The ACAD Leader
The ACAD Leader reflects our mission to provide academic leaders who share a commitment to student learning and to the ideals of liberal education with networking and professional development opportunities and to support them in their work as educational leaders. The Leader is a forum for members to share experiences and opinions related to their work as academic administrators. In addition, it provides members and prospective members with news about ACAD events.
Latest Issue
Faculty Support, Civic Engagement, Faculty and Student Well-being
Why Faculty Well Being is Foundational to Creating a Pluralistic Classroom
Danielle Egan • Dean of the Faculty • Connecticut College • New London, CT
May 7, 2024
In an increasingly divisive society the moral obligation of higher education institutions to foster civic engagement and democracy is more important than ever. A pedagogy of pluralism and dialogue cannot thrive if we do not actively attend to the well-being of our faculty and address problems of burnout and low morale.The Time is Now for Equitable Grading in Higher Education
Colleen A. McCabe • Provost and Vice President • Wisconsin Technical College System • Madison, WI
May 7, 2024
Could the traditional A-F grading scale be getting in the way of student retention and completion? Maybe it’s time to explore that question. This essay is part of our continuing series with the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education.AI, Teaching and Learning , The Arts
If These Walls Could Talk (and Dream): How Artificial Intelligence Made That Happen and Quelled Some of My Fears
Shawn Powers • Interim Director, AI Policy • Southern New Hampshire University • Manchester, NH
May 7, 2024
A narrative of one leader’s journey in working with and understanding generative artificial intelligence and its impact on higher education. Through encountering a media artist’s use of machine learning, the author suggests a more optimistic vision for how our collaboration between machine learning can create meaning.Student Success, Academic Policy, DEI, First-Generation Students
Facilitating Student Re-entry and Challenging the Status Quo: How Universities Can Adapt to Students Rather Than Expecting Students to Adapt to Us
Ernesto Guerrero • Assistant Vice President for Student Success • California State University, Channel Islands • Camarillo, CA
May 7, 2024
Urging us to regularly examine how key academic policies serve our mission, this case study looks at how a public regional university overhauled its re-entry process for students, simplifying how they return to school after an extended absence.Chair Development, Academic Leadership, Leadership Development
Faculty Today, Chairperson Tomorrow: Onboarding Chairs Quickly and Mentoring Them to Success
Gordon Alley-Young • Dean of Faculty • Kingsborough Community College – CUNY • Brooklyn, NY
Cynthia Olvina • Academic Affairs Manager, Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost • Kingsborough Community College – CUNY • Brooklyn, NY
May 7, 2024
A quick-start guide for orienting and onboarding a new chairperson, especially when it is an unexpected change and short transition period. Written from the vantage of a faculty and a staff leader who oversee chair development, this article provides practical advice for setting up a new chair for success.Contingent Faculty, Faculty Support, Inclusion
Empowering Contingent Professors: A Call for Change
Candace Sue • Vice President Communications and Policy • Chegg Center for Digital Learning • Santa Clara, CA
Brittany Washington • Academic Research Analyst, Communications • Chegg Center for Digital Learning • Santa Clara, CA
May 7, 2024
In light of the pressing challenges contingent professors face, academic leaders have an important role in supporting them. By promoting inclusivity, guaranteeing access to necessary resources, and advocating for fair compensation, we can establish a more equitable academic atmosphere for contingent professors.Email, Management, Self-Care, Work-Life Balance
In Praise of Unplugging & The Auto-Reply
Hilary Williams • Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences • Colby-Sawyer College • New London, NH
May 7, 2024
Experience the magic of an automated “Thank you for your email…”The Next Issue
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Our next submission deadline: October 8, 2024.
