(Sponsored by Hyatt-Fennell, Executive Search Plus and Partners Development)
Roundtable discussions are designated for presidents who wish to join colleagues for informal conversation about topics of mutual interest. Please note that space is limited to the seating available in each room.
Ask the Economist
Nearly three years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global economy is still straining to adjust to rapid changes in consumer preferences and the composition of the labor market. How did high inflation get here and how quickly might we be rid of it? With few to no good options, how are policymakers going to steer their economies through this rough terrain? Discuss these questions and others you might have about the investing environment in 2023.
Brian Nick, Chief Investment Strategist, Nuveen
Belong: An Inclusive Learning Community
Increase retention, build community among faculty and staff, and bring action to your commitment to diversity by joining other CIC members in the inaugural Belong cohort. CIC and the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) are combining proven practices and professional certifications in a nationwide learning community. This new network—exclusive to CIC—responds to members’ desire to strengthen campus culture with inclusive practices and have both broad and deep impact through live webinars open to all of campus, access to resource library, ACUE credentials, and a community of practice similar to NetVUE. National studies show that students taught by ACUE-certified faculty learn more, complete more courses, and are retained in greater numbers, with greater equity by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Come learn more about the details and community design, and how to receive the inaugural member discount.
Bacari Brown, Partner Development Director, Association of College and University Educators (ACUE)
Matt Trainum, Vice President of Networks and Strategic Partnerships, CIC
Creating Customized Campus Hospitality Ecosystems
A vibrant hospitality ecosystem on campus drives campus retention, engagement, satisfaction, campus advocacy, and revenue growth. This discussion will provide insights for presidents around specific campus stakeholders’ expectations and perception of value, how decisions can be guided with five key value drivers, and which initiatives impact the ability to deliver value and meet campus expectations.
Sasha Day, Chief Growth Officer, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality
Designing a Derailment-proof Presidency
The term “derailed presidencies” was coined by Jason McNeal and the research he conducted was the driving force behind the Stephen Trachtenberg-edited book, Presidencies Derailed: Why University Leaders Fail and How to Prevent It. Based on the presidential derailment themes that emerged from this research, this discussion will focus on specific ways to thrive during the early years and throughout a presidency.
Jason McNeal, Partner, Gonser Gerber, LLP
Encouraging the Right Aspirants for the Right Presidencies
Encouraging members of your senior team to consider a college presidency is critical to maintaining a robust leadership pipeline for our sector. Yet, a poor match between president and institution can have unfortunate consequences for both. Learn how two of CIC’s leadership development programs for those who aspire to the presidency––the Presidential Vocation and Institutional Mission program and the Executive Leadership Academy––can help match the right aspirant to the right presidency. Discuss who on your senior team might be a suitable nominee.
Steven C. Bahls, President Emeritus, Augustana College (IL); and Senior Advisor, CIC
Titi Ufomata, Senior Vice President for Academic Programs, CIC
Enhancing Transfer Student Success to Achieve Enrollment Goals
With the impact of the birth dearth now being felt by colleges across the Northeast and Midwest, there is increased focus on attracting older students. At the same time, a likely Supreme Court decision outlawing the use of race in college admissions is pushing more selective institutions to build other pathways to recruit a diverse student body. This discussion will explore what would be needed to create a national transfer network that would connect talented community college students with their best fit four-year institutions.
David Finegold, President, Chatham University
How Are Your Peer Institutions Adapting to Higher Ed’s Newest Challenges?
The higher education landscape is changing: Student demographics and needs are shifting and the value of a college degree is being called into question. As pressure mounts for colleges and universities to adapt, Inside Higher Education’s recent Deep Dive Report explored how schools are coming up with inventive ways to position themselves for future success. In this roundtable discussion we’ll use this report to examine how leaders of private colleges can address declining enrollments, offer alternative learning pathways, combat employee turnover, and remain resilient.
Steve Kerge, Vice President of Business Development, Spark451 and Jenzabar
Doug Lederman, Editor and Co-Founder,Inside Higher Ed
How Focusing on the Community Can Strengthen the Institution
The pressures on higher education often turn us inward with an intense focus on how to strengthen our own institutions—rather than on the work we are called to do in and for the wider community. Join us for a discussion on how and why it is beneficial to turn from the inside out to discern what the communities around us—city, state, and regional—need as we prepare students for their lives as professionals and citizens.
William J. Craft, President, Concordia College (MN)
Kathy Wilson Humphrey, President, Carlow University
Presidents Open Mic
(Open only to currently serving college and university presidents)
This forum is an opportunity for presidents to raise important topics and questions, including confidential and sensitive issues. The discussion is expected to be candid and broad ranging, covering topics such as specific administrative matters, institutional structures and staffing, dealings with the board, and the balance of presidents’ professional and personal lives. Guidance will be offered from other participating presidents.
Charles W. “Chip” Pollard, President, John Brown University
Supporting Faculty and Staff Well-Being
The pandemic environment resulted in burnout, the “great resignation,” and quiet quitting. How can presidents foster commitment, fulfillment, and well-being among faculty and staff? Participants in this roundtable discussion will share ideas to support colleagues through initiatives such as small grants programs, virtual work, and wellness initiatives that support colleagues, with the resources of tuition-dependent institutions in mind.
Kathryn A. Morris, President, St. Lawrence University
Andrea K. Talentino, President, Augustana College (IL)
Supporting Students in Developing Purpose
What are college students after? What do they report when asked to describe their most important life goals? Our recent study finds that most students are seeking to contribute to the lives of others and live a meaningful life. In short, they are seeking a life of purpose. College students who are driven by a beyond-the-self purpose are more likely to graduate, yet fewer than half of students identify such a purpose. With enrollment declining and too many students leaving college before they graduate, supporting purpose development offers a way to motivate student engagement and improve student retention. Join us in this discussion about promoting students’ purpose development.
Heather Malin, Director of Research, Center on Adolescence, Stanford University
Burton J. Webb, President, University of Pikeville
Trends Leading to Strategic Responses to Enrollment Shifts
Higher education professionals are currently dealing with the most turbulent environment in decades. Characterized by stagnant enrollment, ongoing demographic shifts, rapid technological change, and constrained resources, the pressure is growing to attract, retain, and graduate students in greater numbers than ever before. This discussion will explore the latest trends in enrollment, the impact these trends have on small, private colleges, and the prevailing strategic enrollment growth approaches that colleges and universities are using to succeed.
Eric Groves, Senior Vice President, RNL