Concurrent Sessions 2

Concurrent Sessions 2 | Monday, October 5 – 1:15-2:15 p.m.

CARING FOR THE CARETAKERS: TOP 5 WELL-BEING STRATEGIES FOR HR PROFESSIONALS

HR professionals are the emotional first responders of the workplace, putting others first to support staff through change, conflict and crisis. Drawing on current research around burnout and proven, simple well-being strategies, this session will give you easy, no-cost tools to improve your work life now.

Learning Objectives: 

• • Understand current research-informed well-being challenges for HR professionals.
  • Learn simple, science-backed strategies to improve daily work life.
  • Leave with a plan for implementation.

Joy Brownridge, Assistant Director, Organizational Effectiveness, and Elizabeth Hatcher, Employee Engagement and Training Coordinator, both of University of Illinois System; Tracey Pritchard, Associate HR Director, University of Iowa

CU GROW: LEVERAGING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TO BUILD LEADERSHIP PIPELINES

Institutions have leaders waiting in the wings — they just need our help to grow. This session will explore how implementing competency-based development programs can highlight hidden talent and can position people as emerging leaders, enabling you to better leverage your organization’s human capital to achieve institutional goals.

Learning Objectives: 

• • Discover how mentorship, coaching and experiential learning can facilitate staff growth.
  • Identify methods to integrate core competencies into the pillars of your development program.
  • Create development pipelines that align staff growth with institutional goals.

Kristen Craft Finley, Talent and Organizational Development Specialist, Clemson University

HOW SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE EMBRACED 3 PRACTICES TO STRENGTHEN CULTURE 

As institutions face growing complexity, HR leaders are increasingly asked to strengthen collaboration, engagement and leadership capacity. Learn how one college used three simple habits to improve campus culture and build shared leadership. Leave with actionable ideas that you can apply immediately.

Learning Objectives: 

• • Examine the three intentional practices Seminole State implemented to strengthen organizational culture.
  • Assess opportunities for strengthening organizational culture within your own institution.
  • Identify culture-building strategies to implement at your institution.

Mae Ashby, Vice President, Human Resources, and Charmaine Deglas, Associate Vice President, Human Resources, both of Seminole State College of Florida

LEADING AI CHANGE IN HIGHER ED: A CIO-CHRO PARTNERSHIP

Learn how Parkland College launched an institution-wide AI initiative focused on governance, workforce readiness, communication and responsible innovation. Learn practical strategies for reducing resistance, building trust and leading AI adoption through collaborative leadership.

Learning Objectives: 

• • Build a framework for AI governance and workforce readiness.
  • Apply strategies that reduce AI fear and increase employee trust.
  • Align AI governance, communication, training and risk management.

Kathleen McAndrew, Associate Vice President/Chief HR Officer, and Amin Kassem, Associate Vice President/CIO, both of Parkland College

REDESIGNING HR DELIVERY UNDER FINANCIAL PRESSURE 

Institutions across the country are wrestling with the same structural dilemma — how to do more with less without sacrificing compliance, culture or service quality. Attend this session to explore a blueprint for sustainable HR transformation, drawn from a decentralized university’s experience redesigning its HR delivery model.

Learning Objectives: 

• • Diagnose HR structural redundancy.
  • Design a tiered service model.
  • Navigate change without mandates.

Ramona Agrela, Vice Chancellor, Human Resources, and Michelle Reyes Quint, Vice President, UCI Health, and Associate Vice Chancellor, both of University of California-Irvine

THE EDUCATION-TO-EMPLOYMENT PIPELINE

As institutions face pressure to improve career outcomes, HR leaders can help bridge the gap between education and employment. This session will explore how to align academic programs with workforce needs, strengthen employer partnerships, and expand work-based learning to better prepare students for in-demand careers.

Emily Dickens, Chief Administrative Officer, Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)

TRANSFORMING SENIOR LEADER DEVELOPMENT: A SUCCESS STORY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 

Learn about UBC’s recently launched Senior Leadership Development Program which brings together executive, academic and administrative senior leadership to align and advance key strategic priorities most relevant to the university. Work through complex challenges using case studies and collaborative discussions.

Learning Objectives:

• • Learn how to apply strategies to design and launch senior leadership programs in complex environments.
  • Learn how to align leadership development initiatives to champion institutional strategy.
  • Gain insights on fostering connection and collaboration across university-wide senior leadership.

Adam Charania, Vice President, HR, and Marjorie Lewis, Executive Director, Talent Management, both of University of British Columbia

WASHINGTON UPDATE 

Receive the latest federal regulatory and legislative news from Washington, D.C., and learn about the issues CUPA-HR is actively pursuing on behalf of higher education. Find out which executive branch, congressional and federal agency actions are most likely to impact the higher ed workplace in the coming months.

Josh Ulman, Chief Government Relations Officer, and Bailey Graves, Government Relations Associate, both of CUPA-HR

YOUR INSTITUTION AS AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE: STRATEGIC POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT DRIVE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION 

Higher ed institutions face unprecedented competition to attract and retain talent in an increasingly aggressive market. Today’s employees expect more than just a paycheck; their expectations span the entire employee life cycle — from the initial job search and benefits package to meaningful recognition and flexible work arrangements. There are vast opportunities to go beyond traditional ways of connecting with and rewarding your institution’s workforce. This session will feature a panel of HR leaders who have successfully evolved their policies and practices to position their institutions as employers of choice. You’ll gain actionable strategies to transform your campus into a competitive, talent-focused organization.

Eugene Whitlock, Chief People and Culture Officer/Associate Vice Chancellor-Human Resources, University of California-Berkeley; Diana Tubbs, Ph.D., Senior Survey Researcher, and Jennifer Schneider, Ph.D., Associate Director of Research, both of CUPA-HR