2000 Presidents Institute

Presidents Institute • Chief Academic Officers Institute • Foundation Conversation • Workshops and Other Events •

2000 Presidents Institute

Focus & Flexibility
Fulfilling the Multiple Roles of the Presidency

Held January 4-7, 2000
Sheraton El Conquistador
Tucson, Arizona

This annual conference is CIC's premier event, gathering presidents of independent colleges and universities together.

Conference Update - December 1999
Conference Program (This is a PDF file. In order to view, you must have Adobe Acrobat which is available for free from the Adobe Web site.)

Theme

Presidents operate in many arenas, assuming different roles as they work on multiple institutional priorities. Within this growing "to do" list, achieving balance between the twin challenges of focus and flexibility is often difficult. Focus involves seeing, in each day’s myriad choices and activities, what is fundamental—seeking to understand the implications of mission, of learning, of financial sustainability, of personal identity. Yet, a fast-paced, ambiguous world also asks for flexibility, for a capacity not only to adapt personally but also to shape institutions that are transforming, and to lead colleagues and students equally pressed by this rushing environment.

This year’s Institute searches for ways leaders can create institutional and personal journeys that involve both focus and flexibility. The Institute program examines the kinds of organizations our institutions are becoming. It addresses a few key areas (boards, fund-raising, marketing) in more depth than in prior Institutes, in part to allow room to search for this balance. The program also looks at different seasons of the presidency to see how this balance evolves.

Major Speakers

Richard Chait is professor of higher education at Harvard University. Previously he served as professor at the University of Maryland, Mandel Professor of Non-Profit Management at Case Western Reserve University, and associate provost at Penn State University. For over 20 years he has been a key faculty member in Harvard’s summer institute programs for executives in higher education. Primarily interested in the management and governance of colleges and universities, he is co-author of The Effective Board of Trustees, Improving the Performance of Governing Boards, and Beyond Traditional Tenure. His current research focuses on faculty employment arrangements for the 21st Century.

Sam Stern, co-author of Corporate Creativity: How Innovation and Improvement Actually Happen, is a Professor of Education at Oregon State University where his research and writing are concerned with creativity and its connection with business and education. He has also taught in the Department of Economics at Harvard University, the MBA Program at the Athens Laboratory of Business Administration in Greece, and in the Department of Systems Science at Tokyo Institute of Technology. While in Japan from 1990 through 1992, he served as the Japan Management Association (JMA) Professor of Creativity Development and led a research team in a multi-year study of creativity in 200 companies. Stern has served as an advisor on creativity to organizations and corporations throughout the United States and in Japan and other countries. Corporate Creativity was chosen as the main selection of the Executive Program Book Club in January 1998 and, in March 1998, was named "Book of the Year" by the Academy of Human Resource Development.

President-to-President

The heart of the Presidents Institute is sharing ideas with presidents of other similar institutions. In addition to the significant networking opportunities built into the schedule, the formal program also includes several types of sessions led by presidents.

Sharing effective practices. Learning about effective institutional practices can provide critical impetus for other institutions to improve their practices. Presidents will share information on initiatives that are proving to be promising, even if in the early stages of development.

Roundtables. Opportunities will be provided for presidents to compare notes with each other on issues of general concern, as well as on perspectives particular to different seasons of the presidency.

Other Sessions

Mini-workshops. Greater emphasis will be given this year to blocks of sessions on critical topics.

board relations
fund-raising
strategic and integrated marketing
inter-institutional collaboration

Concurrent sessions. This year’s Institute will include sessions on such issues as:

new technology agendas
policy manuals and legal audits
presidential contracts and compensation
architecture and marketing
tax exempt financing for faith-based institutions

Individual Consultations

We will again assist in arranging opportunities for individuals to hold confidential conversations with various speakers and sponsors. Topics include: Retirement planning with TIAA-CREF staff and information technologies implementation.

Annual Meeting

CIC’s annual membership business meeting takes place at the Presidents Institute on Wednesday, January 5.

Awards Banquet

If you would like to invite special guests—such as trustees, donors, alumni, or other friends—to join you at the Awards Reception and Banquet, please check the appropriate place on the registration form. Cost: $75 per guest, with a maximum of four guests per president.

NOTE: Banquet charges for presidents and spouses registering for the Presidents Institute are included in the Institute registration fee. Additional charges for the banquet are incurred only if registrants elect to bring guests to the banquet.

Awardees

Several leading educators and friends of private higher education will be honored this year by the Council of Independent Colleges. The awards will be presented during the Presidents Institute at CIC’s Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, January 6.

Award for Volunteerism and Philanthropy
Julie J. Kidd, President of the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation

Award for Philanthropy
Kresge Foundation
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

What to Wear

Casual resort wear is appropriate throughout the Institute. Winter temperatures are mild in Tucson. Business attire is suggested only for the Awards Banquet on Wednesday evening.

2000 Presidents Institute

Focus & Flexibility Fulfilling the Multiple Roles of the Presidency

Individual Consultations

Focus & Flexibility
Fulfilling the Multiple Roles of the Presidency