SUU’s Partnership with Best Friends Animal Society Celebrated by Fast Company Award
Published: September 12, 2024 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Fast Company announced this week that Best Friends Animal Society (Best Friends), a national animal welfare organization, is among those recognized on the annual Best Workplaces for Innovators list. Best Friends came in at No. 26 for creating the first-of-its-kind university-endorsed, professional education program that covers the principles of lifesaving-focused animal services. This program is a result of a groundbreaking collaboration with Southern Utah University (SUU).
“Best Friends is known for its pioneering work in lifesaving and animal welfare. At SUU, we feel a profound responsibility as partners in delivering quality professional education that empowers animal welfare workers and communities, equipping them with the skills needed to drive this important change," said SUU President, Mindy Benson. “We are honored to serve as the academic partner to Best Friends Animal Society.”
Since December 2019, Best Friends and SUU have worked together to elevate the animal services profession through innovative educational programs. The partnership has led to the development of eight professional education courses that provide alternative credentials like SUU certificates, digital badges, and continuing education units (CEUs). Credentials can contribute to SUU degrees, including associate’s, bachelor’s, and select master’s degrees, such as the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (MIS) with a specialization in Contemporary Animal Services Leadership.
These programs are designed to bridge the gap between traditional higher education and the immediate needs of the workforce with short-term, responsive educational offerings. Often referred to as microcredentials, these bit-sized, industry-informed learning opportunities are quickly becoming a way for universities to respond with agility and speed to the ever-changing needs of society.
As of June 30, 2024, statistics for SUU and Best Friends’ professional education program includes:
- 8 professional education courses developed
- 1,145 institutional certificates awarded
- 910 “stackable credits” earned
- 37 learners transitioning into degree programs
- 14 graduates with MIS degrees
- 85% average pass rate
- 60% increase in overall enrollment
- 34% rise in management-level program applications
- Learners from 49 states
- A 2024 study of SUU/Best Friends learners demonstrated that increased human capital is leveraged by course participants in a number of ways, from applying learning in shelters to communicating with communities, participating in policy-making, and encouraging others to enroll in animal services professional education courses. Participants of the leadership program reported feeling particularly empowered to enact policies that support life saving practices for companion animals, incorporate new learning in their shelter programming, and help their local community move toward no-kill practices.
Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, expressed her excitement about the Fast Company recognition, “Not only is it exciting to be recognized by Fast Company – one of the world’s leading voices on innovation in technology and leadership – it also validates our belief that we must be scrappy, nimble, and collaborative to save the lives of dogs and cats in America’s shelters. When you get some smart people together who really care about something, that’s where the magic happens.”
Learn More
For more information about the partnership with SUU and Best Friends or to learn more about SUU’s workforce development programs, please visit:
Tags: Career and Professional Development Community and Professional Development Community
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
4355865400
brookeheath1@suu.edu