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Liberal Arts Colleges and COACHE: Big Impact on a Small Scale

by Kiernan Mathews

A path leading toward a red-brick building on a college campusFor most of COACHE’s 13 years in existence, research universities have dominated the roster of our institutional partners. Their sheer numbers of faculty are a quantitative researcher’s dream!

However, a quiet but sizable minority of liberal arts colleges have consistently relied on the Collaborative’s surveys, analysis, and leadership coaching. Over time, I have been so encouraged by the efforts of their presidents and deans to create the conditions in which faculty do their best work.... Read more about Liberal Arts Colleges and COACHE: Big Impact on a Small Scale

A New COACHE Benefit: Leadership Development in the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education

by Kiernan Mathews

A group of adults taking notes in a classI am pleased to make this special announcement about a Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) collaboration that many of friends at member institutions have noted is long overdue.

Starting this year, two of HGSE's most trusted names--COACHE and the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education (HIHE)--are working together to provide more and better leadership development options to the network of COACHE institutions. What's more, COACHE members now save up to $1,000 on HIHE tuition--if you apply for the summer programs by Friday, February 12.

... Read more about A New COACHE Benefit: Leadership Development in the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education

Post-tenure Review from a Growth Mindset

by Kiernan Mathews

A woman in a pantsuit and heels climbing stairsI recently fielded a question from a COACHE partner who wanted to know about institutions doing good work in annual appraisal processes that makes real distinctions in faculty performance. There are effective, developmental, faculty-driven approaches, and COACHE data can be deployed to identify them. At our project, however, we start with frameworks—the four lenses of Reframing Organizations by Bolman and Deal are a favorite device here at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

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Where the Faculty Affairs Things Are: Conferences and Convenings

by Kiernan Mathews

This blog post was republished in 2019 with an updated list of resources: "Where the Faculty Affairs Things Are (Now): Conferences and Convenings Updated"

A group of colleagues around a conference tableEvery so often in my work at COACHE, I meet a brand-new vice provost or associate dean responsible for faculty affairs (or faculty development, or faculty excellence, or so on) at his or her university. Nine times out of ten, these are faculty who demonstrated their leadership as department chairs or on important university-wide committees and now find themselves as academic administrators without a community of peers on campus. It can be a difficult transition. Where do they turn to find support, professional development, and comfort that they aren't alone?

... Read more about Where the Faculty Affairs Things Are: Conferences and Convenings

APLU Members React: Forging Effective Partnerships to Sustain Institutional Change

Two people shaking hands over a pile of papersModerator: Beth Mitchneck, Program Director for ADVANCE, National Science Foundation
Panelists: Kimberlee Shauman, Professor of Sociology and Associate Director of ADVANCE, University of California, Davis; Loretta A. Moore, Interim Vice President for Research and Federal Relations and Professor of Computer Science, Jackson State University; Susan Carlson, Vice Provost for Academic Personnel, University of California, Office of the President

... Read more about APLU Members React: Forging Effective Partnerships to Sustain Institutional Change

COACHE Results Support University of Toronto's Large-Scale Communication Strategy

by Meg Starkey

A group of people discussing informationCOACHE spotlights member institutions that are delving into their reports and engaging with their colleagues around disseminating results.  This ‘spotlight’ features the University of Toronto.  I interviewed Sara-Jane Finlay, Director of the Office of Faculty and Academic Life and Stephannie Roy, Projects Officer in the Office of the Vice Provost, Faculty and Academic Life about their dissemination strategy.  So far, they have presented to their Academic Board; President/VPs/Deans; principals/deans/academic directors & chairs; and they post weekly reports and infographics in The Bulletin. You can find more information by clicking here. Their story highlights the importance of timing in attempting to generate an impact on the faculty and faculty leadership.

... Read more about COACHE Results Support University of Toronto's Large-Scale Communication Strategy

Partner Spotlight: The University at Albany’s "Tenure Trek"

An audience observing a panel discussionIn 2008, the University at Albany developed a “Tenure Trek” program, aimed at demystifying the tenure process and providing junior faculty with  opportunities for collegial discussion with peers, information to help them better understand UAlbany, and strategies for achieving success in teaching, research and service. Events include panel discussions with senior faculty, structured workshops and informal discussions. All pre-tenure academic faculty members are invited to share their own experiences, and to gather insights from others on negotiating the early years of a career at UAlbany.... Read more about Partner Spotlight: The University at Albany’s "Tenure Trek"

Partner Spotlight: Career, Leadership and University Excellence Program at the University at Albany

A group of people at a seminarThe Provost’s Office at the University at Albany initiated a Career, Leadership and University Excellence (CLUE) program to study processes and policies that affect faculty satisfaction and to create programs that result in greater faculty satisfaction and success. CLUE is a multi-faceted and growing set of initiatives that invest in-- and seek to retain-- high quality faculty and staff. Two of these initiatives include the CLUE Planning Groups and the CLUE Fellowship.  CLUE Planning Groups enable faculty and staff to participate in longer-term and more specific conversations aimed at developing new ideas and finding concrete solutions to the issues of faculty satisfaction and retention.... Read more about Partner Spotlight: Career, Leadership and University Excellence Program at the University at Albany

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