Differentiation

On Tuesday the chairs, deans, and provost’s office participated in an EAB workshop on differentiation. It aligns well with the conversations we’ve been having within our School. It also aligns well with the 160over90, strategic planning, and messaging work we’ve been doing. It was inspiring to discuss, at the institutional level, what makes us special? Why would a student, faculty, or staff member choose us?

To truly be a differentiator it needs to be:

• Relevant
• Difficult to replicate
• Reach the majority
• Provable to the market

The themes across the groups were consistent (a good thing) and align well with what we’ve identified. The group I was a part of settled on four attributes:

• Relationship-based
• Interdisciplinary
• Location
• Network

And we added a fifth one, fun ?. Charleston and the College are fun places to be – most of the time.

Others talked about affordability, a private school feel at a public school price, and we know who we are. That last point resonated with me. It aligns with our category of one discussion. One participant expressed, “it’s hard to think of aspirants, because no one is like us.” That’s so true. We can look at other schools for insights on some things we are doing. We aspire to do some of those things, but there’s not another school like us.

It’s great to see things aligning at the organizational level. But what about the individual level? You are important. Are you finding a way that’s uniquely you? A way that you enhance the institution and the institution enhances you? We want this to be a place where each of us is the best at being us, and together we are better.

YOU make a difference!

Ponder this with me…