Nori's Blog

Faculty Retreat 2012

19 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by nononi in higher education

More administrative in purpose than any of the previous 3 retreats, there was less focus on the essential function of faculty than ever.

The old adage; “It’s not a (fill in the blank type of administrative meeting) without chart paper” held true for the main event of this 2-day retreat. Four breakout session, 16 pads of chart paper, and a set of 6 descriptors of the The La Verne Experience.

A recipe for a frenzy of smelly marker collaboration? Well, yea, sorta. Those self-identified folks in the Graduate/Doctorate break out session of my choice (made up of largely CBPM, CEOL and COL faculty) appear to have joined higher education after practicing in their field. So we’d been to more than a few meetings with chart paper. (Sigh of relief) Hand me the licorice pen, please.

One would expect a group of professionals to ask the obvious when given the task of finding examples of activities that encapsulate the six descriptors (TCRITT) of The La Verne Experience. And ”Define the terms” was indeed the cry from the masses. Alas, we were given the “freedom’ to define these terms by what they meant to each of us individually. As were all four break out sessions, each with multiple groups, all given the freedom to define the terms by when they meant to each individual.

Consensus is a powerful noun and verb. And much has been established about building consensus. I have enjoyed masterfully run consensus meetings that began as a myriad of fiefdom level agendas and ended as though we were in the Peace Palace in Den Haag. It felt pretty fantastic to come to an agreement that each was willing to live with.
Emphasis: masterfully mediated. I had the great fortune of working for a well read gentleman who used Roger Fisher & Bill Ury’s Getting to Yes as  Consensus* is a powerful noun and a powerful verb.

That was it~ academic freedom/administrative diversion~ we don’t need to define these stinkin’ descriptors. Which was really hard on my little group of well intentioned retreat goers. We wanted to do the right thing, get a the right answer, win the admiration of our peers. But we chose the high road of being a bit self congratulatory about our programs and getting to know one another better. Not at all a waste of time, I might add. We discussed our different programs and colleges with real interest in a relaxing environment on a golf course in Temecula.

However, I promise to write my next research paper without defining my terms. Or by letting those reading my research to ascribe their own meaning to terms used in my research. And my students, well I don’t want them to feel put on the spot or to be argumentative with me so they can leave can also leave all their terms up the the discretion of the audience. I won’t hold them accountable to clarify the essential points of their chosen topic so we can speak the same language. Uh, yup.

Yet none of this really bugs me~ people are people. This is expected and dignified behavior.

Creating a shared vision is not an easy process. Including stakeholders is a healthy part of the process and was essentially the intention of this Faculty Retreat’s Topic.Go forth and share this vision. We just didn’t have to institutional courage to share one~ at every level.

*Oddly a William Ury story includes the Hague’s Peace Palace!