|
|
|
|
UM-Flint Campus News
from the Desk of Chancellor Ruth J. Person
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One of the goals I identified last month that I hoped we
could accomplish this year was to have a leadership development program
in place for our campus that would be more widely available to students,
faculty, and staff. We are preparing students to be "leaders
and best" in their chosen fields, but we also have a responsibility
to help them see beyond their discipline to develop a general set of
skills that will position them to lead -- in an organization, in their
community, in their workplace of the future, and yes, in the state and
nation if they so choose.
Likewise, I believe strongly that those of us who serve in
leadership positions in higher education have a responsibility to prepare
the next generation of leaders in our own organizations. Unfortunately,
higher education in general does a really poor job of this. We take
faculty out of the classroom and have them serve as department or
program chairs, or assistant deans. We take people from staff
positions and ask them to serve as supervisors or managers with little
preparation as well. We do little, if any, succession planning
or encourage employees to actually develop career paths. The
issues around development are particularly challenging in smaller
institutions where the opportunities to move from being a specialist to a
generalist are especially limited.
So what's a campus to do? Here are some thoughts:
a) Find every already-existing leadership development
program/opportunity that fits our campus needs and nominate
candidates. Examples include Leadership Genesee, UM Center for the
Education of Women's Advanced Leadership Seminar, Michigan ACE
Women's Network, utilize UM-Ann Arbor resources whenever possible to
bring programs to our campus. This Fall we are in fact
bringing the Foundations of Supervision program from Ann Arbor HR to
campus. The UM Business and Finance Leadership Academy is being
extended to our campus to nominate a participant as well.
b) Broaden access to committee assignments.
Committee service, white??? timeconsuming, is a great way to broaden
one's knowledge base (and leadership skills if you are teh chair).
Our many faculty and staff who are serving on Strategic Planning task
forces are getting good experience in gathering data, organizing information,
and making decisions.
c) Nominate employees to serve on external boards and
committees for the same reason.
When we are successful in developing more campus _____dens,
we must be sure that they get the recognition they deserve. There
are numerous awards that the University of Michigan gives each year, adn
we need to ensure that our campus is represented. Likewise, there
are community and professional association awards that are available as
well. Shine a spotlight on leadership -- nominate a colleague!
Ruth J. Person
Chancellor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*COMPETE*
Last month I noted that Becky Armour was selected to
participate in the CEW leadership program in Ann Arbor. Doritta
McDaniel, from SOM, was also selected for this honor.
Our very own Mary Jo Schelsky was selected as one of
the Top Ten Business Women of ABAW for 2011. Mary Jo has been a
participant in ABWA (American Business Women's Association) for a number
of years. Way to go, Mary Jo!
|
|
*CONVENE*
View "On My Calendar" for October 2.
This had to be a record-breaking weekend day for our campus in terms of
the number of events and their scope. Not listed (because I was not
a participant) are a community AIDS walk, a cohort meeting of our Ed
Specialist graduate students, and a wedding! It's great to see our
campus being so well utilized; thank you all for making the "busiest
weekend day ever" go smoothly! We probably had close to a
thousand guests on campus that day.
|
|
*CONNECT*
Lots of student-related events
take place in the Fall. I established a new tradition of hosting a
Greek picnic at the Ross House, and here we are -- Greeks one and
all! Next year we'll be moving this event to Greek week in
October. We are trying to identify faculty and staff who are Greeks
so they can join us next year.
Greeks gather at Ross House
Another new tradition I've begun
is hosting a lunch for the leaders of the MSOs (Major Student
Organizations) at Ross House. It's a great way to
connect with student leaders early on as they begin their
tenure.
Our
first MSO lunch at Ross House
A campus tradition, the Human
Peace Sign, is always a fun way to bring attention to world
peace.
Our students are increasing their
own connections with the community as well. As part of Hurley
Medical Center's Think Healthy. Think Hurly??Healthy Campaign, the
2nd Friday Music Services will begin on October 8. UM-Flint
Department of Music students will present performances each month from
12:15 to 12:45 pm at Hurley. Employees, ambulatory patients,
and members of the community are all being invited to share in this new
experience. What a great idea. Thank you to alumnus Dr.
Michael Boucree for his support!
|
|
|
|
On My Calendar
October 2:
Foster Care Symposium; YES Summit
SOM Business Appreciation Dinner
October 6:
Education Meet and Greet; Musi?? Collage
Clint's Cafe Grand Opening; HLC Rollout; CEO's for
Cities
President's Advisory Group (Ann Arbor)
Foundations of Supervision; Peace Corps Symposium
(Ann Arbor)
Faculty Mentoring Program; SI Alumni Reception
Higher Ed Press Conference;
Crisis Communication Presentation;
EOI 15th Anniversary; Michigan Public Service
Commission
|
|
|
|
|
*Person(ally) Speaking*
Every week I have to drive from Flint to Ann Arbor
for executive officer (EO) meetings, and sometimes I actually make that
drive two or three additional times in a week for other meeting or events
where the Flint campus needs to be represented.
US-23 isn't my idea of a really
fun drive and requires a heightened sense of awareness and "staying
awake." So here's my personal US-23 Playlist for staying
alert:
|
|
Thank
you for reading "BlueNotes!"
|
|
|
|
