Education Commons^™

Educating And Advocating: A Professional Responsibility For School Leaders And School Counselors, Jessica Lane, Donna Augustine-Shaw, Melanie Scott

The Advocate

While educators are tasked with many competing professional responsibilities, it is necessary that the focus of advocacy for student well-being stay at the forefront. In particular, for school counselors and school leaders, advocating has never been more important. This article will highlight the role of advocacy found within the professional standards for school counselors and school leaders, and shine light on the need to advocate for social-emotional learning.

The Impact Covid-19 Is Having On Freedom Of Speech And Expression On Campuses: From Issues To Solutions, Renee Marine

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

At a time of complete uncertainty, one thing remains consistent, the right the American people to freedom of speech and expression. What comes into question, is the cost of expressing that freedom. As stated in the First Amendment (1789):

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for the redress of grievances. (p. 1)

Right now, while millions of people are fighting for their lives, hundreds of thousands …

Navigating Leadership In Academia Through A Crisis, Domenick J. Pinto

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Academic leadership is a fast-paced ever changing entity. When you add an unexpected global pandemic to the mix, it changes academic life beyond anyone's wildest dreams. In this workshop I hope to share how I and my colleagues handled the pandemic and invite the participants to share their experiences. Let's learn from one another!

Managing Uncertainty Through Values-Centric Leadership, Kimberly Miloch, Chris Ray, Abigail Tilton

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Crises force leaders to think in the short-term to address immediate needs. In navigating emergencies like COVID-19, it is vital that leaders remain values-focused, especially when considering short-term solutions that inevitably have long-term impact. This presentation examines values-centric leadership in the context of crisis communication, budget reductions, and strategic planning.

Faculty Reopening Committee: A Study Of Chair And Faculty Collaboration, Jeffrey Ward

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

The presenter will share experiences with a self-selected group of volunteer faculty to form a Reopening Committee, offering conclusions not only about the committee but also about also how it more broadly illustrates principles of faculty governance and collegial relationships among faculty and between the faculty and the department head.

Faculty Reopening Committee: A Study Of Chair And Faculty Collaboration, Jeffrey Ward

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

The presenter will share experiences with a self-selected group of volunteer faculty to form a Reopening Committee, offering conclusions not only about the committee but also about also how it more broadly illustrates principles of faculty governance and collegial relationships among faculty and between the faculty and the department head.

Navigating The Realm Of Faculty Evaluation, Sonal Dekhane, Patrice Bell, Neelam Khan

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

In this presentation the presenters will discuss annual evaluation process followed at a young, liberal arts institution. Chairs from three different STEM disciplines will provide an overview of the annual evaluation process and share strategies to ensure successful and consistent evaluation in departments of various sizes.

Do Academic Supervisors Know What Their Employees Want From Work?, John C. Griffith Ph.D.

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Presenter will discuss the results of a survey which included respondents from the 2020 Academic Chairperson’s Conference on what employees want from work. Results were compared between what employees valued and what supervisors thought employees wanted from work. Conference participants will be asked to consider how the 10 work factors evaluated in this study impact their employees to include faculty. Additionally, we will discuss strategies focusing on key work factors to improve motivation.

Academic Leadership In The New Normal, Jeff Buller

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

The COVID-19 pandemic. The assault on the U.S. capitol. Global warming. Toxic polarization. These and other factors have created what many in higher education now refer to as “the New Normal.” It's a period when many of our former assumptions about higher education—including the reason for going to college itself—are increasingly being called into question. How can department chairs lead most effectively in this altered landscape of higher education? What has really changed, and what has remained relatively untouched by recent events? In this workshop, participants will explore how to plan and guide their programs when the only thing they …

Women In Leadership: They Persist, Marilyn J. Amey, Kristi L. Haik, Maria Alm, Christina Lunceford, C. Casey Ozaki, Royce Smith

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This Spotlight Presentation features the expertise of higher education leaders at different stages of their career. These individuals pursued unique professional pathways within different educational contexts and been exposed to opportunities and challenges calling for a range of problem-solving skills. They will share experiences, what it means to advocate for oneself as a leader, for others, and how to create conditions for sustainable change supporting inclusivity within the complex, shifting landscape of higher education.

Step Right Up: Walking The Work-Life Balance Tightrope In The Circus Of Higher Education, Krystal Brue, Shaun Calix, Jennifer Dennis

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Most professionals experience demanding obstacles when balancing on the work-life tightrope. Managing highly demanding occupational and life challenges may not come naturally. This presentation’s purpose is to examine work-life imbalance, review movements for finding harmony between work and non-work, and recommend strategies for improving work-life balance in high impact positions.

Assessment Basics: How To Implement An Effective Student Learning Assessment Process, Frederick Burrack

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Assessment Basics is a workshop focused on understanding the purpose behind student learning assessment, strategies to guide curricular integration, and techniques to use data for program improvement. Participants will be involved in leadership techniques to transfer into their own context. Experience with assessment processes will enable academic chairpersons with skills to guide faculty involvement and promote self-review of data that leads to continual program improvement. Assessments in higher education are crucial in providing indicators of the educational effectiveness and quality of its educational offerings. Assessments help students, instructors, and administrators answer various questions about student development, the value of specific …

Establishing A Faculty Mentoring Program, Joshua Schulte

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Presenter will discuss the establishment and conductance of a college-wide faculty mentoring program. The program entails connecting a new faculty member with a mentor and includes regular meetings, observations, and discussions of pedagogy.

Not Your Typical Administrator, Shaunda French-Collins, James F. Koehn, Wendy Waugh

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Presenters will examine the trend of “wearing many hats” in higher education leadership. For example, being both a department chair and faculty member. In addition, the notion of successfully managing up, the importance of understanding each role you have, and understanding your situational role and the communication we use will be discussed. Lastly, participants will engage in case study scenarios challenging participants to consider various administrative situations and identifying reasonable approaches based on which “hat” you are wearing.

Hollywood Leadership Theory, Part 1, Christopher Barrick

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Leadership advice is readily available in journals and books, but are those sources most relevant for today’s leaders? This presentation aims to take a different approach by presenting sound leadership principles as seen in television and movies, translating Hollywood leadership to the everyday life of academic departments.

Higher Education Leadership Development During The Covid-19 Pandemic: An Exploration Of Online Learner Readiness, Kevan W. Lamm, Alyssa Powell, L. Rochelle Sapp, Alexa Lamm

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated profound disruptions across the higher education sector as institutions were forced to restructure entire systems and operate with significantly reduced resources. Most notably, many institutions were forced to transition to fully virtual instruction. The present study examined adult leadership development program participants’ perceptions of online learning readiness during the transition to a fully virtual training environment precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A census of the 2020 LEAD21 class was taken, and perceptions of online learning readiness were collected via a retrospective pre- and post-test. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Respondents had the highest levels of …

Spiritual Leadership In Early Intervention Practice, Jo L. Mccray

Adult Education Research Conference

This study explored integrating the principles of spiritual leadership theory into early intervention therapeutic practice to enhance services provided to children and families. Semi structured interviews served as major sources of data.