Donna Shalala is President of the University of Miami, but she used to be US Secretary for Health and Human Services during the Clinton administration. She told the story of how she was the cabinet member who wasn't allowed to attend the State of the Union address (when the President talks to Congress) - because there is always one cabinet member who stays away in case of an attack. She said she took over the Oval Office and got a picture of her in the President's chair, as she had the ability to do anything she wanted. Also talked about how when they moved into the White House in 1993, the secretaries were still using typewriters instead of computers, which shocked her and her staff.
Anyway, she talked a lot about her experiences as a university president, teaching a seminar to students. I didn't get that much out of her speech as takeaways, though she was interesting to listen to.
Too much pressure to create people who have today's employability skills rather than the skills needed for 3rd/4th job students will have.
Thinks institutions will be shaping the perception students have of them with new forms like YouTube, mySpace - says Yale is doing this well already (though I wonder if that is a drop in the ocean of student opinion, with them more likely to shape what other students think of the university).
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sounds interesting - I picked up on twitter that Shalala talked about
"K12 needs to prepare kids for higher ed by using more technology for interaction and learning"
to which I observed
"er yes, except we tell staff that they need to use more tech for interaction and learning in higher ed cos that's what kids are used to in school"
I love circular references.
But of course the thing that interests me most is the Clinton White House story (surprise, surprise). There is a great WW episode that tells the back story of the State of the Union where the Sec of Agriculture stays behind, the President tells him about the faulty toilet in the residence, what to do in the event of an emergency and then asks him "do you have a best friend?" "yes, sir" "is he smarter than you?" "yes, sir" "then that's your chief of staff" (Leo overhears from next door)
[this WW riff is brought to you in memory of the late, great John Spencer, RIP]
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