Attracting Faculty Talent: A Discussion for Department Chairs

In recent years, you may have noticed that it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to attract faculty talent to your campus. Many institutions are finding that the offer of tenure is not enough. The pandemic made people rethink their priorities. Generational differences are impacting what some people value in their workplace. The social and political climate […]

Engaging Mid-Career Faculty: A Faculty Development Discussion

Most faculty development focuses on early-career faculty under the misguided assumption that mid-career faculty have “figured it out.” Yet mid-career faculty actually report the highest levels of dissatisfaction and are increasingly leaving higher education. Thus, institutions are noting the need to provide more comprehensive support to mid-career faculty but are unsure of how to engage […]

Assess the Strategic Position of Your Department

The increasingly competitive landscape within higher ed requires department chairs to be dynamic, not passive, in how they respond to challenges and opportunities. This requires you to make important decisions that may impact your department for years to come. As a new department chair, this can feel scary since you’re still learning how to do […]

The New Department Chair’s Dilemma: Learning to Manage Commitments To Yourself and Others 

Shifting your role from faculty to department chair also means shifting your mindset from individual contributor to department convener, collaborator, and champion. You are now responsible for your own success, as well as for facilitating the successes of others, including faculty, staff, and students. Your reach extends beyond your department, as well, as you’re now […]

Develop Your Executive Presence as Department Chair

As a department chair, you have more visibility and impact across the campus when compared to when you were simply an individual contributor as a faculty member. Given the complex and ever-changing landscape within higher ed, it’s more important than ever to demonstrate your executive presence.    Executive presence is your ability to inspire confidence at […]

Creating a Culture of Care

In part three of this discussion series, The Impact of Enhancing Customer Service in Higher Education, learn strategies and techniques that can be used to create a more caring culture on your campus and increase the quality of the student and employee experience. 

Managing Difficult Customers

In part two of this discussion series, The Impact of Enhancing Customer Service in Higher Education, learn techniques for diffusing common challenges that arise when managing difficult customers. You won’t make everyone happy, but you can surely try! 

Managing Student and Employee Complaints

In part one of this discussion series, The Impact of Enhancing Customer Service in Higher Education, learn techniques for managing common student and employee complaints to enhance satisfaction and retention. 

Understanding and Clarifying Faculty Mentoring Roles

As faculty navigate mentoring relationships, a number of challenges can arise as a result of expectations and roles not being as clearly defined as possible. Mentors can serve in many different roles for mentees, including coaches, confidants, teachers, guides, advocates, sponsors, and more. Mentors may even move between roles depending on the needs of their […]

Writing Workshop for Advancement

As a donor relations or communications professional, you may be looking to improve your writing and considering which form of media you should use to deliver messages. Writing to donors and prospects takes a certain touch, particularly when you are competing with a world of sensory input. Not only do you have to be warm, […]