WELCOME • 1:00 P.M. – 1:15 P.M.
Welcome & Opening Remarks — Nancy Tribbensee, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Arizona Board of Regents, Chair, NACUA Board of Directors
2017-2018 State of the Association — Kathleen Curry Santora, President and Chief Executive Officer, NACUA
Overview of the Annual Conference Program — Leanne Shank, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Law School Admission Council; Chair-Elect, NACUA Board of Directors; and Chair, 2017-2018 Committee on Program for the Annual Conference
OPENING PLENARY • 1:15 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.
Leadership in Tumultuous Times: Navigating Through a Climate of Discord
Institutions of higher education continue to serve as the main stage for societal unrest and discord on issues of national importance including freedom of speech and expression, diversity and inclusivity on the basis of race, national origin, and sexual orientation, and democratic values. Presidents and chancellors must not only provide a moral compass for the campus, and leadership that brings disparate groups together, but they must also make difficult decisions about campus operations and serve as the public face in responding to political developments and high-profile incidents. They must also withstand the scrutiny of a multitude of stakeholders, including elected officials, alumni, and the broader campus and local communities.
This session will explore the essential characteristics of effective leadership in these challenging times and the important role played by counsel as they navigate complex issues. It will also examine the ways in which NACUA attorneys have increasingly been called upon to advise leaders not only on important legal issues but also related issues such as crisis communications, risk management, and even the distillation of institutional values and mission. This panel of presidents has had experience with the myriad issues leaders face during challenging times. They will provide insights and reflections that we hope will assist counsel in distilling the issues and understanding how they can be most helpful to their institutions and leaders.
FEATURED SESSION • 11:15 A.M. – 12:45 P.M.
What College and University Lawyers Need to Know About the Changing Public Perception of Higher Education
NACUA's members have indicated that one of the top trends of concern is the apparent erosion of public confidence in higher education, the increased scrutiny as a result, and the impact on institutions they represent. Multiple polls and research suggest that public opinions regarding the value of a higher education, as well as perception of higher education as a public good, may be in decline. What do the polls really say, are there differences among sectors of higher education, which parts are perception and which are reality, and what does the current climate mean for NACUA member institutions and their attorneys?
In this plenary session, NACUA President and Chief Executive Officer Kathleen Santora will moderate a panel comprised of college and university decision makers and influencers who will explore the root causes of the shift in perception and discuss strategies the higher education community should be considering as a result.