Archives: Courses

Communication Strategies to Overcome Resistance to Your Diversity Initiative

Communication Strategies to Overcome Resistance to Your Diversity Initiative October 15 – 16, 2020 Be empowered to lead crucial conversations that unite your campus around your diversity initiative. Welcome to your course page for your virtual conference! We’ll be adding links to meeting rooms, schedules, social media, and course materials as they become available. Make sure to check back as it gets closer to your conference! DAY 1 DAY 2

Fundraising for Deans: A Virtual Bootcamp

Fundraising for Deans: A Virtual Bootcamp October 13 – November 10, 2020 Important Links Welcome!   We look forward to welcoming you to our Fundraising for Deans bootcamp experience.  Over the next six weeks, we will talk about philanthropic priorities and what it looks like to cultivate and solicit prospects and donors for fundraising success. This bootcamp will be a rich learning experience and a great opportunity to come together as colleagues to learn from Jim, Kathy, and one another.  We look forward to a great offering and to your contributions to these sessions. If you have questions about this event, please reach out to Brittany Iwaszkiw, Program Manager, at brittany@academicimpressions.com Materials for each of the four live Modules will be posted on the day of each event, if not sooner. Session Dates & Times October 13 (1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET) Module 1: Cultivating a Mindset for Fundraising Success October 20 (1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET) Module 2: Building a Team for Fundraising Success October 27 (1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET) Module 3: Crystallizing Your Priorities for Fundraising Success Week of November 2: Optional one-on-one meeting with Jim Langley to talk through direct feedback on your whitepaper and work through any lingering […]

Navigating Your Career Growth: A Bootcamp for Advanced Women Leaders in Higher Ed

Navigating Your Career Growth: A Bootcamp for Advanced Women Leaders in Higher Ed January 11 – March 12 , 2021 Important Links Kristine Barnett Phoebe Haddon Mary McGuinness (coaching for Daphne Watkins’ session) Welcome! Thank you so much for joining us on this learning journey as we explore career growth for women. Over the next eight weeks, you will learn from amazing women leaders in higher education and will have opportunities to apply what you’ve learned in real time. We have also provided various opportunities for you to connect with the speakers, coaches, and a small cohort of attendees as you work through the various exercises. Our hope is that you walk away with concrete steps for making your next career move as well as a support team that will extend long beyond our time together! Mark Your Calendars: Kickoff Meeting | January 11, – 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Eastern Module 1: Looking Internally to Assess Your Skillsets for Career Growth (January 19 – 29)  Plenary session | January 19, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Optional session: January 29, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern to discuss your next steps Module 2: Evaluating External Factors to Help You Strategize Your Next Move (February […]

Cultivating a Professional and Engaging Persona on Your Video Calls

Cultivating a Professional and Engaging Persona on Your Video Calls Learn some simple ways you can improve the quality of your communication and connections with others online. Login On: October 5, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. ET Zoom Login Instructions JOIN ZOOM MEETING https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86198072516?pwd=SUJvUmR3Z2tiNmpQS3ptUGpIbE8xZz09 Meeting ID: 861 9807 2516Passcode: 773689 Prepare for the Workshop This workshop is intentionally designed to allow for maximum learning, connections, and engagement. We advise the following in order to participate fully: Agenda Through demonstrations, small group breakouts with your peers, and feedback from your instructor, you will walk away with simple ways you can better connect with your students, faculty, staff, donors, and others as you discuss the following:   Presenting Your Surroundings – Learn how to adjust your technology and your office environment to minimize distractions and increase engagement.     Presenting Yourself – Learn what appropriate eye contact and body language looks like in a virtual environment.

Respond to Divisive Current Events in an Inclusive Way

There are a variety of divisive current events that we’re all experiencing and can no longer ignore—national events such as the U.S. presidential election or the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as local issues that are important to your campus community. Your students will likely exercise their first amendment rights to stand up for or against the issues they feel passionate about. How confident are you that your policies include all student groups with various social identities and that students understand the required procedures should they decide to organize? When students request support from the larger community, how do you set clear expectations for the appropriate level of faculty and staff involvement? You may feel like you have more questions than answers when preparing your campus community to respond to these hot button issues. Join us online to get answers to these burning questions. You will learn how to take a proactive approach to align your campus community’s first amendment rights and ensure all perspectives are equitably supported. Our expert instructor will provide tips and strategies for: Creating policies and procedures that are clear and equitable for all members of your community Defining and communicating faculty/staff roles in cases […]

Two Week Faculty Writing Challenge

VIRTUAL WRITING CAFE Two-Week Faculty Writing Challenge Complete 10 hours in 14 days to receive a 30-minute coaching session! The challenge is open weekdays October 5th – 16th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Eastern JOIN THE CAFE http://ai.adobeconnect.com/vw-cafe/ Having troubles getting into the room? Please contact us for assistance. Stay Tuned for the Next Challenge Dates! Orientation Dates & Times Click the link above to join the orientation call. Advanced registration is not required. September 29th | 1:00 p.m. Eastern September 30th | 2:00 p.m. Eastern October 1st |  3:00 p.m. Eastern Join Your Orientation Orientation (30 min group call with faculty nationally, with optional Q & A at the end for 15 min) 1. Join our Orientation call to learn the “3 Rules for Successful Writing” 2. Learn about the importance of accountability in your writing practice by making a commitment to reflect upon your writing process, stepping up your awareness, and learning new skills 3. Understand exactly what is expected once you get in the café on the first day Login Instructions for Cafe 1. Click the radio button that reads “Enter as a Guest” 2. In the box that says “Name” enter your name 3. Click the […]

Your First Month as a New Chief of Staff: How to Get It Right from the Start

A successful Chief of Staff juggles many priorities, communicates effectively across various channels, and has a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities. Taking steps to get clarity regarding your role, engage with stakeholders, and learn the expectations of the President when you first come into the role can ensure a smooth transition for all parties involved and help expedite your effectiveness and impact. In this one-hour training, our expert, Max Allen, will highlight the three key considerations to get right during your first month as Chief of Staff. You will leave this webcast feeling more confident to do what is necessary to pave the way to success in your new role.

The 5 Stages of Preparing Your Title IX Investigative Report

The final report that you prepare as Title IX investigator is critical. Not only is it highly visible and under scrutiny by all parties, but the information contained in it should also set the hearing panel up for success and reduce the exposure of litigation. To do this, your top priority is to create a report that is free from investigator bias, accurately represents the facts you gathered from the witnesses, and is well organized. When the stakes are this high, the pressure you feel to get this done might seem overwhelming. Join us online for this highly interactive four-hour workshop where you’ll learn and practice a five-stage process that will help you gain confidence in your ability to prepare a credible and thorough final investigative report. You will review and analyze a sample report, and your instructor will provide tips and strategies for how to: Present your report in a professional way that does not build up or break down any witness testimonies Depict the most comprehensive and accurate version of the story, including a thorough examination of witness corroboration and contradictions Respond to missing or incomplete components of your policy

Adapt Your In-Person Peer Mentor Program for a Virtual Environment

We know that one of the challenges of student retention and success in today’s socially distant and remote environment is how to foster student engagement while keeping students safe. Our research participants unanimously agreed that peer mentor programs are more important than ever—but there are major challenges to making them work. Though peer mentor programs have been tried and true student success interventions to keep students connected, most were designed to facilitate face-to-face interaction between students. Learn how one institution’s peer mentor program—which led to an 11% increase in retention pre-pandemic—was positioned for continued success in a remote learning environment. Our expert speaker will share steps you can take today to pivot your peer mentor program and provide seamless support for students whether learning is in-person, remote, or anywhere in between.

Strategies for Developing Workforce-Aligned Learning

Whether you’re a community college or a 4-year institution, you want to make your curriculum more relevant to the workforce. Community colleges have led the field in workforce development, and traditional 4-year universities are promoting entrepreneurship and experiential learning. Regardless of your institutional type, have you paused to ensure that your workforce development initiatives check all the boxes? Join us for a one-hour webcast where you’ll learn the key tasks you need to undertake at the community, administrative, and individual classroom levels to align your curriculum with the needs of the workforce. Our internationally recognized speaker will offer you a panoramic view of the work needed to spearhead workforce development at your institution so that you can distinguish yourself from your competitors, increase student engagement, and bolster career preparedness.

Transform Your Alumni Board Members Into Donors

Serving as a bridge between your alumni base and your advancement shop, your alumni board members are your best ambassadors. They can help you create a culture of philanthropy that not only engages your graduates but also transforms that engagement into giving. To do this, however, your board members should set an example by giving while also bringing new prospects into the fold. Join us online to learn how to cultivate your alumni board from prospects into donors and ambassadors who can positively impact your strategic fundraising initiatives. You will learn tips for engaging your alumni board in meaningful ways that inspire them to serve as examples for others. You will also hear best practices for training your board to assist with alumni volunteer recruitment, peer-to-peer solicitation, and stewardship so that they can add value at all stages of your fundraising efforts.

Integrating Social Media into Your Solicitation Communications Plan

Now more than ever, it’s imperative to incorporate social media into your annual giving solicitation communications plans to meet donors where they are every day – online. Join us for a webcast that will walk you through how to successfully integrate social media into annual giving and curate a seamless donor experience across solicitation channels. Our expert instructor, Karalee Harhaji, will come ready to share her experiences across two institutions, Georgetown University and Catholic University, each with varying budgets and knowledge in making the move to social media. Regardless of what your current practices are, you will have the chance to visualize how you can craft an improved plan moving forward.

Engaging in Empathy: Balance the Emotional Demands

As a leader, you likely know that empathy is a behavior that can help you build connections and trust with others on your team. Due to the uncertainty and rapid change we have been navigating through this past year, you may have found yourself exercising empathy with colleagues more often and at greater depths than you’ve ever had to before. Empathy fatigue may be settling in and you might be noticing that exercising empathy gets more difficult the more tired and worn out you become. Join us online for a 2.5-hour virtual training and discussion to learn how you can utilize your emotional intelligence to recognize the signals of fatigue and continue to embrace empathy when it’s most needed. Your instructor will introduce a toolkit of skills you can use to engage in empathy and use it effectively. You will have the opportunity to discuss how empathy shows up in your relationships and how you can begin to use the toolkit to foster meaningful connections with others.

Align Your Title IX Policy and Procedures to the New Law (Virtual Conference)

Align Your Title IX Policy and Procedures to the New Law September 29 – 30, 2020  Apply a 7-step process to identify gaps in your Title IX policy before they cost you time and money to fix. Welcome to your course page for your virtual conference! We’ll be adding links to meeting rooms, schedules, social media, and course materials as they become available. Make sure to check back as it gets closer to your conference! DAY 1 DAY 2

6 Strategies for Uniting Student Activists and Campus Administrators (Virtual Conference)

6 Strategies for Uniting Student Activists and Campus Administrators September 23 – 24, 2020 Student activists are more passionate than ever. Learn how to empower yourself and your student activists to come together. Welcome to your course page for your virtual conference! We’ll be adding links to meeting rooms, schedules, social media, and course materials as they become available. Make sure to check back as it gets closer to your conference! DAY 1 DAY 2 Check back soon for links! Troubleshooting Tips & FAQs Downloading and Testing Adobe Connect Downloading and Testing Adobe Connect Test your setup in advance: https://ai.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm Please click the Run Diagnostic Test option on this website to see if you need to update or download anything like Flash or the Adobe Connect app. If you have any issues, another option is to switch the internet browser you are using. Once you have completed necessary steps, you can test again. You’ll know it is working if the Adobe window in your browser launches the Adobe Connect app to log you in.   Accessing the Meeting Room The meeting link for each day of the conference can be found on the course page above. Follow the meeting link, […]

Foundations of Auditing Endowed Funds

Knowing and communicating the financial health of your endowed funds will show your donors that their gift remains in good hands, which increases the potential for further giving. Now is the perfect time to review your endowed funds to ensure they remain: Legal: In compliance with rules and regulations Possible: To be rewarded according to fund criteria Practical: Able to be administered within reasonable limits Join us for a three-hour virtual training to develop a plan of action for your next endowed funds audit. You will learn a step-by-step process to help you confirm whether your endowed funds are meeting both institutional compliance and donor intent. You will also identify potential risks and communication strategies for donors whose funds have been misspent, unspent, or are underwater. You’ll walk away with clearly defined next steps that will help you move your endowed fund audit forward.

Improving Faculty of Color Retention Efforts in Your Department

Many faculty members of color report bullying, harassment, invalidation, and exclusion by their colleagues and supervisors. To further perpetuate the toxicity, their personal experiences are often ignored or explained away, preventing meaningful change. As a result, faculty of color are often forced to leave their institutions to seek their own change, which can, in turn, negatively impact the sense of belonging for your students of color. With recruitment efforts halted due to budget cuts, you cannot afford this attrition. Now is the time to focus and improve your retention practices. Join us online for this three-hour workshop where you will learn how to take a proactive approach to your retention practices aimed at faculty of color. Our expert speakers will present the latest research explaining why retention efforts for faculty of color fall short. In addition, they will share best practices for utilizing and influencing your relationships, processes, and policies to your advantage to improve and sustain your efforts across the institution. You will spend time examining your own institutional data to understand systemic or department-level issues causing higher levels of attrition for your faculty of color.

The Value of Relevance During Cross-Examination in Title IX Hearings

The new Title IX regulations bring about two changes related to the live Title IX hearing process: Join us online for a four-hour virtual training designed to increase your comfort level with the cross-examination process. Our expert faculty will first provide context for the new rule and help you review your own process so that you can determine how well aligned you are with the new regulations. You will then learn cross-examination questioning techniques, allowing you to better develop your own set of questions related to witness credibility. Since relevancy can be tricky, you will practice the art and science of it through a case study, using a fact pattern designed to help you identify if questions are relevant or not. Our instructor will also guide you through a discussion of rape shield questions, which are now permitted in two limited ways during a live hearing.

Engaging International Alumni in a Virtual World

Institutions have seen a significant increase in their engagement with international alumni since the beginning of COVID-19. This increase can be attributed to programming that was adapted from primarily in-person to exclusively digital and alumni’s desire to connect over their shared experience of the pandemic. Now more than ever, institutions need to accelerate the development of their virtual programming, global brand ambassadors, and discovery visits to ensure international alumni can continue to be meaningfully engaged. How have recent changes impacted your international alumni engagement strategy? Are you leveraging the best thinking out there to maximize the contributions of this important alumni group? In this discussion-based virtual training guided by two experts, you will share with your peers and learn from their successes and lessons learned. Together, we will identify the emerging best practices in: Digital programing for international alumni Brand ambassador development Discovery visits

Taking Large-Scale Recruitment Events Online

As we face declining enrollments and a pandemic that limits in-person events, many enrollment and admissions professionals are struggling to adjust the traditional tactics they have used to recruit more students. Though most institutions rely on face-to-face recruitment events, the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging us to strategically shift to hosting virtual events instead. This program will prepare you for the specific challenges you are likely to face when you move your large-scale recruitment and yield events online. Our program will highlight the work of Barbara Loftus, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Rutgers University – New Brunswick, who had 24 days to convert an Admitted Student Open House that had approximately 19,000 attendees last year to an online format. Join us for this two-hour virtual training that will enable you to: Shift your planning processes for the online environment Craft or solidify plans for your own upcoming virtual recruitment events Gain ideas from your peers across the country