Australia and the United States may have totally different university models, but there are so many common challenges and opportunities. How do we help more students get through foundational courses and into university? What are we doing to help women rise to senior leadership positions? How can researchers better engage with Indigenous communities? How can we cultivate and lead the best teachers? These are questions that are being dissected on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.
In 2023 DASSH Executive Director Jane Ryan travelled to San Diego, California to take part in the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences Annual Meeting – a gathering of about 500 liberal arts Deans and Associate and Deputy Deans. She spoke to a number of them about the issues facing American university educators and how they are being addressed. DASSH warmly thanks CCAS for its hospitality and each of the people who agreed to be interviewed for this series.
The Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among Deans of arts and sciences representing the member colleges and as a representative of the liberal arts and sciences at a national policy-making level. The Council further seeks to support programs, activities, and resources to improve the intellectual stature and public understanding of the disciplines of the arts and sciences. DASSH works closely with CCAS, helping our members gain direct access to US colleagues and institutions and vice a versa. If you would like to learn more you can read about CCAS here.