Webinars

Dr. James D. Fielder, Jr., Maryland Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Charlene M. Dukes, , President, Prince George’s Community College Moderated by Dr. Rhonda Spells Fentry, Vice President for Enterprise Technology Prince George's Community College Two Maryland leaders give their unique perspectives on the extraordinary and ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on higher education, in Maryland and across the country. How does a leader mitigate the damage from an unforeseeable calamity? How does a leader respond to the impact of the virus on the students, faculty, and staff? How does a leader manage the existential threat to our institutions? What are the policy implications of the upheaval of our traditional instructional model and the overnight transition to an online learning mode? What is the future of higher education in Maryland? Join this session to engage with other Maryland higher education professionals in a discussion of crucial leadership strategies for survival and ultimate success. Recorded: Monday June 22 at 11:00 a.m.

(July 23 2020) Lisa R. Smithson, Principal at Murray Hill Middle School in Howard County Yolanda Abel, EdD, Associate Professor and Department Chair, Advanced Studies in Education Johns Hopkins University School of Education Moderated by Dionne Thorne (Johns Hopkins University) Remote and online learning became the “go-to” reaction for many institutions in order to provide continuity of educational services during the COVID-19 crisis. What quickly emerged in this response was the disparity of access for students due to the technical and support requirements for connecting to education. Whether a lack of personal devices, inadequate or nonexistent bandwidth, and limited technical support, the size of the gap between students with adequate resources and those without was exposed. How do institutions address the needs of all students in order to provide equal opportunity for educational success?

MJ Bishop, Associate Vice Chancellor and Director, Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, University System of Maryland Christina Sax, Provost and Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs, Maryland University of Integrative Health Moderated by Karen Rege (Harford Community College) No college or university was prepared for the massive impact of the pandemic. Survival was a best-case result. As institutions prepare for more turbulence in the near future, we look to two change leaders for their advice on preparation and planning for truly disruptive change. How can Maryland institutions provide the training, support, and technical tools for their faculty, students, and staff to succeed in education in a time of pandemic? Join this session to discuss the tools and support that your institution will need to succeed and prosper. Recorded on July 9, 2020

David Buck (Howard Community College) Deb Dorsey (Harford Community College) Daniel Izume (Baltimore City Community College) Moderated by Sarah Felber (University of Maryland Global Campus) The critical link in any learning system--face-to-face, remote, or online--is that between the teacher and the learner. Increased pressure is placed on this link when the transition time does not allow for adequate preparation and pre-planning. What lessons (good and bad) have been learned from the recent COVID-19 experience? What became the priorities and what did we learn was not so important? In this session we’ll reflect on the take-aways with several instructors who made the transition. Recorded on July 15, 2020

The pandemic of the past eight months has stressed every aspect of our educational systems. The response from many institutions to their faculty and administration leaders has been “do what you can to survive”! The summer of 2020 bought a bit of time to catch our breath and reconceptualize how to shift to a “thriving” approach to the 2020-2021 academic year. Leaders from Maryland institutions discuss the factors/skills and strategies that have been successful in moving from survival mode, as a response to the COVID-19, to being an effective, functional remote/online learning institution. Michelle Kloss, Associate Provost of Assessment and Institutional Research Carroll Community College Barbara Marinak, Dean of the School of Education, Mount St. Mary’s University Moderated by Rhonda Spells Fentry, Vice President for Enterprise Technology, Prince George's Community College Recorded on October 29, 2020

Who could argue against ethical leadership in principle, but what happens when ethics become corrupted? The challenge for many leaders is translating a philosophy of ethical leadership into practice. We broadly agree on the defining characteristics of an ethical leader. They include transparency in communications, personal integrity, holding true to one’s values, respect for others, accepting responsibility, and holding team members accountable. But how are these characteristics put into practice in the workplace? Should one hold to ethical behavior when others do not? How does a leader express and convey their ethics within the workplace? How can a leader influence team and even institutional ethics? What are the repercussions of staying true to your ethics when others do not? Are there ethical challenges for leaders that are unique to the online education workplace? Our panel of senior leaders will explore these and other aspects of ethical leadership in a thought-provoking session. Panelists: Ali Eskandarian (Dean of Stevenson University Online and Vice Provost for Online Learning, Stevenson University) Chandra Gigliotti (Associate Vice President for Innovation, Learning, and Effectiveness, Chesapeake College) Colleen Eisenbeiser (Dean, IDEA Lab, Anne Arundel Community College) Moderator: Lawrence C. Ragan (MOLLI Coordinator of Curriculum) Recorded April 25, 2023

This webinar will explore these changes through a range of topics, and it will look at how professionalism aligns with calls for higher education to be centered around student success and equity. The panelists will share their perspectives as leaders required to be on the front lines of redefining and reestablishing what professionalism means in today’s higher education landscape. Topics to Explore: • The state of “professionalism” in higher ed • Professionalism in the online environment • Strategies for communicating effectively and authentically, and for building positive relationships • The relationship between DEIB challenges and workplace professionalism • Managing leadership expectations Panelists: Megan R. Myers (Associate Vice President for Faculty Development and Learning Innovation, Howard Community College) Clayton Steen (Executive Director for World Campus Enrollment Management Services, Penn State) Emily Tipton (Research & Assessment Analyst, Chesapeake College) Moderator and Facilitator: Lawrence C. Ragan (Ragan Education Consulting) Chat Moderator: Richard Smith (Instructional Designer, Harford Community College) Recorded October 25, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended almost every aspect of our educational systems. From increased need for mental health services to remote work and learning arrangements, questions of mandated vaccine requirements, and a rapid response to an ever-evolving health crisis, higher ed leaders have been challenged to respond with decisiveness and accuracy, an almost impossible demand. As the new higher ed landscape is emerging, the leadership response must also adapt. This webinar will explore the effective strategies from three higher ed leaders. The focus will be on those approaches that advance the institutional mission as well as personal lessons of time management, personnel management, and embracing the new opportunities for serving our students. Kelly Reffitt (Vice Provost, Mercer University) Shinta Hernandez (Dean of the Virtual Campus, Office of ELITE, Montgomery College) Carl S. Moore (Associate Vice President for Learning & Engagement, University of the District of Columbia) Moderator: Larry Ragan (Lawrence C. Ragan, Ragan Education Consulting, Director, PSU (Retired)) Chat Moderator: Richard Smith (Instructional Designer, Harford Community College) Recorded on April 6, 2022