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Podcast: For-Profit Education & Who-Do of the Month for July 2010

by | Aug 4, 2010 | Monday Morning Quarterback, Podcast, Who-Dos

Jamie Nacht Farrell contributed this week’s edition of Monday Morning Quarterback on HigherEdCareerCoach.Com, arguing that public and non-profit institutions could learn a thing or two from for-profit institutions. She’ll be one of our featured guests. We’ll also pick her brain about Senator Tom Harkins’ hearings on admissions fraud at for-profit institutions, and the recent GAO study mentioned in this Washington Post Article. We’ll also talk to Ed Cabellon, our choice for Higher Ed Who-Do of the Month for July 2010. Cabellon, Director of the Rondileau Student Union at Bridgewater State University, has been leading an online crusade to get more student affairs/higher ed professionals involved in social media through his blog, On the Go with Ed Cabellon. We have also asked Senator Harkin’s office for comment on the recent hearings, and requested a statement or guest from that office appear on the show. Why not, right?

Listen to internet radio with Sean Cook on Blog Talk Radio

Who-Do Poll Results for July 2010

by | Aug 3, 2010 | Tuesday Time-Out, Who-Dos

The Results are in…

Thanks to everyone who gave their input on who should be recognized as the Higher Ed “Who-Do?” of the month for July. After considering suggestions, I posted a poll last week with four nominees: Ed Cabellon, Eric Stoller, Rey Junco and Women in Housing. 41 people participated in the poll. The results are included below.

All the nominees were extremely worthy, and have made great contributions to higher ed, so Ed Cabellon, our “Who-Do” of the month for July 2010, was in great company. Ed will receive a lovely certificate (suitable for framing) and will receive consideration for this year’s “Who-Do Highsman” award, which will be announced in late May or early June 2011. The other nominees are still eligible for future consideration, so please send along your suggestions to me at sean@higheredcareercoach.com or @hiedcareercoach on Twitter.

Congratulations, Ed! You are doing great things to introduce new people and ideas to the higher ed community through your blog, twitter, and your live screencast interviews. Thanks for all you do, “Who-Do!”

Who-Do of the Month Nominations: July 2010

by | Jul 27, 2010 | Tuesday Time-Out, Who-Dos

Tuesday Time Out LogoAs mentioned in earlier posts, toward the end of each month, we’ll take suggestions for people who are putting their purpose to work in higher education, by doing good things to help the field move forward in some way, to recognize as a “Who-Do.”

Who-Dos are knowledgeable, and highly regarded for their work, but they put that knowledge into action, and actively move conversations along, not just by talking about ideas (they certainly do that, as well) but by teaching others how to do what they know how to do. Unlike self-proclaimed “Gurus,” they are meeting us as equal partners in conversations about the future of higher education, the programs and services we provide, and how we prepare the next generation of professionals to meet the challenges that come with change.

All four of this month’s nominees are moving these conversations along through successful use of new media, especially blogs and Twitter. Please take a few moments to consider who has had an impact on you and the field this month, and cast an advisory vote for one of the nominees (or nominate someone else you think is deserving.) Add some thoughts in the comments section. And look out for a post after the poll closes.

  • Ed Cabellon, Director of the Campus Center at Bridgewater State College, has compiled one of the most comprehensive Twitter Lists of Student Affairs Professionals, published tutorials on how to use Twitter, and hosted uStream conversations with some higher ed luminaries through his blog.
  • Rey Junco, a professor at Lock Haven University, co-wrote Connecting to the Net.Generation: What Higher Education Professionals Need to Know about Today’s Students and Using Emerging Technologies to Enhance Student Engagement. He was recently featured in a video interview with Ed Cabellon and on the BreakDrink.Com/Campus Tech Connection podcast (along with Cabellon).
  • Eric Stoller is an academic advisor, technology consultant and social justice advocate. He recently joined the ranks of InsideHigherEd’s technology bloggers, with his new regular blog, Challenge and Tech Support.
  • Women in Housing is a hashtag chat on Twitter (#wihsg) where women working in housing can share perspectives on issues, connect with other women who work in housing, and highlight the voices of women in the field.

All of these people are deserving of recognition, as are many more. I’ve chosen 4 nominees who have been mentioned to me several times this month for their recent accomplishments or interactions. Now I’d like your input. Please take a few moments to participate in the TWTPOLL and help decide who will be recognized this month. Please be sure to add your comments, as well.

At the end of the academic year, there will be a process for choosing someone to recognize as a “Who-Do” of the year.

Tuesday Time-Out: It's Our Blog Birthday!

by | Jul 20, 2010 | Career Skills, Coaching, Job Search, Monday Morning Quarterback, Podcast, Who-Dos

A year has somehow passed since I first registered HigherEdCareerCoach.Com and HigherEdLifeCoach.Com, so today’s Tuesday Time-Out is a recap of important events in our first year. Thanks to all our readers and guest posters, and to all the other people who have supported and sustained the sites through this critical first year.

Some milestone events during year 1:

2009:

  • July 11th, 2009. I registered higheredlifecoach.com with GoDaddy. Less than a week later, I decided that I wanted to host my site at Fatcow (aff. link), because they are geared toward small business, and host their servers with wind energy. I registered higheredcareercoach.com as well (this time through Fatcow).
  • August 4, 2009: Published 1st post on HigherEdCareerCoach.Com. First month: 35 readers total.
  • At the end of September and beginning of October, I attended the coach certification program, and posted a couple of video diary posts.

2010:

  • In the new year, I started blogging more regularly on both sites, and recruiting guest writers, to broaden the perspectives offered beyond my own.
  • As Placement season revved up, Higher Ed Career Coach began to feature articles on placement. In one, at the end of January, we began a ongoing Twitter hashtag conversation around the placement experience (#saplacement) to allow employers and prospective employees to share comments, questions, and tips related to job searching and the national and regional placement exchanges.
  • In February:
    • Bryan Koval became the first guest blogger, with the first installation of his “Doctoral Student from a Distance” series.
    • Shannon Healy began chronicling her job search in what would become an 11-part series on her student affairs job hunt.
    • Shonda Goward from FirstGenerationUniversity and I traded guest posts on each other’s sites. This would be the first guest post exchange for either site.
    • Broadcast the first episode of the Higher Ed Life and Career Show on BlogTalkRadio
      • The first episode had 10 live listeners and Bryan Koval guest hosted.
      • The highest number of live audience members was 34, for “The Value of Twitter in Your Job Search,” with guests Mike Severy, Becca Fick, and Mallory Bower.
      • So far, episodes of the show have been listened to 1,042 times.
  • In March, Mickey Fitch began writing periodic posts for both sites, followed in April by Mallory Bower. Regular contributors and guest posters are now a regular part of both sites.
  • In April and May:
    • We ran articles and did radio shows on dealing with disappointment in your job search, staying motivated, and starting over.
    • We also celebrated the graduation of many members of our reader and contributor community.
    • I introduced my first hybrid coaching program (“8 Weeks to August”) for job seekers starting over with their search, featuring online activities, 1-on-1 coaching, mock interviews, and the opportunity to be featured on a page of the HigherEdCareerCoach site, and to be interviewed on BlogTalkRadio. The first of these client pages will be posted soon.
    • Introduced the concept of differentiating “who-dos” from “gurus,” after a serendipitous exchange over Twitter with friends and an homage to the Australian band the Hoodoo Gurus.
  • June and July:
    • Began a comprehensive overhaul of all my sites, front end and back, including running a design contest on 99Designs.com (aff. link) for new logos that would be academic and fun, and imply coaching, and to bring in sports metaphors; a re-design of all websites related to my business, Cook Coaching and Consulting, and back-end stuff, related to Search Engine Optimization, site security and other stuff that is probably not all that interesting to readers.
    • Named Breakdrink.Com and their site creator, Jeff Jackson, as the first “Who-Do of the Month,” as part of an effort to identify a “Who-Do” of the Year in Higher Education. This person or organization will receive a new award, the “Who-Do” Highsman, plus bragging rights and some sort of other actual reward (probably money, but we’ll be taking suggestions and figuring that out over the next few months, based on community response.)
    • Introduced some new regular features to bring more voices into the conversation, starting with the “Monday Morning Quarterback” series. Scott Helfrich (of StudentLifeGuru) took the first turn in what will be a regular rotation. Each month, we’ll introduce a topic related to higher education and/or careers, and have guest columnists respond with their take on the issues put forth.
    • Discovered accidentally that, for at least one day, the blog ranked among the top 100 small business blogs on Technorati. Apparently, these rankings fluctuate pretty wildly, but seeing this blog listed just a few spaces away from Zen Habits (which is one of the most awesome blogs on the planet) was pretty freaking awesome. Maybe someday soon, we’ll do it again.

The development of these sites, (and my coaching practice) would not have been possible without the support of an awesome community of readers, contributors, friends and colleagues. You’ve helped the blogs “find their voice,” attract new readers, and explore new territory in our efforts to play a contributing role in discussions about the emerging directions in higher education, career development, and professional development and training for higher ed professionals.

In the next few weeks, you’ll see even more changes, including:

  • A new tab where you can find more information on upcoming live webinar classes for job searchers and professionals starting their new positions, short courses, teleseminars, and the next editions of our hybrid coaching programs. (Another for students hoping to attend placement next Spring, and one on getting your act together to apply for graduate programs.)
  • A new provider (aWeber) for our mailing list, and free e-mail “short courses” for new subscribers
  • E-books, videos, and audio content, including interviews with higher ed professionals about their career development.)
  • A membership area for premium content, career discussion forums, and online coaching.
  • New sites in our web portfolio, including HigherEdCoach, a site for coaches and consultants working in higher ed to share their tips for getting into coaching and consulting, and to learn from each other. The site will also have a directory for coaches and consultants, that will hopefully assist those in need of coaching and consulting in finding someone appropriate to their needs.

Help celebrate our blog birthday! Your support and encouragement keep us going. Here are some great ways you can help us kick off Year 2:

  • Tell a friend or colleague to check out the sites.
  • Even better, send out links to your favorite articles from the last year to your Twitter List, or “like” them on Facebook (you can use the Wibiya toolbar)
  • Go back and comment on your favorite post.
  • Add our sites to your blogroll if you have a blog.
  • Write a guest post.
  • Sign up for an upcoming webinar class or coaching program.
  • Give the gift of coaching to a friend, colleague or family member who needs a motivational kick-start in their job search.
  • And most importantly, keep reading!

Thanks for everything! We’re looking forward to Year 2!

Hey You! Who's a Who-Do to You?

by | Jul 14, 2010 | Who-Dos

As regular readers will recall, I have been writing a lot about the idea of “gurus” out there who promote themselves as the be-all, end-all authorities for this-that-and-the-other-thing, and contrasting them with “who-dos,” which are people who are out there putting their passion and purpose to work, to change the way we do things in higher education, with social media, in helping people in their careers, and other ways that have positive impacts on society and the world.

Last month, I was glad to applaud our friends over at BreakDrink for their efforts to create free and low-cost-of-entry professional development programs for student affairs professionals, and for their groundbreaking attempt to put together a podcast network of sorts serving the field.

As I said in the introduction to this concept, I would like to take nominations each month and announce a “Who-Do” of the Month.

The Process

Here’s how I would like to do this:

  • I’ll put up a post, like this one, once a month, asking people to submit nominations. Ideally, I’d like to take them in the comment section, so people can read all the good things about those nominated.
  • I’ll post a poll on the blog about a week later with persons nominated
  • People will vote.
  • I will review nominations and votes and have a discussion with an advisory committee (which I am currently putting together-more on the makeup of that, once I have people lined up.)
  • The last week of each month, I will announce the “Who-Do” of the month.
  • In the latter part of Spring semester, I will have a process announced for selecting the “Who-Do” Highsman (get it?) award for the year.

Nominate Someone Now!

Please take a few minutes between now and next Tuesday at noon to nominate someone who deserves recognition, and to tell the world why you see this person as defining the spirit of the “Who-Do.” If you want to send the nomination directly to me, e-mail it to sean@higheredcareercoach.com and I will post some of the essential pieces here, so people can at least know who was nominated and why.

Have an Idea for How I Should Structure the “Highsman” selection?

Send me your ideas. I’d love to hear them, and I want to make this process engaging and fun. I’m looking forward to reading the nominations!

Look Who's Changing Higher Ed: Who-Do Review #1-BreakDrink.Com

by | Jun 23, 2010 | Who-Dos

Today, I am introducing a new regular feature on Higher Ed Career Coach. The “Who-Do Review” will profile people, websites and resources that are changing the way higher education works. This new feature grew from my series “How to Tell a Who-Do from a Guru,”  which explores the differences between those we think of (or who call themselves) “gurus” versus those who are out there, doing the things they are passionate about, and trying to change the world.

Jeff Jackson and his regular contributors over at BreakDrink (Gary Ballinger, Julie Larsen, and Adrianne Dahms, among others) epitomize the groundbreaking spirit of the Who-Do, and so I’m glad to feature them in my first “Who-Do” Review. I’ll take nominations from here on out and try to feature one “Who-Do” each month. At the end of each year, we’ll choose a “Who-Do” of the Year.

Yes, I am making this up as I go along. But it’s a great idea, and I’d like readers to help me find future nominees, choose people and efforts to feature, and create a process for choosing the “Who-Do” of the Year.

But before we get started with that, there is a way you can help recognize the good work people over at BreakDrink are doing. They are conducting a fundraising campaign on IndieGoGo to support their efforts to offer future conferences and to produce podcasts on various topics of interest to higher ed professionals.

Please visit their campaign by clicking on the widget below, and make a donation. Then, come back here, comment on why you supported the campaign, and give me some suggestions for future people to feature, and any ideas you have about how to create a process for choosing the “Who-Do” of the Year.

In our era of budget cuts, travel freezes and furloughs, it’s challenging to innovate, create new programs, keep our departments adequately staffed, and offer professional development funding opportunities, like conferences and training. Innovation is key to survival, not only in individual careers, but in our field as a whole. On this Friday’s  edition of the Higher Ed Career Coach Show, I’ll be talking with Jeff Jackson and others about BreakDrink.Com. We’ll talk about BreakDrink’s upcoming conferences, their expanding lineup of podcasts, and their IndieGoGo Fundraising Campaign. We’ll also be taking calls on this topic, BreakDrink, and suggestions for future people and programs to profile as a part of the “Who-Do” Review series.