Literacy is considered to be a necessity for social and personal development. It improves economy, promotes gender equality and builds self-esteem and overall quality of life.

We are able to read this post but there are people wouldn't be able to! Not just a newspaper, termed as "illiterate" people lack the ability to read any of the following - restaurant menu, a road sign, an instruction manual, a medicine's name...

The International Literacy Day is celebrated on September 8 every year globally to raise awareness and remind people of the importance of literacy.

What exactly is literacy?

Miriam-Webster Dictionary defines literacy as the quality or state of being literate: educatedable to read and write.

Literacy is an essential tool to eliminate poverty, lowering child mortality, population control, and attain gender equality. The International Literacy Day is celebrated on September 8, globally to encourage people towards getting continuous education, to raise awareness and remind people of the importance of literacy. It is also celebrated to let people know their rights for social and human development.

UNESCO has been on the top of the list while promoting overall global literacy and International Literacy Day.

History

The UNESCO declared this day as an opportunity for governments, civil society and stakeholders to highlight improvements in world literacy rates, and reflect on the worlds remaining literacy challenges.

The 14th session of UNESCOs General Conference on October 26, 1966 declared September 8 as International Literacy Day. And since 1967, celebrations have taken place annually around the world on this day to spread awareness about the importance of the literacy to individuals, society, and communities.

Theme for 2022

International Literacy Day focuses on a different issue each year. The theme for 2022 is 'Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces; Exploring Opportunities and Possibilities.'

Why, how we celebrate International Literacy Day?

According to United Nations, globally, at least 773 million adults and youths still cannot read and write, while 617 million children and adolescents are not achieving minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics.

This is celebrated to encourage awareness towards literacy so that people from around the globe can know their social and individual rights.

On International Literacy Day, organisations and individuals celebrate their literacy to encourage and help others. Students and working people mentor children in the community, donate books to libraries, and support students' tuition and learning to assist them to start professions.

Institutions, Governments, and International organisations convene think tanks and debate forums to establish and implement literacy policies and also host fundraisers.

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International Literacy Day 2022: Heres all you need to know - Free Press Journal

Although students hope they will receive their CAO first choice offer in the first round, if this does not happen, they will still get an offer of a course, both from their level 8 and level 6/7 listings.

While students will naturally feel disappointed initially, the next step is to review and research in detail the courses they have been offered. Ideally, their lower-ranked choices will have been researched well, play to their interests and strengths, and still offer a route to their desired career. If this is the case, they could decide to accept the offer they receive.

The problem is, when completing the CAO form, many students list courses without conducting adequate research. These courses may involve subject areas they disliked in school or found very challenging. Some of the courses listed may in no way be related to careers they genuinely want.

If a student finds themselves receiving such an offer, my advice would be to reject such a course. Many college students I work with who drop out from their course found themselves in this situation.

Students should also remember that they may possibly get other higher course preference offers with round two and round three offers.

Taking up a course, or not, if not your first choice

I work with a lot of students faced with this dilemma. When the student takes time to reflect and consider all the options even if not happy with their first-round offers with good advice and support they can normally make correct choices that suit them.

If students have a genuine interest in the course they are offered, even if not their first choice, and it affords them a pathway to their preferred career, then they should consider accepting the offer.

If, on the other hand, they have no interest, or have not researched it properly, but just listed it on the CAO to fill a gap, I suggest they refrain from taking up the offer.

I do not believe students should take up a college course just for the sake of going to college, because their friends are going to college or because their parents/guardians want them to go to college. Students should look at alternatives rather than accepting and paying for a course they do not want.

The FET and/or apprenticeship offerings in this instance should be researched. Otherwise, I suggest working/travelling for the year and re-applying via CAO the following year. They should also look at UCAS and Eunicas options.

Re-sitting your Leaving Cert

When considering re-sitting their Leaving Cert, I believe the first consideration is whether the student wants to re-sit the exams or is it pressure from parents if the latter is the case, then the student should not re-sit, in my opinion. The desire to re-sit should come from the students.

Secondly, the effort and work that the student put into the Leaving Cert in the first instance needs to be considered. If they did everything to the best of their ability then the points achieved might be their personal best.

Why then would any student or parent wish to repeat the entire process when they already did their best? It is important to be realistic and practical and not place unnecessary pressure on an individual.

If on the other hand, there was an extenuating circumstance that genuinely negatively impacted a students performance, i.e. a death, an illness; etc. and it is very evident the student would perform to a much higher level if they repeated, I believe this is a valid reason to repeat.

If the student barely misses out on points for a course they really desire, again, this is a good scenario and a positive outcome achievable with a repeat. It should be noted that outside of the Leaving Certificate, there are other avenues to gain entry to courses or follow a particular career.

Completion of QQI courses can facilitate entry to many courses. Students should research all these prior to committing to re-sitting the Leaving Certificate.

Advantages to FE course/Apprenticeship

I believe a Further Education Course, or PLC as they were known, allows students to gain an insight into a course discipline without making an enormous time or financial commitment. This facilitates making an informed decision, about selecting and progressing on to a third-level course.

An FE course is a very cost-effective option, a fraction of the cost of a college year, many have no fees at all. Research has demonstrated that FE/PLC graduates have much higher retention rates in third-level colleges than those who progressed directly from the Leaving Certificate.

FE courses focus both on the academic and personal development of students, as all courses comprise of modules in a specialist area such as Science or Business, etc., in addition to generic modules such as Communications, Personal Development and Work Experience. If a two-year PLC is completed this can facilitate entry to year 2 of a third-level college course, which saves the student thousands of euros.

With the apprenticeship option, students are getting first-hand applied practical experience in a particular sector from the onset. There is a blend of the academic college world and the practical world of work when you follow the apprentice route.

Apprenticeships have the unique advantage of allowing students to earn as they learn and do not operate within the traditional academic year so there is continuous intake. There are now apprenticeships in almost all sectors and students can attain the equivalent to an Ordinary Degree (Level 7) and/or an Honours Degree (Level 8) via this route.

Advice for a student who hasnt received an offer

If a student should have received an offer but did not, they need to contact the CAO office immediately. If there was an error or omittance by the student with their application, some students may not be aware until the CAO offers are issued.

If it can be easily rectified, the CAO will correct, and the student will receive an offer with the second-round offers. This does mean that they may miss out on their first choice etc., but they have to accept that if the error was on their side.

If an offer wasnt received because of inadequate results or failure of subjects, it is important for students to be aware that CAO offers will be in the spotlight for a day or two days. Then discussion around CAO offers will cease.

Students need to realise there are many routes to gain access into every possible career outside of the CAO process. I would suggest students who dont get a CAO offer research, plan, and take action to get what they want. Once they put a plan in place, they will feel in control again.

If you failed a subject that is a requirement of your preferred course

Based on the requirements of the course, if it had to be a particular Leaving Certificate subject and grade, I would firstly research all possible options for attaining the required result.

Some third-level colleges offer an opportunity to do a Maths exam to gain entry. Students need to check if it is possible to replace the failed Leaving Certificate subject with a QQI level 5 module offered in a FET college. This module could be undertaken on a part-time basis.

Some FET colleges offer the opportunity to repeat certain Leaving Certificate subjects while undertaking an FE/PLC course. If deciding to re-sit a Leaving Cert subject, since Covid, you can opt to study a subject online which may suit lots of students.

If repeating just one subject, also try to use the year to build up your own skillset for your intended career. For example, if re-sitting to achieve the minimum grade required in Irish for Primary School Teaching a student could undertake courses in special educational needs, first aid, ICT, sign language, etc. This will increase your offering and make you far more attractive to an organisation when qualified.

Originally posted here:
CAO 2022: What to do if you're not happy with your first-round offer - Irish Examiner

Assam down town University located at Panikhaiti, Chandrapur, is one of the leading universities in North East India, promoted by the down town Charity Trust. The multi-disciplinary university was established in the year 2010 to respond to the need for academic excellence at an affordable cost for the people of the North-Eastern region.

Twelve years hence, the University has successfully served as the gateway for professional and personal development for students from not only the North Eastern region but also from the rest of India and the neighbouring countries. It offers diploma, graduate, and postgraduate degrees in more than 60 disciplines with the active involvement of more than 250 teaching faculty which comprises an eclectic mix of both dynamic young faculty members, and experienced senior faculty members in all its study programmes. The university has emerged as the leading centre of teaching and research offering PhD in different disciplines. Currently, students of 5 different nationalities are residing here for furthering their academic goals.

Today AdtU observed its 13th Foundation Day in the presence of its students, officials, faculty members, dignitaries and guests to commemorate the advancement of the past 12 glorious years. The programme commenced at with the Flag Hoisting Ceremony of the university flag by the Dean of Studies, Prof. Bandana Dutta and Honorable Vice Chancellor, AdtU which was followed by the singing of the university anthem. The national anthems of 6 countries, namely, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and South Korea were sung by the students from the respective countries. The Lamp Lighting Ceremony was carried out by all the dignitaries present. The Founder Vice-Chancellor of AdtU, Prof (Dr.) NanditaChoudhury also graced the occasion with her presence. She was felicitated by the Chairperson of the Organising Committee, Dr.Seema Sharma. A Borgeet Recital was held after which the Chief Guest, Prof. NaniGopalMahanta, Education Advisor to the Govt. of Assam, was felicitated by the Honble Chancellor, Dr. N.N. Dutta. Dr.Seema Sharma gave a Welcome address, after which the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. N.C. Talukdar also presented his speech.

Prof. NaniGopalMahanta during his address spoke about the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) and the importance of its implementation. According to him, the new education policy aims to remove the strict compartmentalization of subjects so that students get the liberty to select and study the subjects that they are curious about and want to learn more about, thus aligning with their line of interest. To him, education has 4 main objectives: to know, to do, to be, and to live together. He emphasized that the final outcome of education should be to equip students with basic life skills. He also highlighted the fact that educators, teachers, and faculty have a significant role to play in understanding their students and in providing the tools so that they are able to reach their full potential. He appealed to the academic fraternity to go beyond marks and degrees, and support the all-around development of students so that they are equipped with the tools to face all challenges of life. He described each student as a JibanBrixha (a tree) that has two parts, the root that represents the foundation, and the trunk that represents the mind and body.

An award distribution ceremony took place where the Honble Chancellor, the Chief Guest and the dignitaries present distributed certificates and cash prizes to the awardees under various categories. The top 3 award categories were the Best Researcher Award conferred on Dr.ManashPratimPathak (Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Science), the Best Teacher in Responding and Executing Task (BTRET) Award presented to Dr.SaikatSen (Professor, Pharmaceutical Science), and the Best Innovator Award bestowed on Dr.SunandanBaruah (Dean of Research & Innovation). Several other awards were also distributed namely, Best Faculty of Studies Award, Award for Most Constructive Suggestions/ Maximum Suggestions for AdtUs All-round development, and Best Supporting Staff Award. The Awards for the Faculty of the Month, Student of the Month, and Alumni of the Month were also presented. Special Appreciation Awards and Gold Coin distribution for 10 years of meritorious service also took place.

The Honble Chancellor, Dr. N.N. Dutta and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. N.C. Talukdar also addressed the audience with encouraging words. A University student delivered a speech on behalf of the students. This was followed by a Cultural Programme comprising dances that displayed the rich cultural heritage of India and the North East. Eventually, the programme winded up by 2 pm with the singing of the State Anthem.

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Assam down town University observes its 13th Foundation Day today - News Live

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Taking a gap yeara break from academia to pursue experiential learningcan offer more than just time off to relax. With careful planning, it can be an intentional time dedicated to self-development and self-discovery. But with so many possibilities for how to spend your gap year, how can you decide whats right for you?

If you dont know whether a gap year is right for you, or if youve decided to take the plunge but dont know what to do in a gap year, youve come to the right place. This guide can help you weigh your options.

Gap years have long been common among students in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Today, the practice is growing in North America, with even high-profile institutions like Harvard University encouraging newly admitted students to take a year off before starting classes.

A gap year may not suit everyone, though. Before giving notice at work or sending your future university a request to defer admission, take some time to consider the benefits and drawbacks so you can make the best choice for your needs and goals.

According to the Gap Year Association, about 40,000 U.S. and Canadian citizens make this leap each year. Many people take their gap years between high school and college. However, current college students, graduates and even working professionals can also benefit from some time to recharge, refocus and reinvest themselves in their passions.

Theres no wrong time to take a gap year. Older participants may have more responsibilities to considerlike dependents and mortgagesbut with determination and planning, a gap year can fit into nearly any stage of life.

Getting through high school can seem like a frantic race to the finish line, jumping through ever-higher hoops each step of the way. A gap year allows you to pause and regroup before diving into college life, all while building the self-reliance, confidence and maturity to succeed in your academic pursuits.

Many schools allow accepted students to defer admission for a year, though they may request a proposal for how you plan to spend your gap year. However, financial aid, including scholarships, may not carry over, so make sure to find out how deferring college entry might affect your funding.

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 30% of undergraduate learners change their major at least once. For students who are questioning their educational direction, a gap year can provide some time to step back and reassess. It can also offer relief from academic burnout.

If you are considering a gap year during college, bear in mind that most federal student loans allow only a six- to nine-month grace period after a person graduates, pauses their studies or drops below half-time enrollment. This means that you may need to make student loan payments during part of your gap year.

The need for reflection, growth and rest does not end after college graduation. A gap year after your undergraduate studies can help you meet these needs as you prepare for graduate study or your first post-college job. A sabbatical can also help working professionals who are feeling burned out or questioning their career choices.

A gap year can give college graduates and young professionals a much-needed break after the rigors of study or the intensity of early career development. While you may have more commitments and obligations at this stage of life, you may also have more options for financing your gap year, such as remote work.

Gap years traditionally focus on international travel, but domestic and virtual gap years can also offer valuable experiences. The most important thing is to choose a goal that means something to you.

Theres no rule that your gap year must last exactly 12 months, either. Many experiential learning programs offer single-semester or even shorter options for individuals who dont need a full year away from school or work. Of course, if youre organizing your own plans outside of a formal program, you can take as much or as little time as you wish.

Read on to learn more about popular options for what to do in a gap year.

World travel is the most common goal among gap year participants. The Gap Year Associations 2020 alumni survey found that 89% percent of respondents traveled outside of the U.S. or Canada. Traveling also goes hand in hand with another important focus for many gap year participants: language study.

There are many options for how to spend a gap year abroad. You can follow your own itinerary or go with a structured program. Gap year travel programs can cost between $5,000 and $12,000, but thrifty globe-trotters can often save money by winning scholarships, working while abroad or finding a volunteer program that covers room and board.

Volunteerism also ranked high in the Gap Year Association survey, with 79% of gap year alumni engaging in some kind of service work. Diverse volunteer opportunities abound both abroad and at home in areas like conservation, education and health.

Some organizations, like World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, provide food and lodging for volunteers. Others, like AmeriCorps, even pay a stipend. However, volunteering may work best for people with some savings to support travel and/or living expenses.

Teaching English to children or adults and working as an au paira live-in nannyare two popular ways to earn a living while traveling the world. The hospitality industry also employs many working holiday-makers.

This option may best suit slightly older participants with more job skills. Securing employment overseas typically requires a work visa. If you find your job through a placement service, they may arrange your visa for you.

Foreign language proficiency can be a big plus on your resume, and what better way to improve your skills than by practicing all day, every day with native speakers? Whether youre working, volunteering or relaxing, spending your gap year abroad can improve your fluency.

If a domestic or virtual gap year fits your budget or comfort zone better, you can still learn a new language. Try talking with an online language tutor through services like italki. You can also combine language study with civic engagement by volunteering with local communities that speak your target language.

A gap year can be a great time to combine a passion for athletics with opportunities for travel and personal growth. Consider building your leadership skills while making a difference in young peoples lives by volunteering to coach a sports team abroad. Many coaching programs include living with a host family for full immersion in the local culture and language.

Pursuing certification as a ski or scuba instructor can lead to paid work, but training can cost from about $1,500 to over $12,000. Depending on the program, participants may need to be over 18, but some sports coaching programs accept younger teens.

If you are between high school and college, you may want to gain experience in your chosen field before committing to years of expensive classes. Or maybe youve already started on your educational path, and youre wondering whether you made the right choice. A gap year can help you discover what its really like to work in your target industry.

Internships, either at home or abroad, can offer a taste of professional life, but remember that many internships are unpaid. In fact, placement programsespecially for overseas internshipscan be costly, so make sure to prioritize paid opportunities if you dont have substantial savings to invest.

Thirty-five percent of respondents to the Gap Year Association survey cited burnout as a prime motivator in choosing to take a year off. These students are not alone83% of the nearly 33,000 students who took part in a 2021 Boston University study reported that mental health had negatively affected their academic performance.

No matter how you spend your gap yearwhether you focus on world travel, career exploration, community service or a combination of goalsmake sure to fit in some time for self-care. Focusing on your mental and physical well-being can support your readiness to return to school or work with renewed energy and inspiration.

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How To Spend A Gap Year Forbes Advisor - Forbes

Insight is pleased to present the actress and communicator Mirna Gonzalez in her new genre of interactive montage #InsightComedy, this upcoming Sunday, September 25th at 3 pm at the majestic Dorothy F. Schmidt Theater of the FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY F.A.U. Boca Raton.

Boca Raton, FL But what Insight-Comedy stand for? It is an avant-garde way of doing comedy by creating characters that capture the attention of the audience, using daily life situations and anecdotes that awaken deep truths in the human consciousness, through personal development techniques apply by Mirna in her professional career and, a lot of humor in every step of the way.

The main character of the play, Valentina Arrechedera goes through different changes both physical, emotional, social, relationships, and more recently faces a path of migration to other unknown latitudes. As she matures, she begins to realize that life is not how it was painted for her, much less being a Latin women forced to live their lives in preconceived structures that have been imposed on us for so long.

But were these structures imposed on any other genders?

The answer to this question will be discover in this amazing theatre play, next upcoming September the 25th at the Theater Dorothy F. Schmidt, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, which it is written and directed by Mirna Gonzalez, Executive Production of Jaime Gudio and, on the Technical Production we present Laura Rodrguez.

Valentina amplifies her gaze to the world and share the stage with her imaginary friends to try to discover how the life journey of the other genders have been while growing into their different stages, taking a close look on the moment they meet, to embrace the changes and get together to build a better understanding of each other, until they finally reach their adulthood to discover that in reality, the most important things in the journey of everyones life is and will always be love, acceptance, inclusion and respect for one another.

Teatro Insight invites the entire Hispanic community to participate in this event specially written, directed and produced in our language, enjoying our customs and ways of facing the magical journey of life with a lot of humor, joy, music, and enthusiasm to show how incredible our culture is. With great pride we present the musical accompaniment with Vicentt, extraordinary Venezuelan singer-songwriter who with his band @vicenttmusic arrives for the first time in Boca Raton with a repertoire of themes chosen specially dedicated to Valentina, lover of music and romance. The show is performed for the Almenar Otero Foundation and has the support of cultural manager Betsy Cceres to add entertainment and culture to the Latino community in Palm Beach County.

Buy your ticket on the https://mirnagonzalez.com/ and follow their networks @mirnagonzalez.oficial For any interviews and sponsorships, please call the executive producer Jaime Gudino at +561-3562943. We hope to get together and enjoy the ride.

Original post:
New Theatrical Genre InsightComedy - Boca Raton's Most Reliable News Source - The Boca Raton Tribune

By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for AmericaPosted on: Tuesday, August 30, 2022

ALBANY, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) Classes. Standardized tests. Driving to school.

Thats what was on the minds of students at Alexander Junior High/High School after the first week of the fall semester.

Its an ordinary list of concerns for what everyone hopes will be a very ordinary school year the first since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020.

Alexander switched to remote learning that spring. Eighth grade math teacher Taylor Rhyan said the change led to massive gaps in student learning.

Kids werent interacting, he said, and you could see that there was this real shift in their development when they came back.

His colleagues Rachel Terry and Katie Holdcroft, who co-teach an English class, expressed similar concerns.

It sounded like it would be easy, Terry recalled. It really did. Like, oh, you just make a video, and you just post this lesson. Its so much more than that.

It was hard for everybody, agreed Holdcroft. There were very, very few who thrived in that scenario. And most of them didnt.

Not every student felt that remote learning set them back. Sophomore Kayleigh Ferraro said not having the usual stressors that come with in-person schooling gave her space for significant personal growth.

Before COVID, I was not very good at schoolwork and being a good student, she said. Now, I am more confident in myself.

She added, It was quite easy to focus on schoolwork. Just pop in an earbud. Easy.

Other students had worse experiences. Senior Carlee Barnhouse said she struggled to focus when learning from home. You kind of want to sit around and do nothing, she said. I had to force myself to do schoolwork.

A recent study from the Brookings Institute found student performance declined nationwide because of the pandemic. Alexander saw a 10-point drop in state test results between 2020 and 2021.

The district returned to in-person classes at the beginning of last year, with several new COVID protocols in place. These included masking, social distancing and other policies, such as wiping down desks after class.

Buses wait for summer students outside of Alexander High School, in Albany, Ohio, on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]Challenges persisted.

The anxiety was high on the kids part, Terry recalled. You had a lot of mental health things happening in the classroom.

Multiple teachers reported that masks made it hard to connect with students and read their emotions. And there were times during the year when contact tracing would take huge groups of students out of school at once, creating additional learning gaps.

The stress took a toll. Terry said she used yoga to help her cope. She and Holdcroft found opportunities to go outside when they could.

You just had to decompress, Terry said. It eats at you more than you would think.

Science teacher Jordan Myles felt similarly. Teachings one of those jobs you dont get to just drop at the door. You take it home with you.

In my personal life, he said, I have my own mentors that I go to to blow some steam off, and thats something I even encourage my students to do [with their mentors].

COVID is still present, but teachers expressed confidence that rolling back restrictions was a good idea, with vaccines and more effective treatment available.

They also voiced excitement about the robust curricula they can finally offer again. For Myles, its the medical detectives class, in which kids will be presented with a disease outbreak which they will trace to its origin while crafting public health notices. Terry and Holdcroft, meanwhile, have revamped their English classes in order to teach to grade-level standards while meeting kids particularly those who have fallen behind at their current reading level.

Things might still change if the school suffers another outbreak. Nevertheless, teachers overall seemed optimistic.

The good things about not having so many mandates definitely outweigh my concerns, said math teacher Rhyan. Versus, if you asked me that question two years ago, wouldve been polar opposite.

Theo Peck-Suzuki is a corps member withReport for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. He covers Children and Poverty for WOUB Public Media.

Link:
Alexander aims for its first normal school year since the start of the pandemic - WOUB

There has been a significant increase in anxiety and depression among college students. Recent data from the CDC suggests a disproportionate risk for mental health problems in college-age people; one study reported that nine out of 10 college students believe that colleges have a mental health crisis.

Despite increased awareness about the importance of supporting mental health on college campuses, our conversations too often emphasize averting crises. Instead, we need proactive discussions focused on helping students develop the skills and habits to thrive in a fast-paced and complex world.

We should start by reframing the topic from a problem with our students to a problem with the historical moment in which our students live.There is a lot to be anxious about today.

We need to assure students that mental health challenges are not a personal failing but a reasonable response to a challenging historical moment when they are reading and hearing a lot about climate change, war in Europe, a global pandemic, political polarization, rampant inflation and declining social and political institutions.

And we should recognize that the social isolation and anxiety many of our students are feeling is less about them as individuals and more about how Covid responses negatively impacted their lives during the past few years.

Young peoples prolonged social isolation in the midst of learning to develop healthy social skills and negotiate responsibilities had profound negative impacts on both their physical and mental health.

After acknowledging these stressors, the conversation needs to focus on helping students learn to positively impact their own health. While not all aspects of their mental health are under their control, students have more ownership than they realize.

We should encourage candid conversations about the connection between physical and mental health. If students dont sleep enough (and few do), eat nutritionally and stay active, they wont be physically or mentally healthy. For example, one study found that with every additional night of insufficient sleep, the risk of experiencing mental health symptoms increased by more than 20 percent.

We also need to have candid conversations about the connection between social media and increased levels of bullying, harassment and FOMO (fear of missing out) and how this contributes to poor mental health.

Too many students are using social media to find human connection instead of seeking out the face-to-face interactions that build strong relationships and are critical to well-being and development.

Most importantly, we need to introduce concepts like emotional agility and mindfulness into our campus conversations. Harvard professor Susan David talks about how the way we engage our emotions shapes our mental health. We can help students develop the tools to recognize anxiety and depression as feelings that are real but not fixed.

I love this quote from her: When we show up fully, with awareness and acceptance, even the worst demons usually back down.

We need to help students understand that suffering is deeply human, and that we can learn to accept it, move through it and emerge more substantial and resilient.

Research done by the Mind & Life Institute and other organizations should guide campuswide conversations about how to transform everything from teaching to residential halls to crisis management in ways that foster students development of the skills and habits of well-being.

We also need to set reasonable and realistic expectations for students about the college experience. Tim Bono at Washington University has been rightly critical of our college admissions process that paints an unrealistic picture for incoming students. Colleges need to describe the whole college experience including its challenges and demands.

While there are many fun moments, there are also times of loneliness, struggle and failure.

We need to help students understand that suffering is deeply human, and that we can learn to accept it, move through it and emerge more substantial and resilient.

By design, college delivers profound personal growth, and this happens through overcoming obstacles and developing tools to succeed. We should not be afraid to challenge students out of fear that it will have a detrimental impact on their mental health. The greatest gift we can give young people is a push, because it sends the message that we believe in them and that they can rise to the occasion.

Brandon Slade of Untapped Learning recently said to me, Too often, colleges are all support and no accountability or all accountability and no support. The best colleges understand that students need two parts support to one part accountability.

The experience of recovering from setbacks and hardships is something we need throughout our lives. College campuses are good places for students to learn and practice getting up over and over again to achieve more than they think is possible.

Finally, we need a conversation about medical care on our campuses. We need to clarify what our campuses can and cannot provide, and we need to allow students with existing medical providers to continue to receive care virtually.

The time is right for colleges to explore new partnerships to expand the medical care we offer. We also need to be honest with students about when it might be wise to take a semester off. Sometimes students need to give themselves permission to step away from college, focus on their health and then return when they are healthy and ready to continue.

When I look across our campuses, I see a generation of students who are intent on addressing the issues of their time. Colleges can prepare them to meet those challenges, but we need a better conversation about who we are, what we do and how we help students develop the capacity to thrive in their personal and professional lives.

Originally posted here:
Why we need another national conversation about mental health on campus | President Speeches - Denison University

The university has been chosen for its inclusive campus community for the past eight consecutive years

GREEN BAY The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has been selected again for Campus Prides Best of the Best list. In order to receive this designation, UW-Green Bay has achieved 5 out of 5 stars on theCampus Pride Index(CPI), the definitive national benchmarking tool measuring LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs, and practices.

The UW-Green Bay community recognizes the positive impact LGBTQIA+ students, employees and their allies have on the personal growth and academic success of all students on each of the four campuses, said Stacie Christian, assistant vice chancellor of inclusive excellence at UW-Green Bay. We are grateful to each of the individuals in our campus communities who work together to create a positive and supportive campus climate.

The Pride Centers mission at UW-Green Bay, and the campuses of Marinette, Sheboygan and Manitowoc, is to identify and respond to the concerns and needs of LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff and their allies; to provide high-quality support services that contribute to the academic and personal growth of LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff and allies; and to offer a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people and their allies.

Pride Center director, Nicole Kurth is proud of the work of the UW-Green Bay campus community. We are so excited to have the honor of having our campus named to the Best of the Best list that honors that top 40 campuses in the country, who are striving to make their campuses welcoming and inclusive for all students, said Kurth. It really takes the entire campus community working together at our four locations to make this a welcoming space for all.

Campus Pride, the preeminent resource for LGBTQ+ leadership development, diversity, inclusion and advocacy within higher education, recognized the work of 40 campuses, including UW-Green Bay, in making their communities safer and more welcoming environments for students, faculty, and staff alike.

The Pride Center at UW-Green Bay is located in Room 153 in the University Union, and its hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. In addition, Pride Center spaces are located at each of the campuses in Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan, along with the Ally Lounge in the Kress Events Center which works specifically with student athletes, staff and coaches. The Pride Center at UW-Green Bay also offers LGBTQ+ resources as well as organizations and social groups on-campus.

Contact the Pride Center at pridecenter@uwgb.edu or by phone at 920-465-2167.

About UW-Green BayEstablished in 1965, UW-Green Bay is a public institution serving 8,970 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students and 95,000 continuing education learners each year. We educate students from pre- college through retirement and offer 200+ degrees, programs and certificates. UW-Green Bay graduates are resilient, inclusive, sustaining and engaged members of their communities, ready to rise to fearlessly face challenges, solve problems and embrace diverse ideas and people. With four campus locations, the University welcomes students from every corner of the world. In 2020, UW-Green Bay was the fastest-growing UW school in Wisconsin. For more information, visit http://www.uwgb.edu.

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UW-Green Bay named one of the top schools in the country for LGBTQ+ students - UWGB

Doug Hirsch has a surprisingly simple method for getting the best ideas: setting aside three to four hours of alone time for deep thinking per week.

Hirsch, co-CEO and founder of the prescription drug savings company GoodRx, believes so strongly in the method that he intentionally builds that alone time into his work schedule each week. Finding the time is a challenge he and co-CEO Trevor Bezdek collectively manage more than 700 employees at a company with a $2.43 billion market capitalization, as of Friday evening.

But it helps him succeed, Hirsch says.

"I find it helpful to actually lock in time to think deeply and creatively, to really set that aside each week," he tells CNBC Make It. "It's like quality time with myself. I just step back from everything and really go in deep to think of the best ideas."

For Hirsch, that means sitting completely by himself somewhere, often writing on paper or a whiteboard to build out his thoughts. Those few, uninterrupted hours help him pump out his "very best ideas" for advancing GoodRx.

That usually means brainstorming potential new products and features, studying how consumer behaviors are changing, and thinking about what his competitors are doing and how his company could do it better.

Hirsch isn't the only CEO who believes in blocking out time to think. Ex-AOL CEO Tim Armstrong made his executives dedicate four hours each week to thinking. LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner schedules around 90 minutes of daily "buffer time" for himself to think. Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has "think weeks" twice a year, where he goes on solo getaways to reflect one of which led to the creation of Internet Explorer in 1995.

You don't have to be a CEO to do it, too. The time might be useful for thinking about your career goals, considering all the possible solutions to a problem you're facing or generating new ideas that you can pitch to your boss.

Not sure where to start? Follow in Hirsch's footsteps and schedule thinking time on your calendar. Whether you choose a few minutes each day or a large block of time once per week, treat it as ironclad and immovable.

You could even block out time outside of your work day. A survey by the Center for Management & Organization Effectiveness found that some Fortune 500 executives dedicate as little as 30 minutes each day for "personal development" time, usually late in the evening outside of work.

A 2017 Harvard Business Review article also advises coming up with a list of questions that can prompt your thinking: Good ideas will "rarely simply appear to you," so it's helpful to outline what exactly you want to reflect on during your thinking time.

If you want to think deeply about your career, you might ask yourself questions like:

Hirsch has another tip for anyone who wants to start deep thinking: Fully commit to it.

"I think you have to be very disciplined about saying, 'I'm going to set this time aside for myself,' and then actually doing it. It really requires a level of discipline," he says.

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This CEO has 1 weekly activity that gives him the very best ideasand you can do it, too - CNBC

Mike McGovern, vice president of business development with Day & Zimmermann Government Services, recentlyspoke withExecutiveBiz regarding his first year with the company as well as his strategic goals to grow its government business and how his team is diversifying in the highly challenging and competitive federal market during the latestExecutive Spotlight interview.

You can read the full interview withMike McGovern below.

Mike McGovern:The two key reasons I joined Day & Zimmermann were the people and the mission. I quickly saw that we have a team of talented, and incredibly passionate people that are dedicated to serving a noble and critical mission.

I recently completed my one-year anniversary and this continues to hold true. Ive gained a deeper understanding of our business and appreciation for our folks supporting the U.S. National Security Mission around the world.

Our D&Z Purpose Statement really says it well: We put people to work, we protect our freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world. This holds true across our integrated security, architectural & engineering, and operations & maintenance business areas serving the U.S. Government and partners.

I remain excited about having an impact on helping us diversify and grow this business.

Mike McGovern:In addition to learning our business and collaborating with the executive leadership team to strengthen our strategy, a key focus has been on the peoplebuilding relationships. This starts with the Business Development team I have the honor of leading.

A major priority has been working with the talented team I joined, as well as bringing in new folks who are aligned with our vision, strategy, culture, and values. We also need to arm them with the right tools to be successful; this includes their personal development.

Weve made training a leading priority this year. Investing in our teams skills and knowledge is something I strongly believe in.

Mike McGovern:Across all of Day & Zimmermann, were focused on four strategic opportunities:

1.) winning the war for talent

2.) building customer intimacy

3.) maintaining the base

4.) diversification

These four pillars extend to our Government Services business and our growth strategy. Beginning with the war for talent, it all begins with our most valuable resourceour people.

As weve navigated through the common industry challenges resulting from the pandemic, were constantly looking for ways to better engage with our teamssafely, seeking diversity and inclusion in our talent, and also the solutions we develop.

For customer intimacy, weve stepped up our account planning and client engagement. Its been refreshing for all of us to get back out and meet face-to-face with our customers and discuss ways we can support their missions; this extends to our key business partners as well. To achieve growth, its critical to first maintain the base and a major way to do that is through superior existing contract performance.

Weve been supporting the Department of Energy for 75 years and are a leader in securing the research and development of Category I Special Nuclear Material that supports the nations nuclear deterrent.

We provide security and emergency services operations solutions 247 for five DoE sites, providing protection of personnel, equipment and facilities. Were proud to have recently received a two-year sole-source extension at one of these critical sites due, in part, to our outstanding performance.

This success has directly led to other opportunities and wins in an adjacent DoE organization for our system integration business. We also won a key re-compete to continue to provide high-threat security services for the Department of State, protecting the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and assets throughout the West Bank and Gaza.

Based on more than two decades of terrific support on multiple design projectsand by offering an innovative approach,our Architecture & Engineering business, Mason & Hanger was recently awarded a pair of task orders that will further enhance the FBIs training capability at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.

From a growth perspective, we have a number of diversification efforts underway, addressing both new accounts and new capabilities.

Mike McGovern:D&Z has been supporting The Intelligence Community for many years providing high-threat security, explosive detection canines, cyber security, cleared staffing services, security design, and architecture and engineering.

Opportunities exist to bring these offerings to new accounts across the IC. Weve brought talent on board with decades of IC experience to help and opened the aperture on the capabilities we can bring to this set of customers.

One such area is our system integration services. Weve enjoyed recent success with a series of contract awards to provide site surveys, system engineering, logistics and installation of security solutions in some very austere overseas environments.

This offering really brings together the strengths of our entire organization, including engineering, physical and cyber security, logistics and supply chain management, life support, and operations and maintenance, while working in high-threat OCONUS regions.

D&Z also is providing integration services for the federal and state corrections/prison market in the area of managed access of illegal cellular devices.

Weve experienced success selling an innovative offering to several corrections locations and have continued investment in building an additional contraband phone detection and location set of offerings through some strong technology partnerships. These capabilities and more are being marketed to the IC.

Were also diversifying through our partner relationships. D&Z is leading a consortium of cyber security companies, bringing together the talent and expertise of complementary companies to meet our collective customers emerging needs.

This includes joint ventures with corporations that complement and strengthen our combined services, with a solid partnership working as one team to support integrated security as well as aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul opportunities and within our A&E portfolio.

Mike McGovern:Actually, yes. Were very well known in the high-threat security and architecture & engineering markets. Our qualifications and reputation are equally strong. What Ive found is that we are less known in several areas where we are actually quite successful, serving as the silent hand supporting the Mission for many decades.

For example, with our system integration expertise and capabilities, and strong talent, we are well-positioned to significantly provide enhanced support for our customers with new solutions against emerging security threatswhich will continue to grow in this area.

Our blend of mission-support capabilities, with security as a common thread, brings tremendous value to our customers seeking a trusted resource to answer their complex challenges when facing these evolving threats.

Another example is that we have been providing global logistics and life support services for nearly two decadesespecially in the more challenging and austere environments.

Weve continuously assessed the risks, built the solutions, and successfully performed to support our customers where many companies choose not to go again, this sets us apart as a reliable resource to deliver safe operations.

Mike McGovern:First of all, we have been supporting the U.S. National Security Mission on thousands of projects, in 165 countries. Our unwavering support of the Mission continues and will not change.

We stand ready to meet developing needs in Ukraine and surrounding European countries coordinating with the U.S. Government, industry partners, and directly with in-country agencies.

We have strong working knowledge in Eastern Europe, having supported and designed a number of U.S. Government Facilities in numerous countries across Europe, including Ukraine.

We believe were well-positioned both now during the conflict and subsequent reconstruction. Weve leaned forward, added resources to execute and are proud to already be supporting requirements.

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Executive Spotlight: Mike McGovern, VP of Business Development With Day & Zimmermann Government Services - ExecutiveBiz