“Essential Tools for Leading the Academic Department” will be the theme of the sixth annual department/division chair workshops offered by CIC in spring 2007. The workshops, sponsored by Academic Search, Inc. and RPA Inc., will provide chairs with practical strategies for improving their work, opportunities to experiment with the ideas presented, and discussion periods to explore these ideas with their colleagues.

The workshops are designed to serve both experienced and new chairs of departments or divisions at independent colleges and universities. Campuses are encouraged to send several department chairs to the workshop so they may support one another in instituting change upon return to their college or university.

Workshop topics will include:

• Using Conflict for Improvement
• Conducting Difficult Conversations
• Preventive Law
• Using Data for Program Review
• Best Practices of Experienced Chairs
• Legal Issues Surrounding Sexual Misconduct, Civility on Campus, and Academic Freedom
• Working with the Chief Academic Officer

Speakers will include: Nancy Alex, senior consultant for assessment and program analysis for The Austen Group; Claudia Beversluis, provost, Calvin College (MI); Virginia Bianco-Mathis, professor in the School of Business and director of human resources graduate programs, Marymount University (VA); John W. Bruton, professor of English and associate dean, School of Arts and Humanities, Ferrum College (VA); Judith Griffith, associate professor of English and department chair, Wartburg College (IA); Colleen A. Hegranes, senior vice president, College of St. Catherine (MN); Kate Sigman Hendricks, deputy university counsel, Duke University; Barbara Hetrick, vice president and dean of the college, Catawba College (NC); Christopher Hogan, principal in the law firm of Moots, Carter and Hogan, LPA (OH); Jane T. Jakoubek, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, Monmouth College (IL); James J. Lakso, provost and vice president for student development, Juniata College (PA); Larry Nuti, college counsel, Saint Mary’s College of California; Kenneth J. Porada, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Dominican University of California; Marianne Schimelfenig, general counsel, Saint Mary’s College of California; Richard J. Sherry, dean of faculty growth and assessment, Bethel University (MN); John C. Spurlock, chair of the humanities division, Seton Hill University (PA); and Michael Williams, president of The Austen Group.

More information and registration forms for the workshops are available here on CIC’s website.