Preconvention workshops take place on Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17. Complete descriptions for each workshop appear below.
Preconvention Workshop A -- New CEO Institute: Hit the Ground Leading
(sponsored by AACC Presidents Academy with scholarship support from SunGard Higher Education)
Date: Friday, April 16, 1:00 - 5:00 pm & Saturday, April 17, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
This day-and-a-half workshop offering meaty information and rich opportunities for exchange is designed only for first-time CEOs. Meet with your peers in a learning environment that is supportive and serious, open and honest, productive and informative. Sessions cover topics such as developing positive board relations, mastering advocacy, problem solving, fostering the college mission and understanding college finances. Seasoned presidents and presidents still somewhat new to the job will provide you with insights from their own perspectives and answer your most pressing questions. The workshop includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, and materials and features an outstanding faculty.
Preconvention Workshop B -- For Aspiring Presidents: Interviewing for the Presidency and Preparing to Work With and for a Board of Trustees
(sponsored by Association of Community College Trustees)
Date: Friday, April 16, 1:30 - 5:30 pm & Saturday, April 17, 8:30 am -12:30 pm
This two-part workshop provides a valuable simulation of the presidential interview process and insights into how community college boards of trustees function. Practice interviewing in a typical presidential candidate/search committee or board interview session; learn how to present yourself in ways that are uniquely yours and capitalize on outstanding qualities that make you the candidate of choice; and critique your videotaped interview with presidential experts. You'll gain valuable information on governance and how to prepare to work for a board of trustees, as well as learn what trustees look for when interviewing presidential candidates.
Preconvention Workshop C -- Organizational Development Is Resource Development
(sponsored by Council for Resource Development)
Date: Friday, April 16, 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Organizational development goes hand in hand with resource development. New initiatives in curriculum development, student services, professional development, and physical plant growth now often result from funding in the form of public/private grants and donor gifts. In this session you will examine integrated models of development functions in community colleges, explore the role of faculty and staff in supporting the development function, and identify strategies to implement at your home institutions. Presented by the Council for Resource Development (CRD), an AACC-affiliated council.
Preconvention Workshop D -- Rebuilding Your Financial Plans: New Realities and New Strategies
(sponsored by VALIC and supported by Emeriti)
Date: Saturday, April 17, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
For the first time, AACC will offer an intensive and comprehensive financial rebuilding workshop. The objective of this program is to provide a wealth of practical information to maximize retirement plans and futures. This workshop will focus on the mechanics of rebuilding financial portfolios, planning for retirement, planning for health care during retirement, and much more. Workshop participants will be offered the opportunity to receive a no-cost personalized financial plan. There are three components to this workshop:
1. Rethinking and Rebuilding Retirement Plans
The recent market downturn may have you asking whether or not you will be able to realize your dreams and goals. Some of you may have lost a good portion of retirement savings and are left asking: Where do I go from here? How do I rebuild? Will I be able to retire? During this session, we will answer three questions and offer some key strategies that will help you rethink your current financial situation, provide choices on how to rebuild retirement savings, and assist in implementing a plan to retire comfortably.
2. Health-Care Security in Retirement
This session will demonstrate how to incorporate health-care planning into an overall financial plan. The focus will be on how to access affordable benefits and create targeted, tax-advantaged assets to pay for growing health-care costs. Topics include the role Medicare and supplemental plans will play and the impact of pending health-care reform proposals; the importance of examining the responsibilities shared by you, your employer, and the government); how much you can expect to pay out-of-pocket; how to preserve pension assets; and what you, your financial advisors, and your institution can do now to help build targeted assets.
3. Retirement Strategies for Life
This section addresses the emotional and the financial aspects of retirement planning. It is ideal for those seriously contemplating retirement within the next five years. Topics include today's challenges in retirement, distribution planning, Social Security and Medicare, investment planning, asset allocation, and estate planning issues.
Preconvention Workshop E -- Strategic Fundraising for Presidents
(sponsored by Council for Advancement and Support of Education)
Date: Saturday, April 17, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Now more than ever, advancement must play an integral and strategic role in the life of your community college. You need strategies for telling your stories, connecting with graduates, and securing private support. This preconference workshop for presidents, facilitated by seasoned community college presidents, will explore issues such as getting started, establishing a development office, best practices in naming gift opportunities, guidelines and trends in endowment management and investment practices, and forging public and private partnerships.
Preconvention Workshop F -- Breaking the Stained Glass Ceiling: Preparing Administrators From Diverse Groups for Executive-Level Positions
(Organized by the Asian/Pacific Islanders Council, National Community College Hispanic Council, and National Council on Black American Affairs. Sponsored by Capella University)
Date: Saturday, April 17, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Are you wondering what it takes to attain a vice presidency or presidency successfully? Are you frustrated that you have been repeatedly screened out of the application and screening processes? Are you questioning your career pathway or professional goals as a chief executive officer or college president? This highly interactive and participatory workshop is designed primarily for administrators from diverse backgrounds who aspire to be successful in executive-level positions in community colleges. A diverse group of prominent CEOs will facilitate the workshop with real-life and practical examples, experiences, and lessons learned. This unique workshop will provide:
- A realistic and thought-provoking forum for discussing strategies for dealing with internal and external politics and issues
- An inside view of the recruitment process and ways to overcome hurdles and barriers.
- Options and solutions to balance personal and professional commitments, values, and choices.
- Hands-on, practical knowledge and skill building for success.
- National networking and mentoring opportunities.
- Individualized career planning.
Preconvention Workshop G -- Taking Care of Business: What Every President Needs to Know
(sponsored by AACC Future Leaders Institute and Community College Business Officers)
Date: Saturday, April 17, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Many challenges await new community college presidents as they embark on a journey that will define personal and professional success. Like many other organizations, community colleges are being challenged to improve performance, contain costs, extract greater outcomes from existing resources, and demonstrate sound fiscal management. Most presidents come to higher education from the academic or student service side of the college. Many, if not most, need to hone their skills and knowledge so they can deal with the principles and staff that direct the business and finance operations of their college. This session will provide the new or aspiring president with the insight necessary to comprehend the intricacies of the business and finance areas of a community college.
Preconvention Workshop H -- Leveraging Data in Strategic Planning: Building Institutional Capacity
(sponsored by AACC Future Leaders Institute)
Date: Saturday, April 17, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Many institutions have extensive data resources but lack the capacity to apply that data to the challenges of institutional decision making. The effective use of data to support strategic planning, accreditation, and state policy decisions is an increasing challenge. This workshop will assist participants in developing and utilizing the institutional research capacity within their colleges. Outcomes will include:
- Understanding the key information needed for strategic leadership and developing the institution's strategic capability.
- Recognizing the characteristics of sound research.
- Being aware of the strategies for building a strong institutional research capacity within the college.
- Being able to articulate the expectations of an effective college IR department.
- Being aware of the resources available in community college research.
- Understanding the synergy between IT and IR and the benefits and challenges of collaboration and Interface.
Precovention Workshop I -- Thoughts and Clues for Aspiring Presidents
(sponsored by Gold Hill Associates)
Date: Saturday, April 17, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Seasoned presidents, presidential search consultants, and new presidents discuss preparing for the community college presidency, the credentials and attributes that are necessary to be an effective president, preparing for a future presidency, common mistakes of unsuccessful candidates and how to avoid them, and the changing role of the community college presidency. This workshop will provide valuable information for anyone who is considering a future presidency and an outstanding opportunity to network.
Preconvention Workshop J -- "The Butterfly Effect": Working With a Board of Trustees
(sponsored by ACCT)
Date: Saturday, April 17, 1:00 - 4:30 pm
This workshop is designed for new and experienced presidents who are interested in broadening their knowledge and understanding of boards of trustees and learning practical approaches to strengthening partnerships with boards. "The Butterfly Effect" refers to the fact that when a butterfly flaps its wings, it triggers small changes in weather that result in a tsunami across the ocean. Discover how small changes in procedures, approaches, and relationships can add up to significant changes in the workings of your board. How do you find the right balance between addressing the needs and desires of the board and those of the institution? Understanding the complexity associated with working for and reporting to an appointed or elected group? Review proven best practices that have withstood the test of time and how to help transform a good board into a great board.