ELMI Format and Sessions - 2009

FORMAT AND SESSIONS

The ELMI’s central feature is its conscious tailoring to the needs and situation of each participant, and so enrollment is limited to 35. The experience is not simply about leadership in general but how each person can see specific ways to exercise leadership and be more effective on campus.

The format is varied in order to accomplish this: lecture, demonstrations, round-table discussions, case studies, small group projects, individual videotaping, and executive feedback sessions.

Many of the sessions, are held with the entire group attending. There are several presentations by professional presenters with national reputations and others are offered by seasoned higher education administrators with years of leadership experience. Some sessions are led by ELMI alumni who have achieved distinction in particular areas.

Full-group sessions, of course, involve dialogue and interaction with a “seminar-style feel” to them.

On the other hand, much of the Institute consists of interaction within smaller groups and one-on-one coaching.

A good example of ELMI’s emphasis on individuals is preparation of the “SWATs,” which are small group, self-generated, “leadership case studies,” prepared for five days and presented one evening. The SWATs use events from the actual situations of group members, situations which have the most potential for leadership education and can be dramatically presented in a “theater” setting.

SESSIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE ELMI 2009

“The ‘Big Picture’ of American Higher Education”

This session describes the different kinds of institutions that make up American higher education today, and the challenges effective leaders must meet now and in the future. This opening session will answer these questions and encourage participants to see how their institution fits within the universe of American higher education.

“Personal Style, Public Speaking, and Leadership”

This session deals with the skills for handling complex or controversial subjects in a clear, concise, and compelling way, whether in a small or large groups, or in front of a news camera. The emphasis is on verbal and nonverbal strategies for presenting ideas with maximum effectiveness and on building a more powerful communication style. Effectively using PowerPoint and other electronic devices during presentations will be covered thoroughly. The goal of this session is to have participants understand the basics of persuasive public speaking and to become a more confident presenter.

“Academic Values & Faculty Perspectives on Administrators”

What are the most important things to understand about academic values and the perspectives of faculty concerning administrators? Participants will discuss these issues with emphasis on the essential concepts of academic culture and will debate the case for tenure as one aspect of academic life. Particular emphasis will be placed on the best methods and strategies for non-academic administrators to deal with the faculty and others on “the academic side of the house.”

“Current Results from Leadership Research for Higher Education”
Holistic Approaches to Leadership

Strengths-based Assessment and Positive Visioning Approaches
Focus and Execution as a Priority for Leaders
Growing the Next Generation of Leaders in Higher Education (succession planning)

“Managing Conflict and Difficult People”

Disagreement and conflict are part of the institutional landscape. Both one-on-one and in groups, no successful leader can avoid dealing with difficult people and challenging language. Through descriptions, simulations and case studies, this session will highlight skills of understanding relationships and interpersonal strategy in dealing with difficult people in a higher education environment.

“Establishing Credibility and Authority”

What does it take to establish personal credibility among those we deal with on a daily basis? The ingredients are ethics, honesty, caring, toughness, listening well, and vision. This session deals with how authority can be exercised in a way that is fair and balanced while holding people accountable and establishing a reputation for strong leadership.

“Academic Politics and Meeting Management”

There is an old saying that “academic politics is so vicious because the stakes are so low.” Perhaps so, but whatever the stakes, higher education leaders operate in a complicated and political environment. This session identifies some guiding principles in dealing successfully in this environment, especially within the context of committee meetings.

“Real Career Planning: Balancing Work and Personal Life”

This session deals with the challenges of being successful professionally while maintaining a satisfying personal life. This discussion about individual career goals will highlight ways to have a systematic and strategic approach for accomplishing this balancing. This session will also include a special presentation on managing your career during challenging times.

“Violence on Campus: Observations from a Seasoned Police Chief”

During the past ten years, violence has become a reality on many campuses, and the threat of more confrontations grows with time and publicity. This session will describe how these situations develop, what actions should be taken to deal with them effectively, and things administrators in all areas should do in anticipation of a crisis.

“Keeping You and Your Institution out of Court”

Threats of lawsuits are all around. These threats can be seriously challenging for higher education administrators and can consume vast amounts of time if ignored or mishandled. This session will deal with the most important areas now, and in the future, of litigation and liability for colleges and universities. Special emphasis will be given to the legal and administrative ramifications of electronic communications.

“Insurmountable Opportunities: Reflections on Change and Making Your Mark in Higher Education”

When the times and our institutions are in turmoil, what are the best ways to “reinvent yourself” to succeed both personally and professionally and to change our institutions? A community college leader with extensive experience will discuss this and other issues such as:

what are the ingredients of successful leadership across the range of institutions in American higher education?
what are the best ways to deal with conditions of cutbacks, uncertainty, and negativism?
what are the most important milestones and opportunities in a successful higher education career?

A “Strolling Around” Tour of Stanford. Dan DeYoung, founder of the ELMI and a former Stanford Vice President, will conduct an in-depth, tour around portions of the main campus. This is an opportunity to hear a real insider describe how the campus has changed over the years.

Dramatic Case Studies. SWAT teams consist of highly trained professionals who come together quickly to deal with serious problems that face society or institutions. Within leadership education, however, SWAT teams do not use weapons of destruction. Rather, SWATs consist of case studies identified, described, and analyzed by participants. These are actual events, experienced by a participant, which have the most potential for leadership education and can be dramatically presented.

Dr. William Pickens, ELMI Director