Paving Over Paradise

By Dr. Michael T. Wood, President, Capitol Technology University

At Capitol Technology University we have POPs  -- Professors of Practice.  These extremely valuable professionals are practitioners of our disciplines in industry and government, who both teach with us part-time, and contribute additional time to matters such as curriculum development, research, university outreach, and other matters important for our growth and success. Along with our wonderful fulltime faculty, adjunct instructors, and support staff, the POPs make up the critical mass of our continuing and expanding academic excellence.

When I think of POPs, I also think of those letters as an acronym for something else less exciting – Paving Over Paradise – as in:

Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Til it’s gone?
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot. (Joni Mitchell)

We will pave parking lots, as our residence and learning facilities expand and require more parking spaces.

We will not pave over paradise.

CREI, CIT, and Capitol College were paradises, in their times. They flourished with niched, career-focused programming, dedicated, expert teaching, caring and knowledgeable student-support staff, small class sizes, and hands-on learning with appropriate technology.

“The times they are a changin," sang Bob Dylan. (Why am I so musical today? Perhaps a little STEAM in STEM – the A is for Arts).  As we change, Capitol Technology University brings more breadth and depth to our Eden – new programs, new audiences, new partners, new people. 

And, the legacy plots in our paradise will be preserved and embellished, with new ways to be small, service-oriented, special and strong.

The flowers emerging from our garden will continue to be well-versed technology leaders and professionals who are in high demand by government, business and industry.

Some may become our next POPs – without steamrollers.