This discussion is suitable for higher ed leaders at all levels on both the academic and staff sides. Senior leaders who sit at the Dean or VP-level and above will find especial benefit.

1:00 – 2:15 p.m. Eastern

1. Taking the pulse of the current moment

Our panelists will provide an overview of the dual challenges facing higher ed leaders at the present moment: how can I guide my institution such that faculty, staff, and students feel safe and supported during the reopening process, while also not losing sight of the opportunity to take bold action and break away from what has been the norm?

2. Keeping people safe & preparing for the return to campus

This section will focus on the steps and actions our panelists are taking to make faculty and staff feel safe and supported through campus reopening. We’ll discuss key questions such as:

• How can leaders allay fears through participatory approaches that include faculty and staff in the reopening planning process?
• What considerations do leaders need to have about the way they communicate with faculty and staff about campus reopening?
• What key messages about things like cleanliness, health and safety, testing, and childcare are important to convey, and in what ways are they getting those messages across?

3. Paving the way for bold action and innovation moving forward

The training will close with an emphasis on how leaders can pave the way for innovation in the medium-term through the actions they are taking to reopen campus in the short-term. We will discuss ways in which the pandemic has set our institutions up to work differently going forward and will discuss specific examples of the kind of innovations our panelists and your peers are working toward across campus in a post-COVID era.