DEPARTMENT CHAIRS LEADING POSITIVE CHANGE
The field of education is continuously evolving. Department Chairs are finding themselves pushed to new levels of leadership and are called to facilitate positive change within their institution.
The Department Chair Institute © (DCI) is a highly experiential program designed to provide instructional leaders with the tools and skills needed to be successful on the job. Grounded in Appreciative Inquiry, this program provides participants with relevant knowledge, information, and tools and techniques to ensure your success as department and division leaders. This workshop’s format includes case studies, opportunities for practice (real and role plays) mini-lectures, assessment instruments, individual reflection and individual action planning.
TRAINING DESIGNED FOR:
The Department Chair Institute © (DCI) is designed for new or experienced first-level instructional leaders.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Department Chairs and other instructional leaders can begin learning the knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively perform their roles and responsibilities as a Department Chair or other instructional leader with an opportunity to network with their peers for continuous learning, pre- and post- DCI. After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand what contributes to an individual’s vitality and why it’s so important for personal and professional success.
- Recognize, understand, listen, and employ your skills/strengths for better decision making.
- Assess, understand, and appreciate your personal style and strengths and the style and strengths of others.
- Increase the ability to adjust your style to the style of others to improve communication, efficiency, and effectiveness.
- Understand the social nature of high-performance workplace based on neuroscience findings and what we know about human systems.
- Develop, practice, and implement an Action Plan that will help create a ‘shared vision’ for your department.
PROGRAM TOPICS:
The DCI consists of topics designed to guide academic leaders through the full range and depth of what it means to be a Department Chair. Click the topic titles below to display the learning outcomes for each topic.
ENGAGING WITH OTHERS
Using your emotional intelligence, learn how to manage your social style—the way you behave in your relationships with faculty, your supervisor, and others–so that you can better accomplish departmental tasks and goals.
LEADING CHANGE
Take advantage of the strengths of your organization and department’s culture to lead positive change. Then practice a process for creating a shared vision for your department, inspiring faculty to make, rather than resist, change.
GENERATIVE CONVERSATIONS
Become aware of how a culture of inclusion, mutual respect and trust creates the safety that is necessary to bridge difficult conversations.
BUILDING EFFICIENCY
Become aware of your Time-Management Personality in order to better manage your time. Also learn to use your limited time more wisely by learning to put first things first, keeping your attention focused on your most important tasks and goals.
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Based on neuroscience research we are learning how we work as individuals, at work, in teams and the value of positive feelings and emotions to the health of individuals and organizations.
FACILITATING GROUP PROCESSES
Groups require skillful facilitation in order to make good things happen. Practice your skills so that you can lead productive meetings, facilitate good group decisions, and manage conflict.
HIRING AND EVALUATING FACULTY
Based on research about good teaching, increase your ability to hire effective full and part-time faculty and then learn how to help them become even more effective by focusing on their strengths.
REVIEWING AND RENEWING PROGRAMS
Become familiar with an outcomes-based model for reviewing and renewing instructional programs, one that is in alignment with Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and evidence-based assessment.
ACTION PLAN AND CERTIFICATION:
REQUIREMENTS
In order to qualify for certification with The Center for Appreciative Inquiry, each participant must:
- Actively participate and complete the Department Chair Institute (DCI).
- Develop an Action Plan using the theory and practice learned during the Department Chair Institute © . The Action Plan can be used for your college, team, group, committee or community organization that you work with. Your DCI trainers serve as an advisor to you as you construct your action plan – at no extra cost.
- Complete and submit a report for review.
ACTION PLAN REPORT REVIEW
All submitted reports are reviewed by a panel of Department Chair Directors. At least one trainer from your DCI will also be part of the panel that reviews your practicum. The Review Panel may contact you to engage in a conversation about your work once you have submitted your report. Typically, they will respond with questions, to deepen their and your shared understanding of your action plan. The report review is therefore a dialogical and interactive process.
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:
METHOD OF DELIVERY
The Department Chair Institute © can be delivered virtually, in-person, or in a hybrid format.
QUESTIONS?
Do you have questions about this training? Please email your questions to Kathy Becker at Kathy@CenterForAppreciativeInquiry.net.
PROGRAM OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
WANT TO TRAIN YOUR TEAM OR DEPARTMENT?
Private DCI trainings are available for teams, departments, and institutions who wish to deliver the Department Chair Institute © to a large number of individuals. We encourage a minimum of eight (8) members from any organization, group, or community participate. Please complete the CONTACT US form to receive more information about hosting a private DCI training for your team.
