"Good consulting is good conversation" - J. Manning Hiers to John N. Gardner in 1977  at the University of South Carolina.

I.  What are Consultative Conversations?

Consultative Conversations are customized "reality checks" and a sounding board on a number of  topics. Your institution will benefit from dedicated time to discuss your critical issues. Through the use of single  or multiple conversations, the Institute will provide a timely and focused response.  Conversations will take place with one of our senior leaders John Gardner, Betsy Barefoot,  or Drew Koch who combined they have over 100 years’ experience in higher education,  student retention, and advising. During your consultative conversation, they will share their expertise with your institution.

II. Critical Issues in Higher Education

Topics for conversation include:

Student learning, equity and success

  • First-year seminars

  • "First Year Experience"

  • Improving student retention

  • Improving New Student Orientation

  • Learning communities

  • Transfer student issues and processes

  • Increase Transfer Student success.

  • Strategies for sophomore success

  • Improving the Senior Year Experience

  • First-generation, low income and historically underrepresented students

  • Redesigning high failure rate gateway courses

  • Utilizing "High Impact Practices"

  • Evidence-based practices to increase student success

  • Academic/Student Affairs/ Student Success partnerships.

 

III. Who should be involved in conversations: 

Institutional Leaders

  • Institutional researchers, directors, and staff             

  • Academic deans and department heads 

  • Senior Faculty and Faculty Senate Leaders

  • "Student success" leaders

  • Academic advising leaders

  • Chief executive officers

  • Chief academic officers

  • Chief enrollment managers

  • Chief student affairs officers

  • Faculty development leaders

 

 

V. How to get started.

Contact us to arrange and plan for your Consultative Conversation.

 

IV. FEE STRUCTURE

The Consultative Conversation fee is negotiated based on the scope and duration of the project.

 

 

 

  • First-generation, low income and historically underrepresented students

  • Redesigning high failure rate gateway courses

  • Utilizing "High Impact Practices"

  • Evidence-based practices to increase student success

  • Academic/Student Affairs/ Student Success partnerships.

 

Faculty engagement in teaching and learning

  • Faculty use of engaging pedagogies

  • Faculty development

  • Critical role of academic department chairs

Analytics and Assessment

  • Use of predictive analytics in gateway courses

  • Analytics as a part of a comprehensive student success plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Chief enrollment managers

  • Chief student affairs officers

  • Faculty development leaders

 

Boards and Task Forces

  • Cabinets   

  • Retention and student success task forces

  • Governing boards

  • State coordinating boards