Archives: Courses

Engaging International Alumni in a Virtual World

Institutions have seen a significant increase in their engagement with international alumni since the beginning of COVID-19. This increase can be attributed to programming that was adapted from primarily in-person to exclusively digital and alumni’s desire to connect over their shared experience of the pandemic. Now more than ever, institutions need to accelerate the development of their virtual programming, global brand ambassadors, and discovery visits to ensure international alumni can continue to be meaningfully engaged. How have recent changes impacted your international alumni engagement strategy? Are you leveraging the best thinking out there to maximize the contributions of this important alumni group? In this discussion-based virtual training guided by two experts, you will share with your peers and learn from their successes and lessons learned. Together, we will identify the emerging best practices in: Digital programing for international alumni Brand ambassador development Discovery visits

Taking Large-Scale Recruitment Events Online

As we face declining enrollments and a pandemic that limits in-person events, many enrollment and admissions professionals are struggling to adjust the traditional tactics they have used to recruit more students. Though most institutions rely on face-to-face recruitment events, the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging us to strategically shift to hosting virtual events instead. This program will prepare you for the specific challenges you are likely to face when you move your large-scale recruitment and yield events online. Our program will highlight the work of Barbara Loftus, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Rutgers University – New Brunswick, who had 24 days to convert an Admitted Student Open House that had approximately 19,000 attendees last year to an online format. Join us for this two-hour virtual training that will enable you to: Shift your planning processes for the online environment Craft or solidify plans for your own upcoming virtual recruitment events Gain ideas from your peers across the country

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.

Building Resilience During and After the Pandemic

Overview Our current working conditions mean we are juggling rapidly changing directives from work while also trying to manage a new normal at home. How do you maintain your professional resilience when faced with surmounting challenges or, even worse, layoffs? How do we keep these setbacks from becoming defeating messages we internalize? These 90-minute virtual sessions will give you an opportunity to delve deeper into the content and workshop ways to integrate what you’re learning into your practice. Session 1: Creating an Inner Coach Stronger than Your Inner Critic Join us online to learn how you can start developing your alternative voice – your inner coach – in order to silence your inner critic and become a more effective leader. You will learn the multiple origins of the inner critic, learn techniques for counteracting its effect and how to shift from negative thought patterns to thoughts of greater self-support, resilience and self-confidence.” Session 2: Professional Resilience Resilience is not something you’re born with; it’s a skill you can build. Join us virtually to discover how to break negative patterns of behavior and reset the way you respond to roadblocks. Our expert will introduce you to the three-step ABC Model, which […]

Leading a Successful Esports Program in Higher Education

To be a successful esports coach, you must extend your traditional leadership skills into a new competitive space. The games and personalities are different, but you must manage young people and their frustrations, recruit talent, and ensure everyone graduates and contributes to the university – all within traditional and digital spaces. Join us for a one-hour webcast with the National Esports Coach of the Year, Chris “Doc” Haskell, to learn how to create a culture of success in your esports program. Our speaker will teach you the keys to leading across the esports landscape, recruiting players, and assuring student success in your role as coach. You’ll leave with a competitive vision that assures that winning is only one indicator of your program’s success.

Authentic Fundraising in a Virtual World (Virtual Workshop)

As a frontline fundraiser, you have likely honed your “fundraising voice” over time. You have learned to embody crucial tenets such as integrity, listening, and humility in ways that feel authentic and purposeful. As you continue adapting to a virtual workflow, have you considered whether your fundraising voice is deeply rooted in handshakes or face-to-face meetings? Have you felt less “yourself” while fundraising virtually? Join us online for an in-depth virtual training where our experts will help you adapt your fundraising practices to the online environment and become more successful. Our panel will help you determine key tenets of your own unique voice as a frontline fundraiser. Through small group roleplays, you will learn how to leverage these characteristics, and you’ll leave the training with clear next steps for fundraising more authentically in a virtual world.

A Process-Oriented Approach to Working with Your Board and President as Chief of Staff

As Chief of Staff, you are often faced with implementing changes and initiatives set by the President, Board, and Executive Cabinet. Your role can be challenging especially when it comes to conflicting or disconnected initiatives. As those around you express concerns and ask questions regarding changes, it is your job to address them while also advancing the mission of the University and the goals of the Board and President. Join us for this hour-long virtual session to learn practical negotiation and communication strategies you can utilize to help implement the initiatives of your Board and President. You will leave this training feeling more confident to successfully collaborate with and support them.

Managing Presidential Transitions as Chief of Staff

As Chief of Staff, you will often be looked to for providing calm consistency during presidential transitions. The incoming President will likely rely on you as they acclimate to a new environment while your colleagues will count on you to convey the new President’s priorities. Join us for this webcast to learn how you can best serve in your role during these times of change. In this session, our expert will discuss the following considerations: Understanding your role during the transition Planning for the outgoing President Learning the incoming President’s plan Your to-do list

Starting Courageous Conversations to Foster Diversity and Difference

Perhaps you’re working to ensure your staff reflects the diversity of your institution – or maybe you’re witnessing unfair treatment of a colleague because of race, age, or gender. No matter the situation, conversations about these issues can feel tough. With so much to be mindful of and so much at stake, you may not always feel as comfortable as you could when leading this dialogue around difference. Join us online to gain confidence in leading your next courageous conversation – dialogue that promotes inclusion and understanding of people’s differences. You will learn how to overcome obstacles to these conversations so that you can build relationships and engage more effectively with diverse groups inside and outside your institution.

Your First Semester as External Chair: A Roadmap for Success

As an external chair, you have a steep learning curve ahead of you. You must build a trusted advisory network, run an effective mentorship program, clarify expectations for faculty and staff evaluations, start overseeing tenure and promotion, and synthesize enrollment trends and targets. As an external appointee, you have to move fast. No one will wait for you to catch up. Join us for a one-hour webcast that will provide you with the roadmap to success for your first semester as an external chair. Our expert has served as a chair for three departments and will help you proceed with purpose and intention through the tasks that you need to accomplish as soon as possible, by early fall, and by the end of the fall semester.

Peer to Manager: Navigating Your Transition into Leadership

A promotion to a new position, especially when the promotion is internal, is often cause for celebration and proof that your hard work is paying off. However, promotions also come with a unique set of challenges, from building credibility in your new role to managing friendships. Join us for this one-hour webcast, where you will learn strategies for navigating personal and professional challenges that come with internal promotions. Our expert, Christopher Romano will discuss several practical considerations within three key themes. You will hear how to: Increase trust, earn respect, and establish credibility with your team members Access new insights and information essential to success in your new role Set healthy boundaries, both professionally and personally You will leave this online training feeling more confident to prepare for or begin a new leadership role.

Manage Your Emotional Labor in the Workplace

Emotional labor is the process of regulating your emotions and putting others’ needs before your own during interactions with students, colleagues, and superiors in order to deliver high quality work. It can be difficult to detect – and even more challenging to manage – especially in environments that prioritize human connection, which includes most jobs in higher education. Expending high-level emotional labor over extended periods of time can lead to burn out, permanent exhaustion, and, at times, turnover. Join us for a 2.5-hour virtual training where you can start building a toolkit for scaling down your emotional labor and using it on your own terms. You will first explore how emotional labor manifests for you and what challenges you have managing it. Next, Dr. Gardner will offer four strategies to help you overcome those challenges so that you can start making emotional labor work FOR you, not against you. Lastly, you will brainstorm ways you can reduce your emotional effort so that you can leave this training feeling empowered to be your unapologetic self.

Cultivating a Professional and Engaging Persona on Your Video Calls (Virtual Workshop)

As a result of COVID-19, almost all the interactions you have with your students, alumni, colleagues, and donors are now through webcam in virtual meetings. Environmental factors such as poor lighting and background movement can become distractions and have implications on the level of engagement and potential for relationship building. Your body language and eye contact play an important role too as they can either facilitate meaningful communication or hinder it. Join us online for an interactive training where you will learn best practices for creating a professional and engaging persona during a video call. Our expert instructor will demonstrate simple tips and strategies for improving the quality of your physical surroundings and your presentation style during video calls. We will discuss how to: Place your laptop in the right position to maximize your lighting and appropriately frame yourself on screen Choose a background that does not offend or disturb others Reduce unnecessary movement to minimize distractions Maintain appropriate eye contact and body language that resonates with others online We have deliberately designed this training to go beyond the stock tips and strategies you’ll find online. You will have the opportunity to turn on your camera so that you can […]

Advanced Leadership Development in Higher Education Bootcamp

Advanced Leadership Development in Higher Education September 30 – October 28, 2020 Important Links Welcome! Welcome to Advanced Leadership Development in Higher Education. We have designed this intensive online leadership development bootcamp to provide you with a comprehensive, robust, and practical training in four areas of leadership: personal, interpersonal, team, and systems. We look forward to meeting you all at the first of four sessions on Wednesday, September 30th from 1:00 – 4:00pm EST.   Dates and Time Discovering Leadership and Self Awareness, Wed, Sept 30, 1:00 – 4:00 EST Achieving Agreements: Interpersonal Mastery, Wed, Oct 14, 1:00 – 4:00 EST Expanding Interpersonal Influence: Team Building and Leading Change, Wed, Oct 21, 1:00 – 4:00 EST Developing your Personal Leadership Development Plan, Wed, Oct 28, 1:00 – 4:00 EST 4 Important To-Dos before Session 1 1. Complete the 350 Assessment Process For assistance, contact molly@academicimpressions.com You will receive a separate email from Molly to sign up for your coaching session to debrief your 360 report (you will receive your 360 report the day before your coaching session) 2. Receive Empowered: Leadership Developing for Higher Education  Please reach out to Molly at molly@academicimpressions.com if you haven’t received it yet 3. NEW! Complete the 5 Paths […]

Navigating Senior Leadership Transitions in Higher Education

Some senior leaders starting a new position may still imagine they will be granted an informal “honeymoon” period with the time and space to acclimate to their new responsibilities, conduct a “listening tour” before making any big decisions, and build relationships. The reality, however, is starkly different. In today’s world of higher education, senior leaders need to assess their new situation with speed and precision and immediately respond to acute challenges requiring quick and decisive attention. When transitioning to a new senior leadership position, it is all too easy to overlook key considerations related to both people and the process. Join us online for a unique two-part webcast series designed to help senior leaders address the demands of their new position. Our expert speakers will help you uncover crucial considerations in two important domains: people and processes. You will leave these webcasts feeling more confident to embark on your transition with intention and make quick, mindful, and sound decisions.

Improving Faculty Evaluations: A Training for Department Chairs

Faculty evaluations are one of the most challenging aspects of serving as a department chair. Emotions run high, performance rubrics aren’t always clear, and both parties may become defensive and react more than they listen. Still, these conversations don’t have to be difficult, and they don’t have to take a negative tone. They key is to develop an evaluation process that establishes clear goals, uses objective data to assess those goals, and allows you to treat performance-related issues before your annual meeting. Join us online to learn how to make your next faculty evaluation session easier and more productive by implementing four key steps: Goal Setting and Communication Using and Applying Evaluation Data Phrasing Comments Appropriately Delivering Feedback

Strategizing Multiple Outreach Attempts in Fundraising

As a frontline fundraiser, you need eleven attempts on average to reach a donor or prospect. While you might be comfortable with essential outreach duties like planning calls, securing appointments, and overcoming objections, how confident are you in planning outreach to one donor or prospect over time? Join us online to learn how to progress through multiple outreach attempts to support your fundraising goals. We will focus on how you can be politely persistent while strengthening ties. You will leave with ideas for how to: Revise email subject lines and voicemail messages Space multiple outreach attempts over time Reference previous outreach attempts

Recruiting, Retaining, and Supporting International Graduate Students

While every graduate student is faced with challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic, international students must navigate especially difficult circumstances as they cope with shifting visa regulations, travel restrictions, and an increased perception that they are not welcome in the United States. As international students represent a major portion of the graduate population, it is critical to identify methods to support and retain them in order to maintain the academic, financial, and cultural integrity of your institution. Join us and your peers online for a 1.5-hour brainstorming and discussion session to share strategies and ideas and to have the chance to benchmark and ask questions. You will actively participate in group discussions framed around the following aspects of supporting and retaining international graduate students this fall: Recruitment and yield enhancement strategies Academic support measures Research support strategies Other support considerations Please note that the focus of the discussion will be around academic, research, and other support strategies graduate enrollment managers are leveraging for their international graduate students. There will NOT be an in-depth focus on visa or regulatory issues.  

Recruiting, Training, and Engaging Alumni Volunteers in a Digital World (Virtual Workshop)

Instructor Clarybel Peguero, Ed.D.Senior Director for Volunteer EngagementDuke Alumni Association, Duke University   Parks SmithDirector of Strategic OperationsVirginia Commonwealth University Course Highlights 1hr 11m of video instruction Downloadable resources Course Details Released 9/1/2020 Learning OutcomeAfter participating in this online training, you will be able to apply best practices in digital alumni volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement.  OverviewAlumni volunteers are immensely valuable to institutions in both their service and giving power. They tend to give 10 times more than non-volunteers. However, COVID-19 has flipped the script on how we recruit and engage alumni volunteers. In-person offerings are no longer an option. Instead, we’ve been forced into the digital world and have had to adjust in order to remain successful.   In this highly interactive virtual training, guided by our experts, you will share with your peers what you have learned since we’ve entered this new reality. Together we will identify emerging best practices in digital volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement, in order to better understand how to retain alumni volunteers.  Who Should AttendThis program is specifically designed for alumni relations professionals who manage volunteers and are looking to learn and share best practices on how to recruit, train, and engage alumni volunteers in a virtual world.   Agenda  Landscape of Alumni Volunteer Engagement Most institution’s volunteer engagement approach has transformed overnight due to COVID-19, with shops needing to drastically change the way they manage recruitment, […]

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