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CONFERENCE FEATURE
VENTURING INTO
By Ken Steele
This article is based on Ken Steele’s keynote presentation to the 26th Annual Chair Academy International
Leadership Conference, held in Orlando, Florida in March, 2017. He sketched the “perfect storm” brewing for
college leaders, reviewed strategies for “treading water” to remain viable, and suggested more strategic options
to “chart your course” toward a successful future. (Throughout this article, “colleges” is used in its most inclusive
sense to refer to the full spectrum of tertiary education institutions.) Figures capture the results from real-time
polls of the delegates during the keynote. The complete slide deck, with links to videos and further information, is
available at http://www.chairacademy.com/conference/2017/conpap/Steele.pdf
The Perfect Storm Figure 1. Conference delegates provided 322 answers to the
question, “What are your institution’s 3 biggest challenges?”
As they attempt to steer their institutions toward a
successful future, college boards and administrators
are navigating a perfect storm of demographic,
political, and economic change on all sides. As
shown in Figure 1, delegates at the Chair Academy’s
26 Annual International Leadership Conference
th
reported signifcant challenges balancing budgets
against headwinds of funding constraint; managing
student enrollment, engagement, and retention;
improving campus morale and inspiring innovative
thinking while facing rapid change and employee
turnover; and preserving civility in polarized,
tumultuous times. Te two most fundamental
challenges facing virtually all college leaders are
shifing demographics and declining public funding.
24 LEADERSHIP Vol. 23.1 Spring/Summer 2017
Client: The Chair Academy Job: Leadership_Journal_23.1 Spring/Summer 2017 Final size: 8.5” x 11” Colors: CMYK Bleeds: Yes
Created by: Goldfsh Creative - Laura Dvir • 602.349.2220 • LAURA@GOLDFISHCREATIVE.NET
VENTURING INTO
By Ken Steele
This article is based on Ken Steele’s keynote presentation to the 26th Annual Chair Academy International
Leadership Conference, held in Orlando, Florida in March, 2017. He sketched the “perfect storm” brewing for
college leaders, reviewed strategies for “treading water” to remain viable, and suggested more strategic options
to “chart your course” toward a successful future. (Throughout this article, “colleges” is used in its most inclusive
sense to refer to the full spectrum of tertiary education institutions.) Figures capture the results from real-time
polls of the delegates during the keynote. The complete slide deck, with links to videos and further information, is
available at http://www.chairacademy.com/conference/2017/conpap/Steele.pdf
The Perfect Storm Figure 1. Conference delegates provided 322 answers to the
question, “What are your institution’s 3 biggest challenges?”
As they attempt to steer their institutions toward a
successful future, college boards and administrators
are navigating a perfect storm of demographic,
political, and economic change on all sides. As
shown in Figure 1, delegates at the Chair Academy’s
26 Annual International Leadership Conference
th
reported signifcant challenges balancing budgets
against headwinds of funding constraint; managing
student enrollment, engagement, and retention;
improving campus morale and inspiring innovative
thinking while facing rapid change and employee
turnover; and preserving civility in polarized,
tumultuous times. Te two most fundamental
challenges facing virtually all college leaders are
shifing demographics and declining public funding.
24 LEADERSHIP Vol. 23.1 Spring/Summer 2017
Client: The Chair Academy Job: Leadership_Journal_23.1 Spring/Summer 2017 Final size: 8.5” x 11” Colors: CMYK Bleeds: Yes
Created by: Goldfsh Creative - Laura Dvir • 602.349.2220 • LAURA@GOLDFISHCREATIVE.NET
