Archives: Courses

Discover Your Role and Impact in Creating Team Engagement

You’re striving for high team engagement because you know it means higher productivity, innovation, and retention. But how clear are you on the building blocks of this engagement? How can you develop yourself and others to cultivate the team engagement you’re seeking? Join us online for a survey of the key drivers that impact team engagement. You’ll learn about three attributes that you need to develop as a manager to ensure you are “showing up” for your team.  Then you’ll learn five areas in which to focus your management efforts to foster engagement. You may be surprised by what’s most important!

10 Strategies to Foster More Creative Problem-Solving

In a world of pressing demands and overflowing inboxes, it’s easy to “think fast.” Many of us rush to solve our problems – choosing our first options. Or we may rely on “tried and true” methods we’ve used before – unaware of our blind spots. Even if we could create space for a different way of solving problems, we often tell ourselves we’re not creative enough. But all of us CAN be creative problem solvers. We simply need to practice the discipline. Join us online to start practicing a proven process in creative problem-solving. Our expert will introduce you to ten strategies that will help you unleash your creativity, including: Assumption Reversal Doodling Metaphorical Thinking Idea Selection Grid

Overcoming the Effects of White Privilege for More Equitable Search Processes

If you’re on a search committee, you’re working hard to ensure a fair and equitable hiring process. In the midst of the search, you may feel like you’re ensuring fairness by subscribing to notions like: “I don’t see skin color.” “I’m colorblind.” “I treat all people the same.” While you intend these as positive statements, they can also cast a shadow over your search process — negating a candidate’s unique experiences as a person of color or implying that racial privilege no longer exists. Join us online to examine white privilege and how it can impact your search processes. We’ll reflect on our privileges together, and you’ll leave with tools to engage in uncomfortable conversations around race during the hiring process.

Academic Restructuring: Creating New Growth Opportunities (Merrimack)

Academic Restructuring: Creating New Growth Opportunities Agenda To help you understand the conditions and approaches surrounding the restructure at Merrimack College, you’ll learn the following: 1) The market conditions and financial realities that required the school to restructure 2) The outcomes of the restructure – both the good and the bad 3) How Dean Cherney led the university through the academic restructure, including how she created a common vision and cultivated employee buy-in and inclusion 4) The things Dean Cherney executed well and the things she wishes she would have done differently

Academic Restructuring: Critical Insights and Lessons Learned

We know that academic restructuring happens for many reasons. Maybe you need to restructure because you’re faced with a crisis, such as budgetary cuts or enrollment declines. Or, you might see opportunities for growth and innovation due to changing market trends.  In either case, it helps to get perspective from other leaders who have lead their organization through this work. Join us to learn more about Clarion University’s story of restructuring. You’ll learn about: The circumstances that caused the institution to restructure How institutional leaders approached the process What the leaders would do differently in hindsight You’ll leave with honest insights that you can consider for your own institution, college, or department, no matter where you are in the restructuring process.

Academic Restructuring: Taking Action Quickly During Times of Change (Clarion)

Academic Restructuring: Taking Action Quickly During Times of Change Hear from two institutions about how they restructured in order to stay competitive amid changing market demands. (This session covers one of those institutions) Agenda To help you understand the conditions and approaches surrounding the restructure at Clarion University, you’ll learn the following: 1) The market conditions and financial realities that required the school to restructure 2) The outcomes of the restructure – both the good and the bad 3) How President Emerita Whitney led the university through the academic restructure, including how she formed an action plan, how she overcame faculty resistance, and how she rethought traditional disciplinary structures 4) The things President Emerita Whitney executed well and the things she wishes she would have done differently

Creating an Inner Coach Stronger than Your Inner Critic

Many of us live with constant self-talk that undermines our confidence, courage, and resilience. You may tell yourself things like: “I’m such an idiot.” “I never get it right.” “I’m just not smart enough.” “I’m way too slow at my work.” Sound familiar? Join us online to learn how you can start developing your alternative voice – your inner coach – in order to become a more effective leader. You’ll learn the neuroscience behind why we all doubt ourselves, and you’ll discover a new technique that will help you think and act in more constructive ways.

Fostering Psychological Safety in Your Team

Psychological safety is the belief that you will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. When you have psychological safety, you have the freedom to be vulnerable. You can take risks without feeling a sense of failure or ridicule. Teams that have psychological safety are more innovative, creative, and cohesive because vulnerability will not be held against anyone.   In times of confusion or conflict, leaders and supervisors often try to bring teams together by creating a common vision or by clarifying goals and processes. But before these steps can be effective, you need to ensure a high level of psychological safety within your team. Without that foundation, your team will not function as cohesively. Join us online for this two-part webcast series to learn how to foster a deeper sense of psychological safety within your team.

The Promise and Peril of Podcasting in Higher Education

The Promise and Peril of Podcasting in Higher Education Capitalize on the momentum of podcasts to advance your marketing and communication goals. Agenda What Will I Say, and How Will I Say It? ­ Choosing the right topic Making the case for a podcast Ensuring your podcast isn’t a commercial Before and After Pressing Record Equipment/resource considerations Promoting the podcast to gain internal/external listeners Sourcing compelling content Setting appropriate expectations

A Simple Way to Make Your Classes More Interactive

Learn how a tool you’re likely already using can take your lectures from mundane to engaging in as little as 15 minutes. We all know that there are benefits to infusing more interactivity into the classroom. But how can you make your classrooms more interactive in ways that are still easy and affordable to implement? Join us online to learn how you can make your lectures more engaging. With Dr. Ed Steigerwald’s expertise, you can create interactive lessons in as little as 15 minutes. Students in Dr. Steigerwald’s classes report better learning experiences as a result of the interactivity in PowerPoint.

The Challenges of Creating and Running an Interdisciplinary Curriculum

Many institutions and academic units are seeking to make their curriculum more interdisciplinary, but lack the necessary infrastructure to make this happen. There is also a great deal of variability in terms of what an interdisciplinary curriculum can look like. This report adds value by providing an overview of how interdisciplinary education is taking shape in higher ed, diagnosing key challenges, and providing examples of how other institutions have approached this work.

Making Your Social Media Content Accessible and Inclusive

More and more institutions are facing scrutiny over the accessibility of their websites, and now, that same conversation is turning to social media. While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) doesn’t currently offer guidance related specifically to social media, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is calling out institutions that aren’t ensuring posts and content are accessible. Join us online to learn how you should begin integrating accessibility and inclusivity into your social media channels – greatly improving the way all people can receive your content and key messages. You’ll hear from Erika Boltz, social media coordinator from the University of Florida Health, who’s already worked through OCR reviews in her career. She’ll share what it takes to craft proper image descriptions, captions, and inclusive language.

Using Data to Inform and Design Sophomore Year Experience Programs

After a supportive first year, many sophomores return to campus the following fall with a feeling of “What now?” It’s easy to make assumptions about why sophomores feel this way—maybe they’re lacking a major or are still seeking social belonging. But how regularly are you collecting data to understand more objectively why you’re losing sophomores? And how can you use this data to design targeted programs and initiatives? Join us online to learn how Duke University’s collaborative Sophomore Year Experience (SYE) program is targeting and improving the top transitional issues facing sophomores. Through surveys and studies conducted by a working group of faculty, administrators, and students, Duke analyzed their students’ social relationships, academic engagement, and well-being to identify key challenges their sophomores face. You’ll leave with strategies to help navigate roadblocks around funding, staffing, and resources.

Navigating Interdisciplinary Research: A Guide for College and University Administrators

In large part because of the funding opportunities it occasions, interdisciplinary research—and finding ways to facilitate more of it –is high on the priority list today for many institutions. But because academe has historically prized discipline-specific research and individual scholarship over collaboration, facilitating more interdisciplinary research opportunities on campus can be challenging. This report is meant to explore some of these key complications and suggest strategies to help academic leaders and research development professionals navigate these challenges. It will be of most benefit to institutions, centers, or departments that are just getting started in the interdisciplinary research space, and who want to gain a better understanding of the challenges and barriers they are likely to encounter.

Open Educational Resources: Benefits, Challenges, and Strategies for Implementation

Open educational resources (OERs) are teaching, learning, and research materials that offer alternatives to traditional textbooks. They permit free access, use, adaptation, and redistribution by others. According to one research study, 30% of faculty (from 3,000 surveyed) were very aware of open educational resources (OERs). But only 13% of faculty from the same survey are using OERs in at least one of their classes. So, while OERs may offer affordability and flexibility, many people still question the quality of these resources and the time needed to adopt them. Join us online to discuss the benefits and challenges of OERs and hear first-hand what it takes to implement them. A faculty member from Chippewa Valley Technical College will show you how high-quality OERs have been incorporated into their curriculum, and she’ll discuss the impact OERs have had on teaching and learning. In case you decide to implement, we’ll offer tips for getting started.

Influencing Without Authority

Having a position of authority is only one small piece of being a leader. A more important aspect of being a leader is exercising your influence. The savviest leaders know that behaving in ways that influence the feelings, thoughts, and actions of others is the piece that will ultimately give them traction. Join us online to learn the signs and symptoms of influence. We will focus on the difference between influence and authority, and you will leave with advice on how to use your relational capital to influence up, across, and down.

Managing Relationships with Partners in Non-Traditional Badge Development

Non-traditional badges represent a growing market full of opportunity. However, you may not be pursuing badges of this type, because you’re not sure how to work with industry partners in development and management. Don’t let that stop you! Join us for this webcast to learn tips on how to engage with industry partners for non-traditional badge development. We will profile a typical relationship with industry partners and share common pitfalls to avoid. Non-traditional badges are badges that align with professional development and partnerships with business and industry. For example, a community college can partner with a business who needs to train its employees on how to use a software tool necessary to work on pumps.

Selecting Badges to Advance Your Institution’s Goals

When it comes to choosing the badges to pursue at your institution, not all badges are created equal. You’ll be able to maximize your potential in badging by carefully considering the merits of these 3 types: Academic badges – Badges that correspond to courses and can stack to equate to a certificate or degree Enhancement badges – Badges that correspond to co-curricular activities Non-traditional badges – Badges that align with professional development and partnerships with business and industry Which badge types are right for you? Our advice may surprise you. Join us online to learn the value of all three badge types and how they can contribute to your institution’s badging strategy. You’ll leave with ideas around how to refine the scope of your badging initiative.

Overcoming Social Justice Fatigue for Diversity and Inclusion Professionals

The unique pressures and demands that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professionals experience often lead to burnout, exhaustion, and frustration about the lack of change they see on their campuses. Many feel the pressure to manage this stress alone, fearing that they’ll lose their professional credibility and reputation otherwise. However, this behavior can often result in decreased productivity and morale. How can these DEI professionals create the tools and put the plans in place to manage their own self-care, and what can their peers and supervisors do to best support them? Join our expert instructor Sara Furr as she discusses social justice fatigue, why and how this physical and emotional toll occurs, and what wellness strategies DEI professionals can use to achieve a balanced and sustainable self-care routine. You’ll have the opportunity to reflect on where you currently stand, put next steps in place for implementing your wellness plan, hear tips and strategies for following through, and get to know the most common barriers your peers face when implementing such plans. In addition, we will also cover some simple ways non-DEI professionals can adopt to support their colleagues engaged in social justice work on campus.

5 Considerations for Developing and Growing Online Programs

Many institutions look to online programs as a solution for improving student access and increasing degree completion rates. However, very few are strategic when planning and developing these programs. This webcast will walk you through a process for making high-level decisions to ensure that your institution is ready to expand its online offerings. In doing so, we will concentrate on areas that are critical to ensuring your institutional success. In addition, our expert speaker Vickie S. Cook will discuss the most critical questions you need to consider and answer throughout your program development process. You will leave with a workbook to use with your own programs.