3 min read January 2024 — Invest: spoke with Jo Allen, president of Meredith College, about recent construction projects, why the institution strives for paid internships for their students, how they are addressing DEI and what they are doing to address some of higher education’s most pressing challenges.
What have been some key highlights for the college in the last 12 months?
We just opened a new academic building for Communications and Exercise, Health and Sports Science. It is a beautiful facility with state-of-the-art equipment, and we are very excited about it. Interestingly, there are many connections between the two subjects. They are two of our strongest programs, and their students and faculty are very involved in the community in terms of engagement. They help us to build a well-informed and healthier population.
Coming out of the pandemic, communication and well-being have made bigger impressions on us because we were getting a lot of disinformation about healthcare, the pandemic, and the impact on the economy. The shared space of the new building gives the students and faculty the ability to live their discipline in real time in reference to critical issues. Following the pandemic, we saw that people’s attitudes did not just automatically reverse. Many people were skeptical about the pandemic and its “end.” Originally, many thought it was just like the flu, but when the pandemic ended there was no reversal. People are still very frightened about the virus, not realizing that now it is more like the flu if they are vaccinated. It has been interesting to see all this play out in a research/teaching-based academic setting that has a strong residential component. We are exploring having other healthcare programs to accommodate our community’s needs.
We have also completed phase one of the renovation of our Performing Arts Center, and we are raising money for phase two. We are also raising money for The Estes Speight sports complex for tennis, softball and golf. We just broke ground on that complex in mid-September. Our athletes are stellar leaders in the classroom and on the courts. And because I am retiring at the end of this year, these projects are both professional, College, and personal priorities. I have been blessed with a fabulous career, ending here at my alma mater, and I am grateful for the kindness and experiences that have come along with it.
How is the college adapting to changing workforce needs?
We are approached all the time by people who want to hire more Meredith graduates, but they have to compete for them. They have to offer good opportunities and good salaries, as well as a women-friendly workplace. Our students are work-ready from day one. To showcase that preparation, 94% of our students do at least one experiential learning activity such as study abroad, undergraduate research or internship. We don’t want our students to work for free with internships because this is professional development. Students who accept unpaid internships do not often make a good salary out of college and throughout their careers may never catch up to the salaries they should earn. And given the persistence of the gender pay gap, it is especially detrimental for women to accept working for no pay. Women bring a capacity for incredible contributions on the job that is disproportionate to their pay, and we want to change that story.
What are some current challenges in higher education and how is your institution addressing them?
Many challenges are based on the reality and myth of student loan debt. We manage $56 million in financial assistance through institutional, federal and state funds. I find it troubling that some people are questioning whether college is worth it. Many of them have degrees themselves and their kids are certainly going to college, but they are dissuading other people’s kids from going. There is a lot of financial assistance out there, so it doesn’t have to be so burdensome. Most people don’t know what kind of assistance is available, and some people refuse to take out a loan because they are terrified of student debt. They don’t understand that the loan is at a modest interest rate, and they will pay it off. We have a very low default rate here, and students will enjoy the benefit of a degree for the rest of their lives. They make more money, and they are more likely to volunteer and be active citizens, which are very positive assets to individuals as well as to society as a whole.
How is Meredith promoting diversity?
We have engaged our faculty, staff, and students in conversations and research about their own and the institution’s history. Some of it is painful to hear, but that is one key piece of addressing the problem. Our chief DEI officer reports directly to me, and she has done a great job of meeting the faculty, staff and students’ needs. We build processes to overcome barriers to success. There is a good sense of appreciation for diverse experiences at Meredith, and we are at a high point in valuing diversity among women. We understand one size does not fit all.
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