Building Stronger Institutional Resiliency and Sustainability
This conversation will focus on moving from our current state of institutional performance to a more sustainable future utilizing data-informed decision making. Participants will utilize examples to stimulate discussions from Chuck Ambrose’s recently published book, Colleges on the Brink, to help define the questions that every campus should be asking and the tools available to transform the ways that we serve our students.
Chuck Ambrose, Senior Education Consultant, Husch Blackwell
Come to Believe Network
As many colleges and universities are facing increasing challenges and seeking opportunities for growth in enrollment, this session will provide a successful example of how prioritizing mission, values, and affordable access to excellent education can be done in partnership with Come to Believe Network, a forward-thinking organization that serves as an “accelerator within the higher education ecosystem.” This session will include an introduction to the Come to Believe Network, which assists higher education institutions in developing and launching a two-year college model that provides a pathway for underserved students to receive four-year degrees and will open discussion about the model and affordable, accessible, holistically supportive, and sustainable education.
Susan Burns, President, University of Mount Saint Vincent (NY)
Cultivating Strong Boards
In this session participants will discuss board cultivation and nurturing board relations for institutional and presidential success. Independent college and university president colleagues will explore and exchange strategies for building and maintaining an effective, diverse, and engaged board over time. Participants will exchange thoughts on best practices for board recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing education; leadership transitions; and methods for fostering a productive relationship between the board and the institution’s president and senior administration.
Trevor Bates, President, Mercy College (OH)
Robert D. Kelly, President, University of Portland (OR)
Cultures of Continuous Improvement
Presidents often recognize the need for systemic change in their institutions and know that building a culture of continuous improvement is urgent. Given the demands on the president, it is easy to spend one’s time putting out fires. Join this session to explore how building a culture of continuous improvement can reduce the number of fires and equip an institution to continue to be high performing once a leader exits.
Natalie Harder, President, Coker University (SC)
Data and Presidential Decision Making on Athletics
The higher education market continues to be competitive, and broader strategies are needed to ensure an institution’s financial viability. Athletics can be a key contributor to success but accessing and effectively utilizing available data to align athletics with institutional goals can be challenging. During this session, participants will discuss critical factors and metrics used when determining how athletics can help achieve institutions’ goals.
Karl Einolf, President, Indiana Institute of Technology
Engaging Technology in AI
The pervasive influence of AI across professional and personal spheres presents critically important opportunities for leaders. Join this roundtable to discuss harnessing AI’s potential to propel institutions forward.
Stephen Drew, Chief Operating Officer, RNL
How Can Presidents Lead Collectively on Civil Discourse?
In the wake of last year’s intense focus on free expression and inquiry in higher education, a number of campuses have implemented various programs to tackle the challenges of civil discourse and discussion across difference. How might presidents take collective action, across campuses, to change the narrative about civil discourse, and how might College Presidents for Civic Preparedness help?
Robert W. Iuliano, President, Gettysburg College (PA)
Suzanne M. Rivera, President, Macalester College (MN)
Rajiv Vinnakota, President, Institute for Citizens and Scholars
Working with the Campus Community to Develop Fundraising Strategies
Successful fundraising is obviously instrumental to the elevation of an institution’s academic mission, and yet too often the leaders of the development function of the university may not be aware of the specific strengths and changing needs in academic affairs and vice versa. In this session, facilitators will share the mission-critical points of collaboration and communication required to make sure the vice president of development charged with raising money for academic initiatives has the tools and information needed to support the work of the faculty, provost, and president.
Vanessa Beasley, President, Trinity University (TX)
Sponsored by Education Dynamics