ADVANCE/LCVI Leadership Workshop

Small Group Discussion Questions

November 20, 2008

Prioritizing Goals

How might the budget crisis affect units differently (e.g. depending on size, funding sources, and structure)?

Assume your unit will have to absorb a significant budget cut:

What will be the biggest effect of that cut? What process will you follow to prioritize unit goals? What is the most important activity/initiative to

continue to support in your unit? What can your unit do more efficiently? When money comes back, to what will you allocate?

Maintaining Morale In the face of budget cuts, how can one

maintain morale, at both an individual and unit level?

How can a chair/unit leader manage the consequences of your budget decisions?

What are some specific things a unit leader can do to help his/her faculty feel valued?

How does one maintain morale when unit priorities may not match individual priorities?

Leadership in Tough TimesLeadership in Tough Times

““Cycles happen”Cycles happen” -- -- short and long-term effectsshort and long-term effects Context, resources and cultureContext, resources and culture

• Structural, human resources, political, Structural, human resources, political, symbolic framessymbolic frames

1990s cuts1990s cuts over 3 biennia: one example over 3 biennia: one example• Logical vs. symbolicLogical vs. symbolic• Making decisions: routine vs. crisis Making decisions: routine vs. crisis • Marginal vs. core cuts: when to restructureMarginal vs. core cuts: when to restructure• Where the buck stopsWhere the buck stops

Living with the long term: Living with the long term: • Organizational and personal Organizational and personal outcomesoutcomes

Sue Thomas Hegyvary, Professor and Dean Emerita, School of NursingSue Thomas Hegyvary, Professor and Dean Emerita, School of Nursing

Leadership in Challenging TimesLeadership in Challenging Times Richard R. Johnson, onetime Chair, Department of History Richard R. Johnson, onetime Chair, Department of History

Context:Context: the position and perspective of the position and perspective of the academic unit and its leadershipthe academic unit and its leadership

Working with the administration:Working with the administration: the the 1990s experience1990s experience

Within the department: Within the department: • Sustaining a mission, directing resourcesSustaining a mission, directing resources• Consultation and collective decisionConsultation and collective decision• Sharing responsibilities, especially teachingSharing responsibilities, especially teaching• Working with other units and the communityWorking with other units and the community• Communicating successCommunicating success• Positioning for the futurePositioning for the future