Concurrent Sessions 3

Concurrent Sessions 3 | Monday, October 6 – 3:00-4:00 p.m.

AGILITY ADVANTAGE: HELPING SMALL HR TEAMS LEAD BIG CHANGE

In the fast-paced world of higher ed, small HR departments often face unique challenges that can leave them feeling overwhelmed, under-resourced and stuck in day-to-day operations. In this session, designed specifically for HR professionals in smaller higher education institutions (teams of 10 or less, though all are welcome), presenters will explore how to cultivate agility and build robust support networks. This session is sponsored by Huron. 

Heather Butterfield, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, St. Norbert College; Shiona Christensen, Director of Member Engagement, CUPA-HR

BUILDING BETTER BOSSES: PARTNERING FOR PEOPLE-FIRST LEADERSHIP

Learn about Basics of Supervising Staff (BOSS), a six-session program implemented by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University HR. BOSS has proven to resonate with new and tenured managers across all departments and leadership levels and equips managers with essential skills through hands-on learning with scenarios, role-playing and weekly discussions. This session is sponsored by Huron. 

Cayla Powell, Employee Engagement and Development Manager; Stephenie Jaworski, Manager of Employee Relations; Andrea Hooper, Executive Director of Human Resources; Brandon Young, Vice President and Chief HR Officer, all of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

EMPOWERED TO THRIVE: FACULTY AND STAFF MENTAL HEALTH IN THE MODERN UNIVERSITY 

In this session, we’ll explore the growing mental health challenges and burnout facing today’s higher education workforce. Then, we’ll hear from a higher ed institution that has implemented a flourishing-focused mental well-being program, offering real-world insights into what works and why. You’ll leave with practical tools and strategies and actionable ideas that can enhance employee engagement, satisfaction and retention on your campus.

Brandi Terwilliger, Director of HR, University of Idaho; Rob Shomaker, Senior Vice President, CUPA-HR; Kathy Carlton, Director of Business Development, CredibleMind; Kevin Carrington, Senior Vice President, National Higher Education Practice Leader, and Bridget O’Meara, Vice President and Senior Consultant, both of Segal

FACILITATOR BOOT CAMP: BUILDING CONFIDENT, IMPACTFUL TRAINERS ACROSS CAMPUS

Facilitating effective training doesn’t have to be reserved for a few. Learn how one HR team built a Facilitator Bootcamp to equip employees with essential facilitation skills. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining programs, you’ll leave this session with fresh ideas, tools and inspiration. This session is sponsored by PageUp. 

Krystal Marroquin, HR Training Coordinator; Marco Moreno, Organizational Development Specialist; Nicole Englitsch, Organizational Development Manager, all of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

FOSTERING COMMUNITY AND BELONGING THROUGH EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS

Today, HR must find innovative ways to promote a sense of community and belonging among employees to reinforce institutional values and promote engagement and retention. Hear how Duke University developed a structure and process to launch new employee resource groups that have strengthened affiliation and commitment from those who share common bonds. This session is sponsored by PageUp. 

Paul Grantham, Assistant Vice President, Work Culture and Communication Services, Duke University 

FREE SPEECH AND EMPLOYMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Join attorneys from the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) to discuss the landscape of employee free speech in the higher education setting. Panelists will offer an overview of the tension between institutions’ nondiscrimination obligations and academic freedom/free expression, in addition to recent legal developments.

Elizabeth Bullock, Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, University of Denver; Jim Keller, Partner and Higher Education Practice Group Co-Chair, Saul Ewing, LLP

NAVIGATING WORKPLACE POLITICS

Those who work in colleges and universities must navigate the workplace politics inherent in their work. This session brings clarity to what workplace politics really is and the benefits of being politically savvy in the workplace. This session is sponsored by Cornerstone OnDemand. 

William Gentry, Director, Learning and Development, Wake Forest University

REBUILDING POSITIVE EMPLOYEE RELATIONS WITH RESTORATIVE TOOLS

Learn about alternative, people-centered approaches to employee relations in higher education, including an Ambassador Program for new hires, ongoing engagement strategies, empowered and constructive performance conversations, and a collaborative HR-ombuds model for innovative conflict resolution strategies grounded in restorative justice practices. This session is sponsored by The Chronicle of Higher Education. 

Debi O’Connor, Director, Employee Relations and Support, and Ty Nagamatsu, College Ombuds, both of Colorado College

SMARTER, FASTER, STRONGER: BUILDING THE AI-READY HIGHER ED WORKFORCE

Discover how generative AI can revolutionize leadership, collaboration and decision-making. Explore practical ways to streamline operations, enhance strategic planning and foster cross-campus engagement through AI-driven solutions. Leave with actionable strategies to build an innovative, future-ready organization. This session is sponsored by TIAA. 

Mia Basic, Ed.D., Strategic HR Business Partner, University of California-San Francisco 

UNLOCKING RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGIES THROUGH REMOTE WORK POLICIES

Offering remote work opportunities to faculty enables universities to attract and retain top talent across the U.S., but it also introduces compliance, operational and data visibility challenges. Discover how LSU’s HR team leveraged HR analytics to centralize insights, ensure compliance and mitigate risks in implementing remote work policies.

Niki Norton, Assistant Vice President for Human Resource Management, and Lisa Gillen, Vice President, Higher Ed, both of Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge; Stefani Neumann, Director of Workforce Solutions, and Tim McAward, Vice President, Higher Ed, both of NextSource