2024 Directors Institute (Virtual)
May 13, 2024 – May 17, 2024 EDT
Presented in partnership with Excelsicore Consulting, the Directors Institute is not your typical training program. We’re tailored exclusively for directors, recognizing the distinctive challenges and responsibilities you face on today’s dynamic campuses.
Amidst the whirlwind of competing priorities, the shifting landscape of higher education, and the constant pressure to innovate, renovate, and delegate for success, this program provides expertise and community to unlock your potential. This program will help participants enhance skills and knowledge; discover best practices; built capacity; prepare for tough challenges; develop a community; and explore new strategies.
Designed for emerging and seasoned leaders, the Directors Institute is tailored to directors with under five years of experience in diverse roles that center around community building, space management, and program development.
- Early-Career Focus: Our program is tailored for early career professionals who have served in a director role for less than five years. We recognize that the transition to the director role requires a shift in leadership and management skills that don’t always come from on-the-job training.
- Key Functional Expertise: We invite professionals who specialize in student union, residential life, cultural services, fraternity/sorority life, campus recreation, international students, esports, or conference services — roles dedicated to fostering vibrant communities, optimizing space, and delivering dynamic programming.
Additional details about the mentors and guest faculty is available here.
Schedule
During the week of May 13–17, participants will join daily two-hour sessions focused on vital skills and topics, and participate in real-time problem solving and cohort-driven discussions with seasoned higher education executives, directors, and leadership experts. The live sessions will occur from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Eastern on each day.
The relevant, critical topics that will be addressed during the daily sessions include:
- Strategic management: provides you and your staff with clarity on your department’s goals and how you will achieve them.
- Cultural competence: engaging with DEI and creating a sense of Belonging in your workplace.
- Team dynamics: understand the framework on how to create healthy, cohesive, and inclusive teams to accomplish your department’s goals.
- Advancement and donor relations: fundraising is not just for development staff any longer; learn how to engage with doners and secure funding.
- Navigating political dynamics: internal and external politics are increasingly impacting the director’s role; learn how to navigate difficult conversations in our ever-changing industry.
Your cohort can customize the experience by choosing additional session topics, ensuring the program meets your needs.
Registration
Registration has closed for this virtual institute. Please email acui@acui.org if you have any questions. If you are interested in additional one-on-one coaching opportunities, find out more here.