2019 Chairs Conclave Program

BEST PRACTICES OF SUCCESSFUL CHAIRS

Time
Session
8:30 – 9:15 AM
Registration and Breakfast
9:15 – 9:45 AM
Welcome and Introductions
Networking Exercise
9:45 – 10:15 AM
Keynote Presentation: What Will Your Leadership Legacy Be? 
Joseph Rencis (California State Polytechnic University, Pomona)
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Many people wait to think about their legacy until late in their career.  Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, has been attributed as saying, “A reputation is earned by the actions you take each day.” Dr. Rencis will share some personal leadership characteristics that he believes will impact your leadership legacy as a department chair and beyond.
10:15 – 10:30 AM
Coffee Break
10:30 – 11:15 AM
Session I: Shaping and Aligning Departmental Culture through Leadership
Richard Kelnhofer and Carolyn (Kelly) Ottman (Milwaukee School of Engineering University)
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Organizational culture is a critical factor in the retention and recruitment of faculty, staff and students. As a leader, you can intentionally shape your culture to align with the mission and values of your university. You can also unintentionally create misalignments that can derail all your best efforts. This interactive session is designed to build awareness and develop strategies to shape strong cultures that create value for your organization.
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Session II: Lifelong Learning as a Chair
Tim Wilson (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)
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While much of what a department chair or head does is obvious when one takes the job, other elements only become apparent by spending time in the role. In this session, Wilson will explore some of the often unknown aspects of the chair’s job.
12:00 – 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch
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Lunch Presentation: The Importance of an Entrepreneurial Mindset for All Engineers (begins at 12:45 PM)
Gary Brooking (Wichita State University), Mark Budnik (Valparaiso University), Monica F. Cox (The Ohio State University) 
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Learn how three department chairs are creating more value for their students, faculty, and college. By integrating an entrepreneurial mindset they have rallied faculty, strengthened their department’s culture, and broken down silos across the college.
1:45 – 2:30 PM
Session III: Knowing your Strengths: What’s your Reynolds (Re) number?
Craig Downing (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology)
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Faculty increase their success when they operate in their strengths. The workshop is based on Gallup’s CliftonStrengths Assessment and tailored to the academic community. The prime outcome of the workshop will be to increase participants’ awareness of their strengths and how they can positively (or negatively) influence their behavior and interactions as department head.
2:30 – 2:45 PM
Afternoon Networking Break

2:45 – 3:30 PM

Session IV: Annual Faculty Evaluations
Ken Burbank (Purdue University)
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We all look forward to the annual evaluation process, experiencing feelings ranging from dread to optimism. Our colleagues are highly skilled professionals, and wonderful human beings. The annual review process needs to address the gamut from professional development to mental counseling, to reward positive accomplishments, to channel effort gone astray, and to rein in bad behavior. And do all of this as objectively as possible, and with as much transparency as allowed. This session will focus on how chairs can successfully navigate the annual faculty evaluation process.
3:30 – 4:15 PM
Open Discussion
4: 15 – 4:30 PM
Closing Remarks