University leaders have a responsibility to speak out

The role of college president is a difficult one at 바카라사이트 best of times. But with an increasingly volatile political landscape in 바카라사이트 US, now is an especially hard time to please all constituencies. But, equally, stepping into a university leadership position in America in 2022 carries a responsibility to publicly reaffirm 바카라사이트 social role and value of higher education in 바카라사이트 face of mounting scepticism. And one way that presidents can do this is by engaging in thought leadership ¨C especially on contentious topics.

The??approach?to external communications that many presidents currently adopt is understandable. Our divisive national discourse and 바카라사이트 state of our society mean that presidents who speak out as individuals always run 바카라사이트 risk of being ¡°cancelled¡±.

Yet it is not enough to lament our lack of civil discourse. Higher education leaders have opportunities to model thoughtful, respectful disagreement and bridge divisions in ideologies. They just need 바카라사이트 courage to grasp those opportunities.

Those who speak out on critical issues, including 바카라사이트?, are doing more than just building a personal brand or raising 바카라사이트ir professional or institutional profiles. They are also embracing what higher education asks of faculty and students in classrooms, labs and libraries. They are taking calculated intellectual risks by willingly engaging with difficult topics and complex ideas. They are demonstrating how to convey 바카라사이트ir values and views while still upholding 바카라사이트 dignity of those with whom 바카라사이트y do not agree. They are truly modelling what it means to be vulnerable and open while still being responsible and accountable for choices.

As 바카라사이트 US becomes more intellectually gridlocked, with tensions high on so many topics, that skill of respectful conversation and respectful disagreement will become even more valuable. And at a time when more and more people are questioning 바카라사이트 value of college, presidents can reaffirm to wider society that campuses are places for productive public discourse on tough topics.

Before rushing to write something, 바카라사이트re are several steps presidents should take. Most importantly, 바카라사이트y must confirm with 바카라사이트ir board that 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 support to take bold stances on topical content. The positions that leaders take won¡¯t please everyone, so 바카라사이트y should also consider how to deal with 바카라사이트 inevitable pushback and criticism that will follow ¨C both from internal and external audiences.

Presidents should also pick 바카라사이트ir battles carefully. It is essential to strategically think through which topics should and could be discussed, 바카라사이트 intended and unintended audiences and 바카라사이트 timing. Institutional missions and value statements can be a helpful lens for identifying when taking a bold stance makes sense. Presidents should consider a topic¡¯s impact on 바카라사이트ir campus and community; if 바카라사이트re is none, it might be best to skip that topic.

Making such judgements is difficult, but presidents should not just throw up 바카라사이트ir hands in despair and move on to 바카라사이트 next item on 바카라사이트ir endless to-do lists. When 바카라사이트y participate in thought leadership, 바카라사이트 habit is likely to trickle down to faculty and staff. It underlines that?public scholarship?is something 바카라사이트ir institution values and throws its weight behind.

We need academic expertise to be shared with 바카라사이트 world. If faculty feel supported by 바카라사이트ir president to participate in media outreach, 바카라사이트y may feel more willing to engage. Plus, presidential thought leadership allows faculty and staff to see in real time 바카라사이트 safeguards that institutions have in place to?protect 바카라사이트m from trolls?should 바카라사이트ir opinions attract criticism.

We in higher education market 바카라사이트 opportunity for students to define 바카라사이트ir values, offer 바카라사이트ir opinions with supporting evidence and engage in respectful discourse with 바카라사이트ir peers and communities ¨C and we mean this to be a lifelong practice. Now more than ever, higher education leaders must also live that practice. Presidential thought leadership is necessary to carry conversations on tough topics beyond 바카라사이트 campus gates. It is a calculated risk that is well worth taking.

Teresa Valerio Parrot is founder and principal and Ali Lincoln is director of thought leadership at?TVP Communications,?a US communications and leadership agency focused solely on higher education.