If 2016 was tumultuous for higher education, it's safe to say 2017 has been marked with uncertainty — not just for higher education, but for the entire country. Last year, in our inaugural Dive Awards for Higher Education, the Education Dive editors took the opportunity to honor the work of some great individuals, highlight the efforts of one institution which made a tremendous impact on the industry, and mull over the top disruptions in the higher education landscape.
I've enjoyed getting updates from Utah Valley University President Matthew Holland, who shared details of some of his recent engagements and research around dual education — one of the many efforts which led to his recognition as President of the Year. And Arizona State University, our 2016 institution of the year, was named the most innovative university in the U.S. by US News and World Report for the third straight year.
And now, we're doing it again. After months of planning and research, we have revamped the awards and have identified a list of finalists in seven categories: President of the Year, Institution of the Year, Innovation of the Year, Disruption of the Year, Obsession of the Year, Best Investment of the Year and Missed Opportunity of the Year.
The 2017 Dive Awards for Higher Education will be announced Monday, Dec. 4, but we're offering a sneak peek for five of the categories.
Obsession of the Year
- Internet of Things
- Artificial Intelligence
- Emphasis on non-traditional students
- Free speech
- Cybersecurity as an academic discipline
Disruption of the Year
- Campus protests/Controversial speakers/fights over Confederate monuments
- DACA reversal
- Travel ban
- President Trump
Innovation of the Year
- Southern New Hampshire University's College for America
- Purdue University's Kaplan acquisition
- San Houston State University's Potential Employee Leadership Academy
- Northwest Missouri State University's Comprehensive Sustainability System
Institution of the Year
- Georgia State University - for continued emphasis on student success with a diverse population
- College of the Ozarks - for emphasis on integrating service into the educational experience
- Sacred Heart University - for work in growing graduate programs and expanding undergraduate offerings in relevant fields, as well as strategic acquisitions
- University of South Florida - for use of analytics to close graduation and retention gaps by race and ethnicity
- University of Central Oklahoma - for raising graduation rates among black males by 15% and retention by 20%
President of the Year
- Helen Drinan, President, Simmons College
- Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Chancellor, California Community Colleges
- Maria Klawe, President, Harvey Mudd College
- Mark Becker, President, Georgia State University
Nominations for the Dive Awards for Higher Education are accepted throughout the year, and the final list of finalists is compiled through careful research by our editors, who then vote to determine the winners.
