Ready to Head Home

I've been here in New Orleans since last Wednesday night. The two conferences have been great: the first focused on research, the second on practice. Both provided opportunities to network, learn about research, and hear about some of the innovative practices at community colleges. Most colleges are facing the same issues no matter where they are in the U.S.: increasing enrollment, shrinking revenues, and vacancies at the executive leadership level that they can't fill. There are really some tremendous opportunities for people who want to become college Vice Presidents and Presidents; yet, the daunting challenges are keeping many away. I'm looking forward to studying (and reporting on) those colleges that are investing in professional development and succession planning. It's so important to develop folks who are really excited about stepping into these key leadership positions. So, future leaders ... think about it. What do you need to do to prepare yourself for the next steps? There are lots of professional development activities -- check out AACC: there's the Future Leaders Institute and other activities. For student affairs professionals, look to NASPA: there's the Stevens Institute, new SSAO institute, and many others. Develop a strategic plan for your professional development -- we need you!

Conferences!

Disclaimer: I'm typing quickly before a lunch session with sun glaring on my screen. I apologize in advance for typo's -- I'll come back later to edit but wanted to post an update from the last two days as soon as I could and while my thoughts on the sessions were fresh. (It's later now & I'll add the links and correct typo's!)

Here's why I love conferences: I learn so much!!! Yesterday the CSCC conference ended at 3:00 and by 3:30 I was in the "new attendee" session for AACC. I even managed to find people I know from my former district :-) This morning I attended a session on connecting research and practice -- here are the positive outcomes from that session: networking with other researchers (I feel like I'm really a scholar now ... it's hard to explain...but it's about identity development: my sense of who I am as a university faculty member is really deepening this year) and talking about ideas for projects...and here's the thing: they are excited about my research on leadership development and succession planning -- and practitioners are also excited about this. Larry Ebbers from Iowa State is a great mentor and colleague. The second session was on using social media to help shape a college's image. Check out Fox Valley Technical College to see how they're using social media. I started thinking about how I could apply the strategies on an individual level -- to network, find out about other research, and to (quite frankly) promote my own work. So many ideas and way too little time to write before lunch ...

First Conference Session

Great start to the CSCC conference: This afternoon was the first (ever -- and hope the first in a series) of sessions on internationalization. Got some ideas on how to "internationalize" just about any course I'm teachin! It's actually not that hard -- we just need to expand our thinking a bit as we think about our courses.

The next session was a panel presentation that included an overview of the emerging community college system in Hong Kong, efforts in East Africa, higher ed in Brasil and where community colleges fit in, and the community college movement in India. Speakers stressed the importance of equity and access over structure ... and cautioned western educators against imposing our system (of education, values, etc.) on other countries and, instead, meet those countries where they are -- with a focus on equity and access.

Following the two panel presentations, we had a "new member" reception. It was nice to meet some of the new attendees (easily identifiable by their red ribbons) and to see returning members. CSCC is a great organization! It's so nice to talk with colleagues and look for ways to support each other.

Returned to my hotel and am having dinner in the restaurant here ... a bowl of jambalaya so I could save room for the warm biscuit sundae dessert. Oh, my, it's quite delicious.

Morning in the Big Easy

Cafe au lait & beignets by the river this morning followed by a walk around the area to get my bearings. Convention Center is a few blocks from my hotel; CSCC conference starts later today at the Center. Not a long walk from here, but I'm already wondering about the comfort index of the shoes I brought along.

Life is a mix of things here -- tourists, convention goers (all so very conspicuous with their name badges!), locals, and people wanting to make some money. I'd prefer a quieter look at NOLA -- off the beaten path. But today has been a good introduction. Even though I don't have my camera I've looked at things through a photographer's eye & have enjoyed the beauty of the architecture, the kaleidescope of people, the street artists & tarot card readers, and even the guy trying to make a buck hustling tourists for a shoe shine.

As I looked at the river today, I tried to imagine what it must have been like as Katrina approached, followed by the levee failure ... hard to see evidence of the devestation, but this is my first visit to NOLA and I don't have a sense of the before/after.

I'll be blogging about the conference(s) & conference sessions over the next few days. Hope you join the conversation ... You can also find me on Twitter (@dmcnair) where I'll be microblogging ;-)