Recently in The EDU-Ledger (formerly Diverse: Issues in Higher Education), I shared my thoughts about this moment in higher education and how we can move forward despite political uncertainty. My critics continue to question and make negative comments about what we do at Compton College or about my own accomplishments.
To them, I say, this article is for you. Sometimes my words and actions make people uncomfortable, but somebody gotta do it. Sometimes, it’s the only way change occurs.
In The EDU-Ledger, I wrote that when we do this work, we have to do it BIG: Bold, Impactful, Giving and always unapologetic.
Just last week, the Los Angeles County Nursing 2035 Steering Committee released our report, “From Pipeline to Pathway: Strengthening Los Angeles County’s Nursing Workforce for the Future,” prepared by the Education Strategy Group, the Burning Glass Institute and the Los Angeles Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research. This was a collaborative effort of regional stakeholders to raise the alarm of a growing nursing crisis – one that isn’t new, but some leaders (including myself) have struggled to find a regional solution that includes individuals from multiple sectors.
This report pulls no punches – every sector that influences this shortage has been called out, including community colleges and public universities. One major finding from the report is the need for these institutions to align and share “core nursing curricula”, allowing for students to start their BSN work while still pursuing their associate’s degree, providing them a clearer pathway toward a stackable credential.
Please read the report. If you are a leader in higher education, ask yourself and your campus community “what can we be doing right now to solve BIG problems in our region and on our campus?” Don’t wait for a crisis. Be that leader who is willing to be Bold, Impactful and Giving – someone who is willing to create real change.
Somebody gotta do it, because we are doing this work for our students and the community we serve.