| In 1997-98 the CIC initiated an annual
program of leadership development opportunities for department
heads and chairs (Department Executive Officers or "DEOs").
Institutional team participants include seasoned veterans as well
as newer department heads and chairs. Participation in the Seminar
is optional for each campus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SEMINAR PROGRAM
Each Seminar focuses on topics involving departmental leadership
skills, and emphasizes in-depth analysis of case studies, focusing
on the challenges facing DEOs. Trainers, provosts, and invited participants
are all involved in identifying timely and appropriate topics and
in planning the program, with DEO Liaisons taking the lead. In addition
to addressing actual problems confronting DEOs, the case studies
employed at the Seminars address broader issues, such as the following:
- What are the data unit heads need for the decision-making process
at the department level?
- How should a DEO go about conceptualizing management goals for
the department?
- What benchmarks would be valuable in measuring success, and
how does one use them?
- What are the best ways to marshal the resources at one's disposal?
- How does one know what issues matter and prioritize them?
- What are the best strategies for managing the transition from
colleague to DEO?
The Seminars utilize case studies based on actual problems that
participants have dealt with or are facing. The presentation of
case studies may involve role-playing by former DEOs, with participants
asked to consider the options available at different stages. Emphasis
is on the decisions made and the reasoning behind those decisions.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Seminars are twofold:
- To hone the skills of the participants in these (and other)
key areas.
- To develop a cadre of highly trained and motivated individuals
who could be more effective in inculcating their skills and experiences
on their own campuses.
In meeting these objectives, the Seminars both draw upon the wealth
of experience the participants bring to the joint sessions, and
provide them with the benefit of interacting with peers from other
disciplines and institutions. The Seminars also facilitate the development
and exchange of resource materials and problem-solving tools (e.g.,
case studies) for all to utilize. The end result represents both
a sharing of 'best practices' as well as 'best practitioners'.
Team participants bring back to the home campus the processes and
experiences gained from the Seminars, frequently in the context
of a local DEO leadership program based on a CIC Seminar topic.
Attendees are also available to participate in the local program
and can make use not only of what was learned, but also of materials,
strategies, and perhaps even presenters (including fellow CIC DEOs)
encountered at the CIC Seminar.
BENEFITS
Program benefits include:
- Recognition of a group of the best department heads in each
University and signal the CIC's commitment to the principle that
effective institutional leadership is dependent on the leadership
of department heads and chairs.
- Give a select group of DEOs the opportunity to be trained in
important issues that would make them even more effective department
officers, and develop them further as potential candidates for
other significant academic leadership positions at CIC institutions.
- Create the opportunity for a group of the best department chairs
and heads from each institution to meet and share best practices
with a group of the best chairs and heads from each of the other
CIC institutions, thus creating a cross-disciplined CIC collaborative
culture at the departmental level.
- By asking the DEO participants to bring back to their colleagues
what they learned after an intense leadership training experience,
the Seminars serve the much larger clientele of department executive
officers at CIC institutions. In so doing, it can supplement local
leadership programs already in place and offer alternatives to
more expensive but less well-targeted leadership programs offered
by national organizations.
PROGRAM OPERATION
The DEO Seminars are managed by CIC office staff, with financial
support provided by the provosts. The three-day program involves
approximately 50 participants each year. DEO Liaisons from the participating
institutions comprise the Seminar planning committee, identifying
topics, speakers and materials for each year's program.
|
