Archives: Courses

Professional Development: What Really Matters to Faculty and Staff

In this free webcast, we’ll share findings from a multi-year, longitudinal study specific to higher education—find out what really matters to employees in terms of career growth and development. Discover: In our study, we found that even in environments with very limited funding for professional development, intentional and structured conversations between supervisors and staff about their development made a significant difference. Today, with an increasingly distributed, disconnected, and diversified workforce, HR leaders in higher education must approach employee satisfaction and engagement differently than in the past.

Pivoting Forward: The Current Financial Picture in Higher Ed

The financial impact to higher education due to the current crisis has been significant, with many colleges and universities announcing cost-cutting measures in recent weeks. It is imperative that institutions pivot and adjust in order to remain financially viable, but with so much uncertainty surrounding fall semester and the course of the pandemic, the way forward is unclear. What creative strategies are other university leaders employing? How are other institutions managing through? Watch the recording of this lively conversation with Audra Kahr, Chief Financial Officer at Cedar Crest College. You will hear from our expert and your fellow attendees as they describe their current practices and approaches to four key areas that are critical to institutional financial viability moving forward:

Making Data-Informed Academic Program Decisions

Access to academic program data is more crucial than ever before. With information changing daily and emotions running high, academic and finance leaders must have all the actionable data available—and know how to apply it—so you can quickly make informed decisions and create more sustainable outcomes. This free and timely webcast will reveal how to unpack and understand the economics of your programs and courses to boost curricular efficiency and optimize your program portfolio. Bob Atkins and Bill Massey will use data to reveal myths about program profitability and help you avoid all-too-common pitfalls in program analysis. Finally, they will demonstrate how to find the unique opportunities that are emerging in this turbulent time and prepare you for your rebound.

Academic Program Management: Making Data-Informed Decisions

Decision-making around academic programs is too often driven by gut feelings or internal interests. While institutional judgment is important, program decisions ultimately need to be anchored in data to ensure the program is viable and competitive in today’s market. Join us for a webcast that will help you make more data-informed decisions around your academic programs. Whether you are looking to launch new programs or grow or cut existing ones, our expert presenters from Gray Associates will help you:

Key Considerations for Virtual Reality (VR) Implementations for Student Learning

Most colleges and universities are either not using virtual reality (VR) or are using it in more token ways. Yet, according to the Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies 2018 report, these technologies are rapidly reaching a much more mature stage – holding more promise for higher education and student learning than ever before. For most institutions, however, this promise of VR in student learning is still unrealized. That’s why we’ve designed a collection of webcasts and resources to help you explore how VR might fuel better learning outcomes. See below which of our webcasts and resources you and your team qualify for based on your membership status.

Accelerate Your Professional Growth: A Forum for Chiefs of Staff

The Chief of Staff role is a relatively new and evolving entity on college campuses. The role is often vaguely defined and consequently, locating resources and support systems to be successful in your position can be a challenge. Join us for this free recorded discussion as we explore tactics and resources to help grow your skillset, create a support system, and utilize your unique position to advocate for change. This discussion was led by Max Allen from Clemson University and Brittany Williams-Goldstein from Ramapo College, two accomplished Chiefs of Staff who shared what they have learned from their experiences.

Using Social Media in Your COVID-19 Response

As the COVID-19 situation evolves rapidly, institutions are turning to social media—which is ideal for up-to-the-minute information—as a critical means of communication. With this channel comes a host of decisions around things like tone, content, and response times that social media managers, who may already be overtaxed, must figure out on the fly. Join us for this webcast recording where we facilitate a discussion with Tony Dobies, Senior Director of Marketing at West Virginia University. You’ll hear from our expert, as well as your fellow attendees, on questions such as:

Supporting Student Mental Health During the Current Crisis

Continuing to support student mental health needs in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is critical. Stress and anxiety are high, and current circumstances are causing hardship for many. Student affairs leaders and counseling center directors are operating as best they can in this environment, while simultaneously navigating rapidly-evolving institutional responses and balancing their own well-being. Join us for this webcast recording where we facilitate a conversation with Kelly Wesener-Michael, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students at Northern Illinois University, and Kristen Gray, Director of Counseling & Psychological Services at Hope College. In this open discussion space with our experts and your peers, we shared strategies, current approaches, and decision points related to the following items:

Supporting First Generation Students Amid COVID-19

Supporting first-generation students in this turbulent time is more challenging than ever before. There are no established best practices for addressing the diverse needs of first-generation students as institutions make decisions related to the pandemic. Understanding their unique needs and creating awareness of potential technology access gaps, among other issues, is crucial to maintaining equality for your student body. Watch this webcast recording where we facilitate a conversation with La’Tonya Rease Miles, Director of the First Year Experience & Strategic Initiatives at UCLA and Cynthia Mosqueda, Faculty Coordinator of First Year Experience Programs at El Camino College. You’ll hear from our experts as well as your fellow attendees on questions such as:

Supporting Faculty Transitions to Teaching Online: A Discussion for Academic Leaders

Supporting faculty through the transition to remote learning has been a tall order for academic leaders in recent weeks. While most courses have now transitioned successfully online, the need for ongoing training—both on the technology side and the pedagogical side—persists. Join us for this webcast recording to hear a discussion between your peers and our experts about how they are accounting for ongoing training and support for faculty regarding remote instruction. Erik Nelson, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Beth Semaya, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Columbia University will share their approaches to:

Student Retention: A Discussion of Practices & Approaches During Uncertain Times

The COVID-19 crisis and the rapid transition to online learning have forced student success professionals to think about student retention on a day-by-day basis rather than semester-by-semester. Systems of outreach and support that were previously in place have had to be adapted for the online environment, and in some cases, completely overhauled. Watch this webcast recording of a facilitated discussion with Julie Nash, Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies and Student Success at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. You will hear from our expert and your fellow attendees as they describe their approaches to:

Strategies to Effectively Engage Students in Online Learning: A Discussion of Best Practices

Amid the rapid shift to remote learning, faculty are seeking to acquire tools and knowledge to ensure an engaging experience for their students. This is a steep learning curve for many who have little to no experience with remote instruction. Watch this webcast recording of a facilitated discussion around how best to foster student engagement in an online setting with Amber Dailey-Hebert, Director of the Faculty Center for Innovation at Park University. Our expert and your fellow attendees have shared ideas and current practices around things like:

Perspectives on Annual Giving Amid COVID-19

Annual giving teams have needed to adapt to unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances caused by COVID-19. This has forced many shops to make big decisions on short notice, upending the long-term planning that is typically required for a successful annual giving year. This unprecedented situation calls for action now, not later, in order to salvage a critical component of your advancement operation. Watch a recorded discussion between your peers and our expert about how annual giving strategies are being managed amid the crisis. Dan Frezza, Associate Vice President for Strategic Operations and Annual Giving at the College of William & Mary will share his approaches and perspectives on:

Managing in a Changing Fundraising Environment: Remote Teams, Skeptical Donors, and an Uncertain Landscape

As the pandemic unfolds, the challenges of serving as a mid-level leader in advancement are unique. You are accountable to both your direct reports and your leadership team — meanwhile, the conditions and processes you have come to rely on need to be adapted. Watch this webcast recording of a facilitated discussion with Zack Smith, Executive Director of Development at the Jacobs School of Engineering, UC San Diego. You’ll hear from our expert as well as your fellow attendees on questions like:

Leading Through a Crisis

In the last few weeks, every aspect of higher education—from educational delivery to research to student support—has changed profoundly. Leaders have had to make difficult decisions with incomplete information in hand and against a backdrop of fear and confusion, knowing that their decisions will drastically alter both campus operations and the experiences of the many students, faculty, and staff they serve. Watch this webcast recording where our experts and your peers discuss the nuances of how to effectively lead through a crisis. Our panelists shared honest and authentic perspectives on how to:

How to Manage Stress as a Faculty Member During Uncertain Times

The COVID-19 crisis has put a great deal of strain on faculty members as they juggle already taxing schedules with a rapid transition to remote instruction. Managing a new style of teaching, disruptions to research and writing practices, and the realities of working from home have proved to be a herculean task for many. Watch this webcast recording where we facilitate a conversation with Anita Kite, PhD, and Carina Vocisano, PhD, psychologists and faculty coaches for Academic Impressions. In this open discussion space with our coaches we shared strategies and practices on topics such as:

Executing Your Communications Plan During a Crisis

Institutions are now several weeks into their COVID-19 responses, but there are still many emerging decisions that need to be communicated to students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, and the local community. It’s critically important that these communications are cohesive and true to your institution’s brand, while also being transparent and resonant with the intended audiences. Watch this webcast recording where we discuss the execution of a coordinated, institution-wide communication standard to present COVID-19 and response-related updates. You’ll hear our expert Brittany Williams-Goldstein, Chief of Staff & Board Liaison at Ramapo College, as well as from your fellow attendees, around questions such as:

Adjusting Academic Policies Because of COVID-19: A Discussion Space

With no national standards available, it is difficult to make decisions around academic policies during the current COVID-19 crisis. In tandem with faculty senate, academic leaders are needing to revisit academic policies around things like the tenure clock, shared governance, graduation requirements, and repeating coursework that impact both students and faculty. As decision-makers push forward, many are wondering what other institutions are doing. Watch this webcast recording where we facilitate a conversation around these questions with Corey Cook, Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Planning at St. Mary’s College of California. We will discuss: Regarding Faculty Regarding Students

The Art of Faculty Accountability

For many reasons, it can feel challenging to hold faculty accountable for their performance—especially when they’re struggling. The truth is, not holding faculty to expected standards often seeds long-term problems, creates resentment amongst faculty colleagues, and is a disservice to the institution’s students. But how do we do this work in a way that brings out the best in our faculty?  Join us online to discuss ways to inspire faculty to pursue higher levels of performance. You’ll hear from a panel of three academic leaders at various career levels—Department Chair, Dean, and Assistant Provost. Together, they’ll share their experience, tips, and strategies for how to hold faculty at all stages of their career accountable in ways that are supportive and mission-aligned ways. We invite you to come prepared to share your own insights, tips, or questions for the group, so that we can grow our collective wisdom, as well. 

Managing Faculty Workloads: A Discussion for Department Chairs

Faculty bring a range of academic and professional talents to their departments. Because of this, many faculty carry heavy workloads, which can lead to high levels of burnout. Chairs are in the unique position to manage faculty workloads, and consequently, the long-term growth and development of faculty, as well. However, many chairs do not have training or background in talent management.  Join us online for a one-hour discussion in which we’ll talk about how you can develop an intentional talent management strategy for your department. Although the conversation will be responsive to the questions asked by the attendees, the discussion will focus on sharing systematic and evidence-based talent management strategies that will help you to balance the workload for your faculty.  Come prepared to engage in dialogue, ask questions, and share insights with other department chairs from across the country.