Shadow a student. Pay for their input. Simple practices to move from slogans to student-centered design. Why it matters: When listening becomes a regular practice, universities shift from designing based on tradition or instinct to designing based on lived realities. Students begin to feel seen, not just as data points, but as partners. Faculty and staff make decisions informed by empathy, not assumption. Leaders can move from saying “we’re student-centered” to proving it in the way they work every day. And over time, the institution itself becomes a learning organization—one that grows not just because of its students, but with them.
Building a Practice of Listening
Shadow a student. Pay for their input. Simple practices to move from slogans to student-centered design. Why it matters: When listening becomes a regular practice, universities shift from designing based on tradition or instinct to designing based on lived realities. Students begin to feel seen, not just as data points, but as partners. Faculty and staff make decisions informed by empathy, not assumption. Leaders can move from saying “we’re student-centered” to proving it in the way they work every day. And over time, the institution itself becomes a learning organization—one that grows not just because of its students, but with them.