DEI Foundations: Socioeconomic Status (SES) and Class in Higher Education

As faculty and staff, it’s essential to be aware of the dynamics that we create on our campuses and how that impacts our students across different socioeconomic backgrounds. Oftentimes, students with diverse SES or class backgrounds are not considered when developing programs, norms, or other collegiate experiences, which then perpetuate inequitable experiences for them.  If we can shift the conditions and climate for our students so there are not any assumptions about class status, then we can allow our students to access any experience similarly regardless of their social capital.  This course will take a foundational approach to help you: Define SES/Class and intersectionality, Understand SES/Class in the context of higher education, Understand implications for not considering SES/Class in your work, Debunk myths about SES/Class, Shift your thinking about SES/Class and, Reflect on your own SES/Class identities. This course is designed for anyone interested in learning about socioeconomic/class status within a higher education setting.  This course is most beneficial to anyone unfamiliar with the impact that SES/class status has within the context of higher education.  This course is part of our foundational Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion series––an intentional collection of personal development and skill building trainings––which provide education and awareness-building, self-reflection, and next steps. 

Developing a Comprehensive System of Support for First-Generation Students

Developing a Comprehensive System of Support for First-Generation Students September 29 – October 1, 2021 Learn about tried-and-true strategies for first-generation student success and new work being done during the pandemic and its aftermath to support first-generation student success. EVENT INFORMATION Check back soon for links! ENSURE YOUR TECHNOLOGY IS READY This workshop is intentionally designed to allow for maximum learning, connections, and engagement. We advise the following in order to participate fully: Audio & Visual Needs

Reimagining Relationship Building for Major Gift Officers

During the pandemic, many institutions had a banner fiscal year because of an unanticipated amount of major gifts. This has proven to advancement leaders that the major gift officer role can be done successfully remotely. As a result, now that institutions are returning to in-person work, albeit with greater flexibility than before, it is time to apply the best of what was learned from virtual engagement work and incorporate it into the traditional model – redefining the role of the major gift officer. Join us online to discuss how to make smart choices related to how you build relationships with your major donors using a combination of traditional and virtual strategies. This training will be led by Rebekkah Brown, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Muhlenberg College and P. Kevin Williamson, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Major Gifts and Constituent Giving at North Carolina A&T. You will engage in conversations with your peers on how: Discovery work has changed by becoming more efficient Closing and documenting gifts are being done electronically Travel schedules can be made more strategic

DEI Foundations: Allyship in Higher Education

Allyship is an opportunity to elevate the voices and perspectives of historically marginalized people to level power dynamics and ensure that their perspectives are heard and accounted for in every interaction.  If you’re interested in learning more about what allyship is and how it can benefit your organization, this video course is a great place to get started.  This course will take a foundational approach to help you:   Define allyship and understand what it is and what it is not. Reflect on considerations for becoming an ally, Understand common mistakes made by allies, and Reflect on your own social identities to become an ally for others. This course is designed for anyone interested in learning about allyship within a higher education setting.  This course is most beneficial to anyone unfamiliar with what it means to be an ally or interested in exploring allyship within the context of higher education.  This course is part of our foundational Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion series––an intentional collection of personal development and skill building trainings––which provide education and awareness-building, self-reflection, and next steps.  

Building Your Advancement Team for the Future

Building Your Advancement Team for the Future October 6 – 7, 2021 Reimagine how you create and build your advancement team. EVENT INFORMATION Check back soon for links! ENSURE YOUR TECHNOLOGY IS READY This workshop is intentionally designed to allow for maximum learning, connections, and engagement. We advise the following in order to participate fully: Audio & Visual Needs

DEI Foundations: Implicit Bias in Higher Education

Implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. It encompasses both favorable and unfavorable assessments, which are activated involuntarily and operate on autopilot. We all have implicit biases that show up every day in our actions and interactions with others. A great start to understanding how implicit bias shows up in your life is through self-reflection, which will help you move towards deeply considering your own preferences to people.    This course will take a foundational approach to help you:  Define implicit bias and understand the research behind implicit bias, Understand how implicit bias shows up in the context of higher education, Hear examples of implicit bias, Learn how to respond to someone’s implicit bias, and Identify multiple techniques to increase awareness and interpret your own implicit biases. This course is designed for anyone interested in learning about implicit bias within a higher education setting. This course is most beneficial to anyone unfamiliar with implicit bias or interested in exploring the application of implicit bias within the context of higher education.  This course is part of our foundational Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion series––an intentional collection of personal development and skill building trainings––which provide education and […]

Building a Leadership Culture in an Academic Department

Many academic leaders aim to build a leadership culture in their departments that promotes faculty retention and creates a bench of future leaders. However, common challenges such as competitive, individualistic cultures and skepticism towards administration thwart many of these efforts. Academic leaders must take an intentional approach that blends strategy, communication, and collaboration to resolve these challenges. Join us online to learn about how a department leader from Suffolk University Law School took her program from unranked to the top five in the country in the field. You will learn how to: Take a strategic approach to building a culture of leadership in three areas: individual, department, and national field Prioritize community and collaboration Boost profile/visibility, retention, and morale

Structuring Scholarships for Women and Students of Color in a Shifting Legal Landscape

When donors want to establish a scholarship for the two federally protected class groups that receive the most legal scrutiny–women and students of color–your advancement shop must navigate risk in a way that doesn’t scare away donors or distract from their intent. It’s necessary to understand the shifting legal landscape affecting scholarships for these protected class groups. Join us online to learn how to establish scholarships for women and students of color that abide by federal guidelines. In this training, you’ll learn how to conduct a thorough review process of your current gift agreements to help protect the reputation of your institution and donors against legal or political scrutiny. To apply these strategies to your context, you will have the opportunity to share your own examples of scholarships for women and students of color ahead of time. Some examples will be showcased during the training to highlight what language to include or exclude to mitigate risk best.

A Masterclass in Discovery Work

Discovery work is an essential part of the fundraising process because it’s your first access point to learning how to optimize a potential donor’s philanthropic interest. Refining your approach and strategy is a great way to continue gaining confidence in your ability to be conversational as a fundraiser. The ability to ask insightful questions that keep prospects and donors talking and sharing will ultimately lead you to align your donor with the best possible opportunity for their philanthropy goals. Join us in this online training to deepen your skillset around discovery work and improve upon your first impression as a representative of your organization. Go into donor conversations equipped with the right questions to ask that will build trust and enable you get to know your donors more intimately.

How to Use an Inclusive ROI Approach for Program Prioritization

Currently, academic leaders are rethinking their programs to meet the realities of student demands in a post-Covid environment. Some universities have sunset entire departments and programs, while others have taken programs hybrid or fully online. What is right for your division? And how do you gain faculty buy-in for the tough decisions you need to make? It is important to remember that programs are not solely measured by their monetary value; this makes program prioritization a challenging task that requires an inclusive, holistic approach tailored to the realities of each institution. Join us online to learn how to standardize the process of assessing the return on investment (ROI) of your programs across your division. Hear from our expert, Kelly Ball, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, as she demonstrates how to develop an inclusive ROI approach that accounts for mission, margin, and market. Participants will learn how to lead faculty and other stakeholders through this complex and necessary process, resulting in academic prioritization plans that create a resilient curriculum.