Course Category: Webcast Recording

Test-Optional Admission: A Case Study from the University of Denver

Many institutions temporarily adopted test-optional admission processes in response to COVID-19, while others are still considering implementing it or making the switch permanent. Although the benefits of going test-optional are widely acknowledged, the process of moving to test-optional when internal stakeholders are accustomed to the traditional model can be tricky to navigate. Join us for this webcast as we hear from the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment, Todd Rinehart, about the University of Denver’s journey to become permanently test-optional. Learn the benefits of this type of admission approach, the challenges of implementation, and lessons learned—what you should anticipate and pitfalls to avoid—based on the University of Denver’s firsthand experience with a test-optional admission process.

Recognize Student Distress in a Virtual Environment

Mental health challenges for students will continue as classes go online. Though they may be more difficult to identify in a virtual setting, there are warning signs that faculty and staff should be aware of throughout the semester. Faculty and staff who regularly interact with students are often best positioned to see these signs of student distress and connect students with mental health providers when appropriate. In this webcast, our expert will offer guidance on identifying these signs and offer recommendations for connecting students to resources. We will specifically tackle the following objectives: Learn the risk factors and warning signs of distress, which include signs of depression, anxiety, behavior changes, and suicidal thoughts. Understand how to best intervene to support someone. Learn tips for starting the conversation, recognizing cultural considerations, and managing boundaries. Know your role and when to refer. Learn how to check your comfort and limitations and know where and when to refer on campus.

Respond to Divisive Current Events in an Inclusive Way

There are a variety of divisive current events that we’re all experiencing and can no longer ignore—national events such as the U.S. presidential election or the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as local issues that are important to your campus community. Your students will likely exercise their first amendment rights to stand up for or against the issues they feel passionate about. How confident are you that your policies include all student groups with various social identities and that students understand the required procedures should they decide to organize? When students request support from the larger community, how do you set clear expectations for the appropriate level of faculty and staff involvement? You may feel like you have more questions than answers when preparing your campus community to respond to these hot button issues. Join us online to get answers to these burning questions. You will learn how to take a proactive approach to align your campus community’s first amendment rights and ensure all perspectives are equitably supported. Our expert instructor will provide tips and strategies for: Creating policies and procedures that are clear and equitable for all members of your community Defining and communicating faculty/staff roles in cases […]

Your First Month as a New Chief of Staff: How to Get It Right from the Start

A successful Chief of Staff juggles many priorities, communicates effectively across various channels, and has a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities. Taking steps to get clarity regarding your role, engage with stakeholders, and learn the expectations of the President when you first come into the role can ensure a smooth transition for all parties involved and help expedite your effectiveness and impact. In this one-hour training, our expert, Max Allen, will highlight the three key considerations to get right during your first month as Chief of Staff. You will leave this webcast feeling more confident to do what is necessary to pave the way to success in your new role.

Adapt Your In-Person Peer Mentor Program for a Virtual Environment

We know that one of the challenges of student retention and success in today’s socially distant and remote environment is how to foster student engagement while keeping students safe. Our research participants unanimously agreed that peer mentor programs are more important than ever—but there are major challenges to making them work. Though peer mentor programs have been tried and true student success interventions to keep students connected, most were designed to facilitate face-to-face interaction between students. Learn how one institution’s peer mentor program—which led to an 11% increase in retention pre-pandemic—was positioned for continued success in a remote learning environment. Our expert speaker will share steps you can take today to pivot your peer mentor program and provide seamless support for students whether learning is in-person, remote, or anywhere in between.

Strategies for Developing Workforce-Aligned Learning

Whether you’re a community college or a 4-year institution, you want to make your curriculum more relevant to the workforce. Community colleges have led the field in workforce development, and traditional 4-year universities are promoting entrepreneurship and experiential learning. Regardless of your institutional type, have you paused to ensure that your workforce development initiatives check all the boxes? Join us for a one-hour webcast where you’ll learn the key tasks you need to undertake at the community, administrative, and individual classroom levels to align your curriculum with the needs of the workforce. Our internationally recognized speaker will offer you a panoramic view of the work needed to spearhead workforce development at your institution so that you can distinguish yourself from your competitors, increase student engagement, and bolster career preparedness.

Transform Your Alumni Board Members Into Donors

Serving as a bridge between your alumni base and your advancement shop, your alumni board members are your best ambassadors. They can help you create a culture of philanthropy that not only engages your graduates but also transforms that engagement into giving. To do this, however, your board members should set an example by giving while also bringing new prospects into the fold. Join us online to learn how to cultivate your alumni board from prospects into donors and ambassadors who can positively impact your strategic fundraising initiatives. You will learn tips for engaging your alumni board in meaningful ways that inspire them to serve as examples for others. You will also hear best practices for training your board to assist with alumni volunteer recruitment, peer-to-peer solicitation, and stewardship so that they can add value at all stages of your fundraising efforts.

Integrating Social Media into Your Solicitation Communications Plan

Now more than ever, it’s imperative to incorporate social media into your annual giving solicitation communications plans to meet donors where they are every day – online. Join us for a webcast that will walk you through how to successfully integrate social media into annual giving and curate a seamless donor experience across solicitation channels. Our expert instructor, Karalee Harhaji, will come ready to share her experiences across two institutions, Georgetown University and Catholic University, each with varying budgets and knowledge in making the move to social media. Regardless of what your current practices are, you will have the chance to visualize how you can craft an improved plan moving forward.

Introducing Blended Gifts Into Donor Conversations

Are donors and prospects in your portfolio stalled because of downturns in stocks or other liquid assets? Have you considered incorporating blended or planned giving into your donor conversations? Join us online to learn how you can introduce planned giving options into more donor conversations, which can help you re-engage donors in difficult economic times. We will share proven strategies for cultivating blended gifts and educating prospects on how these gifts can help them create their legacies. You will leave with tactics for making a multi-gift ask that you can apply to common donor situations.

Creating Equitable and Inclusive Meetings

Your personal identity likely shapes the meetings you lead. In order to foster open spaces where people can test ideas and practice inclusion, you should reflect on how your identity impacts your meetings. Join us for this online training to engage in self-reflection and to begin practicing communication skills that will positively impact group dynamics. You will hone your skills around listening, modeling, and question-asking. You’ll also receive guidance on how to choose an accountability partner who will help you preserve a culturally inclusive meeting environment. The information provided in this training can be applied to in-person and virtual meetings alike.