July 30 - August 1, 2012 ~ Las Vegas, Nevada

Today's Department Chairs have one of the most conflicting roles on campus as they serve as liaison between administration and faculty. Department Chairs are responsible for curriculum, strategic planning, budget matters, personnel management, and program reviews - yet their position is not one of undisputed authority. Conflict can arise from many stakeholders - making it difficult for the chair to lead, plan, and unite their department.

Many Department Chairs are not prepared for their new role. Transitioning from faculty member to department chair can be challenging and requires learning new skill sets. The Department Chair Institute (DCI) was developed by educators to address the needs of department chairs and first-level administrators.

Department Chair Institute is designed for new or experienced first-level instructional leaders. Get the skills and insider information today's Department Chairs need to better manage the services they provide and are accountable for. You'll quickly see the benefits offered by a positive and supportive learning environment that affords you the opportunity to network with experts and peers.

Workshop Description:

The three-day Department Chair Institute includes a morning and afternoon session each day; a morning and afternoon break; and one hour for lunch. Workshop format includes case studies, opportunities for practice (real and role plays) mini-lectures, assessment instruments, individual reflection and individual action planning. You also will have post-Institute access by email, for continued dialogue with other first-line instructional leaders.

Learning Outcomes:

Department Chairs and other instructional leaders can begin learning the knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively perform their roles and responsibilities as a Department Chair or other instructional leader with an opportunity to network with their peers for continuous learning, pre and post Institute. After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand what contributes to an individual’s vitality and why it’s so important for personal and professional success.
• Recognize, understand, listen, and employ your skills/strengths for better decision making.
• Assess, understand, and appreciate your personal style and strengths and the style and strengths of others.
• Increase the ability to adjust your style to the style of others to improve communication, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Understand the social nature of high-performance workplace based on neuroscience findings and what we know about human systems.
• Develop, practice, and implement an Action Plan that will help create a ‘shared vision’ for your department.

Sample of topics that may be included:

Working With People – Using your emotional intelligence, learn how to manage your social style—the way you behave in your relationships with faculty, your supervisor, and others--so that you can better accomplish departmental tasks and goals.

Managing Time –Become aware of your Time-Management Personality in order to better manage your time. Also learn to use your limited time more wisely by learning to put first things first, keeping your attention focused on your most important tasks and goals.

Leading Change –Take advantage of the strengths of your organization and department’s culture to lead positive change. Then practice a process for creating a shared vision for your department, inspiring faculty to make, rather than resist, change.

Enticing Conversations – Become aware of how a culture of inclusion, mutual respect and trust creates the safety that is necessary to bridge difficult conversations.

What the Research Tells Us – Based on neuroscience research we are learning how we work as individuals, at work, in teams and the value of positive feelings and emotions to the health of individuals and organizations.

Facilitating Group Processes – Groups require skillful facilitation in order to make good things happen. Practice your skills so that you can lead productive meetings, facilitate good group decisions, and manage conflict.

Hiring and Evaluating Faculty - Based on research about good teaching, increase your ability to hire effective full and part-time faculty and then learn how to help them become even more effective by focusing on their strengths.

Reviewing and Renewing Programs – Become familiar with an outcomes-based model for reviewing and renewing instructional programs, one that is in alignment with Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and evidence-based assessment.

Course Schedule:

Department Chair Institute Hours: The training sessions will begin promptly at 9 a.m. and end by 4:30 p.m. Food: Continental breakfast, refreshments at breaks, and lunch is included in the registration fee. If you have special food needs, please email Sara Aguilar at a minimum of two weeks prior to the training.

Dinner and lodging are not included in the event fee.

The Department Chair Institute developed and presented by the Department Chair Institute (sponsored by the Company of Experts) working with community partners and leaders to provide a cost effective way for new and experienced academic leaders to develop the leadership skills to be effective on the job as well as to network with other academic leaders.

We are pleased to be able to keep our fees low to encourage as many people and organizations as possible to participate in this program.

Certification:

ACTION PLAN and Certification - (self directed with assistance and evaluation; allow 5 to 10 hours for preparation and documentation after the training).

To be considered for Certification: Participate in all three days of the Department Chair Institute ® and develop an Action Plan. Following the DCI© implement the Action Plan using the theory and practice learned during the DCI ©. Develop a brief report of your actions and the impact on yourself and others. The Action Plan can be used for your college, team, group, committee or community organization that you work with. Email this to Kathy at the Company of Experts at kathy@companyofexperts.net.

Facilitators:

Kathy Becker assumed co-ownership, with Jim Pulliam, of Company of Experts.net in January 2005. Kathy worked in the California community college system for 27 years and served in staff and leadership positions in the library, disabled students and human resources, leaving the system as the first human resources officer for a new, rural college. As a student of the two-year system and as an employee both in the rural and urban college, Kathy was "bitten" early and has a passion for the collaborative learning environment.

Kathy has served as the Chief Human Resources Officer, Staff Development Coordinator, Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, and has had direct responsibility for contract negotiations, sexual harassment training, discrimination investigation, mediation and conflict resolution, discipline and grievance, management training, and leadership development. More>

Jim Pulliam  retired after thirty-four years of public service in the California community college system and four years in the K-12 system in California. Jim’s professional experience includes serving as a faculty member, dean, provost and founding Superintendent/President of a California Community College District.  Jim has been certified by Company of Experts.net as an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator.

As the founding President, Jim established a solid, collaborative environment with the Faculty and staff. Jim was able to build strong relationships in the local community and politicians to fund and organize a new community college in California. Leading a committed administrative, faculty, staff, student and community partnership the college gained funding to begin discussions on building programs, services, partnerships and facilities for the future. More>

Additional Information:

Travel Arrangements: To minimize travel expenses for participants, we schedule most of these training in the US cities served by one or more low-fare airlines. We recommend that you wait until your training has been confirmed before purchasing non-refundable tickets.

Airport: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS). From the airport, Summerlin is approximately 17 miles NW via 215 Beltway. Please note that travel, accomodations, and hotel/airport transportation are not included in the price. You may wish to rent a car. Taxi fare to/from the airport to Summerlin is approximately $60 one way.

Accessible Facilities: We attempt to schedule these trainings in facilities that are accessible for people with disabilities. Please email Heather for information about the facilities. For information about accessible hotel/motel facilities, please contact the hotel/motel directly.

To Register: Visit our registration page or email: Heather@CompanyofExperts.net or call: (702) 228-4699. If you would rather mail or fax your registration, please use our printable registration form

Refund Policy: All fees are due upon registration.  Your full participation is very important to us and we know that from time to time, your plans to attend one of our workshops or programs may change.  Our refund policy reflects our interest in your continued growth and learning journey as well as our planning needs and expenses incurred based on your enrollment. For more information about our Refund Policy, please click here.

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