Education Commons^™

A Fireworks Display Of Library Instruction, Terri M. Rickel

Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings

Instructing students on how to use the library and the databases in one setting, especially when there is only 50 minutes, can be extremely overwhelming for the students and instructor. This session covered tips that can be used in the interview process with the professor, creating a flipped classroom or blended instruction opportunities to enhance the learning process ( including pre or post-session), as well as demonstrating guides for assisting students in database searching techniques. Finally, the session ended with ways to get buy-in from professors about tutorials and guides used outside the lessons.

Juggling Collections And Connections To Community: Changing Role Of Libraries, Jorge A. Leon Jr, Barbara M. Pope

Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings

The traditional role of the academic librarian has long been the support of the university’s needs through instruction, collection development, and research assistance. Over the decades, this role has evolved to match the needs of the 21^st century university. At Leonard H. Axe Library, the challenge has been to balance the print and electronic collections at a university whose programs do not draw enough on library resources while also creating meaningful connections with students and faculty. To increase collection relevancy and make meaningful connections, the library has been creating opportunities for patrons to be content-creators and to engage with …

Can Smaller Colleges Use The Aac&U Rubrics?, Gloria F. Creed-Dikeogu

Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings

This article introduces the American Association of Colleges and University’s (AAC& U) Value Rubrics to smaller colleges and describes how the Value Rubrics (2009) offered free to download from the AAC&U website may be used as effective assessment tools in academic and information literacy courses and programs on their campuses. This article also describe why and how a small Kansas college has proceeded to use the AAC&U Value Rubrics alongside the SAILS pre- and post-test to assess a for-credit information literacy course offered to undergraduate students.

Enhancing Student Retention Through A College-Level First Year Seminar, Marie T. Huff, Nancy Orel, Melissa Burek

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

To augment university wide retention efforts, we developed a unique first-year seminar experience to enhance student interactions with peers, faculty, and staff; increase their sense of belonging; and help them integrate into the college culture. Presenters will share the results and recommendations on how other schools might utilize this initiative.

University Consolidations And Multi-Campus Institutions: Prevailing When Cultures Collide, Jill G. Schulze, Nancy Dalman, Jeanelle Morgan

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

University consolidations have escalated since 2007. We will share our experiences of working through departmental consolidation and multi-campus challenges from our perspective as administrators located on different campuses. Following this, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices for multi-campus problem-solving and distance communication.

Engaging Faculty And Students Within Fully Online Asynchronous Academic Departments, Jessica R. Nelson

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Presenter will discuss common barriers to implementing online programs including challenges of hiring distance faculty, communication breakdown between faculty and students, and issues with academic integrity. Best practices will be presented in order to help chairpersons overcome barriers to the online learning environment and engage both faculty and students with the use of innovation and inexpensive uses of telerobics, telecommunications software and enhancing their own universities learning platforms.

A Faculty Mentorship Program: Supporting, Engaging, And Retaining New Faculty, Susan Lynch, Cynthia Barrere, Lisa G. O'Connor, Laima Karosas, Jean Lange

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Schools need to foster growth and retention of new faculty, often content experts with minimal formal academic experience. Compounding factors include inadequate numbers of seasoned faculty due to retirements, burnout, or low salaries. This session will describe a unique evidence-based faculty mentorship program that supports, engages, and retains new faculty.

Faculty Input In Evaluation For A College With Many Disciplines, David Bellar, Nathan M. Roberts, Paula M. Montgomery

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

The co-presenters will describe how faculty in one academic unit of a large College combining many academic disciplines were tasked with examining best practices and development of a faculty merit performance evaluation rubric. Perspective on the project will be offered by the initiating School Director, Dean of the College and Associate Dean of the College .

Understanding & Communicating Business Program Outcomes Through Visualization And Mapping, Kelli Schutte

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This session will share the process and outcome of a business program curriculum assessment. The assessment includes conceptual frameworks, curriculum mapping and data visualization to convey results. The process of developing the plan, collecting data and conveying results will be shared.

Curriculum Renewal And Alignment Expedited, Jacqueline Kress

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Keeping program curricula current, aligned, effective, and engaging can be daunting. This session provides experience extracting and clarifying implied learning objectives, content, and other program elements and using them in an expedited curriculum renewal and alignment process successful with diverse programs such as business, engineering, graphic arts, and teacher education.

Making Decisions That Faculty Support: Healthy Systems For Administrative Collaboration, Noel Painter, Thomas Gilmore Masse

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

An in-depth examination of the traits that lead to healthy decisions, and the pitfalls that may undermine the decision makers.

Building Toward A Shared Culture Focused On Student Learning, Andrea Lassiter

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Revising or establishing student learning goals for a department can be a key point for driving change in curriculum, program structure, and faculty development. This session describes one department’s efforts toward culture change with student learning goals that feed higher level institutional objectives, comprehensive program assessment, and accreditation.

Enhancing Communication Through Crucial Conversations® Training: Outcomes And Best-Practices, Dawn E. Bratsch-Prince, Rodney S. Bagley

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Department chairs and other academic leaders were invited to participate in Crucial Conversations training as part of professional development programming sponsored by the provost’s office. This session will 1) describe the logistics of the program including the Crucial Conversations platform; 2) present cohort data, 3) share assessment data for the program; and 4) identify best practices for on-going communication training.

Creating Healthier Academic Work Environments: Exploring Best Practices At Departmental Level, Otrude N. Moyo Dr., Mary Jo Finney Dr.

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Workplace health is crucial for student, faculty and staff success. Using experiential wisdom we highlight challenges linked to the rise of ‘neoliberal university’ characterized by a shift from education as a public good to values of entrepreneurialism, profit making and its impact on the well-being of academic faculty and staff.

The Advisory Board: A Department Chair's Best Friend, Jerry G. Holt

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Does a department need an Advisory Board? The English Department at Purdue's North Central campus has found that its Board may be the best thing that's ever happened to it. This presentation explores the community links that can be formed through such a Board--and the opportunities for students that ensue.

Strategic Planning: A Framework For Leading A Department, Ben Beitin

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This session will provide participants with a brief overview of research related to the chair’s leadership role. Strategic planning will be discussed as a means of managing the chair’s responsibilities. Practical suggestions for how to use strategic planning to increase work efficiency will be offered from the perspective of a new chair.

Shaping An Identity: Junior-Faculty Orientation In A Year-Long Seminar, Nelson Javier Nunez Rodriguez, Ernest Ialongo, Jacqueline Disanto, Antonios Varelas, Cynthia Jones, Sarah Brennan

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This one-year seminar prepares new faculty to meet institutional expectations in the areas of scholarship, teaching, and service in a community college. In doing so, the Center for Teaching and Learning harmonizes new faculty with departmental and institutional needs while fostering a safe environment for faculty acclimation.

A Collaborative Model For Advancing Program Level Assessment, Jim Truelove, Allison Langford

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Learn about implementing a program level assessment model to facilitate transforming the departmental culture from program review orientation to advancing student learning. Discover the advantages of utilizing a collaborative framework to guide faculty through the change process. Useful tools, assessment strategies, templates and the framework will be provided.

Regaining Control Of Your Email, Gian S. Pagnucci, Ethan W. Krase

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This session will introduce department chairpersons and administrators to a variety of email management techniques for helping perform one’s job more effectively. The presentation will cover email management techniques and practical strategies. Attendees will leave with new ideas for how to manage email more effectively and thereby reduce stress levels.

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 29 years it has become an essential yet sometimes unwanted aspect of the daily rigors of the position. This session explores the advantages and pitfalls of “playing politics” as a department chair.

A Comprehensive, Tailored Approach To New Faculty Mentoring, Kathryn L. Hope

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

The presenters will discuss the best practices in the development of a comprehensive mentoring plan for new faculty that address teaching, service, research, and practice. A case study and discussion will address how to develop and tailor a mentoring plan according to faculty role, rank, education, and experience.

Developing Program Identity And Constituent Support Consistent With Institutional Mission, Thomas R. Webster, Traci Ledford

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

1. Presenters will discuss best practices for building constituent and administrative support for academic programs while simultaneously developing program identity that honors the mission of the institution it represents.

Mentoring The Department Chair: Creating A Community Of Support, Krista Lussier, Brenda Smith, Shawn Read

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Learn how an active, cross-campus peer network can support the growth and ongoing development of department chairs by assessing needs, building support structures, and nurturing a supportive learning community.

Desperate Times? Recruiting Students For Your Department, William Hoon

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This presentation will review how one department at a regional Midwest university has dealt with the pressure of recruiting students. While the number of high school students in our state has declined, our department numbers has remained steady. Initiatives and best practices on how to attract and communicate with prospective students will be discussed.

Effectively Evaluating Online Faculty, David Line Denali, Mary-Katherine Smith, Stephen F. Pyle

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Online courses and instructors require administration to use innovation to create valid faculty evaluations. This session examines why teaching evaluations need to be adjusted and how to make those adjustments to in order to effectively evaluate the faculty and therefore, keep administration, promotion committees, and faculty content.

How To Evaluate A Syllabus For An Online Course., David Line Denali, Mary-Katherine Smith, Stephen F. Pyle

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

This session explores how to determine strengths and weakness of an online course by examining the syllabus. Presenters and participants will move beyond the technical aspects such as alignment of content and into the flow of the online course. For this workshop participants are welcome to provide a syllabus for review.

Creating A Positive Environment In Your Academic Division, Frances C. Welch

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

During this panel discussion, a dean, associate dean, and two department chairs will discuss how to “create a positive working environment.” Based on their collective experience, panel members will discuss best practices when (1) building relationships; (2) using backward planning; (3) mentoring new faculty members; and (3) communicating effectively.

Seizing The Opportunity: Creating A Chair Development Network, Margaret A. Thomas-Evans, Natalia Rybas, Carrie Longley

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

In this presentation, we discuss an example of developing a leadership network for Chairs on a small regional campus. We argue that when a campus has limited leadership capital, a peer group can serve as powerful professional development platform for new and upcoming chairs.

Lessons Learned From An Audit: Are You Being Fiscally Responsible?, Ernie M. Hills

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Department chair job descriptions often include the words “fiscal responsibility;” but what does that really mean? Having survived an extensive audit, the presenter will lead participants to consider best practices (and some that were not so good) in overseeing financial matters for an academic unit.

Departmental Recommendations For Tenure And Promotion: The Chair’S Letter, Denis M. Medeiros, Rebecca Edmundson

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

The department chair’s letter is likely the most important recommendation of a faculty for or against promotion and/or tenure. Elements to include in a letter and best practices will be provided. Sample letters of poor and excellent recommendations will be used interactively with the audience.