President Folt explains how actions should live up to words. It’s part of the Milken Institute’s Global Conference discussion with former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, Politico’s Ryan Heath, and Michael Perkinson of Guggenheim Partners.
Distrust runs rampant among the American public. Whether it’s in Congress or at the typical office, deep-rooted distrust leads to stagnation and a lack of progress. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
President Carol L. Folt recently talked at the Milken Institute’s 2021 Global Conference about rebuilding trust and repairing relationships. Watch the video to hear the Oct. 18 discussion with former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, Politico’s Ryan Heath, and Michael Perkinson of Guggenheim Partners.
2021 Milken Institute Global Conference: “Building Trust in an Age of Distrust”
No time to watch the whole video? See a few key quotes below.
“When I came to USC, of course, people were saying one of your big jobs is to help reestablish trust. But that’s what we all have to do.”
“I think, for many years, [universities] held the trust of the nation that we were educating students properly, that we were advancing the cause of democracy, that we were part of the great American dream. And by and large, that still is believed by people. [Universities] are still pretty highly trusted. Scientists and researchers in most areas are still highly trusted.”
“Universities have never been as strong. Two thirds of our students get financial aid. Graduation rates are up at 91%. Their return on investment is quite a lifelong-learning, positive story.”
USC “has more students applying there than it’s ever had in its history. [It has its] most diverse and its strongest academic class. So even there where people have seen scandals, they’ve seen scandals, they’ve seen admissions problems, they’re worried about the cost. They’re concerned about a cancel culture, all the big issues of the day. [But] they also see it as a place … that offers a great return on investment.”
“When I came [to USC] people said, ‘Why would you come to a place under turmoil?’ I said, ‘Thank you, I get to come to a place under turmoil because that means I get to go very directly towards those issues. I can seek a common voice across the entire community that wants to solve those issues.’ And in a moment of distrust, you often have your greatest opportunity to reestablish trust by taking very concrete actions, by bringing in all the voices.”