Improving Promotion and Tenure Reviews by Using a Deliberative Decision-Making Model

By participating in promotion and tenure reviews, faculty make the most consequential decisions they will ever have to engage in on behalf of their colleagues. Without adequate training and preparation, departments often have a reputation of unfair decisions, power dynamics, and lack of transparency that taint the process going forward and impact culture and morale. Among the many challenges in re-envisioning what this process could look like is that expectations are often vague. Women and people of color tend to go up for P&T less and at slower rates than their white, male colleagues, and what is considered “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” in one unit could mean something different in another. As part of a broader largescale initiative aimed at improving department culture and climate, The University of Denver sought to change how they deliberated on key decisions, and in doing so, had the opportunity to influence climate, perception of colleagues, and overall satisfaction. Their approach was to utilize deliberative decision making (DDM) as a tool by which to train their faculty at large on their role as reviewers to ensure that everyone had an equal opportunity to influence a decision and that everyone believed that the decision that was made […]

Leading from a First-generation or Immigrant Background in Higher Ed: A Discussion Forum

All too often, first-generation and immigrant leaders in higher education feel they must assimilate to “standard” forms of leadership, which are historically grounded in white, heteronormative, male-centric experiences and stereotypes. But leading from a first-generation or immigrant background carries with it unique insights and perspectives that are advantages to be celebrated and leveraged in leadership. Join us online for a conversation about the interplay between cultural heritage and leadership. Our subject matter expert, a first-generation Asian-American woman leader currently serving as a community college President, will share some of the barriers she has come up against in her journey and how she eventually came to embrace them as advantages in her leadership. You’ll be given intentional space to discuss your own experiences and self-perceptions with others who identify as first-generation or immigrant leaders and will come away with specific strategies for how you can in turn leverage your unique cultural heritage to lead more authentically and effectively.

Recruit & Retain Diverse Faculty through Cluster Hiring and Mutual Mentorship

Many institutions have expressed a commitment to addressing social inequity in its multiple forms as part of their strategic plans. One way this commitment is being implemented at many colleges and universities is through efforts to recruit and retain a more diverse faculty. Cluster hiring is one powerful strategy that can help with these efforts. But institutional transformation is a long-term commitment, and a cluster-hiring initiative must be supported to be successful and sustainable. This training will unpack how cluster hiring is a point of entry to recruiting and retaining a more diverse faculty and how mutual mentorship is a path to sustainable institutional and individual success. Join us online to learn how Dr. Elizabeth Chilton, Provost and Executive Vice President for the Washington State University system, led three successful faculty cluster-hiring initiatives and supported them with a mutual mentorship model. Her leadership set the stage for a long-term impact on faculty diversity and retention, along with the broader climate and culture of the unit and, ultimately, the institution.

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

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.

Foundations for New Title IX Coordinators

New Title IX Coordinators may enter their role with little or no formalized training. This workshop will provide new coordinators with less than one year of professional experience with the right tools and strategies to be successful in their new role. The workshop will cover the main responsibilities of a Title IX Coordinator including: Case management considerations Reviewing policies and procedures Leading campus-wide training efforts Strategies to effectively position yourself as the campus expert on all things Title IX You’ll come away with a collection of practical tools, resources, and roadmaps that you will help you acclimate to the demands of your complex new role on campus.

Exploring Different Pathways to Deanship

In your role as Assistant or Associate Dean, you might be questioning what comes next in your career path. For many, becoming an Academic Dean is an exciting prospect and the clear path forward. But how do you acquire the right skills and experience to prepare you to do the job successfully? And how do you position yourself and prepare to interview for a Deanship, so that you stand out from the rest? Join us online and hear from two leaders – one Dean and one Interim Dean – as they share their insights and lessons learned on how to prepare for the role of an Academic Dean. You’ll learn about the day-to-day responsibilities that took them by surprise, and you’ll receive tips and strategies for how you can gain the experience, skills, and confidence necessary to effectively navigate those challenges. If you’re interested in learning how to prepare yourself for the following responsibilities, this training is for you! Budgeting and Financial Management Fundraising and Donor Relations Overseeing Promotion and Tenure Navigating Shared Governance Building Your Leadership Team Managing Up to the Provost Communicating in a Way that Builds Trust Across the College Managing Your Daily Schedule Building and Sustaining […]

Strategies to Run a Successful Lab as Chair

Running a lab is essential in some disciplines; it is how one maintains a research portfolio, creates an avenue for original publications, and establishes credibility among colleagues in order to build your brand. However, maintaining a lab while Chair can be challenging, considering the added administrative duties associated with leading the department. Join us online and learn how to set yourself and your lab up for success. In this training, you will: Learn how to negotiate for the right job description, resources, and goals that will allow you and your lab to flourish from the beginning. Identify potential barriers that may be limiting the growth of your lab and how to mitigate and remove those barriers. Gain insights into how you can monitor and measure your success to determine if what you negotiated for is the right path forward. We understand that maintaining your research agenda while also serving as an administrator is important. Come to this training and find out how to do both in a way that catapults your career.

Techniques to Build Greater Cultural Humility

In Part One of Academic Impressions’ cultural humility training, you learned about the benefits of building cultural humility and how it can help to mitigate bias that you may have towards a person or group. Join us for Part Two to learn about the techniques that you can incorporate into your daily routine to help you become a more culturally conscious and sensitive individual. Simply put, you’ll learn how to integrate the often-competing responses from your head and heart. These techniques will help you: Become more aware of your own biases and how they get triggered in your interactions with others Maintain better self-control in the moment when your biases are triggered Cultivate more meaningful growth in yourself as well as in your relationships with others

Networking Skills for Women Leaders

People have varied reactions to the word “networking.” For example, women sometimes have adverse feelings about networking as they don’t wish to feel they are “using” people. However, this reluctance can hinder their career progression and ability to make an impact where their skillsets would be an asset. In this 90-minute training, you will learn from Provost Karlyn Crowley as she talks through the importance of networking for women and gives you insights into skills you likely already have that can help you to network effectively – not only furthering your own career but offering your skills and wisdom to others as well.