YHC hosts Southern College Academic leadership
Young Harris, GA (02/19/2025) — Leaders from Mars Hill University, Tennessee Wesleyan University, and Young Harris College met recently here at Young Harris to share best practices in higher education.
The Southern College Academic Leadership Experience, SCALE, brings academic leaders from the three institutions together during the year to discuss best practices at their institutions as well as professional development.
"The Appalachian College Association provides exceptional networking opportunities for chief academic officers and other administrators," said Dr. Jason Pierce, Provost & Executive Vice President at Young Harris. "Dr. Wilhite from Wesleyan, Dr. Parkinson from Mars Hill, and I wanted to build on this to provide additional opportunities for conversations among peers for deans, general education directors, and others. Our institutions are very similar in size and mission but are rarely direct competitors outside of athletic events, so meeting like this provides invaluable opportunities to share best practices and learn how others address today's challenges."
Academic administrators from the three institutions gathered at YHC Jan. 30-31. The group toured the campus and met to discuss a variety of topics ranging from student experience and communication barriers to program evaluation and student athletes.
"This was the second of three scheduled meetings," Pierce said. "We had our first meeting at Mars Hill in November, and we're looking forward to concluding this year's SCALE program in March at Tennessee Wesleyan."
Meeting as a group gives the three institutions the chance to address issues or challenges in higher education together, taking advantage of the group's perspective in each region - North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master's degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has four academic divisions: Fine Arts; Humanities; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and Professional Studies. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
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