CIC’s 45th annual Institute for Chief Academic Officers, held together with chief student affairs officers, took place November 4–7, 2017, in San Antonio, Texas. Under the theme of “Preparing All Students for Civic Participation,” sessions focused on changes in the core responsibilities of chief academic and chief student affairs officers and how both senior officers must build and sustain strong cooperation as they lead teams of colleagues who champion student learning and development as well as institutional strength. For the first time, chief diversity officers also participated in the Institute, examining the challenges these campus leaders face collectively.
“I especially appreciated the civic engagement topic at the Institute for Chief Academic Officers. The robust conversations inspired me to use a similar theme for Dillard’s Spring 2018 Faculty and Staff Institute,” remarked Yolanda W. Page, vice president for academic affairs at
Dillard University (LA). And Nina Caldwell, vice president for student life at
Maryville University (MO), reflected, “The Institute was informative and engaging. I enjoyed discussing with my colleagues the ways in which we can collaborate to enhance student learning in both curricular and co-curricular areas. I look forward to implementing many of the strategies that were shared as we prepare and plan for the evolution of higher education.”
The Institute is the largest annual conference of chief academic officers of any of the higher education associations. This year, the event attracted 547 chief academic, chief student affairs, and chief diversity officers, and a grand total of 637 people. Participants traveled from as far as Greece, Spain, Canada, and Mexico and from all across the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. CIC hosted the 2017 Institute in cooperation with NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and ACPA–College Student Educators International.
The program featured leading authorities on key aspects of the work of chief academic and chief student affairs officers. Keynote speaker
Shaun R. Harper, Clifford and Betty Allen Professor in the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California and executive director of the USC Race and Equity Center, discussed how campus leaders can understand and respond to the longstanding problem of racism in higher education. Plenary speaker
Andrew R. Chan, vice president for innovation and career development at Wake Forest University, explored how to help students find their way through the college-to-career pipeline. A plenary session on navigating difficult conversations on campus with those of different backgrounds or viewpoints on issues of race, gender, politics, and religion featured
Franklin & Marshall College (PA) panelists
Margaret Hazlett, dean of the college, and
Joel W. Martin, provost and dean of faculty;
Elizabeth F. Ortiz, vice president for institutional diversity and equity at
DePaul University (IL); and moderator
Kevin Kruger, president of NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.
Eboo Patel, founder and executive director of Interfaith Youth Core, delivered the closing address on what liberal arts colleges can do to promote interfaith understanding.
Session presenters offered practical advice on responding to student dissent, building effective living-learning communities, and providing access and retention support to low-income and first-generation students. Discussions of legal issues provided fresh perspectives on hiring, evaluation, and Title IX. Other topics explored included new opportunities for international study, approaches to student housing, publication outlets for faculty members and students, programs that serve communities across the generations, issues in athletics, and the future composition of the faculty.
Academic and student affairs officers had the opportunity to participate in an “open mike” session and gain professional development in several workshops: Financial Literacy, Student Debt, and Post-Graduation Success; Building an Organizational Structure to Support Retention and Students’ Success; and Designing Learning Spaces That Work. In addition, the Institute offered pre-Institute seminars designed for new chief academic officers, CAOs in their third or fourth year of service, and new academic team members, as well as special programming for spouses and partners of CAOs.
Ron Cole, provost and dean of the college,
Allegheny College (PA), remarked, “I especially value the opportunities the Institute provided for in-depth discussions of current issues in higher ed that generated ideas I can bring back to my home institution.” Mary Boyd, provost of
Berry College (GA), emphasized, “The Institute is my ‘must attend’ meeting, and this year’s conference was no exception. I appreciated the brilliant keynote address by Shaun Harper, the other plenary and concurrent presentations, and the opportunities to connect with friends and colleagues.”
During a presentation of awards, CIC honored
Debbie Mauldin Cottrell, vice president for academic affairs of
Texas Lutheran University, with the 2017 Chief Academic Officer Award for her dedicated service to Texas Lutheran, her willingness to help numerous campus leaders better understand the challenges facing them including as facilitator and presenter for CIC workshops, and her exemplary efforts to enhance the role and work of the independent college CAO.
Eboo Patel received the 2017 Academic Leadership Award for his leadership of Interfaith Youth Core and the CIC/IFYC seminars on interfaith understanding, his contributions to the national conversation on interfaith cooperation on campuses nationwide, and for his unfailing devotion to the students and faculty members of liberal arts colleges and universities.
View podcasts of the plenary sessions as well as slideshow presentations and handouts from many Institute sessions.
During the Workshop for New Chief Academic Officers, participants discussed key issues, analyzed case studies, and were paired with experienced mentors.
Participants in the Workshop for CAOs in Their Third or Fourth Year of Service explored key institutional needs CAOs should address at this stage.
The 2017 Institute offered for the first time a Workshop for New Academic Team members who have served for fewer than two years.
Debbie Mauldin Cottrell, vice president for academic affairs of
Texas Lutheran University, received the CIC 2017 Chief Academic Officer Award.
CIC honored Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core, with the 2017 Academic Leadership Award.
CIC presented awards for service to the CAO Institute Task Force to Lily D. McNair, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs,
Wagner College (NY); Andrew A. Workman, provost and senior vice president,
Roger Williams University (RI); and Laura Niesen de Abruña, provost,
York College of Pennsylvania.
Breakfast discussions provided informal opportunities for participants with similar interests to share information and ideas.