We always talk about the important habits that support innovation, and this month the UIA engaged in one of its most important organizational habits: our annual liaison retreat.
Each year our liaisons and fellows gather together in Chicago for a planning retreat to clarify what we are learning and what we are doing next. This time together is essential to building a close-knit community of practice that will trust each other throughout the year – picking up the phone to share what they are struggling with, where they need help, and where they can help each other. After a full academic year, this mental reset and refresh is key to identifying what’s working, what needs to change, what the biggest challenges we’re wrestling with are, and what the work ahead looks like.
Our team at UIA Central did an amazing job supporting the liaisons and fellows gathered together to ideate, brainstorm, and share what is helping and hindering innovation at this moment. To learn more about how to put together an equally inspiring retreat for your team, take a look at our guide to planning exceptional events.
We were also excited to officially welcome liaisons and fellows from our newest UIA member campuses for the first time (University of New Mexico and University at Buffalo) . And since we always put an emphasis on creating fun bonding experiences, we made sure we tried some local Chicago pizza, took in a fun show at Second City to see the improv rules we often talk about (yes, and!) in action, and enjoyed the University of Illinois Chicago’s own a cappella group.
What kind of reset and refresh habits have helped you focus on doing the “right work” rather than the same work? How often do you engage in those practices?
What has been most useful to your organization to create this kind of free thinking space?
How do you use the extra space the academic summer can provide?
However you’re using this time over the summer, I hope the next few weeks give you a chance to refocus and recharge, mentally and physically, for the new academic year ahead!
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Network Highlights
We hope you’ve been staying cool this summer as our UIA colleagues and partners continue to blaze bright in the field and across the network.
This month, the UIA welcomed Dr. Toyia K. Younger (Iowa State University) and Dr. Hernan Bucheli (Virginia Commonwealth University) to the network in their role as UIA Liaison. Former Liaison from University of Colorado-Denver (CU-Denver), Dr. Jennifer Sobanet, was named interim chancellor at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) and began her post on July 1st. The UIA remains grateful to the thoughtful and dedicated leadership of all our Liaisons past and present!
Speaking of CU-Denver, did you know the U.S. Department of Education named the university’s Anschutz Medical Campus as an official Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) in late May? CU-Denver is the first institution in the Rocky Mountain region to receive this designation. They join University of California- Riverside (UCR), University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) who all received the selective designation in prior years.
Longtime member, Georgia State University (GSU), welcomed its next UIA Fellow, Nyasha Hamilton. We’re excited to see Nyasha’s leadership in action this upcoming academic year. She brings a wealth of data analyst experience to the GSU team from various industries, including education, marketing, and finance. Welcome, Nyasha!
Must-Reads
This month, we’re revisiting our most popular recommended resources from the 2023 UIA Newsletter archives:
- The Advantage (the book most recommended by leaders on #WeeklyWisdom) explores the importance of developing a cohesive leadership team along with clear communication to create and maintain strong organizational health at your institution.
- This equity roundtables guidebook from APLU was developed to help university leaders design and facilitate inclusive and action-oriented dialogue on campus.
- Follow this innovative higher education coalition for the latest promising practices around effective higher education policy, funding, and collaboration strategies.
- A guide from McKinsey with practical tips for promoting a culture of learning at your own workplace.
- Harness the benefits of these simple role-mapping exercises to help your team clarify their scope and priorities for the new school year.
- Try the Getting Things Done framework to master the art of achieving stress-free organizational productivity in your own role.
Events to Put on Your Radar
- September 18 - 19, 2023: AASCU Symposium for Presidents/Chancellors and Senior Leaders, Washington, D.C. (Registration Open)
- September 25 - 28, 2023: National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA) Conference, Portland, OR (Final Deadline to Register: September 22)
- September 27 - 30, 2023: SREE Annual Conference, Arlington, VA (Deadline to Register Early: August 25)
- October 4 - 7, 2023: NACADA Annual Conference, Orlando, FL (Deadline to Register Early: August 16)
- October 16 - 18, 2023: NCAN National Conference, Dallas, TX (Deadline to Register: September 29) November 1 - 3, 2023: ACL Annual Conference, Asheville, NC (Deadline to Register Early: September 15)
- November 4 - 7, 2023: AASCU Annual Conference, Chicago, IL (Registration Information TBA)
- November 12 - 14, 2023: APLU Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA (Deadline to Register: September 30)
- November 15 - 18, 2023: ASHE Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN (Deadline to Register Early: August 5)
- December 10 - 12, 2023: Complete College America Annual Convening, Las Vegas, NV (Deadline to Register Early: August 1)
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