Mes: octubre 2020

Urgent action is needed to tackle the largest anticipated wave of students transferring due to COVID-19, economic­ recession and sig­nificant racial justice implications

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Anticipating a larger-than-ever wave of students transferring across higher education institutions due to COVID-19 and the economic recession, today a diverse group of 25 policy, advocacy, research and institutional membership organizations issued a call to action to policymakers and higher education leaders to improve transfer policies. Highlighting the racial justice implications at stake, the organizations elevate the urgency of addressing practices and policies that result in credit loss.

The signatories are all members of the Scaling Partners Network convened by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The organizations work together under the principle that greater connection and coordinated action will enable the higher education field to scale innovations faster, more efficiently and with deeper impact.

«Calls for systemic change demand a hard look at practices and policies in higher education that continue to produce inequitable student outcomes by race and ethnicity,» said Nyema Mitchell of JFF. «Among those that contribute most to inequity in postsecondary outcomes are transfer policies and practices.»

Because they are most likely to begin in community college, Black, Latinx and Indigenous students are hardest hit by practices and policies that result in credit loss when they transfer (or contemplate doing so). Transfer student outcomes are deeply inequitable by income as well. Challenges with transfers in the higher education systems are primary drivers of serious inequities and injustices by income, race and ethnicity.

«I understand how burdensome it can be to servicemen when courses don’t apply and you lose time and benefits taking them over again,» said Russell Otway, a father of two who served in the U.S. Navy. «Like many veterans managing injuries, my kids’ learning and my online courses during the pandemic, when I hit roadblocks with applying credits, I can get discouraged.»

The call to action is particularly relevant because the national movements toward providing two free years of college and increasing dual enrollment for high school students could lead many more students to enter college with credits earned in community college. Four-year colleges and universities often refuse to apply credits earned at community colleges toward degree requirements.

«Everyone engaged in delivering and setting policies for higher education should aspire to 100% of students’ credits applying to a credential when they transfer,» said Martha Ellis of the Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin. «To ensure we are ready for the coming wave of student mobility, policymakers and higher education leaders must be laser-focused on dismantling barriers to the applicability of all credits and verified learning.»

Scaling Partners Network members identified essential transfer actions informed by research and exemplary credit applicability practices.

Actions for policy leaders include, among others:

• interrogating policies related to transfer with a racial equity lens;
• designing state aid to be portable when students transfer; and
• incentivizing institutions to develop, scale and sustain programs that promote collaboration between institutions.

Actions for higher education leaders include, among others:

• prioritizing transfer through disaggregating, analyzing and regularly distributing data from both sending and receiving institutions to community colleges to facilitate understanding of current student outcomes;
• developing tuition price guarantees and scholarships for transfer students that replicate similar-situation students who began at the institution in their first year; and
• creating clear pathways for students by developing and formalizing robust dual-admissions agreements that map student pathways, build a sense of belonging for transfer students and guarantee applicability of credits upon transfer.

«State and institutional policies and practices should recognize that traditional inequities are exacerbated in the current pandemic crisis,» Scaling Partners members reflected in the call to action. «We must focus on closing equity gaps that have taken on increased urgency as the health, education and workforce impacts of COVID-19 have disproportionately affected low-income communities and Black, Latinx and Indigenous populations.»

Scaling Partners Network member signatories to the transfer call to action include:

• Achieving the Dream (ATD)
• American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
• American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
• American Institutes for Research (AIR)
• Aspen Institute College Excellence Program
• Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)
• Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin
• Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT)
• Complete College America (CCA)
• Excelencia in Education
• Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
• HCM Strategists
• Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP)
• JFF
• JKW Consulting
• Miami Dade College
• NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
• National Student Clearinghouse (NSC)
• New America
• Paul Quinn College
• SOVA
• University Innovation Alliance (UIA)
• VentureWell
• WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET)
• Young Invincibles (YI)

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SOURCE Scaling Partners Network

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Trick-or-treating is a high-risk activity according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Yet, even during the pandemic, 57 percent of U.S. adults still plan to hand out candy.ⁱ As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, public health experts at NSF International are calling on families and communities to find safer ways to celebrate the season.

To support healthy practices across the country, NSF International is encouraging anyone who wants to actively opt-out of trick-or-treating to display a ghost in their window – a seasonal symbol that revelers should avoid that household.

To further help households, NSF has created a series of simple ghost graphics that can be downloaded from its website for free. By placing these graphics on doors or windows, households can limit their own risk of exposure this Halloween – and possibly save lives in the process.

Paul Medeiros, Managing Director of Consulting and Technical Services at NSF International, commented: «Halloween is a fun time of year, but the coronavirus is truly scary. You can still enjoy Halloween without putting yourself and others at risk. Remember there are alternate ways to celebrate, safely. To help families and communities stay safe this Halloween, we recommend avoiding trick-or-treaters and keeping doors closed. We hope that displaying these fun, downloadable ghost graphics in windows will help reduce the COVID-19 transmission risk on October 31.»

NSF International is playing an important part in reducing the spread of COVID-19 across America through its Checked by NSF program, an independent verification of COVID-19 preventive measures, providing reassurance that the highest level of procedures and protocols are implemented.

Notes to Editors
About NSF International
NSF International (nsf.org) is an independent, global organization that protects human health by facilitating the development of public health and safety standards, and providing certification and testing services. Separately, we also offer auditing, education, risk management and consulting services. Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. With operations in 180 countries, NSF International is a Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment.

Press Contacts
Zeno Group
zenonsf@zenogroup.com 
+1 (650) 597-7133

NSF International 
Thomas Frey, APR
tfrey@nsf.or
+1 (734) 214-6242

ⁱ https://infogram.com/1pj56wz5v7dw2xa6lz1011nkvksmwj0wpe6

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1321129/NSF_Halloween_Infographic.jpg

SOURCE NSF International

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Miami Beach, a city like no other place in the world, has unveiled a new, multi-channel marketing campaign, «My Miami Beach, Your Escape,» featuring a selection of photos capturing the lure of Miami Beach shot by local photographers. Starting this month and running through November, «My Miami Beach, Your Escape» provides an insider’s look at Miami Beach through a collection of images shot by locals chosen through a call for submissions earlier this year.

The Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA) knows locals provide the most authentic and trusted perspective, offering visitors inspiration for their next staycation or getaway. With seven miles of beach, the perfect natural setting for a number of outdoor activities and home to destination hotels and restaurants, Miami Beach is a paradise getaway, only a drive away, ideal for a much-needed escape as travelers look to relax. 

«Miami Beach is home to a variety of talented artists and photographers and as we collectively work to welcome back our beloved visitors, it was important for us to showcase a selection of authentic work from locals,» says Steve Adkins, Chair of the MBVCA. «The «My Miami Beach, Your Escape» campaign allows us to not only support our city’s businesses, but also our community by featuring their work and connecting with future travelers.»

Images for the «My Miami Beach, Your Escape» campaign were submitted through a social media call for submissions asking local photographers to capture shots that represented their take on Miami Beach. Photography chosen and currently running in the campaign was captured by Gabriela Adian, Patty Villa, Majo Grossi and Michael del Riego, all who provided a unique take on the destination through their own lens.

«I love the colorful sights found in South Beach. It reminds me of the cultural diversity that makes Miami Beach one of the best places to live on earth or vacation at,» said Majo Grossi, a Miami Beach local.

In addition to local photographers, the «My Miami Beach, Your Escape» campaign will feature renowned celebrities and personalities that call Miami Beach home and represent art, food, wellness, culture and the local lifestyle. To keep-up with the «My Miami Beach, Your Escape» campaign and to view the upcoming social videos series featuring local personalities, follow @ExperienceMiamiBeach on Facebook and Instagram and @EMiamiBeach on Twitter.

«Miami Beach is not only a world-renowned destination because of our beaches, hotels and restaurants. What truly makes this destination like no other place in the world is our local community,» notes Grisette Marcos, Executive Director, MBVCA. «This new campaign represents our city through the lens of those that call Miami Beach home and we look forward to sharing their work through this dedicated effort.»

Those inspired by the «My Miami Beach, Your Escape» campaign and ready to plan their next getaway can download the official app at http://www.miamibeachapi.com/.

ABOUT MIAMI BEACH

Miami Beach is an award-winning destination, recently awarded silver in the 2020 edition of the Travvy Awards, presented by travAlliancemedia, in the categories of ‘Best Tourism Board U.S & Canada,’ ‘Best LGBQT Destination’ and ‘Best Luxury Destination U.S & Canada.» This adds to the wins in the 2019, 2018 and 2017 edition of the Travvy Awards in categories including ‘Best Honeymoon Destination, U.S. & Canada‘, ‘Best Tourism Board U.S. & Canada‘, and ‘Best LGBTQ Destination’. Also recently named 2019 and 2018 North America’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards, and a winner in the 2018 Magellan Awards by Travel Weekly in the categories of «Best Overall Honeymoon Destination in the United States and Canada«, «Best Overall Beach Destination in the United States and Canada«, and «Best Overall Spa Destination in the United States and Canada» respectively. Miami Beach is a favorite destination among travelers worldwide. Renowned for its unparalleled culinary offerings, extravagant nightlife, rich culture, luxe shopping and plush hotels, Miami Beach is home to unique museums, the New World Symphony, Miami City Ballet, Miami Beach Convention Center, international festivals and art exhibitions, boat and auto shows, over 187 boutique and resort hotels and 12 public parks; it is no wonder the beautifully diverse city is one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations. Boasting seven miles of breathtaking beaches, Miami Beach is easily accessible from the Port of Miami and Miami International Airport. The City of Miami Beach has been named one of the top cities worldwide for ‘walkability’ and is equally easy to navigate by bike or boat. Known for its year-round sunny skies, the vibrant destination has been ranked by TripAdvisor as a Top Winter Sun Vacation Rental Getaway Destination, Top Romantic Destination, Top 25 Beaches in the World and Top 25 Destinations in the U.S. Miami Beach is like no other place in the world! In 2019, the MBVCA introduced new handles on Instagram and Facebook @ExperienceMiamiBeach and on Twitter @EMiamiBeach to provide visitors with real-time information and recommendations.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1321124/Miami_Beach_Experience_Miami_Beach.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/238565/mbvca_logo.jpg

SOURCE Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority