Education Commons^™

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.

Leading Through Change : 2020, Domenick J. Pinto

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Having served as department chair and school director for 31 years, I have witnessed a tremendous evolution in the role of chair as economic, social and student climates have changed. My session will summarize collected data from chairs of departments of various sizes and types in order to discuss and understand better our ever changing role as we see responsibilities of delegating, leading change, creative budgeting and fundraising, grant writing and managing conflict become vital to our positions

What I Wish I Knew: A Reflection Of A First-Year Chairperson, Tim Channell

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This session will provide the “top 10” list of things I wish I knew before becoming chairman. Valuable tips will be offered on time management, positive faculty interactions, working with shared governance to achieve more, overcoming imposters syndrome, understanding inter-office politics, and dealing with the onslaught of email.

Feedback: The Foundation Of Kind Leadership, Rebecca L. Koltz, Melissa Odegard

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Brene Brown states that “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” To give clear and direct feedback requires brave academic leaders who understand that feedback is critical to leadership success. This presentation will use a feedback model – Johari’s Window (Luft & Ingham, 1955), as a backdrop for understanding how to give productive feedback in higher education.

Facilitating Communication With Diverse Teams, Maryjane Lewitt

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Non- hierarchical communication structures are associated with greater clarity across all levels. These structures can be implemented in a variety of ways under different circumstances. A variety of communication processes should be implemented to improve communication with individualizing the technique to the type of information being communicated.

From Without And Within: Challenges Of Assuming Leadership, Melody Loya, Sue Joiner

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This presentation shares experiences in leadership at a regional university (from two perspectives, promoting from within and without) and discusses how the presenters built support systems to navigate changes. In a highly interactive format, participants will help guide the direction of the workshop.

Gender Diversity And Generational Gaps: Two Hurdles Worth One Giant Leap, Renee Marine

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Presenter and participants will explore the gender and generational similarities and differences that exist today both in the classroom and departmentally. Emerging strategies and best practices will be shared and discussed.

Values-Based Leadership: Culture Vs. Strategy, Kimberly Miloch, Abigail Tilton, Chris Ray

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Using Google’s Project Aristotle re:Work framework (2012), psychological safety principles (Edmondson, 1999; Edmondson & Lei, 2014), and Sinek’s (2009) purposeful leadership tenets, this workshop will engage participants in refining a leadership philosophy; in outlining steps to create a values-based culture; and in creating high performing research teams and committees.

Using Accreditation To Build Teamwork In A Department, David A. Line

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

The additional demands of the accreditation process provide a unique opportunity for program chairs to develop positive relationships between administration, staff, and faculty. This best practice presentation will look at the accreditation process from the perspective of the support staff and utilizing the accreditation process as a team building exercise.

I’M A Chair, But I Feel Like A Therapist, Krista Bridgmon, Aaron Alexander, Elizabeth List

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

For this seminar, we invite Chairs to evaluate situations in their practice that resemble the work of a counselor. To prime and contextualize this interactive workshop, the presenters will ignite the inner-listener. Skills in listening to listen, not listening to respond will be at the forefront of the presentation.

Building A Departmental Culture Using Data, Behavior, And Humility, Diane Myers

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This presentation focuses on how behavioral strategies, data-based decision making, and a healthy dose of humility (and humor) can create a departmental culture that promotes faculty, staff, and student success. Discussions and activities will center on creating and communicating expectations, determining priorities, and creating a collaborative community.

Facilitating Racial Equity: Evaluating A Leadership Workshop Series For School Social Workers, Summer G. Woodside, Veronica Hardy

International Journal of School Social Work

This article provides an overview of a leadership training workshop series designed to provide professional development to Pre-K through 12th grade school social workers about racial equity and leadership. The series' objectives included promoting social workers’ understanding of and obligation to facilitating racial equity in schools, analyzing educational data through a racial equity lens, conceptualizing school social workers as influencers in addressing racial inequities in schools, and collaborating with school professionals of various disciplines to practice and implement evidence-based approaches for facilitating racial equity in schools. The authors conducted five workshops that were developed based on state school social work …

Collaborative Autonomy: Exploring The Professional Freedom Of Three Science Teachers, Michael Ralph, Darian Robbins, Stephen Young, Laurence Woodruff

Educational Considerations

Education reform efforts must support and protect professional autonomy for classroom teachers. When policymakers attempt to make systemic change in ways that reduce the professional autonomy of educators, student learning suffers. Teachers need the freedom to identify their professional goals, seek resources and collaboration opportunities in pursuit of those goals, and act on feedback regarding their progress in meeting those goals. We present three stories from teachers who share a department engaged in collaborative autonomy. These accounts provide guidance for how professional autonomy can be defended by those pursuing systemic change.

Leadership During Change, Mischel Miller

Educational Considerations

The national education system, similar to the Kansas education system, has seen little change since the 1800s(Throckmorton, 1967). In fact, over 50 years later, there have been few changes. Children come to school around the age of five to enter kindergarten and then move through the current system by age and grade level. These children sit in rows, are addressed by the expert teacher, are given information, and are expected to memorize and regurgitate the material in a standardized testing process. Schools in Kansas predominately open their doors in August and close in May (KSDE, 2018), perpetuating the long history …

What Does A Successful 24 Year Old Look Like?: Reflections From The State Board Of Education, Jim Porter

Educational Considerations

“What does a successful 24 year old look like?” This is a critical question that must be successfully addressed if Kansas is to “Lead the World in the Success of EACH Student.”

For many decades we have attempted to fit the student in to the system and many students have been successful, however, many have not. What would happen if the system were built around the individual student? What would happen if student’s interests, passions and talents were controlling when determining the best educational plan for each student?

By developing Individual Plans of Study based on student interests, abilities and …

How Behaviorism Shaped A New Department Chair's Approach To Leadership, Diane Myers

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

During this presentation, a second-year department chair will discuss how her background in behaviorism (specifically, in positive behavior interventions and supports) shaped her approach to working with faculty. She will share successes, not-quite-successes, and other lessons learned from implementing a behavioral approach to leadership.

Interim Leadership Positions: The Kobayashi Maru Of Academia?, Alisha Ortiz, Julie A. Ray, Victor R. Wilburn, Melissa Odegard-Koester, Jeremy Ball

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Leading a department through a transition such as reorganization or restructuring is difficult. When the unit leader is in an interim position, this is even more complicated. This presentation will be led by faculty who were all in interim leadership positions during major transitions in leadership, restructuring, and staff layoffs.

Implementing The Guided Pathways Model: A Case For Change Management And Transformation, Russell Frohardt, Janie C. Scott

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Wouldn’t we all love to roll out changes according to best practices and reliable data? This session includes a case study on change management at a large community college, as well as a discussion on the strategies and best practices used to help academic leaders implement the Guided Pathways Model.

"The Inevitability Of Playing Politics As Chair: Advantages And Pitfalls”, Domenick J. Pinto

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Politics is a term often frowned upon as it pertains to the role of an academic leader. However as chair for almost 30 years it has become an essential yet sometimes unwanted aspect of the daily rigors of the position. This workshop explores the advantages and pitfalls of “playing politics” as a department chair and allows interactivity among participants in “what if” scenarios.

Effective Communication In Academia: It Goes Both Ways!, Domenick J. Pinto

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This workshops explores both the positive and negative aspects of communication with faculty, staff and administration. It emphasizes the effectiveness of GOOD communication skills as well as the dangers of MISCOMMUNICATION. Case studies, audience participation, and excerpts from literature on the topic will be presented.

Time Management For Department Chairs, Christian K. Hansen

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

In this workshop we discuss time management specifically from the perspective of an academic department chair. Topics covered include management of workflow, prioritizing projects and tasks, delegating effectively, reducing timewasters and using data-centered tools for budgeting and managing time. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in small group discussions using case studies developed based on real-world experiences.

Development For Department Chairs: Why Fundraising Is Now Part Of The Job, Craig D. Hlavac

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Development in higher education is often used synonymously with fundraising – and many believe both are relegated to the Office of Institutional Advancement and perhaps the Deans. However, the work of development in the contemporary university is quickly becoming everyone’s responsibility – including Department Chairs. While many chairs may have experience in writing grants to bring in revenue, the skills required to work with prospective donors are quite different. This session will provide all chairs with tools and resources focused on fundraising for the academic department. Donor relations, building a relationship with Institutional Advancement, and developing a department-based advisory board …

Building Blocks Of Effective Leadership, Katherine Frank, Kristi Haik, Royce Smith

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Three individuals will share their perspectives about mentoring and guidance within academia. They will discuss how the networking, questioning and formation of feedback opportunities in their relationships have contributed to their evolution as administrators—from department chair to provost.

Inspired Leadership: Using Spiritual Principles To Guide Department Chair Work, Kathy A. Gainor Ph.D.

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. Case studies from the experiences of department chairs will be examined.

Leadership Lessons From Six Seasons Of "Community", Kim Nehls

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

During five seasons of the NBC sit-com Community (2009-2015) and an additional season on Yahoo (2016), Americans discovered the academics and antics of Greendale Community College. The TV show centered around seven diverse students who formed a study group in the pilot episode and eventually morphed into a tight-knit family that worked and played together beyond graduation. Five student development theories are relevant to Community. Come to this session to see how lessons will be applied to examples from the show.