Center History

The Center for Innovative Higher Education (formerly jCENTER), directed by OLPD faculty member David Weerts, operated between Fall 2010-Fall 2016 in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development (OLPD). Funded by the College of Education and Human Development, the Center was created as a place to envision and launch innovative higher education programs at the University of Minnesota, regionally, and nationally. Key partners included the University of Minnesota College of Design, and Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). Center innovations produced three ventures:

Private College Leadership Curriculum: In partnership with senior leaders in small private colleges, the Center created open source curriculum related innovation, change, and leadership in private colleges. This curriculum was piloted with Bethel University as a 12-credit graduate certificate in 2016. All materials—e xercises, case studies, assignments, readings—are archived and available for non-commercial use through the University of Minnesota's digital conservancy.
Higher Ed Redesign: The Higher Ed Redesign Initiative offers design thinking workshops, retreats, and consultations to promote functionality of services, facilitate curricular redesign, spur policy innovation, and envision paradigm-shifting approaches to serving college students.
Citizen Alum: Housed at the University of Michigan, Citizen Alum supports innovation in the field of alumni relations and connects alumni associations, civic learning programs, and advancement offices to promote civic agency of alumni. The Center for Innovative Higher Education convened summer and fall institutes in 2013 and 2014 to support the national network, and OLPD faculty member David Weerts, provides ongoing support for this growing movement.

Center History

Center Publications