26th Annual Conference
Conference Theme: What Is on the Horizon?
Bringing chairs together to explore what they see to be on the horizon for higher education and their role in responding to anticipated changes should yield stimulating and productive conversations.
Not long ago, Robert Zemsky and colleagues stated, “Today's colleges must be market smart and mission-centered.” Finding a balance between those factors is critical to the life and success of colleges and universities and the society they serve. The chair's role in maintaining that equilibrium is critical.
When addressing what is on the horizon for departments and institutions of higher education, countless questions merit consideration. Some of those include:
- How are external/government forces expected to change in the coming decade?
- How will the retirement of “boomer” faculty impact faculty recruitment and salary costs?
- How will technology impact the way students learn?
- How will advances in cognitive psychology and neuroscience influence learning and teaching?
- How might departments be affected by changing inter-departmental and inter-institutional relationships?
- What entrepreneurial and/or research opportunities can be advanced to renew the department?
Successfully addressing these and many other questions is essential for institutions to remain market smart and mission-centered.
What is on the horizon for department chairs is the focus of the 26th Annual Academic Chairpersons Conference.