Colleges and universities, both public and private, are exploring ways to maintain a competitive edge, remain relevant, and increase effectiveness of their organizational community. Organizational learning, the learning organization, and organizational development are three intervention processes, practices or strategies used by an organization to maximize the learning potential of its people, develop efficiency, and adapt to change. Based upon the discussions of the Interim Advisory Council, a list of subjects and topics has been identified for use in training and skill development. These topics will be helpful in the preparation of college employees for discussion and action to be centered around identified strategic issues. The specific topics under each of the subjects will provide opportunities to share experiences and to provide learning benefits. The subject areas identified are:

Learning Component #1

TEACHING AND LEARNING

This category sets forth concerns related to instruction and instruction programs, faculty and student responsibilities, and faculty/student support services.

1. Curriculum development and program relevancy

2. Articulation with colleges and universities and high schools

3. Academic freedom and responsibility

4. Student responsibility

5. Adjunct faculty: roles and responsibilities

6. The technology infrastructure: supporting the institution

7. Support service for the learner

Learning Component #2

COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNICATION SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Communication is the exchange of information and the perception/inference of the meaning between the speaker and the receiver. This areas involves both the dissemination of information throughout the institution, as well as skill development and communication competence.

1. Informing the college community

2. Effective communication: written/oral/presentations/public speaking

3. Listening skills

4. Facilitation skills

5. Negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution

6. Communicating with sensitivity

Learning Component #3

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Human resource management includes four generic practices: selection and hiring practices; appraisal practices; reward systems, and developmental practices. These practices are addressed in the following topics.

1. Supervision skills

2. Personnel selection and hiring

3. Job performance and rewards/recognition

4. Effective personnel performance appraisals

5. Human relations skills

Learning Component #4

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Organizational development is a process that is used to improve the performance of the organization, through its people. Emphasis is on understanding the organization structure, team building, trust, motivation, commitment, leadership, renewal, and diversity management. These, among others, contribute to organizational (institutional) effectiveness.

1. Organizational mission, vision, and goals

2. Understanding organizational change

3. Organizational development: readiness/renewal/resistance

4. Steps in the change process

5. Organizational learning: what is it all about?

6. Team building: building a team-based organization

7. Organizational change: the process

8. Creating a favorable organizational culture and climate

9. Creating a shared vision and building commitment

10. Facilitation skills

11. Human relations skills

12. Accountability and responsibility

13. Institutional effectiveness

14. Managing diversity: integrating diversity in the workplace

15. Leadership development

16. How committees are structured and who participates

17. Creating the college budget

18. Project management and problem-solving

19. Providing quality service and satisfaction

20. Building community

Learning Component #5

GOVERNANCE

Governance is the means by which all members of the college community participate in the policy and decision-making of the college.

1. What is college governance?

2. What is policy governance? Who are the players and stakeholders?

3. The role of the college community (faculty, staff, student in college governance)

4. Power/authority/politics/control

5. The public's role in governance

6. Empowerment

Learning Component #6

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES AND AWARENESS

This area involves building an awareness and a relationship with the community surrounding the college by partnerships, community services, posturing, and establishing visibility in the community.

1. Building community

2. Marketing and public relations: image/posture/competition

3. Fund raising and development

4. Advisory boards

5. Partnerships with community agencies

Learning Component #7

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Strategic planning is the process of engaging in strategic thought with the goal of developing a plan of action for the institution.

1. What is a strategic plan?

2. Developing the strategic plan

3. Budget development and resource allocation in support of the strategic plan

4. Institutional research including survey development, data gathering and analysis, and forecasting