Digital Commons Network^™

What Services And Products A Scholarly Communications Department May Offer Your Department/College, Kris S. Helge

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

The presenter and the participants will discuss what faculty needs may be met by the services offered by members of a Scholarly Communications Department. Some of these needs may include citation counts, publishing needs, scholarship dissemination and preservation, assistance with intellectual property conundrums, and help with open educational resources.

An Ounce Of Prevention: Conducting Effective Candidate Background Checks, Jonathan Kremser

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This session will address the often-overlooked component of the faculty search: effective background screening of short-listed applicants. Case studies of insufficient background checks will be discussed, and practical resources will be provided to participants that will help them avoid the endless energy draining task of managing conflict.

Strategies For Increasing Cultural Communication Competence, Anne Mattina

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This interactive session will answer the questions: “what happens when we communicate with someone who has a different cultural background than our own?” and, “what can we do to improve the outcomes of those interactions?” Through facilitated discussion and a small group problem-solving exercise, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their current level of cultural awareness, recognize the impact this has on communication competency and improve skills in these areas.

Square Pegs In Round Holes: Evaluating Online Delivery For Course Quality, Krystal L. Brue Ph.D., Dana Hilbert Ed.D., Stephanie Boss Ed.D., Mary Dzindolet Ph.D., Jennifer Dennis Ph.D

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

With the expansion of online education, chairs and deans must formulate new strategies for evaluating online course development and instructional delivery. Four chairs (of Business, Education, Sports & Exercise Science, and Psychology Departments), and their dean, will share quality strategies for defining course criteria, developing quality course design, and delivering valued instruction.

Building Bridges To Enhance Degree And Career Opportunities, Deborah A. Greenawald Ph.D., Rn, Karen S. Thacker Ph.D, Rn, Samuel M. Bradley Dba, Thomas Franek Ph.D, Atc, Thomas Porrazzo Ph.D., Atc, Christopher Wise Dpt, Ph.D (C), Pt

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

External pressures on higher education are challenging universities to focus on preparing graduates with more broadly designed curricula that contain translatable skills and include interdisciplinary knowledge. In this presentation, the process of identifying and creating new academic programs based on unique student goals and contemporary employment needs will be discussed.

C4: An Interdisciplinary Approach To Improving Retention With Developmental Students, Kirk Weller, Heather Pavletic

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

In this session, we describe an interdisciplinary learning community program designed to improve retention among freshman students with three developmental placements. We will discuss how a similar program could be developed at other institutions and emphasize issues of transferability and scalability in the context of declining resources and retention.

New Chairs Boot Camp, Margaret A. Thomas-Evans, Chera A. Laforge, Katie Chaney

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Many chairs take on their role without any formal training, which leads to frustration and dissatisfaction. We developed a boot camp to provide initial onboarding and orientation for new chairs. In this session, we provide an overview of our program, which focused on strategic enrollment management and department administration.

The Joy Of Annual Reviews, Sheryl Barringer

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Annual reviews of faculty and staff are a valuable tool to inspire and learn more about the amazing people you supervise. They are also a critical time to enforce expectations and consequences. We will discuss subtle ways to increase productivity as well as the steps when termination is warranted.

Cultivating The Mental Wellness Of Faculty, Staff, And Chairs, Jeffrey Reber

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Presenters and participants will discuss emerging strategies and best practices available to chairs to support the mental health and wellbeing of faculty, staff, and the department chair within the unique context of higher education and given the work-life needs of faculty and staff.

Managing Course Consistency Across Multi-Campus, Multi-Modal Systems, David A. Line, Stephen Pyle

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Course standardization within multi-campus systems and between online and on-campus courses is critical for educational consistency, continual improvement, management of curricula and accreditation. This best practice presentation will review two calibration efforts undertaken by the authors at their respective Universities. Methodologies incorporated, systems developed and issues encountered will be discussed.

Leadership Tips For Department Chairs: From Theory To (Best) Practice, John Griffith

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This presentation will discuss tips and best practices that effective leaders use in working with and motivating faculty and staff. Good leaders are rare but most of us can lead effectively if we understand how to negotiate the mission/people balance in our organization.

Executive Presence For The Academic Chair, Trey Guinn

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Interactive session emphasizing how communication skills enhance executive presence and shape effectiveness from campus to home. Bring a positive attitude; be ready to learn while having a little fun. Leave with a fresh perspective on how to be a more clear, concise, compelling and confident communicator ready for and more capable of achieving effective executive presence.

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.

Building And Developing The Academic Leadership Pipeline, J. Micheal Crafton, Amber M. K. Smallwood, Elroi J. Windsor

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Presenters and participants will explore the need for and opportunities to build, support, and sustain a scaffolded infrastructure to enhance academic leadership knowledge and skills while developing a pipeline of academic leadership talent within the university.

Finding Your Why: Developing Personal And Departmental Mission Statements, Christopher Jochum

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

In this interactive workshop, presenters and participants will collaborate to learn how identify their leadership style in order to develop a personal mission statement. Participants will also learn how to replicate this process with their faculty to develop a departmental mission statement, thus contributing to departmental culture and cohesiveness.

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.

Whew, I Made It! : The Abc’S Of The First Year As Chair – Transitions, Experiences And Strategies, Carolyn J. Lee

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This presentation shares insights on the transition from faculty member to novice chair – a year of adjustments, challenges, rewards and lessons learned! Using literature findings and personal insight, the presenter will engage audience members to reflect on the value of their work and actively share in supportive dialogue.

The Department Chair Academy At The University Of Houston-Downtown, Edmund Paul Cueva, Lucy Bowen

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Presenters and participants will discuss a chair academy model that has had successful results. The topics covered in this presentation include the fundamental components of the academy (format, curriculum, activities), the origin of and need for the academy, and the results of a survey on the efficacy of the academy.

Stranger In A Strange Land: Old Chair, New University, Juliet V. Spencer, Vagner M. Whitehead, George A. King

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

There are opportunities and challenges associated with appointing a chair from within and from outside the organization. This discussion will consider multiple aspects and focus on considerations for changing institutions to assume the chair position.

Revealed: Secret Ingredients In The Chairperson’S Recipe For Assessment, Ryan Chung, Frederick Burrack, Kelva Hunger

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Academic chairpersons often experience frustration or lack of support when helping faculty/staff develop and administer assessment processes. This session will provide information and strategies on how to effectively guide program assessment processes.

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.

Document, Document, Document: The Value Of The Mou, Christopher Jochum

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

In this interactive session, the presenter will provide tips and lessons learned related to the power of documentation, especially through the use of memoranda of understanding (MOU). Equally applicable to faculty and students, participants will learn how to create MOUs and will be provided with examples and templates.

Cultivating An Environment Inclusive Of Students With Varying Developmental, Emotional, And Learning Needs, Alisha Ortiz, Victor R. Wilburn, Julie Ray, Melissa Odegard-Koester

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

The learning needs of students today represent a unique shift in the way we think about student preparedness for the academic experience and our duty to create the optimal learning environment for them. This presentation provides different ways Department Chairs have led faculty to help students with varying needs find success in higher education.

From Surviving To Thriving: Top Tips To Help Newer Chairs, Ethan Krase, Gian S. Pagnucci

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This session shares concrete strategies for helping department chairs navigate common problems more effectively and efficiently. With attention to managing email, handling complaints, constructing schedules, building relationships, and working with upper administration, the presenters offer practical tips to help newer chairs succeed.

Master Sergeant, Pusher, Midwife, Or The Department Chair, Randall Bowden, Jesse Brock, Phillis Bunch

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Six decades of literature were examined to get a sense of the role of the academic chair. Three things emerge. Roles: (a) vary widely; (b) change drastically; (c) are culturally influenced. This session discusses the role’s development from the influence of societal changes more than duties assigned by administrators.

Constructing An Effective Annual Departmental Report, Laurie Henry, Richard Wilkens

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Departmental strategic needs are wide-ranging placing increased demands on chairs to broaden their roles. To meet growing strategic demands, chairs must systematize the gathering of pertinent analytics and information. This workshop identifies important items to include in annual departmental reviews and how to leverage data towards positive departmental change.

Better Record Keeping And Documentation Techniques For Chairs., Kristi Haik, Beth Zimmer

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Presenters and participants will discuss tips and techniques for better record keeping and documentation practices in the department office. Areas of discussion will include suggestions for better record keeping strategies and how to properly document scheduled and impromptu meetings, meetings with faculty for promotion, tenure and review, and meetings with students and parents. We will provide take-home examples to make the day-to-day operations of the office run more smoothly.

"The Multidisciplinary Chair, Discussing Strategies And Tactics For Success.", Daniel Jorgensen, Pamela Brouillard

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Participants will discuss specific strategies and tactics that can help in successful leadership of a multidisciplinary department.

New And New-To-You: Transitioning To A New Chair Position, Christopher Barrick

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Whether you are chairing a department for the first time or starting a chair position at a different institution, your new job will be a challenging transition. This presentation offers practical advice and best practices for adapting to your new position as chair.

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.