Education Commons^™

Developing And Supporting The Diversity Of Chairperson Roles, Jean Pawl, Richard Griner, Deborah Richardson, Elizabeth Nesmith

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

A monthly Chair Professional Development program at Augusta University provides opportunity to mentor new chairpersons and foster collegiality amongst all chairpersons at a university with both liberal arts and health sciences programs. The merits and challenges of this program that addresses needs of such a diverse group will be highlighted

Promoting Chair Succession Through Development, Empowerment, And Encouragement, Christopher Benedetti

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

To ensure the stability of the department, department chairs should prioritize the identification and formation of potential successors. For this interactive session, a model and related strategies, supported by real examples, will be discussed for developing, empowering, and encouraging faculty to become ready to assume the role of department chair.

Founding Chair, Meet New Chair: Collaborating Through Chair Successions, James F. Konopack Phd, Christopher Hirschler Phd

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Challenges abound for new chairs, including the responsibility of [re]shaping the department’s vision. This can be doubly challenging when the founding chair moves into the dean’s office. In this session, founding chair and new chair share their story and facilitate discussion about a collaborative leadership transition.

Leveraging Technology For The Recruitment Of Students And Faculty, William Hoon, Christopher Hirschler

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This presentation will discuss some best practices in using the latest technology to assist in student and faculty recruitment in two distinct departments at two universities.

Working Professionals And Subject Matter Experts In The Classroom, David A. Line, Stephen F. Pyle

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Integrating real world expertise is a positive and growing trend in higher education. Building positive relationship with working professionals and subject matter experts has benefits and pitfalls. This session explores the pros and cons of using working professionals and subject matter experts in the classroom and in course development.

Implementing Program And Department Advisory Boards, Karen Blaisure Phd, Bryce Dickey Ms, Linda Dove Ma, John Mcelroy Phd

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Presenters will guide participants through a process to establish and maintain an advisory board for an academic program or department and will leave with ideas, suggestions, and a potential plan to share with faculty. Advisory board participation in assessment and improving academic curricula will be highlighted.

Facilitating Curriculum Change One Step At A Time, Joanna Mott

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Large departments provide additional challenges when leading change. Participants will learn strategies to thoughtfully move a department forward keeping transparency, respect for all and inclusiveness in mind and identifying, empowering and guiding department faculty leaders who are trusted by their peers.

Academic Leadership: Creating Successful (New) Leaders & Preserving Institutional Memory, Robert Williams, Rosemary Fithian Guruswamy, Dan Woods

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Participants will consider the following topics: identifying & articulating the primary responsibilities of a leadership position; preserving important institutional mores and memories during a change in leadership; developing institutional structures and materials to support new leaders in such transitions. Participants will leave with an action plan/checklist for supporting new leaders.

Creating A Sustainable Interdisciplinary Humanities Department, Lucia Ortiz, Kate Edney, Raffaele Florio

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

A trend at smaller colleges and universities is reconfiguring several small departments into a single, larger department. The leadership team—undergraduate chair, graduate program director, associate dean—of a Department of Humanities in its second year, will discuss the lessons learned over one year of breaking down silos across disciplines and degree levels.

Globalizing The Department To Expand Students’ Cultural And World Awareness, Jon K. Dalager

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Advances in technology and the development of a world economy requires all academic departments to prepare their students for life in a globalized world. This session presents specific ideas on how chairs can globalize their department, curriculum, and campus.

Developing A Succession And Transition Plan For Chairs, Frederick S. Wood, Holley Tankersley

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This session will discuss the process of developing a succession plan and making the transition to chair. The presenters will share their experience in making this transition together twice and provide participants with a checklist for planning their own transitions into and out of the position.

Ethical Dimensions Of Dyadic Communication For Chairs, Rob M. Mckenzie, Kelly L. Mckenzie

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

At the center of a Chairpersons responsibilities is their dyadic relations with others. Perhaps more than any other university position, the Chairperson facilitates their duties through one-on-one relationships with students, administrators, staff, and other faculty. These dyadic relationships often create ethical dilemmas because the decisions that must be made in in the context of one dyadic relationship can conflict with another dyadic relationship. This discussion will be facilitated by two presenters: One is a Chairperson of 7 Communication faculty, and the other is an Adjunct Professor in a department of 5 faculty in the Department of Academic Enrichment and Learning. …

Virtuous Leadership: Using Spiritual Principles To Guide Department Chair Work, Kathy A. Gainor

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

In this workshop, participants will explore six universal spiritual principles that can be useful in guiding one’s work as a department chair in a way that upholds that mission of the department and facilitates stress reduction and mental health of the chairperson.

Moral Leadership And The Chairperson, David S. Owen

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

What does it mean for chairpersons to exercise moral leadership? This discussion will focus on clarifying what moral leadership means to chairpersons, what sorts of moral challenges are faced, and how chairpersons can exercise moral leadership.

Shared Governance: Dividing Territories Or Aligning Priorities., Steven C. Bahls

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Faculty members, administrators and board members often view shared governance differently. As a result, shared governance is not effective at many institutions. This session explores the barriers to shared governance, how to remove these barriers and arrive at a common definition of shared governance that helps institutions move from shared governance to shared responsibility and accountability.

Setting And Achieving Appropriate Expectations For Faculty Performance, Allen Furr Phd, J. Emmett Winn Phd

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Evaluating colleagues is perhaps the most intimidating task for chair. This presentation aimsto: identify best practices for setting and meeting expectations for faculty performance; understand the importance of faculty expectations and the review process; and encourage accepting and sharing responsibility for the process. Interactive scenarios will be presented.

Leading Departments With Contingent And Tenure-Eligible Faculty: Strategies And Solutions, Diana L. Ashe, Matthew L. Tenhuisen, Colleen A. Reilly

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Leadership and communication strategies for leading departments that include both contingent and tenure-eligible faculty through three case studies, dealing with 1) voting rights and other claims upon resources; 2) a lack of career milestones, making contingent faculty feel “stuck”; and 3) ways to value contributions of contingent faculty.

Performance Management Or “Herding Cats”? Strategies To Support Faculty Success, Dawn Bratsch-Prince, Rodney S. Bagley

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Presenters and participants will engage in analysis and discussion of several case studies illustrating common faculty performance issues. Presenters will share practical performance management tools and best practices for promoting faculty success.

The Art And Science Of Evaluating Online Programs, Mary-Katherine Smith, Kathy Adler

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Evaluation of online programs is an elusive blend of art and science. The science is based on a mix of technological opportunities and research techniques. This session explores innovative practices in evaluation of online higher education and how the results can be used to guide the growth of a program.

Avoid Yet Another Search: Programs That Support A Diverse Faculty, Michael A. Mcpherson, Christy Crutsinger, Sean Jefferson, Debbie Rohwer

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Retaining quality faculty members is a critical issue in collegiate settings. This session will give background on retention, including (1) a video showcasing faculty diversity issues, (2) a case study application activity, and (3) a description of retention initiatives. The session will conclude with a synthesis activity wherein participants will develop a list of activities that can promote retention in their own settings.

Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning: Developing A Culture Of Assessment, Jacqueline M. Disanto, Nelson Nunez Rodriguez, Antonios Varelas, Alisa Roost

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Initiative at Hostos Community College focuses on melding assessment and faculty development through a scholastic approach. In order to facilitate a campus-wide engagement in assessment, particularly related to the effectiveness of classroom instruction, the focus remains on individual expectations and talents, professional responsibilities, and using formative and summative assessment to improve student success and recidivism. This was initiated through open dialogue on the critical need for inquiry-based instruction, targeted presentations, and a sustainable network of support.

New Chair Alliance, Katherine Frank, Dan Wheeler

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Those who will soon transition into a chair position or who have been a chair for two years or less will find this workshop particularly valuable. Topics covered include transitioning to new roles and responsibilities, annual planning, everyday management, strategic planning for the future, personal development, and finding satisfaction in being a chair and making a difference. Participants will gain practical tips and tools to improve effectiveness, become familiar with essential resources, learn how to identify an administrative mentor, as well as connect and network with others at a similar career stage.

Navigating The Trauma Of Change, Kent Crookston

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Academic leaders have identified “dealing with change” as the second of their top concerns. Dr. Crookston researched and experienced first-hand the “change characters” that emerge from within any group faced with restructuring or innovation. Participants leave this workshop better able to anticipate, understand, and work effectively with the range of personalities that react and adapt differently to change.

Keynote. Leadership And Research In Turbulent Times: Why They Matter For Democracy, Pamela Bishop

Western Research Forum

Engaging in leadership and research can be complex work in the best of times—for graduate students and professors alike. During times of conflict, confusion, or disorder, the nature of our leadership or research contributions can be additionally shaped or tested in ways that require highly astute responses. Sound leadership and research are part of what underpins the fuller functioning of a democracy, whether manifest in a community, university, or workplace setting. Most students who graduate will be well positioned to take up careers where they provide leadership and create or use evidence in concert with others, over the coming decades. …

A Student's Perspective On Poverty And Student Behavior/Responsibility In The Classroom, Wallis B. Johnson

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Participants will be able to describe poverty, poverty in education, poverty in the classroom and have first hand knowledge of a student’s perspective on life in the school building. Many research studies have focused on school success in relationship with gender, ethnicity, race and culture, however, “poverty may be the most important of all student differences…” (Burney et al., 2008, p. 295).

Target audience: administrators, educators, boards of education

The Values Grounded Learning Environment: Developing A Positive School Culture And Student Success, Michael J. Redivo Ph.D., Lynn Coleman

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

The Values Grounded Learning Environment training provides educators with a comprehensive positive behavior management model, including basic strategies for effective limit setting and positive reinforcement. It is a user friendly model that can be implemented in a variety of educational settings and provides a framework for thoughtfully responding to student behaviors and emphasizing student and staff accountability.

Student Voice: The Beacon In Our Journey To School Improvement, Yolanda Stanislaus, Helen J. Webster, Beth W. Hester

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Is it possible to reduce the achievement gap simply by implementing effective instructional practices? Francis Scott Key Middle School in Montgomery County Maryland learned that building the cultural proficiency of teachers had to move beyond strategies. Francis Scott Key’s Student Voice Project helped both teachers and students transform their thinking about instruction, communication, and school improvement.

Massachusetts Schools Respond To Gun Violence And Opioid Abuse For Youth Experiencing Stress, Anxiety, Or Trauma, Teresa L. Sullivan M.Ed., Dympna M. Thomas Phd

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

1. This workshop will demonstrate how one Massachusetts high school has responded to the seismic shift in responsibility for student behavioral health and the provision of social services to youth experiencing stress or trauma.

Collective Impact: The Strategies And Realities Of Implementing A ‘Shared Youth Vision’, Ken Karamichael, Larry Katz, Sara Nolan

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

“Collective Impact” will demonstrate innovative approaches to partnership and funding models in urban youth programming in response to the emerging trend of collective impact funding initiatives. This workshop will highlight successful work within the Rutgers University network, with emphasis on effective strategies for fund diversity, partnership development, and tools in data collection, school enrollment, student retention and program evaluation.