Learning Resources

Abstract: Determining where to invest in terms of academic programming and staffing can oftentimes be difficult due to competing interests by academic programs as well as a lack of resources. This session will describe how one university sought to improve academic planning and resource allocation within their academic units, and the software solution they used to do it. We'll discuss the university's example and broader best practices for reviewing metrics in research, finances, benchmarking, and predictive modeling as well as staffing and resource allocation related to academic planning.

Abstract: FLEXSpace—The Flexible Learning Environments eXchange—and the Learning Space Rating System (LSRS) are tools that can help you plan, design, assess, and improve learning spaces on your campus. In this session, you will learn about the newly released FLEXspace 2.0 along with the LSRS. We'll cover the features and benefits of both tools and how they can be incorporated into the planning process. Come learn how to use these tools to inform designs and support end users from planning through post occupancy.

Abstract: Working across boundaries is essential for student success, but also incredibly difficult to do. This session looks at the collaboration between enrollment management and departmental faculty—specifically the planning, monitoring, and communication of student progress in an online doctoral program. You will learn techniques to improve communication between departments that historically work independent of each other, along with opportunities for future interdepartmental partnerships that improve student success.

Abstract: Institutions usually spend more on providing courses for some academic programs than others. Stakeholders need to decide where and how to allocate resources to support instruction. This session introduces recent best practices using the Delaware Cost Study data to facilitate 1) the identification of under-resourced academic programs and 2) decision making in faculty budgeting and staffing. You will leave this session ready to re-evaluate the metrics you use to support instructional budgeting decisions so you can identify under-resourced programs and accurately understand faculty hiring needs.

Abstract: As millennials move into leadership roles in academia, it's time to rethink the faculty workspace. Who truly needs private offices in the information age? With research as king and space at a premium, how can institutions design offices and workspaces that attract and retain the highest caliber faculty? This review of faculty workspace innovations across our region's institutions will challenge conventional thinking about how faculty space should be allocated within departments.

Abstract: This article describes the philosophy and delivery of a strategy designed to proactively cultivate the knowledge and ability of mid-level academic administrators to understand and conduct integrated strategic planning. The strategy combines theory, content knowledge, and leadership development to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of future higher education leaders. As opposed to traditional on-the-job training, this strategy can eliminate early career mistakes and enhance planning skills in executive positions to improve the effectiveness of academic leaders. This article uses a conceptual framework grounded in teaching and learning, with strategic decision making emanating from key higher education knowledge bases. The strategies presented in the article cultivate the knowledge and decision-making capacity of mid-level faculty and administrators, enhancing the higher education leadership of tomorrow.

Abstract: The issue of better measurement of faculty productivity is securing increasing attention from national and state sources. Most discussion of this important topic focuses solely on the instructional component of how faculty spend their time. Productivity, to be assessed more completely, needs to be unbundled into its three component parts: instruction, research, and service. In addition, productivity alone is inadequate as a measure of faculty outcomes; what is required is a coupling of output with quality indicators. This article disaggregates productivity into its three parts and suggests quality measures to provide a fuller explanation of institutional behavior.