members and their families. These students are more likely to be first-generation or parenting students and often hold competing priorities while pursuing a degree, which can put them at risk of stopping out.

    A Nov. 4 webinar by the American Council on Education solicited insights from former and current service members on their experiences navigating higher education and how campuses can improve supports.

    “Veterans are not a monolith; they don’t want pity or lower bars,” said Roman Ortega, chief executive officer and founder of Global Integrity Consulting and a member of the Army Reserve. “They want colleges to treat them like they’re mission-driven adults and to remove the friction that keeps them from showing what they already know how to do.”

    Veterans shared four key themes that could enhance military-affiliated students’ college experience.

    1. College Navigation

    About two-thirds of student veterans are first-generation college students, according to data from Student Veterans of America. First-generation students, in general, often lack cultural capital and insight into the bureaucracy of higher education; for former service members, college can be even more mystifying. Effective advising can make a difference, veterans said during the webinar.

    “I was enrolled at Northern Illinois University. I didn’t know what to do or where to go,” Ortega said. “I saw a sign for Army ROTC; I walked right into the office and I said, ‘Hey, I really don’t know what I’m doing here, I don’t know where any of my classes are, I don’t know how to be advised on any of this. They said, ‘Hey, we’ll help you out.’”

    Bringing in other military-affiliated students can be one way to boost engagement; several veterans mentioned they enrolled in higher education because of positive peer pressure from other service members.

    “I didn’t even know what questions to ask. I just knew my peers were going and I wanted to be a part of that,” said Lola Howard, an Air Force veteran and doctoral student at Columbia Southern University.

    Not every branch of the military looks at continuing education in the same way, which can have an impact on participation, veterans noted. “The Air Force, the Navy very much culturally encourage continued education in the service,” noted Lukas Simianer, an Army veteran and chief executive officer and founder of VetClaims.ai. “If you would have told the commander of Fort Bragg that you were going to go to college, they would have laughed.”

    The University of Texas, San Antonio, has a dedicated first-year seminar for student veterans, which helps them establish a sense of belonging early in their college career and provides them with personalized assistance in obtaining credit for military service.

    1. Credit for Prior Learning

    Military-affiliated students often enroll in higher education with a wealth of experiences that can translate directly into course learning outcomes. ACE and other organizations have worked to streamline credit for prior learning offerings through the joint service transcript, which can help make college more accessible and affordable for veterans.

    “It was very clear what the equivalent courses were that were off of my degree plan,” said Jonny Coreson, a Navy veteran and director of workforce strategy at the Learning Economy Foundation. “It was an opportunity to see that I had few courses [left] to attain an associate’s degree, but I literally had to see it.”

    However, not every student veteran is eligible for or benefits from CPL in the same way, Simianer said.

    “Be prepared that some of your veterans who have arguably had some of the hardest deployments, hardest service life, most wear and tear on their bodies, they may have the most courses to fulfill,” Simianer said. “Being really good at handling a machine gun does not really translate [to degree programs].”

    1. Flexibility

    Active-duty service members can experience frequent change as part of their service, including deployment or relocation. Student veterans are also often more likely to be parenting students or working, and these competing priorities can make pursuing a degree more challenging.

    Creating a safe space for students to share their obstacles to success can mitigate disruptions to learning.

    “As a student, it was important for me to communicate up front what was going on with my life, with my counselor, with my faculty, staff,” Howard said. “There were times that my house is being packed up and I’m trying to finish an eight-page paper and I just had to let my professor know, ‘I’m going from this time zone to that time zone—I’m just asking for a little flexibility.’”

    1. Resource Hubs

    Some colleges have created dedicated spaces on campus to centralize resources and connect military students with one another. Simianer, an older student who had won a Purple Heart and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, remembers looking at his peers and feeling like he couldn’t relate to traditional students. But getting connected to his college’s student veteran hub changed that.

    “Having a place where I could be, where the humor we had would fly or the conversations you needed to have could happen, is the most powerful thing that I am grateful for,” Simianer said. “I would not have continued an education, probably, if I would not have had that at the beginning.”

    Javier Marin, a Marine Corps veteran and consultant at Vantage Point Consulting, said his college’s student veteran hub was particularly impactful because it connected him to staff.

    “I found that the hardest part wasn’t the academics; it was having a good support system,” Marin said. “You’re working, you’re going to school, you’re being a parent, you have a mortgage—everything that goes along with transitioning and navigating that space without your old support system, which was the military.”

    How does your campus seek to improve the college experience for military affiliated students? Tell us more.

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  • 10 ways to strengthen family-school partnerships and support learning

    10 ways to strengthen family-school partnerships and support learning

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    Clear family-school communications and robust supports for students with learning differences are just a few ways education systems can improve family-school connections to support student outcomes, nonprofit Learning Heroes said in a report released Tuesday.

    One of the biggest barriers to family-school partnerships is what the report calls a “perception gap,” or when families believe their child is performing at higher academic levels than what’s really occurring. 

    In fact, about 88% of parents in a 2023 survey said they thought their child was at or above grade level in math and reading. In reality, the actual share of children performing at this level is closer to 30%, as shown by 8th grade performance on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress.

    Although parents carry significant influence over their child’s education, they can’t help fix a problem they don’t know exists, the report said.

    “Parents today have unprecedented voice and choice in their children’s education, yet, too often, lack the information to make confident, informed decisions,” said Bibb Hubbard, founder and CEO of Learning Heroes, in a Tuesday statement. 

    The organization used 10 years of research on family-school partnerships to inform best practices that improve these relationships with the aim of driving student success.

    “With a decade of insights from parents, students, teachers, and principals, we have a clearer roadmap for creating schools and communities that work in true partnership with families and help every child thrive,” Hubbard said.

    The Learning Heroes report offered these 10 suggestions for strengthening family-school partnerships.  

    Give parents accurate information on student performance

    When parents know their child needs support, they are more likely to seek academic supports, such as tutoring and summer math or reading programs. They are also more likely to prioritize school attendance. 

    The report highlights state-level efforts in Texas, Arkansas and Virginia to provide parents videos, tools, and guides to bolster understanding of student grades and test scores. This also allows for comparisons with students across the state to help parents gauge their child’s college or career readiness.

    Share multiple points of learning data

    Results from annual state tests and other standardized or formative assessments can give families a fuller picture of their child’s strengths and needs.

    Some 79% of parents said their children earn Bs and better, the report said, leading most parents to think their child is performing on grade level. However, report cards can include factors other than academic achievement, such as classroom participation, effort and completion of assignments, that don’t necessarily comport with grade-level performance. 

    “As it stands, too many report cards are still sending false signals, and many families, trusting the information they’ve been given, simply aren’t aware that their students may be behind,” the report said.

    Provide parents access to information

    Ensuring parents are aware of their child’s progress — not just through a quarterly report card, but through conversations with teachers and other means — can help parents take action to help their child improve.

    Allow teachers time to connect with parents

    Schools should prioritize parent-teacher teams by safeguarding the time teachers need to communicate with parents, as well as needed preparation time. One example is to allow one-to-one conversations between parents and teachers at back to school nights.

    For instance, Prodeo Academy, a charter network in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, serving about 1,000 students, prioritized candid conversations, data-sharing and family-teacher conferences during the 2023-24 school year. These activities resulted in a notable increase among parents who recognized their child wasn’t working at grade level, the report said.

    Avoid family engagement as a standalone goal

    Integrating family engagement into overall school strategies for attendance, literacy and math achievement and other priorities will help educators and parents connect this effort to overall school outcomes. 

    For example, home visits can improve attendance, and student action plans created jointly by teachers and parents could help boost achievement.

    Provide pathways to postsecondary success

    Whether students attend college or go right into the workplace after high school graduation, schools should guide parents and students about the opportunities available. Access to Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment, career awareness experiences and career and technical education can all help students discover their passions and start planning for their futures.

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  • 4 Ways Chairs Can Develop Relational Attention (opinion)

    4 Ways Chairs Can Develop Relational Attention (opinion)

    It can be tempting for department chairs to think about their role as a series of tasks on a to-do list: managing faculty and staff reviews, running department meetings, implementing a new university policy, dealing with unexpected emergencies. After all, it’s an ever-changing list that demands attention.

    But focusing only on tasks misses the ways that chairs shape how department members interact with one another and the quality of relationships that result. Meetings are a common example. Chairs have choices about how to organize meetings, help staff feel included or excluded, coach new assistant professors about participation norms, and assign people to committees. How chairs do these routine tasks can have powerful effects on how department members relate to one another and the quality of relationships that develop. Cumulatively, small moments of interaction have a profound influence on a department and its culture and can be an important ingredient in helping to make departments healthier places to work.

    However, many chairs aren’t used to noticing all the ways their everyday chair work impacts work relationships. To take advantage of the opportunity to positively impact relationships in departments, chairs need to develop their relational attention, or ability to notice opportunities to impact how people connect. Two years ago, I developed a six-part workshop series, Healthy Relationships at Work Fellowship, for chairs at University of Massachusetts Amherst, for a small cohort to work on just this issue. By engaging with research-based practices, they were able to develop competence and confidence as leaders while improving the quality of relationships in their departments.

    Below, I describe four ways chairs can develop their relational attention and increase the occurrence of positive, inclusive relationships in their department. In describing these four suggestions, I share examples from two cohorts of chairs I’ve had the pleasure to work with.

    1. Invest in one-on-one relationships with department members.

    It is easy for department chairs to take for granted that they know the faculty and staff in their departments—and that they know you. After all, as a faculty member you have likely had many casual conversations and sat in many meetings with them. But relying on your past knowledge can leave chairs with an incomplete view. We all inevitably have some faculty or staff we favor and those we avoid, leaving us with uneven relationships and information about their work, motivations and lives. Similarly, faculty and staff may have a hard time viewing you as an impartial department chair unless you take the time to demonstrate it. After all, making visible efforts to cultivate relationships is a cornerstone of inclusive leadership.

    One important way to create the foundations for positive inclusive relationships with your department members is to re-establish your relationships with them. You can do this by holding 30-minute one-on-one meetings with every member of your department. Given that chairs often have very little idea about what staff do and how they contribute to the department, it is important to meet with staff as well as faculty. In some departments, it may be important to meet with students as well.

    Before beginning these one-on-one conversations, try to get in a mindset of openness, humility and genuine curiosity, no matter your relationship history. Ideally these meetings can occur in their workspace (versus your own office) so you convey that you are interested in them and are willing to come to their space. Ask open-ended questions about their interests, their motivations and their jobs. In smaller departments, these meetings can happen over the course of a month, while in larger departments it may require a whole semester. In larger departments, where one-on-one meetings seem impractical, you can hold meetings with small groups of people in similar roles or ranks. These meetings demonstrate that you want to hear from everyone, no matter your past relationships.

    You may also learn new things that you can use to make your department a healthier place. For example, you may learn that two faculty unknowingly have a shared research or teaching interest. By connecting them, you can help to strengthen the connections within the department and potentially spark new collaborations.

    What you learn in these meetings can also help to address unhealthy relationships. For example, one chair learned new information about a curmudgeonly faculty member who frustrated his colleagues (including the new chair!) because he had a reputation for not pulling his weight on committees. When the new chair asked him, “How do you want to contribute to the department?” she learned that the one thing he cared about was graduate education. With this new information, she placed him on a committee that matched his interests, and he contributed to the committee fully. By crafting his job to his interests, the faculty member was more intrinsically motivated to participate, and his colleagues were no longer annoyed by his behavior on committees.

    1. Learn about the diversity of your faculty, staff and students and demonstrate your interest in learning from them.

    Departments, like all organizations, are diverse in visible (race and gender) and invisible (political, neurodiversity) ways. While there is lots of debate about DEI these days, learning about the diversity of your faculty and staff helps you become a better leader because you can understand how to help everyone succeed. To develop positive inclusive relationships, chairs have to make visible effort to demonstrate respect and express genuine interest in people different from themselves.

    To build chairs’ foundational knowledge, you can learn about the experiences of diverse groups in your department, school or university by reading institutional resources, such as climate surveys, or by having a conversation with college or university-level experts. For example, a conversation with a school DEI leader can speak to the experiences of your faculty, staff and students. A university’s international office can provide insight into immigration-related issues, which may be useful for understanding the complexity of managing immigration for international faculty, staff and students.

    Bolstering your own knowledge can help contextualize issues that come across your desk. For example, if a student comes to you to complain about a faculty member’s teaching, and you have learned that members of that group have to fight for respect in your university’s classrooms, your knowledge about the broader climate can help you think of this complaint in light of the larger context as you consider what an appropriate response might be.

    If you have more confidence in your knowledge, skills and abilities to manage DEI, you can connect more publicly. For example, if there are on-campus employee resource groups or off-campus community organizations, reach out and tell them you would like to learn from them; ask if there are any events that would be appropriate for you to attend. Given your stronger foundation in terms of the local DEI landscape, you can offer to connect marginalized faculty and staff with on-campus mentors and communities.

    The ability of chairs to engage publicly with DEI issues will depend both on their own expertise and their institutional and local contexts, as DEI work grows more fraught in many parts of the country. Some chairs who have expertise in DEI or related topics may be comfortable hosting activities in their departments. For example, one chair hosts a monthly social justice lunch and learn, a voluntary reading group for faculty and staff. Given her expertise, she chooses the article and is comfortable facilitating the discussion herself.

    Chairs can also create opportunities for critical feedback for the department. For example, if there is tension between groups within the department, instead of ignoring it, create a game plan for how to receive critical feedback about what’s causing the tension and how it might be addressed. Faculty and staff exert a lot of energy withstanding such tension; finding ways to address it can be a huge relief and release of energy.

    Remember, faculty and staff evaluate a leader’s inclusivity based not just on one-time events, but instead search for patterns in terms of the leader’s efforts around inclusion. You don’t have to have all the answers about how to serve the diversity of members in your department, but you can strengthen your networks to include those with knowledge and expertise.

    1. View committees as connection opportunities.

    Chairs can use committees, meetings and other routine ways that faculty and staff gather as opportunities to build higher-quality connections. By focusing your relational attention on these routine interactions, you can improve relationship quality. For example, people often don’t know why they’ve been placed on a committee or task force, nor do they know what other people bring to the table. As a chair, you can use introductions strategically. Publicly communicating your view of faculty and staff strengths and potential contributions to committees, task forces and meetings helps them feel respected and makes it more likely others will view them that way. This can increase the chances that these routine ways of interacting will result in positive connections.

    Committees and meetings are also opportunities to create greater inclusion of staff and to spread knowledge about their work. University staff too often feel like second-class citizens and that faculty don’t know or care about their expertise. To counter this tension, one chair introduces staff members as experts in their respective areas and provides them with opportunities to present in their areas of expertise in meetings. This chair reported that these innovations created new positive connections between faculty and staff; faculty had a new appreciation for staff work, and the staff felt seen and valued.

    1. Design social events as connection opportunities.

    We are in a moment in which many people want, and some have, the ability to work remotely. At the same time, faculty and staff desire more connection from work. As an architect of social relationships, chairs have the opportunity to hold meaningful social events that will bring people together. There is no one-size-fits all for designing such events: The goal should be to make events magnets, not mandates.

    To start, think creatively about what will bring people together in your specific department. For example, one department chair knew all faculty would come together to support their students. In his department, faculty wanted their undergraduates to have a good experience in the major because they genuinely valued undergraduate education. Accordingly, the chair organized an open house event for faculty and students. In the process of connecting with students, faculty also deepened their connections to each other.

    Another chair created a social event around the dreaded faculty annual reviews. The day before the reviews were due, she reserved a conference room and brought snacks so that faculty could trade tips about how to complete the cumbersome form. Still others hosted department parties at their homes, used departmental funds to host monthly lunches or upgraded the department’s shared space to make it more conducive to shared interactions.

    Improving the quality of relationships through social events in a department doesn’t have to rely on the chair alone; it can also be the work of a culture committee that can brainstorm social events that will resonate. Ideally, these events will become part of the rhythm of the department. One caveat: It is not advisable to use workplace socializing to try to repair relationships between warring internal factions. In fact, it can make things worse.

    Each of these four approaches can help chairs invest in and improve the health of relationships in their departments. It is, of course, also important to contain and manage negative relationships in them (that is another topic I address in the Healthy Relationships at Work program). But taking advantage of these everyday opportunities through strategically investing in your relationships, your knowledge and the ways people connect provides important sustenance to support departmental relationships and ultimately a positive departmental culture.

    Emily Heaphy is a professor of management, a John F. Kennedy Faculty Fellow and an Office of Faculty Development Fellow at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She developed the Healthy Relationships at Work Fellowship for department chairs when she was a Chancellor’s Leadership Fellow affiliated with OFD in 2023–24.

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