Goals:

• Build shared leadership capacity at Oregon State University in such a way that leaders can be readily mobilized to take action on issues in a timely manner;
• Develop effective university working groups that promote connections, inclusiveness, teamwork, optimism, trust, integrity, and respect;
• Improve the quality of work relating to decisions made and action taken on critical issues of the university; and
• Develop a new and sustainable leadership model which is responsive during times of challenge, change, and uncertainty in the higher education environment.

Objectives:

The purpose of our project is to increase the capacity of leaders at Oregon State University to address critical issues through shared leadership experiences. As a University we are challenged to get the right people with the necessary expertise and commitment together to solve problems that are important to the University’s future. Our primary goal is to transform Oregon State University in such a way that we are able to mobilize leaders to take action around significant issues in a timely manner.

Some of this project's activities are:

• Convene an initial set of interdisciplinary "critical issues" groups to design or redesign academic programs in ways that transform relationships, curriculum, and institutional performance;
• Provide group learning experiences to the issue groups in the form of seminars, discussion groups, work groups and task forces that encourage reflection, sharing, and problem solving;
• Convene new "critical issues" groups as needed.

Desired outcomes:

For program participants:

• Increased skills in communication, decision-making, and problem solving.
• Increased confidence in tackling difficult problems and finding creative solutions.
• Increased ability to participate effectively in groups or teams.
• Increased appreciation of dialogue and conversation as a means of addressing critical issues.
• Stronger feelings of connectedness to others in the University system and external stakeholders.
• Stronger feelings of power to influence the direction of programs and other institutional activities.
• Stronger belief in the value of working with others to address critical issues.
• Stronger interest in becoming more involved in University decision-making.

For the University:

• A critical mass of University leaders and community partners with enhanced leadership skills, experience in collaborative decision making, and enthusiasm for being involved in shared leadership opportunities.
• Improved quality of actions and decisions relating to critical University issues.
• A viable, sustainable leadership model that provides a context in which leaders can connect with each other, build on shared values, and influence institutional change in a thoughtful and effective manner.

Project List:

• Diversity
• Animal Care and Use in Education
• Undergraduate Admissions Criteria
• Teaching Complicated Learners
• Taking the Future Seriously
• Leadership in Action
• Scholarship Unbound Revisited
• Leadership in Faculty-to-Faculty Mentoring
• Whites Eliminating Racism
• Leadership for Sustainable Natural Resources
• Diversity in the Curriculum Leadership

Current status of project:

Eight of the projects were launched in September of 2001 and will operate over the next 12-18 months. Each project focuses on developing leadership approaches to influence institutional success in a specific area. The projects related to Diversity, Animal Care and Use in Education, Undergraduate Admissions Criteria projects each involved a significant learning experience and produced leadership models that can be replicated to produce concrete outcomes. At this stage their evaluator is working with each project to ensure that an effective evaluation design is in place prior to initiation of activity. They are also in the process of designing a website.

Contact:

Larry D. Roper
Vice Provost for Student Affairs
Oregon State University
632 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR 97331
PH: (541) 737-2759
FAX: (541) 737-3033
larry.roper@orst.edu
http://osu.orst.edu/admin/student_affairs/acuie/

Back to Project List

If you have any questions or comments please contact Valerie Baten.

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