Student Affairs Fundraising: Building a
Sustainable Structure

Many student affairs leaders have executed small fundraising efforts; very few have a strategic plan to gain support that can sustain or grow critical initiatives. Join us online to explore a proven model for developing a systematized fundraising operation for your student affairs division. You will leave with considerations for: Identifying fundraising priorities Structuring your fundraising operation Setting achievable goals for your department Building cross-campus relationships to meet goals

Community College Finance: Maintaining Liquidity

2010. A report from Moody’s Investors Service stresses that as community colleges experience enrollment surges during this down economy, many will issue bonds as a means of raising the capital needed to provide the new construction, renovation, and technological infrastructure projects needed to meet the growing demand. As community colleges take on more debt to fund capital projects, it is going to be critical for business officers to ensure that they can maintain liquidity. We asked Cynthia Gilliam, the vice chancellor of administration and finance for the Lone Star College System and a past president of the Texas Association of Community College Business Officers, for advice on financial planning. Long-Range Financial Planning Gilliam notes that the Lone Star College System is unique in that the system is in a very strong financial position (and has just received an AAA rating from S&P), but also remarks that this didn’t happen by accident or by luck. It is the outcome of a long history of solid debt planning. “The key for us has been to have our financial advisers extremely involved in our debt planning from the get-go,” Gilliam comments. “We use them to assist us in strategy. How are we going […]

Campaigns: Staffing, Training, and Supporting Frontline Fundraisers

In order to meet your campaign goals, it is essential to ensure you have the proper staffing levels, particularly for frontline fundraisers. In this program, our expert facilitator will provide practical tips for staffing, training, and supporting your frontline fundraisers as you ramp up for a comprehensive campaign. Throughout this webcast, you will learn to: Strategically align your team’s talent with the vision of your campaign Use benchmarking with peer and aspirant institutions to provide insights for staffing needs and patterns Gain insights around the tactics and strategies necessary to hire and on-board new fundraising staff to ensure campaign success.

Authentic Assessment Strategies for
Online Learning

Online instruction continues to thrive, but instructors and designers struggle to develop effective forms of online assessment. How can an instructor know if students are meeting course objectives or achieving area competencies if tests and quizzes are not primary assessments? How can you ensure academic integrity and curb online cheating? What other forms of assessment are particularly effective in an online environment? Join us online to learn how to design and develop assessment tools in online instructional environments. Our expert instructor will share examples of assessment questions and how to improve them.

Foundations of Auditing Endowed Funds

Knowing and communicating the financial health of your endowed funds will show your donors that their gift remains in good hands, which increases the potential for further giving. Now is the perfect time to review your endowed funds to ensure they remain: Legal: In compliance with rules and regulations Possible: To be rewarded according to fund criteria Practical: Able to be administered within reasonable limits Join us for a three-hour virtual training to develop a plan of action for your next endowed funds audit. You will learn a step-by-step process to help you confirm whether your endowed funds are meeting both institutional compliance and donor intent. You will also identify potential risks and communication strategies for donors whose funds have been misspent, unspent, or are underwater. You’ll walk away with clearly defined next steps that will help you move your endowed fund audit forward.

Sarah Edwards

Dr. Sarah Edwards is a tenured professor in the Teacher Education Department and currently serves as an active participant in the administrative decision-making processes in the Academic Affairs Office at University of Nebraska Omaha. Her position is responsible for assisting the Senior Vice Chancellor in planning, directing, evaluating, and developing undergraduate academic programs; collaborating with other divisions of the University to analyze and develop recommendations in response to evolving issues; and providing leadership for developing and achieving strategic initiatives.  Those primary responsibilities include leadership for meeting the goals and objectives of the University’s strategic plan for undergraduate education; implementation and administration of policies and regulations affecting students; and leadership and facilitation for the processes of curriculum development. In addition, this position is responsible for leadership and support for Academic Learning Communities, such as the Susan Thompson Buffett Scholars and the Army and AFROTC detachments, as well as coaching and guidance for the University Honors Program, National Honors, Scholarships and Awards, and oversight and planning of the Student Honors Convocation.

Supporting Student Mental Health During the Current Crisis

Continuing to support student mental health needs in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is critical. Stress and anxiety are high, and current circumstances are causing hardship for many. Student affairs leaders and counseling center directors are operating as best they can in this environment, while simultaneously navigating rapidly-evolving institutional responses and balancing their own well-being. Join us for this webcast recording where we facilitate a conversation with Kelly Wesener-Michael, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students at Northern Illinois University, and Kristen Gray, Director of Counseling & Psychological Services at Hope College. In this open discussion space with our experts and your peers, we shared strategies, current approaches, and decision points related to the following items:

Key Considerations for Institutional Naming Plans and Policies

With an uptick in issues between institutions and major donors, staying current on philanthropic naming issues is more important than ever. Having sound naming policies will help you protect your institution’s reputation and bottom line. Join us online for a two-part webcast series that will help you adjust your naming plans and policies to account for today’s complex and dynamic environment. Session 1 will share considerations for valuing your opportunities that will help you validate your approaches. Session 2 will help you update your naming policies to ensure that you meet the needs of both the donor and the institution.

Key Considerations for Designing Student-Focused Innovation Spaces

Innovation spaces are giving students an opportunity to merge the classroom, their future careers, and entrepreneurial spirit all into one place. As colleges assess how to attract and retain students, these spaces foster the creative and collaborative culture of today, while forging a connection between industry and academia.   In this training, you will learn how to begin defining your institution’s own innovation space. Our expert instructor from The Garage at Northwestern University will share strategies on how to begin the process, including pictures and examples. Institutions with smaller budgets or a more limited scope will also receive advice on how to scale these strategies to meet their individual needs.

Melanie Hulbert

Dr. Melanie Hulbert currently serves as the Sr. Executive Director of Academic Equity and Student Support at University of Alaska Anchorage. Prior to this she served as the VIce Provost for Student Success and Dean of the Honor’s College. Melanie has spent the past 20 years in higher ed as a professor of sociology and in several executive level administrative positions. She cares deeply about student success and believes that it is our role, as leaders, to create academic pathways that are equitable and tailored to each unique student’s aspirations. “Student success isn’t just a buzz word in higher education, it is a fundamental commitment to holistically meeting students where they are in their academic journey.”