2019 Annual Conference

Colleges and Universities

Concurrent Session (45 minutes)

This session will interactively explore what it means to lead in the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environment of adult learner higher education. Principle and practices that lead to effectiveness and engagement of constituencies will be explored and discussed in an active learning format.

Administrators and those seeking administration positions, from those just entering administration to seasoned veterans (as we will be taking an interactive, mutually contributing approach that provides for both giving and receiving of knowledge and experience). 

1. Attendees will be able to describe key issues facing adult learning administrators in today's challenging environment.
2. Attendees will be able to discuss the principles and practices of the Next Generation Leadership model.
3. Attendees will be able to assess their leadership practice in comparison to the Next Generation Leadership model.

The key ingredient to effectiveness in adult learning higher education is leadership. It is the critical ingredient as current challenges in the field, including higher levels of competition, expectation of adult learners, technology changes, and learning science have created a VUCA environment--volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. It is no longer enough to have "good" or "quality" curriculum, faculty, and services, as these components are constantly upended with changes in context, thus the need, now more than ever, for the kind of leadership that can inspire, engage, and provide direction in the midst of the challenges. The session will explore these challenges, offer a model of effective leadership for our ever-changing world (Next Generation Leadership), and provide straightforward techniques for assessing one's leadership within adult learning higher education. Each of these components will be addressed in an interactive manner, with individual, small group, and audience participation implemented in an active learner modality. 

The session will have three components--examination of environmental challenges, exploration of the Next Generation Leadership model, and engagement in personal reflection of leadership practice. Each component will have an individual, small group, and audience exercise/discussion.