EWA & UCLA Host Higher Ed Conference

I am very excited to announce the news of UCLA’s partnership with the Education Writers Association (EWA) in its first regional conference targeted at higher education reporters.  The event will be hosted on campus November 4-5 and will feature at least two HERI staff members as speakers and potentially two other HERI-faculty affiliates. We haven’t nailed down the specifics but you can expect to see sessions on the topics of retention and the value of institutional assessment, among many others.

Having attended EWA conferences in my past life as an education journalist, I can tell you this will be a great event.  I have always been impressed by the speakers, session topics and networking opportunities at EWA events, which draw reporters from all across the country.  I am looking forward to getting some face-to-face time with reporters who I rarely see or have never seen (just spoken to!) as well as get the opportunity to meet new reporters.

I always leave EWA conferences feeling hopeful about the future of higher education, despite all the fiscal challenges and other hurdles that exist for students.  The way education is covered is so critical in helping to shape the higher ed landscape, reprioritize our nation’s goals and put a spotlight on all the inequities as well as the good that make up our education system.

Education stories tug at our emotions, often making us feel something–whether its frustration,  sadness, pride or inspiration. That’s why it’s so important to get the education media together to brainstorm new ways and approaches to penetrate this very complex, multi-faced industry so they can continue to keep us informed as to what’s really going on in our schools, colleges & universities.

Learn more about EWA at www.ewa.org