Ten with Ken (Audio)

Join Ken Steele for a romp through the best moments from more than 100 higher ed holiday greeting videos from around the world, selected from almost 500 collected so far this month! Previous years' Holiday Special roundups appear in this Ten with Ken playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYWOlX6xOJpuo5nloz1Q6dA1&si=HjS4mv_AWOsB3s8F Check out the full versions of these videos in the 2024 Holiday Special Shortlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYUiAu7gSf-ryKwS-3D7Xbkb&si=EYEUjxIn7UNmEr3U Check out the full collection of 2024 videos in this even longer playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYXt5R4g-ThAiZC0MwDc5m7h&si=LurOq2CCoiz8Wn6O

Marketing and communications professionals working in higher education are more conscious than most that they serve incredibly diverse audiences and stakeholders, and of the vital importance of equity and inclusion. (Today’s students can quickly become outspoken protestors in the face of what they perceive as injustice.) This week, Ken Steele sits down with Matthew Tsang, co-founder of inclusive communications agency AndHumanity, to discuss what he calls “JEDI” principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. “Justice is at the forefront for us,” Matthew explains. His agency, and the cause of inclusive marketing, grew in prominence in the wake of George Floyd’s death in May 2020. “Inclusive marketing is elevating underrepresented voices, not about including everyone all the time.” The key is to ensure that you’re not defaulting to the dominant culture - because GenZ and GenAlpha have heightened awareness of diversity, and greater expectations that marketers will represent it in their work with cultural competency. Communicators have a moral responsibility to contribute to improving society by not just avoiding stereotypes, but by incorporating counter-stereotypical messages. Too many marketers fail at inclusion when they forget that people are intersectional, and effectively centre the dominant culture of a broader community. “We’re all complex human beings, and we can’t be checked off in a box.” The specialists at AndHumanity always encourage really deep storytelling with intersectional nuance, rather than reinforcing stereotypes or generalizations about a community. It's also vitally important to include a broad diversity of people with lived experience in the writing and creative process: “Nothing about us without us.” This mistake causes some obvious, egregious mistakes – and it’s not sufficient to consult people, they need to feel psychologically safe expressing their feelings. Marketers and communicators need to avoid a fear-based approach, simply focused on avoiding causing offense. “Is this safe to say? is a very check-boxy approach.” A fear-based approach most often results in “very diluted, boring, uninspirational work” that is inoffensive, yes, but also forgettable. Institutions should also focus on “going deep” into specific dates of significance, telling deep culturally-nuanced stories, rather than spreading their efforts wide at superficial recognition of a broad range of dates. Matthew’s advice to anyone who wants to reinforce their intercultural competence is to deliberately follow 5-10 people on social media who have different lived experiences from you yourself, or who specialize in JEDI issues. Even when watching TV shows or movies, it can be valuable to watch content about protagonists with different dimensions of identity than yourself. “I don’t think it has to be difficult… but this is a good first step.” Members of Eduvation’s MarCom, CMO, and Guild Circles are invited to attend a free workshop on inclusive marketing and communications for higher education, led by Matthew and the AndHumanity team, on October 24 2024. (If you’re not a member, you can sign up for a free trial at https://circles.eduvation.ca/landing/plans/232788 ) For more information about AndHumanity and their services, see https://andhumanity.co #EDII #EDI #Diversity #InclusiveMarketing #Indigenization

In this episode of Ten with Ken, host Ken Steele sits down with Dorita Pentesco, Director of Marketing & Recruitment at Niagara College, and Carmen Serravalle, Vice-President Creative at STC Storytellers, to discuss the “refresh” launched this month of the 15-year-old Niagara College brand. NC’s circular “blue button” logo was originally introduced in 2009, and was immediately embraced by staff and students – who suddenly started buying and wearing branded clothing. The unique shape lent itself to external signage, buttons, and even application to the butt end of beer kegs at the campus brewery. People on campus have a powerful affinity for the NC button, proudly embracing the “I am nc” slogan. Many on campus “bleed blue” – so any changes to the existing brand identity needed to be carefully considered. There were, however, technical considerations like legibility at small sizes and by screen-reading software, and a desire to simplify the wordmark and render it in a more friendly, less corporate way. So STC rounded the corners of each letter individually, “taking the edges off” the former logo, subliminally shifting its impression. They also introduced more blues and greens to the NC colour palette, reflecting the waters and vineyards of the Niagara region. And introduced a new typeface, Work Sans, to add more “heft and confidence” to headlines and materials. The most obvious addition to the NC brand universe are a series of hand-drawn circles, which reflect the logo but in a hand-crafted way that emphasize collegiality, friendliness, and even the hands-on learning experience for which NC is renowned. The circles are being used as an accent, to draw attention to parts of images, and make a great pattern for branded clothing and merchandise. The brand refresh also introduces a new tagline, “That’s ncLIFE,” which NC has started using “almost like a punctuation mark” to sum up the energy and student experience. Consider joining Eduvation’s MarCom or CMO Circles, for access to other branding studies like this, and to engage directly with Dorita, Carmen, and other CdnPSE marketers from across the country. For more information, see http://eduvation.ca/cmo/ Check out STC Storytellers’ portfolio of work for other higher ed clients at https://www.stcstorytellers.com #CdnPSE #branding #niagaracollege #nclife #hemkting #pseweb #TenWithKen

“Ten with Ken” returns for its 8th season with a special double episode distilling the best moments from literally hours of welcome back, orientation, move-in and kick-off videos, from more than 100 colleges and universities. Students overcome their anxieties and homesickness by celebrating, dancing, screaming and clinging to their stuffed animals and favourite comfort foods. They’re distracted by concerts, midway rides, marching bands, fireworks, confetti cannons, and so much more. Some schools play games too, staging their own versions of “Cash Cab,” “Undercover Boss,” or “Roommate Match.” While the post-pandemic Class of 2028 is anxious, so too are campus administrators, still smarting from heated protests and campus occupations this spring. Their Fall welcome videos overtly urge tolerance for diverse viewpoints and a culture of respect on campus. Incoming first-years are asked to share words of advice for their future selves, while senior students and new graduates share their own advice for the incoming class of 2028. A sense of community is quickly established with matching t-shirts, massive logo formations on the football field, running the gauntlet and plunging in to the mud. From “BamaJam” to “GobblerFest,” campuses are working hard to amp up the enthusiasm of students returning to campus this month. (As so many student put it: “Whoooooo!”) The 125 videos (and counting) considered or clipped in this special are listed in our complete Back-to-School 2024 YouTube playlist here. In particular, Ken has chosen 10 “Ken’s Picks” as the best in class this Fall: Duke University “Class of 2028 Class Photo Behind-the-Scenes” Princeton University “Dear Students, Welcome Back to Princeton!” University of Oregon “Duckflix: Quack Match” University of Virginia “It’s Joyful. It’s Bittersweet. It’s Move-in Day.” Michigan State University “Advice for Incoming Spartans” University of Guelph “Welcome Back, Gryphons!” College of William & Mary “Let’s Write a New Story: Move-in 2024” University of Michigan “Welcome Back 2024: Movin’ through Campus” Stevens Institute of Technology “Unpack the Quack: Welcome Class of 2028!” Rochester Institute of Technology “The Wonderful Wizard of RIT” (definitely the best of the whole pack!) Enjoy!

Once again, Ken Steele scoured the interwebs and collected more than 240 higher education holiday greeting videos (released as of December 21 2023). Setting aside the sermons, concerts, animated cards and talking heads, he shortlisted the best and presented them to a jury of marketing professionals in a 2-hour livestream on Eduvation Circles. A series of episodes will bring you all the fun of Ken’s annual collection of higher ed holiday greeting videos - It’s the next best thing to being there! In part 5, Ken looks at the best of 2023’s higher ed “Musical Performances,” from string quartets to marching bands! Check out all the original, unedited videos in our 2023 Xmas Shortlist at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYW1ONjCEqJGB8xD7LKi1iSo&si=SDQJAZsTi1FaU3cU Add YOUR vote to the ranking poll of “Musical Performance” videos at https://PollEv.com/ranking_polls/XtPhj0e2n4toXzNXpNacn/respond See episodes of 10K first by joining Eduvation Circles, free, at https://circles.eduvation.ca

Once again, Ken Steele scoured the interwebs and collected more than 240 higher education holiday greeting videos (released as of December 21 2023). Setting aside the sermons, concerts, animated cards and talking heads, he shortlisted the best and presented them to a jury of marketing professionals in a 2-hour livestream on Eduvation Circles. A series of episodes will bring you all the fun of Ken’s annual collection of higher ed holiday greeting videos - It’s the next best thing to being there! In part 4, Ken looks at the best of 2023’s higher ed “Acts of Goodwill,” and other vids that tug at the heartstrings and share “All the Feels” of the season. Including a surprising new focus on “Finals Anxiety” and the stress students feel in December! Check out all the original, unedited videos in our 2023 Xmas Shortlist at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYW1ONjCEqJGB8xD7LKi1iSo&si=SDQJAZsTi1FaU3cU Add YOUR vote to the ranking poll of “Acts of Goodwill” and “Feels” videos at https://PollEv.com/ranking_polls/S0xhnRAwaoTnpFQzj9JZx/respond See episodes of 10K first by joining Eduvation Circles, free, at https://circles.eduvation.ca

Once again, Ken Steele scoured the interwebs and collected more than 240 higher education holiday greeting videos (released as of December 21 2023). Setting aside the sermons, concerts, animated cards and talking heads, he shortlisted the best and presented them to a jury of marketing professionals in a 2-hour livestream on Eduvation Circles. A series of episodes will bring you all the fun of Ken’s annual collection of higher ed holiday greeting videos - It’s the next best thing to being there! In part 3, Ken looks at the best of 2023’s higher ed “Holiday Parodies,” including plenty of deans and presidents left “Home Alone” on campus, overexuberant illuminators getting ready for “Christmas Vacation,” and curling up to read “’Twas the Night Before” poems. Check out all the original, unedited videos in our 2023 Xmas Shortlist at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYW1ONjCEqJGB8xD7LKi1iSo&si=SDQJAZsTi1FaU3cU Add YOUR vote to the ranking poll of “Parody” and “Good Sport” videos at https://PollEv.com/ranking_polls/ulL2P9uOI95Sm7pvYxT47/respond See episodes of 10K first by joining Eduvation Circles, free, at https://circles.eduvation.ca

Once again, Ken Steele scoured the interwebs and collected more than 240 higher education holiday greeting videos (released as of December 21 2023). Setting aside the sermons, concerts, animated cards and talking heads, he shortlisted the best and presented them to a jury of marketing professionals in a 2-hour livestream on Eduvation Circles. A series of episodes will bring you all the fun of Ken’s annual collection of higher ed holiday greeting videos - It’s the next best thing to being there! In part 2, Ken looks at the best of 2023’s “Holiday Shout-Outs,” “Holiday Hand-Offs,” “Holiday Trivia” and “Holiday Competitions.” From ugly sweater competitions to the dreaded “Beans of Judgement,” you’ll find the competitive spirit here! Check out all the original, unedited videos in our 2023 Xmas Shortlist at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYW1ONjCEqJGB8xD7LKi1iSo&si=SDQJAZsTi1FaU3cU Add YOUR vote to the ranking poll of “Holiday Shout-Out and Hand-Off” videos at https://PollEv.com/ranking_polls/tN3OgLZ84Wl8bxheEv350/respond Add YOUR vote to the ranking poll of “Trivia” and “Competition” videos at https://PollEv.com/ranking_polls/fbAkFro7RcChB3fifIalg/respond See episodes of 10K first by joining Eduvation Circles, free, at https://circles.eduvation.ca

Once again, Ken Steele scoured the interwebs and collected more than 240 higher education holiday greeting videos (released as of December 21 2023). Setting aside the sermons, concerts, animated cards and talking heads, he shortlisted the best and presented them to a jury of marketing professionals in a 2-hour livestream on Eduvation Circles. A series of episodes will bring you all the fun of Ken’s annual collection of higher ed holiday greeting videos - It’s the next best thing to being there! In part 1, Ken looks at a sprinkling of "Festive & Bright" campus events and tree lighting ceremonies, a dogpile of "Furry Pals", and a sleighful of "Mascots Spreading Cheer" across campus. Check out all the original, unedited videos in our 2023 Xmas Shortlist at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYW1ONjCEqJGB8xD7LKi1iSo&si=SDQJAZsTi1FaU3cU Add YOUR vote to the ranking poll of “Festive & Bright” videos at https://PollEv.com/ranking_polls/xxkzkh6pzy5Zj7uTpyVDV/respond Add YOUR vote to the ranking poll of “Furry Pals” videos at https://PollEv.com/ranking_polls/HIlws6TE102ZqfYNS8TUE/respond Add YOUR vote to the ranking poll of “Mascots” videos at https://PollEv.com/ranking_polls/EK2fGFaPoNztthzMZiFwK/respond See episodes of 10K first by joining Eduvation Circles, free, at https://circles.eduvation.ca

Our 5-part series on Forward-Looking Facilities concludes with a look at the informal communal spaces on campus, in-between faculty offices and labs, or student dorms and classrooms. These so-called "Third Spaces" are home to some of the most valuable interactions between students, staff and faculty alike... In Part 5, "Third Spaces," Ken describes the gradual evolution of higher ed campuses from "introverted" retreats to more extroverted "collision spaces," where informal and serendipitous interactions can spark revolutionary ideas and unexpected illumination. These learning commons and "linger spaces" need to be inviting and comfortable, offering reliable wifi and plentiful power to charge mobile devices. (Oh, and caffeine!) To truly foster a creative environment for innovative thinking, they will incorporate plenty of natural light, bright colours, glass walls and variety in seating arrangements. Already, formal lectures and seminars can be conducted remotely, digital books and journals can be accessed online, and even museum collections are being digitized for VR use. The real, enduring value of our ivy-covered, brick and limestone campuses won’t be housing books or lectures, but hosting these unique "third spaces." Eventually, they may become the first - or perhaps the only - spaces on campus! To see episodes of Ten with Ken when they're first released (a month or more before they appear here), join our FREE virtual community, Eduvation Circles! You'll find the complete catalog of episodes, slide decks, other resources, and conversations in a dedicated Ten with Ken area.

Our series on Forward-Looking Facilities continues with more detail on the ways that pedagogical change, and particularly the adoption of active learning, has transformed classroom time and classroom spaces on campuses. In Part 4, "Active Learning," Ken looks at the way thousand-year-old transmission theories of education created the design of modern lecture theatres, while pedagogical research from UBC's Carl Weiman Institute has paved the way for new approaches. New classroom designs, from Oregon State University's "Phil Donahue" theatres-in-the-round to learning studios and SCALE-UP classrooms, have been appearing on PSE campuses for 30 years now, and their importance has only increased post-pandemic. To see episodes of Ten with Ken when they're first released (a month or more before they appear here), join our FREE virtual community, Eduvation Circles! You'll find the complete catalog of episodes, slide decks, other resources, and conversations in a dedicated Ten with Ken area.

Our series on Forward-Looking Facilities continues with a look at post-pandemic adoption of online and blended learning delivery, and what 600,000 students tell us about their preferences for learning modality. In Part 3, "Online & Blended Learning," Ken looks at the decade-long inevitability of adopting blended delivery approaches, which have demonstrably better learning outcomes for students, and can save institutions millions on classroom facilities and operating costs. Years ago, Napster and Netflix demonstrated that "everything that CAN be digital, WILL be," and now that libraries and lectures have made the leap, PSE institutions need to redefine their value proposition. Much more than merely "broadcasting knowledge," true value in the digital age comes from live interpersonal connections and interactions, personalized and immediate exchanges, mentoring and inspiration. Those are really the core advantages of traditional institutions over all the cheaper MOOCs and industry microcredentials out there, for the foreseeable future. To see episodes of Ten with Ken when they're first released (a month or more before they appear here), join our FREE virtual community, Eduvation Circles! You'll find the complete catalog of episodes, slide decks, other resources, and conversations in a dedicated Ten with Ken area.

Our series on Forward-Looking Facilities continues with a closer look at the new work experience of staff and faculty, and how that will reshape work-life balance and the nature of work – on campus and off - in what is going to be a very fluid future. In part 2, "The Fluid Future of Work," Ken looks at the fluidity and ambiguity facing PSE in the years ahead, employee appetites for remote and hybrid work, and the implications for office design and space. He emphasizes that mental wellness is a growing concern for students and staff alike, and that sleep deprivation is an often-overlooked issue. Finally, he shares advice for architects and designers: try not to close off options, keep things flexible, modular, and demountable. To see episodes of Ten with Ken when they're first released (a month or more before they appear here), join our FREE virtual community, Eduvation Circles! You'll find the complete catalog of episodes, slide decks, other resources, and conversations in a dedicated Ten with Ken area. Plus, watch for "The Fluid Future," a new Masterclass offering on Eduvation Circles - coming soon!

Season 7 of Ten with Ken opens with a 5-part series looking at Forward-Looking Facilities, and the ways that campus design and architecture have responded to the lessons learned during the pandemic. In part 1, "The Post-Pandemic Campus," Ken reviews the turbulence and shifting context we've all learned to expect, and warns that the future will be even more fluid, thanks to climate change, extreme weather, zoonotic viruses and more. COVID19 thrust our society, and our institutions, a full decade into the future, forcing us to adopt technologies and remote approaches to work and learning, whether we were ready or not. Ken also showcases this video from Centennial College, "Learn Your New Way," which still gives him goosebumps after 100 viewings. No matter how you slice it, "the college campus is no longer at the centre of the education universe" -- although more about that in upcoming episodes! To see episodes of Ten with Ken when they’re first released (a month or more before they appear here), join our FREE virtual community, Eduvation Circles!

Ten with Ken returns from its pandemic hiatus, with a 5-part series on trends in campus architecture, classroom and office design, and so-called "third spaces" for serendipitous interaction. Although eventually episodes will appear here too, they're already streaming NOW - exclusively on our free virtual community platform, Eduvation Circles. Join free today at http://circles.eduvation.ca

In pre-pandemic times, Ken Steele sits down on the Carleton University "Friendship Bench" with president and vice-chancellor (and neuropsychologist) Benoit-Antoine Bacon to talk frankly about his own journey to mental health, and his advice for students. Mental health has been a significant concern on higher ed campuses for a decade or more. Anxiety and depression have been rising. In Fall 2019, the National College Health Assessment found 39% of students in moderate or serious psychological distress, 49% experiencing loneliness, and 27% reporting consistently high levels of stress for the preceding year. The COVID19 pandemic has exacerbated those feelings of loneliness, stress and distress. But President Bacon emphasizes that mental health issues are not a new problem, although there’s a growing realization in our society of their prevalence and impact. “It’s really the new generation… that are leading the way. In many ways, we’re following their lead… because the young people are showing courage.” He has been quite open about his own mental health journey, even at his presidential installation ceremony in 2018 ( https://youtu.be/zI_XuTexdPo ). His father was abusive, and Benoit himself spent 20 years in and out of depression. “I thought it was important to lead from a position of honesty… Talking openly and honestly about mental health issues, their symptoms and their causes, is the first step towards addressing them, both as an individual and as society.” Certainly students at Carleton appreciate their president’s willingness to speak openly about mental wellness. “You don’t have to be bound by your past… The journey of healing is always continuing, it’s never ever done.” The worst scenario is to be someone who believes they don’t deserve to seek help or speak openly about the healing they need. “A live lived in trauma, by yourself, is a desperate life that you don’t want to live.” Mental illness has multiple causes, genetic and epigenetic, and it doesn’t matter what form of trauma a person experiences, the issue is the self-perceptions and habits of thought that hold them back. “If you’re raised in a way that you’re worthless and that the world is dangerous, you’ll never have a fun day, ever!” People need to retrain their minds to perceive reality differently: “The world is both beautiful AND dangerous… We have more control than we think about whether the world is perceived as beautiful or dangerous.” This part 1 of a series on mental health at Carleton. We’ll be back soon with: - Suzanne Blanchard, VP Students & Enrolment, on Carleton’s holistic approach to mental wellness - Rebecca Drodge, a recent graduate, on Carleton’s peer wellness programs - Shannon Noonan, Special Projects Officer for Student Mental Health Engagement and Pet Therapy, about Carleton’s impressive therapy dog programs Stay tuned! Or to be sure you don’t miss them, take a moment to subscribe, here or by email at http://eduvation.ca/subscribe/ A special thank-you again to Benoit, Suzanne, Rebecca, Shannon, and the Carleton University videographers who made this possible!

“Blended” approaches to teaching and learning (sometimes also called “hybrid”) combine in-class discussion and activities with a substantial proportion of online course delivery. Done well, blended courses can combine the best of online and on-campus pedagogy, improve student learning outcomes, provide flexibility for non-traditional students, and even save institutions on classroom space and operating costs. To really maximize flexibility for students, about a dozen institutions are pilot-testing “HyFlex” courses, which allow students to seamlessly shift between attending class in person, joining in synchronously online, or catching the class asynchronously later – and they can change their mind, fluidly, from day to day. HyFlex courses might just be the best way to ensure academic continuity in the face of campus disruptions, whether floods, wildfires, earthquakes, or even… global pandemics. This week, Ken Steele sits down (via Zoom) with Dr Jenni Hayman, Chair of Teaching & Learning at Cambrian College (in Sudbury Ontario), to learn more. The goal of HyFlex course design is to give students access to equivalent learning experiences, whether in-person, synchronous or asynchronous. There are “affordances” to each mode of delivery: in-person and synchronous learning provides immediacy, access to body language and conversational interaction. Asynchronous learning allows students to pace themselves, reflect more, and participate online if they are uncomfortable doing so in class. Giving students choices allows them to accommodate changing life needs, from work or childcare responsibilities to inclement weather or self-isolation. Choice also helps motivate adult learners, empowering them and engaging them more. Hyflex learning design starts with learning outcomes, with thought to encouraging active learning and authentic assessment. Only then does the HyFlex teacher start to think about technology and delivery modes, and the different activities that can happen in different spaces. How live on-campus students interact with online students depends on the approach of the faculty member, who needs to juggle the needs of three audiences simultaneously. At a minimum, all the students will share an asynchronous LMS shell, and ideally the students will support each other and help each other learn. “Leveraging the learners is where the gold is,” Jenni observes. The challenge for faculty developing and delivering effective HyFlex courses is (naturally) finding enough time for planning, for the technology learning curve, and for maximizing use of the LMS. Hyflex takes as least as much time and effort to plan as a fully asynchronous online course. Jenni is really appreciative of the Cambrian faculty members who have been partnering with the Teaching & Learning Innovation Hub, who are open-minded and eager experimenters with pedagogy like HyFlex. HyFlex is still a relatively new delivery method. In addition to Cambrian, there are 8 US institutions pioneering HyFlex: Ohio State University, University of Denver (University College), University of Michigan, Montana State University Billings, San Francisco State University, University of St Thomas (Minnesota), and Peirce College (Philadelphia), and Delgado Community College (Louisiana). Internationally, HyFlex is also being used at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium. At Cambrian, 3 of the 4 HyFlex programs are graduate certificates, which appeal both to working Canadians and to international students. (The former find distance learning more flexible, but immigration requirements demand that the latter study in-person on campus.) For successful HyFlex delivery, institutions need to think through the learner experience and the experimental mode of teaching, and ensure that there are adequate supports and expertise in place to help faculty and students alike. The most important thing we are learning right now, Jenni observes, is “digital red-lining.” Many community...

The fifth annual Ten with Ken Holiday Special continues our review of highlights from more than 500 college and university greeting videos released around the world last December. In part 3, “Festive & Fuzzy,” we turn to the cuddlier side of the season, with a look at campus mascots, puppy dogs, and classic movies. Mascots appear often in holiday videos, as we saw in parts 1 and 2, including the University of Virginia’s Cavalier, Upper Iowa University’s Pete the Peacock, Wheaton College’s Roary the Lion, James Madison University’s Duke Dog, and Cape Breton University’s Caper. Mascots played Santa as well, such as JW the Mustang in Western University’s video. At Atlanta’s Emory University, it was not the official mascot, Swoop the Eagle, but the “spirit” of campus, Dooley the Biology Lab Skeleton, who played Santa. The best-in-class “Mascot as Santa” video, though, came from the University of Alabama: Big Al, the elephant, was rushing around campus dispensing gifts, when he needs to figure out how to cheer up a disappointed little girl. Although cat videos (like my current fave, Owl Kitty) dominate the internet, when it comes to higher ed holiday videos, it’s all canines all the way! They make cameo appearances at tree-lighting ceremonies, music recitals, and even serve as a prop for presidents. An adorable golden retriever puppy warmed up the bonfire at Algoma University. Two malteses cheered up a fireside chat from Quinnipiac University president Judy Olian. At Duke University, president Vincent Price recited a poem to his golden doodle and labradoodle. Dogs are also increasingly the stars of holiday videos. Teddy and Travis toured the College of Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State University. At North Carolina’s Meredith College, president Jo Allen’s dog Bachelor has starred in holiday greetings for years – delivering ornaments and candy canes, making a fitness resolution and hitting the treadmill. Last year, he took us on an aerial tour of campus, flying his WWI prop plane. Bachelor has earned a special lifetime achievement award for his contributions so far. Landmark College president Peter Eden talked to the animals – by Facetime! And the campus therapy dogs texted each other. And speaking of therapy dogs, the theme of well-being has been increasing in holiday videos. The SAIT Student Association released several videos last year emphasizing support services. The Thompson Rivers University student life office produced a tongue-in-cheek video about winter wellness. And of course, plenty of videos focus on homesickness and loneliness. Lonely mascots often find a happy ending. At the University of California Merced, Rufus the Bobcat felt neglected by busy students until he launched a campus feel-good initiative. At the University of Guelph, Gryph snuggled up to watch holiday videos with president Franco Vaccarino. At Scotland’s University of Stirling, the mascot Squirrel was deeply depressed until he was brought into a warm circle of friends to celebrate the holidays. “Be the Difference” was the best-in-class video of this type last year. Often, lonely mascots parody classic Christmas movies like “Home Alone,” eating tons of ice cream and getting into trouble. Last year it was Penn State’s Nittany Lion, and the University of Alberta’s GUBA the golden bear. But we also saw the president of Regis University, Father John Fitzgibbons, recreating holiday classics like “Home Alone,” “Elf,” “Christmas Vacation” and even “Love Actually.” With even higher production standards, the John Chambers School of Business & Economics at West Virginia U produced a wonderful best-in-class collection of movie parodies. It was matched only by another outstanding parody of “Christmas Vacation” from the University of Tennessee – Martin, in which Chancellor Keith Carver performs superbly. Of course, the other popular holiday movie parody was “The Grinch,” from UK’s Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group to Bellarmine...

The “Ten with Ken” Holiday Special continues with part 2: Season’s Eatings! Every year, baked goods and particularly gingerbread are prominent in higher ed holiday greeting videos. Often, we see students baking together, such as in a best-in-class vid from Wellesley College last year. More often than not, the bakers are joined by the school mascot, like Azul the Eagle at Florida Gulf Coast University. At Laurentian University, interim president Pierre Zundel made the rounds, spreading holiday cheer and deliciously empty calories around the campus library. At Cape Breton University, the cookies were a family recipe of mascot “the Caper”. At James Madison University, in Harrisburg Virginia, Duke the Dog likes to bake solo – but as a result, the cookies were shaped like dog treats! Decorating gingerbread cookies is an event in and of itself. At William Paterson University, in New Jersey, president Helldobler hosted a cookie decorating party at his home. Stanford University included a life-sized gingerbread house in their holiday video – with decorations that looked good enough to eat! At Utah’s Dixie State University, president Biff Williams and his family get into a food fight while baking holiday cookies. Gingerbread often sparks some friendly competition. At Boston University, students from Engineering and Fine Arts were pitted against each other to build the perfect gingerbread house, in an amusing best-in-class video. At the University of the Fraser Valley, culinary arts, indigenous visual art, and engineering push technology even further, creating an award-winning gingerbread house using a laser cutter. The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee shared some amusing examples of gingerbread construction fails in another best-in-class video. Several holiday videos included campfire singalongs, like those from Algoma University or Trent University, toasting marshmallows or even making s’mores – like at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Quite a few institutions released recipe-style baking videos, including “high altitude baking tips” from Colorado State University, and a 350-year-old meat pie recipe from Loughborough University. More metaphorically, the University of Waterloo Faculty of the Environment shared their own secrets for success. Gathering to share a holiday meal is a powerful ritual, explored in videos from Colorado College, Tarleton State University, the University of Toronto Mississauga, and the University of Windsor. But perhaps the most moving holiday video depicting a campus meal came from the University of Aberdeen. It depicted a student, away from loved ones, baking tarts to contribute to a holiday feast on campus with her friends. The warmth of the group shines through the cold winter night, as they stroll through the Aberdeen campus, and join the tree-lighting ceremony. Definitely a best in class, this was one of the overall besthigher ed holiday videos last year. This episode contains clips from more than 500 higher ed holiday videos that Ken collected last year. You can find our full collection of 2018 videos on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYXZ7unDyH9cDK-lwTwGul7B And we’ve started collecting 2019 higher ed holiday videos at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYXaztYot1vitgTZ5AHfAfJk If you want to add one, please use this special link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYXaztYot1vitgTZ5AHfAfJk&jct=Tm_lbyblL2ee4fhdD9En0aFVEu-NVg Ten with Ken will be back in a few more days with part 3 of our Holiday Special, “When the Fur Flies” - featuring parodies of classic films and Christmas carols, multiple mascots, and plenty of wagging puppy dog tails. To be sure you don’t miss it, be sure to subscribe at http://eduvation.ca/subscribe/ Meanwhile, if you missed part 1, “Mid-Winter Magic,” you can catch it at https://youtu.be/NGWq5-4xWl0

This year’s “Ten with Ken” Holiday Special starts with part 1: Midwinter Magic! In last year’s higher ed holiday videos, campus marketers were clearly anxious about doing a good job, such as at the Bryan School of Business & Economics at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, Upper Iowa University, Chambers College of Business & Economics at West Virginia University, and Newcastle & Stafford College Group. Some campus leaders invite lots of input, such as at the Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism at the University of Southern California. But president Ryan of the University of Virginia took matters into his own hands, in the best-in-class “presidential message” video. As always, hundreds of videos were just animated greeting cards, but some stood out from UBC Okanagan, Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles, and the Mellon College of Science at Carnegie Mellon University. The best-in-class “miniature campus” video came from New York’s Barnard College. We saw tree-trimming or tree-lighting ceremonies at Sweet Briar College, Mount Saint Vincent University, King’s University College, and DePaul University. Meadow Brook Hall at Oakland University was decked with all the trimmings, while Elon University released an hour-long “yule log” video (without a fireplace). Many campuses are beautiful in winter, and snow sports featured in videos from Bishop’s University, McGill University, Western Carolina University, and Trent University. At the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management staged ice sculpting. But in the southern hemisphere, the holidays fall at the height of summer – so Santa visits the University of Western Australia wearing shorts and sandals! One new trend in last year’s videos was giant snowglobes on campuses, including Grand Valley State University in Michigan the University of Leicester in England, and the University of La Verne. Although it started two years back, the use of robots in holiday videos really accelerated last year. Some good examples came from the University of South Florida, the UCLA Robotics & Mechanisms Lab, Germany’s Forschungszentrum Informatic research centre, and perhaps even the Western University Archives. Eschewing tradition, the Chancellor of Purdue University Indianapolis was sent on a scavenger hunt, while at Oklahoma State University, president Burns Hargis and his wife took on whitewater rafting. Chancellor Susan Koch of the University of Illinois Springfield became a cartoon and went snowboarding with the provost, while president Feridun Hamdullahpur of the University of Waterloo was turned into claymation in the best-in-class “animated president” video. Animated presidents were just a new twist on the longstanding tradition of amusing videos from animation students, and last year we saw good examples from Sheridan College, Centennial College, and Emily Carr University of Art & Design. The best-in-class “animated greeting” video came from Scotland’s University of Stirling. This episode contains clips from about 60 of the 500+ higher ed holiday videos that Ken collected last year. You can find our full collection of 2018 videos on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYXZ7unDyH9cDK-lwTwGul7B And we’ve started collecting 2019 higher ed holiday videos at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYXaztYot1vitgTZ5AHfAfJk If you want to add one, please use this special link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYXaztYot1vitgTZ5AHfAfJk&jct=Tm_lbyblL2ee4fhdD9En0aFVEu-NVg Ten with Ken will be back in a couple of days with part 2 of our Holiday Special, “Season’s Eatings” - featuring gingerbread, baking, smores, campus feasts and more. To be sure you don’t miss it, be sure to subscribe at http://eduvation.ca/subscribe/ Meanwhile, you can watch last year’s Holiday Countdown at https://youtu.be/g1KhnHCqMqw