"It's important for colleges and university leaders to think about, 'how does esports relate to our campus mission and values and help us move toward equity on our campus?'"Dr. Jennifer Hoffman, Associate Professor, Educational Foundations, Leadership and Policy, University of Washington
Podcast | Collegiate athletics and esports
Higher Ed Advisor: University of Washington propels its esports program through its mission, values and student gaming culture
Welcome to Higher Ed Advisor, the Baker Tilly podcast series where we speak with higher education industry leaders about practical and proactive guidance to help colleges and universities protect and enhance their value.
Esports shows no sign of slowing down as it continues to take higher education by storm. In this engaging podcast, University of Washington’s (UW) Associate Professor of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Policy, Dr. Jennifer Hoffman, joins us in a conversation about what institutions should keep top of mind as they plan to launch a robust esports program or enhance their current program. We explore the opportunities esports offers students, importance of aligning esports programs with an institution’s mission and values and esports as a catalyst for collaboration, as well as connecting esports with novel ways of learning and the student of the future.
Dr. Hoffman challenges listeners to think differently about esports and reveals some of her institution’s best practices and building blocks for its student-driven esports program, including how:
- Embedding UW’s three pillars – community, career and competition, enables the institution to focus on its rich gaming history and culture
- Focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) helps campus leaders meet the needs of their diverse campus stakeholders and student body
- Recognizing the synergy between esports and online learning creates the digital education experiences students seek
- Connecting student health and wellness with esports programs creates a holistic, student-centered opportunity
Don’t miss Dr. Hoffman’s top three takeaways that will help colleges and universities pave the pathway to success in this disruptive digital playing field.
Higher Ed Advisor hosts
David Capitano
As the firm’s higher education practice leader, Dave Capitano provides oversight to more than 200 team members serving over 400 colleges, universities, research institutions and higher education systems across the United States.
Adrienne Larmett
Adrienne is a principal in Baker Tilly’s risk advisory practice, with more than 17 years of professional consulting experience.
Meet this episode's guest speaker
- Dr. Jennifer Hoffman, Associate Professor, Educational Foundations, Leadership and Policy, University of Washington
Esports evaluation guide 2.0: A deeper dive into establishing or enhancing an esports program at your institution
Ready to bring esports to your campus? You need a solid framework and strategic plan. Download our latest esports guide for seven valuable steps to propel your institution’s esports program.
Additional resources
For more information, or to learn how Baker Tilly’s higher education specialists can help your institution establish or enhance an esports program, contact our team.
