Category: Uncategorized

10 Critical Lessons I’ve Learned About Implementing a Strategic Plan

I have been involved with over one hundred planning efforts on a variety of campuses (including DePaul University, Central Community College, Tarleton State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, The University of the West Indies, Saint Joseph’s University, The University of California, Santa Cruz, Cornell University, Anoka Ramsey Community College). I have had my share of successes and failures with implementation efforts. Both the failures and the successes leave important clues. The success rate for the implementation of strategic plans is dismal, with the percentage of failed implementations ranging anywhere from 63% to 90%. In fact, Robert Kaplan of the Balanced Scorecard fame (1996, 2000, 2008) estimates that 90% of strategies fail due to poor execution. Actually creating strategies and inspiring strategic plans is not hard work. We have many intelligent, dedicated people throughout our campuses who have powerful hopes and aspirations.  But having beautiful pictures of the future is not enough; we must be able to produce them.  That’s the hard, difficult part of strategic planning. We must become world-class at actually executing our strategic plans. This will not be easy. I want to talk about some practices I’ve learned that work. Here are 10 of the most critical. 1. Always […]

4 Items Often Overlooked in Evacuation Planning for Study Abroad Programs

by Margaret Wiedenhoeft (opens in new tab), Lisa LaPoint (opens in new tab)

Evacuations for study abroad programs are often unpredictable, but can occur during any program at any time due to a variety of reasons. No region or student is immune from natural disasters, political unrest, and unforeseen medical issues. Therefore, institutions must be proactive to manage evacuations and reduce risks to all students, staff, and faculty involved. To help your institution enhance support for students while remaining in compliance with the law, we interviewed an expert on this issue: Margaret Wiedenhoeft, Associate Director of the Center for International Programs at Kalamazoo College. Margaret has worked in the Center for International Programs for over ten years in a variety of positions and currently manages study abroad programs in China, France, India, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Thailand. Interview with Margaret Wiedenhoeft Lisa LaPoint: Margaret, thank you for this conversation. What are potential factors often overlooked when institutions undertake evacuation planning for study abroad? Margaret Wiedenhoeft: There are four that are especially common: 1. CLEAR RESPONSIBILITIES The first is assigning responsibilities ahead of time to different “jobs” in the evacuation process. Evacuation is really a team effort. In order not to overwhelm any one individual, it is important to create roles as part of […]

The State of Professional Development in Higher Education

For twelve years, Academic Impressions has been assembling many of the leading experts in higher education to teach and facilitate webcasts, conferences, and workshops to develop critical skills and knowledge in the staff who are committed to helping change their institutions—to make higher education more sustainable for the future. We believe passionately that professional development is key to helping higher-ed professionals prepare for both the threats and the opportunities of the years ahead. Earlier this year, we surveyed higher-ed professionals to learn: We surveyed a random sampling of higher-ed professionals; 501 responded. In this report, we share our findings. Read the report

The Case for Placing Marketing within Enrollment Management

by W. Kent Barnds (opens in new tab)

Is there a “right” place and reporting structure for admissions marketing? Recently I received a message from a colleague at another institution asking for resources “illustrating the benefits and drawbacks of a dedicated admissions marketing position within a university’s organizational structure.” This colleague, who currently works within a marketing division that reports to advancement and serves a whole host of campus constituents, was seeking advice about how to make a case that the university needs a recruitment marketing position that devotes full-time energy, thought and creativity to recruitment marketing. This question struck a nerve with me.  Given the contemporary challenges faced by recruitment operations nationwide, I have strong feelings about this. In an article I wrote for AACRAO a few years ago, I presented the case for marketing and communications to report to the vice president for enrollment. Today, I think the same case applies and may indeed be even stronger, especially for tuition-driven colleges. I want to make it absolutely clear that there are plenty of institutions where it works very effectively for admissions marketing to be coordinated and directed by a VP for Communications and Marketing or through advancement or sometimes even the president’s office. There are institutions […]

Why You Need to Approach Donors with a Blended Ask

January 2015. More development offices that are shifting to a blended ask model, integrating planned giving into major giving. Alumni with a philanthropic mindset and a propensity to give are concerned about their legacy, and studies show that they are increasingly concerned at a younger age — in their thirties and forties. And making a blended ask helps invite donors immediately into a long-term relationship with the institution, not just a one-time gift. Planned giving has traditionally been an afterthought, but the weather is shifting; our recent survey of 335 chief advancement officers revealed that planned giving is the effort that most advancement vice presidents in higher education expect to yield the most significant long-term impact for their institution, and many are reallocating budgetary resources toward planned giving efforts. This makes understanding a blended ask model especially timely. Meghan Saenz, our assistant conference director who has been looking into this, reached out recently to Marianne Blackwell, executive director of the Office of Estate and Gift Planning at the University of the Pacific, and Richard C. Peck, director of individual giving and gift planning at the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Geisel School of Medicine, to learn how they have been […]

Bridging the Gap Between Advancement and Academic Research: The 3 “C” Strategy

by Ed Mason (opens in new tab)

A SERIES ON INNOVATIONS IN FUNDING ACADEMIC RESEARCH We hope you will join us for this innovative series: The “3C” Strategy for More Effective Fundraising Advancement and research offices can optimize their strategies to compete successfully for external funds by utilizing the “3C” approach. The “3C” approach is: Strategies for Enhanced Communication Over several decades, advancement and research offices have developed distinctly different approaches for fundraising. Advancement’s role is to procure gifts from donors who have very specific interests in funding priorities. Research works with faculty to compete for grants for specific scientific, outreach and training programs. Also, there are distinct “global” perspectives on each office role in working with their constituencies. Planning, facilitation and open discussions are vital to creating enhanced communication between the two offices. This is a new endeavor for many institutions, so take the time — whether it is 3 months or 1 year — to develop good rapport between your offices. To bridge this gap: Effective Collaboration Strategies Improved communication between advancement and research offices creates opportunities to pursue new funding sources. An effective collaborative model is composed of: Coordination Strategies for Advancement and Research The goal of successfully coordinating grants and gifts is to […]

Keys to Redesigning Gateway Courses: Faculty Buy-in, Pitfalls to Avoid, and Critical Steps that Deserve More Attention

Gateway courses essential to student degree paths continue to be a barrier for institutional, faculty, and student goals. However, the large number of students enrolled in these courses often leads to lower student completion rates and the decision to redesign the course. While many institutions choose to redesign each course section independently, the most successful redesign teams improve student learning and lower costs by implementing a coordinated and scalable approach. To learn more, we interviewed several key experts in this area: Here are some key strategies they shared with us… What is the most successful strategy you have implemented to gain faculty buy-in for a full course redesign? Danae Hudson: I think it is important to clearly define the challenges you are facing in your course and propose a well thought-out plan on how to address those challenges. Different faculty members have different strengths and finding a way they can meaningfully contribute to the team helps everyone to feel that their role is valued. Prior to undertaking our course redesign, I spoke with all of the faculty members who taught Introductory Psychology and asked them to be part of the team. I told them we would not proceed with the redesign […]

The Most Creative and Productive Ways to Engage Volunteers

by Jim M. Langley (opens in new tab)

Volunteers, we know, give ten times more than other philanthropic contributors. Yet, not all volunteer work automatically triggers greater giving. With one hour of volunteer time valued at an estimated $22.55, it is crucial your organization creates compelling volunteer opportunities that engage your constituents and inspire giving. The keys are to find work that: Creative ways of engaging the busiest of constituents include providing ways for them to: Share their voice:  Presidents or deans, for instance, learn a great deal and make top executives feel like valued insiders by asking for twenty minutes on the phone to talk through a pending difficult decision. Share their skills: A medical center president, for instance, could provide invaluable insight on cost control and resource reallocation to a board, president, or VP of operations in a one-hour presentation. Share their passions:  Very often those who are most generous to their alma mater are also deeply committed to their communities, churches or social causes. Asking them to speak to their particular passion at a nonprofit fair on campus or to lead a public service project to engage alumni in their community makes them feel far more valued for who they are than for what they […]

5 Questions to Help Restore a Strained Town/Gown Relationship

by Neil Calfee (opens in new tab)

PART OF A SERIES ON RFPs, CAPITAL PLANNING, AND PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS This is the first in a series of articles by Neil Calfee. Currently the principal of NPC Group, specializing in the creation and negotiation of public/private Partnerships, Neil Calfee previously served as Arizona State University’s director of real estate development. He has over 15 years of experience in development and management of complex development projects involving partnerships between government entities and the private sector. This article offers Calfee’s advice for strengthening often-strained town/gown relationships, and is written from his unique perspective in working for both Arizona State University and the City of Tempe. We also recommend his previous articles with AI: You may also be interested in his recorded webcast, “Creating Financial Expectations in the Housing RFP Process.” by Neil Calfee (NPC Group) “Love/hate” may be a little strong in describing many town and gown relationships, but “strained” may not be too far off the mark. The town/gown relationship can be full of drama, jealousy, passive-aggressiveness, and it can take “staying together for the kids” to a whole new level. But the town/gown can also be quite rewarding and mutually beneficial, and given that breaking up is nearly impossible, it’s best […]

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