Dominican Wins Higher Ed’s Top Innovation Award

Dominican has been named the nation’s most transformative four- year university by the American Council on Education (ACE) in recognition of a deep commitment to student opportunity and success. As the 2020 recipient of the ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation, Dominican has been recognized for responding to higher education challenges in innovative and creative ways — and helping students succeed in college during a period of unprecedented volatility and change. “As this tremendous recognition from the American Council on Education confirms, Dominican University of California is at the forefront of responding to individual student needs while never wavering from a commitment to hands-on learning and critical thinking,” said President Mary B. Marcy. The national award recognizes Dominican’s focus on providing every student with an education that embraces the increasing importance of technology and the powerful impact of a mentor. “As the workplace becomes more complex, the unique opportunities provided by small colleges like Dominican have never been more essential,” President Marcy said. “This award honors our dedicated faculty and staff for their commitment to our students and to our society.” The crux of the institution’s transformation is the Dominican Experience, a signature program that provides undergraduates with access to personalized coaching and the opportunity to engage with the community through service- learning, internships and fieldwork. Students work closely with faculty mentors to develop original research or creative projects in their junior and senior years — often to present at regional or national conferences. Students graduate with digital portfolios that showcase personal growth, academic accomplishments and professional skills. As a result of its innovations, Dominican has seen graduation rates improve by more than 70 percent since 2011, along with an increase of 30 percent in the ethnic diversity of the undergraduate degree- seeking student body from 2011 to 2018. In fall 2019, first-to-second year retention for those who started as first-year students was 87.5 percent, the highest in nearly a decade. The ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation is divided into two categories. Dominican received the award for institutions with student populations of up to 5,000. Amarillo College, a community college in Texas, is the recipient for institutions with student populations of 5,001 and more.

A Student’s Perspective | Audrey Barth ’21

For me, like many others, the first news of COVID-19 fell on deaf ears. It seemed so distant, and I never imagined that it would affect us to this extent. That’s just part of being a young college student — the “it could never happen to me” mindset. Even when shelter-in-place began in March, I only expected it to last a month or two. But as time went on and cases began to rise, the reality started to set in. When I first heard the news from Dominican about switching to online classes, it seemed like more of a gift than a burden. I could go to class in bed, I could sleep in, and teachers had to simplify assignments to fit the online platform. Granted, I felt bad for the seniors who had to graduate on Zoom. But I was certain that things would be back to “normal” by my graduation in the spring of 2021. I often used to say, “when things are back to normal,” or “when this is all over.” But I’ve realized that the idea of everything changing at the drop of a hat is unrealistic. There are so many variables and unpredictable situations, and I’ve gained the clarity that recovery — on every level — will be a long process. After summer, when online classes resumed, I was itching to get back in the classroom. Luckily, my teachers have been flexible with online assignments. However, we have to alter or skip many useful assignments that are not compatible with our online platform. For example, in my Broadcasting Field Study class, we have to learn camera shots, video editing, lighting and more without ever stepping foot in a studio or using professional equipment. We learn by using what we have at home. For example, we use the lamps in our homes to mimic professional studio lighting, and instead of professional cameras, we use our phone cameras to film. The hardest part of the pandemic is dealing with school while juggling mental health and staying safe from the virus. My dad has COPD, so I have to be much more cautious than many of my peers. I see many people my age continuing on with their lives as normal — traveling and going out every day. This is hard to watch because I feel that I am one of the few people that understands the magnitude of this pandemic, and how it could alter my life forever if I am not careful. I wish I could still say “when things are back to normal,” but I know it will not be that simple. I do know that the Dominican community will continue to learn and adapt to a very challenging situation.