“Advancing the Department” is the theme of the seventh annual Workshops for Department/Division Chairs offered by CIC in spring 2008. The workshops, supported 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 time to explore these ideas with colleagues.

The workshops are designed to serve both experienced and new chairs of academic 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 campus.

Workshop topics will include:

• Marketing the Department
• Using Data to Develop a Marketing Plan for the Department
• The Theory and Practice of Conflict Management
• Negotiating Skills
• Legal Issues Surrounding Intellectual Property and Faculty Grievances
• Working with the Chief Academic Officer

Speakers will include: Kris Bartanen, academic vice president and dean of the university, University of Puget Sound (WA); Connie Bauer, provost and vice president for academic affairs, University of Saint Francis (IL); Claudia Beversluis, provost, Calvin College (MI); Andrea Chapdelaine, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Albright College (PA); Catherine Cook, CEO of Miller/Cook & Associates, Inc.; Virginia Coombs, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Keuka College (NY); Thomas D’Antonio, founding partner, Ward Norris Heller & Reidy LLP; Melinda Grier, general counsel, University of Oregon; E. Gail Gunnells, CEO, E. Gail Gunnells, PC; Robert Holyer, provost, Presbyterian College (SC); Jane Jakoubek, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, Monmouth College (IL); John Lawlor, founder and principal, The Lawlor Group; David Mee, senior consultant and director of enrollment solutions, Performa Higher Education; Christopher Qualls, dean of faculty, Emory & Henry College (VA); Kathleen Rinehart, partner, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, SC; Robert Sevier, senior vice president, strategy, Stamats, Inc.; Richard Sherry, dean of faculty growth and assessment, Bethel University (MN); and Michael Williams, president, The Austen Group.

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