Greetings, ACHE Colleagues,
As we approach the 80th ACHE Annual Conference in Newport, I have time to reflect on my experiences leading this wonderful organization over the past year. The exchanges of ideas, consultations on our common problems of practice, new connections, and friendships have continued to inspire and energize me. Our field of continuing education is vital to the future of our institutions, as we strive to offer opportunity, affordability, and access to post-secondary education and transform lives through lifelong learning.
In turn, the mission, purpose, and vision of ACHE is vital to continuing education professionals’ continued development as practitioners, as the opportunity that the organization affords us to network, share best practice, and collaborate is unique to ACHE. In light of my travels over the last year, I have come to define what characteristics make our membership, and in turn, our organization unique:
Commitment: Through countless conversations, presentations, and exchanges, the membership of ACHE exhibits a singularly focused commitment to student success and program quality. Our network of professionals is tireless in ensuring every student seizes the opportunity to thrive through our institutions’ delivery of workshops, certificates, and degrees. We empower our students with the skills and credentials needed to succeed in today’s world.
Dynamism: The institutions and systems which we serve, and the programs which we deliver, need change in order to successfully engage on a promise of contemporary, real-world skills meeting today’s market demand. As such, we continue to grow and evolve as professionals, enthusiastically leveraging every opportunity to incorporate new knowledge, exchange ideas, and better our practice.
Innovation: At many of our institutions, the continuing education division is ground zero for new pedagogy, process, and delivery formats. ACHE professionals reject the notion of the status quo, and seek to utilize new technology, creative solutions, as well as identify new content areas where education and training are in-demand. Our central priorities remain in creating student-centered, educationally sound environments where optimal learning takes place. We embrace new ideas and remain open to change, which results in student success and high-quality education.
If you’re a long time member of ACHE, I assume that you’ve seen these qualities in action as well. If you’re new to ACHE, join us in Newport, as every session, workshop, keynote, and conversation showcases these characteristics, which define the tremendous benefit that ACHE participation affords.
Here’s to a wonderful Fall semester, and I’m counting the days until we meet in Rhode Island.
Yours in ACHE,
Bill Boozang, Ed.D. ACHE President, 2018 University of New England
Association for Continuing Higher Education 80th Annual Conference and Meeting Newport Marriott Hotel • 25 America’s Cup Avenue • Newport, RI
It's time to meet the #ACHENewport Keynote Speakers!
Dr. Kristen Lee Lead Faculty for Behavioral Science at Northeastern University Keynote Presentation: Burn Bright: Stay Agile, Mindful, and Connected in Today's Complex Educational Arena
Andrew Magda Manager of Market Research at The Learning House, Inc. Keynote Presentation: Online Learning in Continuing Higher Education: Current Practices and Planned Initiatives
Nick Eremita Vice President for Strategic Planning and Operations at Southern New Hampshire University Keynote Presentation: Shaking Hands with the Unknown to Drive Impact
Dr. Kristen Lee
Dr. Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW, known as “Dr. Kris,” is an internationally recognized, award-winning behavioral science professor, clinician, and author from Boston, Massachusetts.
As the Lead Faculty for Behavioral Science at Northeastern University, Dr. Kris’s research and teaching interests include individual and organizational well-being and resilience, particularly for marginalized and underserved populations. She operates a clinical and consulting practice devoted to preventing and treating burnout and is the author of RESET: Make the Most of Your Stress, Winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards Motivational Book of 2015, andMentalligence: A New Psychology of Thinking. She is a regular contributor for Thrive Global, The Huffington Post, and Psychology Today. Dr. Kris’s work has been featured on NPR and CBS radio.
Dr. Kris’s signature ability to engage with a diverse range of audiences has led her to be invited to speak nationally and internationally to students, educators, health and mental health professionals, business leaders, and general audiences. Her knowledge relates not only to her professional expertise, but several key life experiences: her personal battle with perfectionism, depression, and anxiety while working in high demand roles and parenting her two children, now ages 22 and 19. Because of her unique lens and her down-to-earth style, she is a sought-after speaker known for her humor, positive presence, and intellectual savvy.
For the past decade, Dr. Kris has served in varied leadership and teaching roles in higher education, working with working professionals, and non-traditional students at the doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate levels to recognize the power of becoming lifelong learners and agents of change. She frequently visits and consults with campuses and educational institutions to support cultivation of resilience amongst students, faculty, staff, and administrators. To learn more visit www.KristenLee.com or connect on social media via @TheRealDrKris.
Andrew Magda
Andrew J. Magda has been tracking and forecasting trends in online education for more than 10 years. In his career, he has worked with hundreds of institutions regarding their unique place in the online marketplace, such as The University of Alabama, Capella University, and Regis University. In his role as manager of market research for The Learning House, Inc., he leads development of custom and large-scale market research studies and assists partner institutions with understanding their local online marketplace. Prior to Learning House, Magda was a senior analyst for the Online Higher Education and Continuing and Professional Education Division at Eduventures, Inc., in Boston, which provides research and advisory services for higher education institutions nationwide. He also worked as a project manager for the Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut.
Nick Eremita
Nicholas Eremita serves as the Vice President for Strategic Planning and Operations at Southern New Hampshire University. He is responsible for strategy, business planning, and major operational initiatives for the institution. He is also responsible for data and analytics for the university; serving reporting, advanced analytics, forecasting, and data science needs across the institution. Before joining the SNHU team, Nick spent the greater part of the last 10 years as a Senior Government Civilian, working on the Joint Staff, in the Pentagon, and overseas. In 2010, he attended Senior Service College in Washington D.C., earning a Master’s Degree in National Resource Strategy. In 2011, Nick served as a Senior Advisor to the 4-star Commander in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was responsible for delivering strategic policies and plans to the White House and managed relationships between the Commander and President Karzai, as well as the Afghan National Security Council. Nick attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduated in May 2000, and served as an officer in the U.S. Army. As a paratrooper and Army planner, Nick deployed to Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and other prime vacation spots across South and Southwest Asia.
OTHER CONFERENCE UPDATES
Registration is waiting on you! Register Today so you don't miss out on early rates! Early registration deadline is September 22.
The Concurrent Session details are now available in the Schedule and Sessions menus of the Conference Website. If you create a login, you can mark and save the sessions you want to attend, creating your own personalized schedule for the conference. Your personalized schedule will then be accessible throughout the conference on your mobile device.
Reserve your hotel room now. Conference rates are valid until September 15 or until all rooms are reserved, whichever comes first.
Keep up with conference announcements, FAQs, and updates on the ACHE 2018 Conference Website!
Higher Education Merger Landscape
The landscape of higher education is rapidly changing in ways that could not have been fully predicted for an industry that has prided itself on tradition, especially in New England. While higher education mergers have occurred over the last few decades, they rarely drew public attention. Rather, these mergers or other partnerships were viewed as academic-business decisions that were necessary and handled discretely between the two institutions. Examples such as Lesley University’s merger with Art Institute of Boston, have not only appeared seamless to the public eye but have resulted in a visible honoring of the image and legacy of the institution that was subsumed within the wider university, such as Lesley University’s College of Art and Design’s vibrant facade on Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge coupled with dynamic gallery shows demonstrating a proud history of arts-based education and community involvement.
Then, isolated stories of smaller institutions closing emerged. A scan of headlines from Inside Higher Ed over the past three years evidences a rapidly changing landscape with headlines, such as “Enrollment Decline Drove Closure of Marian Court College” and “Mount Ida, After Trying for a Merger, Will Shut Down” as well as reactive, follow up headlines, such as “Accreditor Places Sweet Briar on Warning” and “Massachusetts Debates New Regulatory Requirements on Private Colleges in the Wake of Mount Ida’s Closure.”
Based on the above scan of headlines from Inside Higher Ed, one can portend that the future of higher education, especially that of smaller institutions, is uncertain. However, there has also been a collective pause and reflection regarding this new landscape. After the decision between Montserrat College of Art and Salem State University to not merge, Kellie Woodhouse, of Inside Higher Ed, reflected that in the higher education industry “there’s relatively little literature for colleges on how to consider a merger. And while many in higher education agree that mergers could increase, data are sparse on mergers and their frequency.”
Indeed, there have been recent acquisitions and mergers, such as Berklee College of Music’s merger with Boston Conservatory and Boston University’s merger with Wheelock College, that have been viewed as positive and forward looking. Yet, with headlines that are too often riddled with bad news, isn’t it time to encourage discourse, case studies, and reflective accounts, from mergers such as those above, that can contribute to answering the question: what are the tenets that can make a higher education merger or acquisition work effectively? We certainly do not want to encourage the belief that there is a one-size-fits-all approach; however, learning from best practices has been core to higher education’s progress and advancement throughout history.
My Experience at New England College of Business
My institution, New England College of Business (NECB), offers an account of a successful asset acquisition. In 2017, we were approached by the President of the National Graduate School of Quality Management (NGS), then located in Falmouth, MA. NGS had suffered losses from past leadership, and although they were prideful about the education that they delivered, financial circumstances led them to consider closure, merger, or being acquired.
The first successful element of what would become an asset acquisition of NGS by NECB was a full assessment of institutional alignment. While Inside Higher Ed quoted consultant, Ronald Saluzzo, as stating that too many institutions consider academic alignment after negotiations have begun, the first order of business for the NECB-NGS arrangement was to fully factor in institutional and academic alignment. The assessment showed:
The second successful element that guided the asset acquisition was to place all operational decision making with a strategic guiding framework. Naturally, since both NECB and NGS are small colleges, the pending arrangement felt lofty at times. However, NECB worked directly, collaboratively, and transparently with its state licensing agency and regional accreditor, New England Association of Colleges and Universities-Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE). Based on meaningful conversations with NEASC-CIHE, NECB created a strategic guiding framework predicated on: consistency followed by integration. By following a strategic guiding framework, the myriad operational decision making that occurs on a daily basis of an asset acquisition can be considered strictly within these parameters, such as:
Consistency: In all of its decisions, NECB led by the mantra of Students First and worked with the full understanding that a strong priority was to transfer students from NGS to NECB with the least amount of disruption to their studies. In order to do so, NECB adopted NGS’s courseware and kept the NGS curriculum intact. NECB was able to transition almost all of the NGS students. NECB also made the decision to hire almost all of the NGS adjunct faculty and even a select number of NGS staff as a means of consistency and disciplinary expertise. NECB even invited all NGS graduates who had not participated in a commencement ceremony, due to the transition period, to attend NECB’s June Commencement.
Integration: While primary considerations involved maintaining the NGS curriculum for the students who transferred, there was equal understanding that the programs that NECB acquired from NGS will now be part of the long-term NECB academic portfolio. Therefore, once all possible measures of consistency were availed, all measures then turned to ensuring that the new academic programs met NECB’s academic standards and delivery methods and that the programs would be fully integrated with NECB’s academic portfolio. New students, from here on, will study in the enhanced curriculum and be integrated into NECB’s services, LMS, and its academic traditions.
While all stakeholders will not be part of all of the negotiations that lead to a merger, acquisition or partnership, based on our experience, we strongly recommend using a strategic guiding framework for daily operational decision making. We also recommend that Students First be a central tenet to the guiding strategic decision making.
To date, the asset acquisition has been positive and NGS dissolved its operations with dignity. NECB strives to maintain the legacy of NGS by delivering the acquired programs under a “School of Quality Systems Management.” We may not have the vibrant physical façade with the NGS legacy displayed; yet, we have former NGS students, now NECB students, pursuing their education, having their hard work honored, and a portfolio of new academic programs that have a vibrant future under the aegis of NECB!
Happy Summer, Colleagues!
As August proceeds and campus preparations begin for another fall opening, I’m not yet ready to let go of the beach. My family and I have nearly finished our “summer punch list,” having visited the go-karts, ferries and beaches of Cape Cod, wrapped up summer camps, and made plenty of trips to the pool. Our last task of the summer: a Friday night double feature at the drive-in theatre.
As Labor Day looms, what’s on your summer punch list? Many of us still have courses to prep, fall registrations to complete, and orientations to conduct. As the activity of our institutions reaches the frenzy of another academic year, join us for one last adventure this year, and attend the 80th ACHE Annual Conference in Newport, RI.
In addition to an outstanding program agenda which is now available for your review, we have special events planned for you to fully enjoy all that Newport has to offer, which include:
I hope to see you for what promises to be a wonderful week. Best of luck in the upcoming academic year, and I look forward to seeing you in Newport.
With Warmest Regards,
Our 80th Annual Conference and Meeting in Newport, Rhode Island will be here in only a few short weeks. The Conference Planning Committee has been working hard all year to plan an annual meeting that will celebrate our collaborative successes, provide strategic connections, and facilitate great networking opportunities.
Read more about deadlines for registration and room reservations, the schedule for the conference in October, and the work of all those involved in planning and organizing the 2018 Annual Conference and Meeting on the ACHE Conference Website. Check back frequently for new announcements, FAQs, and updates.
Call for Resolutions for 2018
Each year during our Annual Conference, we take a few minutes to recognize ACHE members who have retired or passed away since our last meeting. Please let us know about anyone we should add to this year’s resolutions.
Contact us at admin@acheinc.org with any information you may have.
Have You Heard??? We're Having a Party... I Mean.. a Conference!
With all of the exciting opportunities in Newport, Rhode Island, the ACHE 2018 Conference may feel like a party as much as a professional learning opportunity! Don't you want to be part of both???
We hope you are making your professional learning travel plans for ACHE 2018 in Newport, Rhode Island, Keeping the Beacon of Continuing Education Burning Bright!
To assist you in making your travel arrangements and potential tourist experiences while you are in town for the conference, we have a few updates and reminders to share.
CONFERENCE UPDATES
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FUN THINGS TO DO IN NEWPORT
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE-AT-A-GLANCE
Sunday, October 7
9:00 a.m. – noon
ACHE Board of Directors Meeting
noon – 1:00 p.m.
Leadership Lunch
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Leadership Institute
Meeting Registration & Information Desk Open
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
First Timers Reception [First Time Conference Attendees]
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Conference Volunteer/ELI Reception
Monday, October 8
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Exhibits Open
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
First Timers Welcome & Breakfast [First Time Conference Attendees]
Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
ASL Chapter Council Meeting
9:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Welcome & Announcements
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
General Session 1 / Keynote 1
10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Break
11:00 a.m. – noon
Breakout Sessions
noon – 1:15 p.m.
Meet 'n Greet Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
2:30 – 3:00 pm
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
4:00 – 4:30 p.m.
First Timers Meet and Greet
4:30 – 5:30 pm
Regional Business Meetings
5:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Mentor/Mentee Meet and Greet
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Opening Reception
Tuesday, October 9
8:00 – 8:45 a.m.
ACHE Committee Meetings
ASL Councilor Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
General Session 2 / Keynote 2
10:15 – 10:45 a.m.
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
12:15 – 2:15 p.m.
ACHE Annual Luncheon & Awards ACHE Annual Business Meeting
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
3:30 – 4:00 pm
Wednesday, October 10
8:00 a.m. – noon
8:00 – 10:30 a.m.
8:00 – 9:10 a.m.
9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
10:30 – noon
General Session 3 / Keynote 3 and Closing Ceremony
12:30 – 2 p.m.
Don't miss your opportunity to attend the 80th Annual Conference in Meeting on Scholarship!
The ACHE Graduate Student Conference Grant and the ACHE Memorial Staff Development Grant are designed exactly for that purpose! Application Deadline is TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2018.
If you answered yes, please consider applying for a 2018 ACHE Grant before July 31! Click here for details. Other ACHE Grants and Scholarships are also available, including the Alex Charters Research Grant, Wayne L. Whelan Scholarship, and Institutional Minigrants.
Learn more about these other ACHE Grants and Scholarships! Click here for details.
If you have any questions or need additional information, let us know. Grant and Scholarship recipients will be recognized at the Awards Luncheon during the 2018 ACHE Annual Conference & Meeting in Newport, Rhode Island.
Check out the ACHE 2018 Conference Website for all the details! Learn more about the various types of registration available.
Dear Colleagues,
I am excited that ACHE is heading back to Newport, RI for the 2018 conference. My first ACHE Meeting was in Newport nearly 14 years ago. I didn’t know then how much ACHE would influence my life and my career. I started my volunteer work with the organization simply by agreeing to serve as a presider during a concurrent session at an ACHE South meeting. Presiding doesn’t require much commitment. You simply serve as an assistant to session presenters, distribute and collect evaluations, and help to ensure that the session ends on time. At every subsequent meeting, I was encouraged by one of my colleagues to dive in a little farther into the work of the organization. Soon I was serving as chair of my region, running for the Board of Directors, and chairing committees. Last year, I was honored to be elected Vice President of ACHE. ACHE has given me a team of colleagues who serve as both creative think-tank and crisis management team. ACHE professionals are the people I call when I need ideas, solutions, and very often – courage.
One thing I rarely share with folks is that I’m a pretty big gambler. I love a good black jack game and I can spend hours at a slot machine. Fortunately, a small casino, the Newport Grand is less than 2 miles from the hotel. I’m looking forward to meeting you in Newport – If I’m hard to spot, I’m sure it won’t be because I’m at a poker table.
Amy Johnson ACHE Vice President East Tennessee State University
Colleagues,
I hope the summer months are treating you well, and you’re finding some time to relax, decompress, and spend time with family and loved ones. Currently, I’m teaching a pre-college program, the Boston College Experience coordinating the Business & Leadership Institute for rising high school juniors and seniors. For many of these students, it’s their first experience with college coursework, campus living, and greater independence. Summer is a season of discovery, reflection, and improvement, both personally and professionally.
The second thought that comes to mind is the truly year-round calendar on which many of our continuing and extended education divisions operate. While some of our campus counterparts say their goodbyes at commencement and return at Labor Day, we are in the midst of summer programming; planning for the next enrollment cycle; and “business as usual” with many program formats.
So, when will you take a break? Take some time to reassess and reconnect with family and loved ones. Carve out some time this summer and fall for professional development, retooling and recharging your skill set while elevating your professional profile.
With this in mind, the ACHE planning committee is counting down the weeks leading up to the 2018 ACHE Annual Conference in Newport, RI. Please register and book your accommodations now! Columbus Day weekend is the finale of the tourist season in Newport, so rooms are in great demand. Please take a moment to register.
I look forward to seeing you this fall. Enjoy the latter half of the summer, and get ready for another great academic year.
Bill Boozang, Ed.D. ACHE President, 2018 Boston College
As graduations have concluded in May and early June, vacations have been scheduled, and fall semester is around the corner, I wanted to share what some ACHE members have been up to!!
From June 20-22, 2018 at Loyola University Chicago, the 3rd Annual ACHE Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) was held. Eleven incredible individuals from various colleges and universities around the country embarked on an intense 2½ days of professional development and leadership training!
The Emerging Leaders Institute, as stated on our website, “Is a premier leadership opportunity for all involved.” Our 2018 speakers included Dr. Regina Lewis, Dr. Sean Gallagher, Dr. Kris Lee, Mr. Nick Eremita, and Dr. Amy Johnson.
Dr. Lewis’s workshops included Rhythmic Leadership. Dr. Gallagher’s presentation was all about Visionary Leadership & Continuing Higher Education, whereas Dr. Lee led a workshop about Cultivating Resilience in Today’s Complex Higher Education Landscape.As the excitement and learning continued, Mr. Nick Eremita led the group interaction diving into Cultivating Innovation & Killing Vampires: Leadership and Planning in Action. Dr. Amy Johnson led workshops on Strength, Trust, and Integration: ELI Reflection and Action Planning.
Day 1 of ELI: Participants learned about rhythmic leadership in a discussion led by Dr. Lewis. In a game called Colourblind Team Building & Communication Training Game, ELI participants enhanced their team building and communication skills.
The days were full of discussions, interaction, learning, action planning, socializing, and so much more. In addition, new connections were made and the group will be moving forward on a project for ACHE!
Some participant comments include:
“I truly enjoyed every aspect of the institute. I took in a great deal of information and now plan to go home and reflect on what aspects I can incorporate into my life/work. I enjoyed the holistic approach to the person; it was not just about the job.”
“I'm so thankful to have been involved in this institute and have gained invaluable insight into myself.”
“This institute was excellent and I was honestly very honored to be part of it. Dr. Lewis was such an inspiration and I really enjoyed her sessions. All of the speakers were absolutely great and the take-aways from this week are limitless. Thank you!”
I would like to extend a special thank you to my Co-Chair of this event, Dr. Amy Johnson. To have a partner like Amy is truly a gift.
Also, a HUGE thank you goes to the following:
Sincerely, Dr. Dorothy Williams ACHE President-Elect
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