Navigating the Evolving Higher

Education Landscape Utilizing Best Practices

in Change Management

2021 Virtual Conference

June 14-15, 2021

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Keynote Speaker

Ben Kennedy, CEO and Founder of Kennedy & Company. Kennedy & Company is a higher-

education focused consulting firm headquartered in Washington DC. Previous to starting Kennedy &

Company in 2013, Ben served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Duke University, as a special advisor to the CFO at the University of South Carolina, and as the Director of Huron

Education's enrollment and retention practice. Ben holds an M.B.A. from Duke as well as a B.A.

Since starting Kennedy & Company, Ben has worked with over 75 different institutions in

higher education on issues related to enrollment strategy, student retention, online education,

strategic planning, tuition pricing, and use of CRM technology. Ben lives in Charlottesville, Virginia

with his wife and three children and enjoys running, biking, and traveling.

WELCOME to the Regional and Branch Campus Administrators Virtual

Conference. It is the only conference that is designed for and with presentations

by senior executives of branch campuses. Organizers hope that you find the conference sessions informative and valuable.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE RBCA 2021All times listed Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Monday, June 14, 2021

2:50 p.m. BREAK

12:30 p.m. BREAK FOR LUNCH

1:25 p.m. Maximizing Resources and Opportunities through Organizational Structure and Partnerships at USC Union, Majdouline Aziz, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, Union; Randy Lowell, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, Union

12:50 p.m. Academic Department Structures at Regional Colleges: What is The Best Model?, Jeffrey C. Bauer, D.B.A., University of Cincinnati, Clermont; Richard Stackpole, M.Ed., University of Cincinnati, Clermont

2:00 p.m. Avoiding a Remote Campus Shipwreck in Sailing the Seven Seas: Successfully Navigating the Dichotomies Inherent to Life Apart from the Mother Ship; Mary Lutz, Ph.D.,Ashland University, Columbus Campus

11:00 a.m. WELCOME: Dr. Nicole Pennington and Dr. Jarrod Tudor, Ohio University

11:30 a.m. KEYNOTE: Change Management in Higher Education Institutions, Ben KennedyCOVID has created a unique, once-in-a-generation jolt to new enrollments, attitudes towards online education, and changes to perceptions of affordability, among other things. Given this, how should regional branch campuses think about forecasting new enrollments, tuition revenues, and academic programming? What surprising impacts might these campuses see in a post-COVID era and how can they lead on campus and manage change in a time of such uncertainty? Ben will bring to light what best practices may be available for campuses in terms of forecasting and enrollment management and also share what some campuses are doing to best manage the new pace of change facing many institutions.

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

SENIOR LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Monday, June 14, 2021 (cont’d)

11:15 a.m. Traditionalism versus Succession Planning for Leadership at a Regional Campus, Jarrod Tudor, Ph.D., J.D., LL.M., M.B.A., M.P.A., Ohio University, Lancaster

3:35 p.m. Tips and Strategies to Navigate Institutional Politics, Geisce Ly, Ph.D., City College of San Francisco

11:50 a.m. The Life of a President in the Pandemic: How to Keep the Vision Alive and Well, David H. Devier, Ph.D., Glen Oaks Community College, Centreville

12:45 p.m. Productive Performance Conversations—Job Crafting, Instruction Manuals, and Agile Results, Robin Lightner, Ph.D. University of Cincinnati Blue Ash

12:25 p.m. BREAK FOR LUNCH

3:00 p.m. One OHIO: It’s Origins, Initial Assessment, and Considerations for the Future, Roberta Milliken, Ph.D., Ohio University, Chillicothe; Hannah Nissen, Ph.D., Ohio UniversityZanesville; and David Rohall, Ph.D., Ohio University Eastern

4:25 p.m. Wrap-Up for the Day & Prepare for Tuesday – Dr. Pennington & Dr. Tudor

11:00 a.m. WELCOME to Day 2: Dr. Nicole Pennington and Dr. Jarrod Tudor, Ohio University

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE RBCA 2021 (cont’d)All times listed Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Tuesday, June 15, 2021 (cont’d)

SENIOR LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

4:00 p.m. Conference Conversation and Wrap-Up – Dr. Pennington & Dr. Tudor

3:10 p.m. Effective Communication Strategies to Navigate Institutional Politics (Panel Discussion), R. Scott Adkins, Ph.D., College of the Desert; Jason Chevalier, Ph.D., ChaffeyCollege; Lonita Cordova, Ph.D., San Joaquin Delta College; Silvia Cornejo, M.A., Southwestern Community College; Jessica Enders, College of the Desert; Geisce Ly, Ph.D., City College of San Francisco

2:35 p.m. Wildly Important Goals as a Pillar of our Local Campus Culture, Molly Dodge, B.A., M.A., M.P.A., Ivy Tech Community College, Madison, Indiana; Amanda Harsin, Ph.D., Ivy Tech Community College, Madison, Indiana

1:35 p.m. Embracing Change and Engaging Community (Panel Discussion), California Community College Panelists: R. Scott Adkins, Ph.D., College of the Desert; Jason Chevalier, Ph.D.,Chaffey College; Lonita Cordova, Ph.D., San Joaquin Delta College; Silvia Cornejo, M.A., Southwestern Community College; Jessica Enders, College of the Desert; Geisce Ly,Ph.D., City College of San Francisco

2:25 p.m. BREAK

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE RBCA 2021 (cont’d)All times listed Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Our SpeakersKEYNOTE: Change Management in Higher Education Institutions

Ben Kennedy, CEO and Founder of Kennedy & Company. Kennedy & Company is a higher-education focused consulting firm headquartered in Washington DC. Previous to starting Kennedy & Company in 2013, Ben served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Duke University, as a special advisor to the CFO at the University of South Carolina, and as the Director of Huron Education's enrollment and retention practice. Ben holds an M.B.A. from Duke as well as a B.A.

Since starting Kennedy & Company, Ben has worked with over 75 different institutions in higher education on issues related to enrollment strategy, student retention, online education, strategic planning, tuition pricing, and use of CRM technology. Ben lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with his wife and three children and enjoys running, biking, and traveling.

Academic Department Structures at Regional Colleges: What is The Best Model?• Jeffrey C. Bauer, D.B.A., is Dean of the University of Cincinnati - Clermont and Professor of Management and Marketing. Dr. Bauer's experience includes more than 10 years in industry and

27 years in academe. Dr. Bauer received his Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Sarasota, Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Dayton and Bachelor of Science in Business from Wright State University. The University of Cincinnati - Clermont serves over 3,000 students in 60 academic programs on a beautiful wooded 90 acre campus. The college employs 160 full-time faculty and staff and 250 adjunct faculty with an annual operating budget of approximately $28M.

• Richard Stackpole, M.Ed., currently serves as the Interim Associate Dean at the University of Cincinnati's Clermont College. His background includes admissions, financial aid, academic advising, student affairs and academic affairs. He is committed to advancing the college’s mission of providing a student-centered undergraduate education and life-long learning in an open-access, regional college environment. He supports this commitment by working with faculty to strengthen the curriculum, further enrich student experiences, and attempts to maximize the educational value derived from the growing diversity of the college’s students, faculty, and staff. A University of Cincinnati graduate and employee for more than 25 years, he effectively bridges Academic Affairs and Student Affairs to better serve the college’s student enrollment.

Avoiding a Remote Campus Shipwreck in Sailing the Seven Seas: Successfully Navigating the Dichotomies Inherent to Life Apart from the "Mother Ship"Mary Lutz, Ph.D. - Born in Ohio and raised in California, Mary has completed B.A., M.S. & Ph.D. degrees from Chapman, Indiana and The Ohio State Universities respectively. Having served as a consultant in business, and an employee in both education and faith-based sectors, the majority of her vocational life has been spent serving in institutions of higher education. She has a proven track record as a transformational leader and calming agent of change, coupled with a keen sense of humor.

Our Speakers (cont’d)Embracing Change and Engaging Community (Panel Discussion) ANDEffective Communication Strategies to Navigate Institutional Politics (Panel Discussion)• R. Scott Adkins, Ph.D., has served as the Director of Education Centers, West Valley for College of the Desert since 2018. In this role, he oversees the college’s Palm Springs

and Desert Hot Springs campuses, coordinates with community partners throughout the Coachella Valley, and leads the Palm Springs Campus project management team. Prior to joining College of the Desert, Adkins was an educator and administrator in K-12 Education in the Nashville, Tennessee. Adkins has also served as an instructor and mentor for various international student immersion programs in Europe and Central America.

• Jason Chevalier, Ph.D., has served as a dean at Chaffey College since 2014, overseeing the School of Language Arts (2 years), the School of Visual and Performing Arts (5 years), and the Fontana Campus (interim for 1 year). In each of these areas he has worked with faculty and staff to increase success outcomes for students, to identify resources to improve services and infrastructure, and to facilitate ongoing professional development. Prior to Chaffey College, Jason served as a full-time faculty member at Mt. San Antonio College for 14 years, as the Director of Bands and the Music Department Chair, where he helped to establish an exemplary instrumental music program.

• Lonita Cordova, Ph.D., is a U.S. Navy veteran who comes to you with over 15 years of experience in education, with seven years in the California Community College system, and a myriad of experiences in Student Services. Her experience includes serving as a LD Specialist/DSPS Counselor, Veterans Coordinator Counselor, and the Director of Student Services. She served at Merced Community College as the Dean of Student Equity and Success, and the Dean of the Los Banos Campus. Her current position is as the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services at San Joaquin Delta College.

• Silvia Cornejo, M.A., has served Southwestern Community College District in various capacities for over 20 years. As Director (2001-2010) and Dean (2011-present) of two comprehensive education centers located in very diverse communities, she is responsible for the centers’ operational, instructional, and student services programs and services. One of Silvia’s key roles as an administrator is championing the goals of the District in the communities served by the centers and establishing a wide range of partnerships with local private, public and government agencies and international educational partners (regional cross-border initiatives). Silvia has a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego, and two Bachelor of Art degrees, one in Communication Studies and one in Sociology, also from the University of San Diego.

• Jessica Enders, M.Ed., is passionate for student success and life-long learning which is why she has been in the educational service for 21 years. She has served in the California Community College system for nine years at College of the Desert. In her current position, she provides strategic oversight as Director of Educational Centers, primarily leading the Indio and Mecca/Thermal campuses. In this role, she utilizes her student-centric ideology and collaborative spirit to create access to programming and services across the Coachella Valley. Jessica also served in universities, agencies, and technical colleges. Jessica is a candidate in Kansas State University’s doctoral Community College Leadership program.

• Geisce Ly, Ph.D., is a seasoned administrator and mentor who enjoys empowering community college leaders by facilitating learning opportunities to enable them to be successful while navigating institutional politics. In his current role as Dean of the Downtown Campus and School of Business at City College of San Francisco, he provides leadership, vision and strategic initiatives to increase enrollment, expand career education and workforce development, enhance student learning, maximize student success, and improve student equity.

Our Speakers (cont’d)

One OHIO: It’s Origins, Initial Assessment, and Considerations for the Future• Roberta Milliken, Ph.D., is Dean of the Campus and Community Relations at Ohio University Chillicothe. She is a Professor of English with a specialty in medieval language and literature.

Before coming to Ohio University, she was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Shawnee State University for four years where she also held a number of other academic and administrative positions. She is the author of Ambiguous Locks: An Iconology of Hair in Medieval Art and Literature (McFarland & Company, 2012) and the editor of A Cultural History of Hair in the Middle Ages (Bloomsbury, 2018).

• Hannah Nissen, Ph.D., is the Dean of Campus and Community Relations for Ohio University Zanesville. Prior to her current role, Dr. Nissen served as the campus Associate Dean, and also functioned as the campus Academic Division Coordinator. She also served as the Coordinator of the Early Childhood Education Program, and since her arrival on campus in 2000, has been a member of the Early Childhood Education faculty. Dr. Nissen has also held faculty and leadership roles within Youngstown State University and California State University San Bernardino.

• David Rohall, Ph.D., is the Dean of Campus and Community Relations at Ohio University Eastern. He completed his doctorate in Sociology at University of Maryland, College Park in 2000. Prior to coming to Ohio, he served as a Department Head at Missouri State University where he managed the development and operation of multiple programs and certificates. As Director of the Western Survey Research Center at Western Illinois University, he worked with community stakeholders in the implementation of dozens of local-, state-, and regional-level research projects. He has published over two dozen books and articles on topics related to social psychology and military studies including, Symbolic Interaction in Society (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020) and Inclusion in the American Military: A Force for Diversity (Lexington, 2017).

Maximizing Resources and Opportunities through Organizational Structure and Partnerships at USC Union• Majdouline Aziz, Ph.D., has served as Interim Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at USC Union since August 2020 and was previously Director of the Student Academic Success

Center on campus starting in 2015. She joined the faculty of USC Union as an Assistant Professor of Sociology in August 2014, earning tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in August 2020. She still particularly enjoys her time working with students inside and outside of the classroom as well.

• Randy Lowell, Ph.D., has served as Interim Campus Dean at USC Union since August 2020 and was previously Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs starting in 2016. He joined the faculty in 2012 as an Assistant Professor of Psychology, moved up to Associate Professor in 2016, and then promoted to Full Professor in 2020. He still enjoys teaching and conducting research, and the RBCA Conference has contributed greatly to his professional development in administration.

Productive Performance Conversations—Job Crafting, Instruction Manuals, and Agile ResultsRobin Lightner, Ph.D., has been at University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College since 2001 and has served as Dean since 2017. She has a Ph.D. in Social Psychology, and after teaching at Georgia State and working for Delta Air Lines, joined UCBA’s faculty. She has published in the areas of scholarship of teaching and learning as well as faculty development. She’s a consultant/evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission and has won her college’s Distinguished Teaching Award. She has served in roles as the Director of the Learning & Teaching Center, Department Chair, and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. She serves on the Boards for Blue Ash’s Operation Give Back, Sycamore Schools Executive Advisory Council, and GRAD Cincinnati.

Our Speakers (cont’d)

Tips and Strategies to Navigate Institutional PoliticsGeisce Ly, Ph.D., is a seasoned administrator and mentor who enjoys empowering community college leaders by facilitating learning opportunities to enable them to be successful while navigating institutional politics. In his current role as Dean of the Downtown Campus and School of Business at City College of San Francisco, he provides leadership, vision and strategic initiatives to increase enrollment, expand career education and workforce development, enhance student learning, maximize student success, and improve student equity.

The Life of a President in the Pandemic: How to Keep the Vision Alive and WellDavid H. Devier, Ph.D., is in his 45th year in education. Before coming to Glen Oaks Community College, Centreville, MI, as President and Professor, he served at Clark State Community College, Springfield, OH as Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs and Professor, as Dean/CEO and tenured Professor of the University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Cincinnati, OH, as Dean of Industrial and Engineering Technologies at Owens State Community College, Toledo, OH, and as Chair and Professor of the Department of Technology, at his alma mater, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH. He has held many local, state, and national offices, presented at more than one hundred conferences, served as a Higher Learning Commission accreditation consultant-evaluator for 17 years serving on 37 teams and chairing many, and written dozens of professional articles.

Wildly Important Goals as a Pillar of our Local Campus Culture• Molly Dodge, M.A., is Chancellor for the Madison, Indiana campus of Ivy Tech Community College. Prior to this role, Molly served as director of adult education and director of the

Clearinghouse and special projects at the non-profit River Valley Resources, Inc. where she focused on the provision of employment and wrap-around services to families in poverty. Molly holds a Bachelor’s degree from Hanover College, and a Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies and a Master of Public Administration from Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis.

• Amanda Harsin, Ph.D., is Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the Madison, Indiana campus of Ivy Tech Community College. Amanda started her career at Ivy Tech Community College in 2007 as an adjunct and student success tutor. She has been a faculty member at Ivy Tech, Hanover College, and Indiana University East. Her research interests include family systems, chronic illness, and medical communication. Amanda holds a Bachelor’s degree from Hanover College, a Master’s degree from the University of Kentucky, and her Ph.D. from Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis.

Traditionalism versus Succession Planning for Leadership at a Regional CampusJarrod Tudor, Ph.D., LL.M., serves as the Dean of Campus and Community Relations at Ohio University Lancaster|Pickerington Center. He previously served as Dean and Chief Administrative Officer of The University of Akron’s Regional Campus System as well as Interim Dean of the LeBron James Family Foundation College of Education also at The University of Akron. Dr. Tudor is a full professor in the Patton College of Education at Ohio University. Prior to his service to The University of Akron, he spent 21 years working within the Kent State University regional campus system serving in a variety of capacities including Dean and Chief Administrative Officer at Kent State University – Geauga, Director of Paralegal Studies, and as a faculty member teaching a variety of courses in political science, finance, management, paralegal studies, criminal justice, journalism, and higher education administration.

Our Speakers (cont’d)

Conference Leadership• Dr. Nicole Pennington currently serves as the executive dean for Regional Higher Education (RHE) at Ohio University and dean of Ohio University’s Southern Campus. As

executive dean, Nicole is the administrative officer for the five regional campuses and two centers of Ohio University. As dean of the Southern Campus, she serves as the chief administrative officer of the campus. In addition, Nicole is an associate professor of nursing at the Southern Campus.

• Jarrod Tudor, Ph.D., LL.M., serves as the Dean of Campus and Community Relations at Ohio University Lancaster|Pickerington Center. He previously served as Dean and Chief Administrative Officer of The University of Akron’s Regional Campus System as well as Interim Dean of the LeBron James Family Foundation College of Education also at The University of Akron. Dr. Tudor is a full professor in the Patton College of Education at Ohio University. Prior to his service to The University of Akron, he spent 21 years working within the Kent State University regional campus system serving in a variety of capacities including Dean and Chief Administrative Officer at Kent State University – Geauga, Director of Paralegal Studies, and as a faculty member teaching a variety of courses in political science, finance, management, paralegal studies, criminal justice, journalism, and higher education administration.

Our SessionsKEYNOTE: Change Management in Higher Education Institutions - Ben Kennedy, CEO and Founder of Kennedy & Company

COVID has created a unique, once-in-a-generation jolt to new enrollments, attitudes towards online education, and changes to perceptions of affordability, among other things. Given this, how should regional branch campuses think about forecasting new enrollments, tuition revenues, and academic programming? What surprising impacts might these campuses see in a post-COVID era and how can they lead on campus and manage change in a time of such uncertainty? Ben will bring to light what best practices may be available for campuses in terms of forecasting and enrollment management and also share what some campuses are doing to best manage the new pace of change facing many institutions.

Academic Department Structures at Regional Colleges: What is The Best Model? - Jeff C. Bauer, D.B.A. and Richard Stackpole, M.Ed.Regional colleges house many academic disciplines typically with few faculty in each discipline grouping. As a result, single discipline units are rare and academic departments are in most cases truly multi-disciplinary divisions. While there are benefits to multi-disciplinary departments such as interdisciplinary discussions and programs, these structures do present management challenges for the unit heads. Getting faculty to consider changing structures and therefore bylaws, reappointment, promotion, and tenure documents, etc. provides opportunities for creative change management approaches.

Avoiding a Remote Campus Shipwreck in Sailing the Seven Seas: Successfully Navigating the Dichotomies Inherent to Life Apart from the "Mother Ship“ - Mary Lutz, Ph.D.This presentation prepares participants to successfully navigate the dichotomies inherent to life apart from the mother ship. The presenter draws a parallel to each of the seven oceans of the world, identifying the characteristics and intrinsic challenges of each Connections are made to the work of leading a remote campus, including the best practices of safe navigation. Tips are provided for challenging the stereotypes of sailing and operating a remote campus are provided, including a useful framework by Patterson, and organizational development concepts of Argyris. Practices to insure the longevity of leaders are discussed. Survival essentials are provided, based on Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People are summarized, along with key areas for leader focus based on the 7 principles of Astin & Astin's Social Change Model of Leadership Development. Thoughts related to providing institutional leadership focused on the horizon through the framework of Bonem & Patterson’s Leading from the Second Chair are shared, followed by a conclusion, contact information, references, and a time for questions.

Embracing Change and Engaging Community (Panel Discussion) - R. Scott Adkins, Ph.D., Jason Chevalier, Ph.D., Lonita Cordova, Ph.D., Silvia Cornejo, M.A., Jessica Enders, M.Ed., and Geisce Ly, Ph.D.A panel of branch campus/center administrators from the California Community College system will share how they creatively, collaboratively and successfully meet the changing needs of their students while engaging their communities. Situated in different areas in California, the panelists will share the challenges and opportunities they encounter at their locations, and how they creatively respond to institutional priorities, changes in the enrollments, and the educational interests of local community members and organizations. This session will focus on the impact of the community on the instructional sites and how each site effectively collaborates and partners with local organizations. This session will explore how to creatively capitalize upon the utilization of resources at your site while remaining aligned to the institution’s mission.

Effective Communication Strategies to Navigate Institutional Politics (Panel Discussion) - R. Scott Adkins, Ph.D., Jason Chevalier, Ph.D., Lonita Cordova, Ph.D., Silvia Cornejo, M.A., Jessica Enders, M.Ed., and Geisce Ly, Ph.D.

There will be a plethora of opportunities to advance within higher education as more Baby Boomers retire in the next decade. Those who aspire to be a successful leader at the highest levels need to understand how their non-verbal and verbal communication impact perceptions, relationships, processes, and outcomes. The purpose of this session is for participants to gain insight, tips and strategies from six California campus leaders on how they have successfully navigated the political landscape within their college and district while managing change.

One OHIO: It’s Origins, Initial Assessment, and Considerations for the Future - Roberta Milliken, Ph.D., Hannah Nissen, Ph.D., and David Rohall, Ph.D.Almost no college or university has been protected from the issues associated with declining numbers of college-ready students due to declining birth rates. COVID-19 added an additional blow to enrollments as many students and their families either decided to avoid college because of its potential health risks or were forced to choose employment over enrolling in college as a way of supporting their families. It appears that there is no easy answer to the enrollment decline.

Maximizing Resources and Opportunities through Organizational Structure and Partnerships at USC Union - Majdouline Aziz, Ph.D. and Randy Lowell, Ph.D.Over the past 5 years, the USC Union campus has achieved multiple enrollment records and has experienced a 29% increase in first-time full-time freshmen across that span. This has been greatly influenced by a revived athletics program, a new Nursing program, new privately constructed student housing, an expanded campus footprint, new common areas on campus for student study and recreation and increased dual enrollment offerings. Meanwhile, throughout this growth, organizational change has been necessary in order to meet the needs of greater numbers of students and faculty on campus.

Productive Performance Conversations—Job Crafting, Instruction Manuals, and Agile Results - Robin Lightner, Ph.D.We have all learned the traditional wisdom about performance reviews—surround negative feedback with positives, preserve self-esteem, set SMART goals, etc. In this interactive presentation, we’ll extend the ideas to include three new strategies to have productive performance conversations beyond the Annual Performance Review.

The Life of a President in the Pandemic: How to Keep the Vision Alive and Well - David H. Devier, Ph.D.The COVID-19 pandemic presented higher institutions with challenges that we could have never fully been prepared for. This presentation will focus on how Glendale Community College pivoted and implemented changes to continue instructional operations during a global pandemic.

Our Sessions (cont’d)

Tips and Strategies to Navigate Institutional Politics - Geisce Ly, Ph.D.Those who aspire to be a successful leader and positive change agent need to be adept at navigating institutional politics while engaging in political behaviors. Essentially, they need to practice mindful leadership in order to be the most effective and influential. The purpose of this session is for participants to gain tips and strategies on how best to navigate the political landscape within their college and district while managing change.

Traditionalism versus Succession Planning for Leadership at a Regional Campus - Jarrod Tudor, Ph.D., LL.M.The Covid-19 pandemic did not make the administration of institutions of higher education, generally, nor the administration of regional campuses, specifically, any easier. Regional campus leaders were forced to manage routinely in an electronic format -- dominated by Microsoft Teams, Zoom, GotoMeeting, Google Meet, and Skype -- while still maintaining oversight of the physical plant and keeping a link to the greater community served by the campus. However, while attempting this tricky balance, the great majority of regional campuses faced budget reductions associated with their respective state’s anticipated decline in tax receipts due to the pandemic’s negative impact on the economy. The pandemic will undoubtably have a lasting impact on the gamut of higher education institutions which are now forced to rethink many of their traditional operations. These changes will likely make higher education in all forms how its leaders are chosen.

Wildly Important Goals as a Pillar of our Local Campus Culture - Molly Dodge, M.A. and Amanda Harsin, Ph.D.In the spring of 2018, the Madison campus of Ivy Tech Community College embarked upon a campus wide goal setting initiative. Campus executive leadership read The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Jim Huling, and Sean Covey. The 4 Disciplines of Execution website shares the need for implementing a goal setting structure in higher education because “with a diverse mix of departments and initiatives, colleges and universities have difficulty aligning and focusing their people on achieving the institution’s most important goals.” The objective of this presentation is to demonstrate how a guided goal setting process can be a best practice in the evolving higher education landscape. For our campus, implementing this specific goal setting process has been a transformational way of engaging all employees towards goals that we decide are important for our campus.

Our Sessions (cont’d)

RBCA CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Conference Chair Jarrod Tudor, Dean of Campus & Community Relations, Ohio University, LancasterProgram Chair Nicole Pennington, Executive Dean for Regional Higher Education & Lifelong Learning;

Dean of Campus & Community Relations, Southern Campus

Walt Collins, Dean, University of South Carolina, LancasterLeslie Hafer, Provost, St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg/GibbsJill Martin-Rend, Director, Butler County Community College, PennsylvaniaSandy Ott, Director, Blue Ridge Campus, University of North GeorgiaMichael E. Sonntag, Dean, University of South Carolina, SumterBillie Washburn, Executive Director, Georgia Military College, Valdosta

We wish to thank our conference committee for serving as moderators for our program sessions.

We also wish to extend our sincere thanks to the Ohio University staff who helped us pull this virtual conference together:• Matthew Hamrick, Coordinator of Campus Communications and External Relations, Regional Higher Education• Kim Hayden, Special Assistant and Director of Administration, Regional Higher Education• Kathy Holt, Executive Assistant, Lancaster Campus• Rebecca Petty, IT Manager of Application Support and Academic Technology, Regional Higher Education• Larry Tumblin, Director of Information Technology for Regional Higher Education

Ohio University is an affirmative action institute.