by Stan Henderson, AACRAO past-president, author, and consultant, Live from SEM 2024
Earlier this month, the “buzz” in the hallways at the AACRAO 34th Annual SEM Conference in Boston was all about the Presidential Plenary Panel. “Why can’t I have a president like them?” was a typical refrain. These were campus chief executives walking the SEM talk, and they had a lot to tell us.
The Who
Dr. Laura Douglas, President of Bristol Community College in Massachusetts: Laura has extensive international experience that informed her senior community college roles with a focus on underrepresented students, immigrant populations, high-impact practices, and community engagement.
Dr. Linda Martin, Chancellor of the University of Tennessee Southern in Tennessee: Linda’s background includes student academic development and success, and teaching excellence and effectiveness in multiple academic departments, colleges, and universitywide roles.
Dr. Kevin Pollock, President of Central Carolina Technical College in South Carolina: Kevin is one of AACRAO’s contributors to the SEM literature (my co-author of "SEM as a Connector: Principles of Practice"). He got his start in student affairs; Central Carolina is his third presidency.
The What: Just a small sample of what they shared
Laura: Shaping opportunity
Bristol established the National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI), a one-stop training facility to provide required trainings and certifications for a maritime and offshore wind industry emerging near the Massachusetts coastline.
Linda: Shaping access
UT-Southern resulted from the state’s acquisition of a troubled private college. Southern now is the only public four-year college in southern Tennessee between Chattanooga and Memphis, opening opportunities for learners to achieve an affordable degree.
Kevin: Shaping campus culture
When Kevin told his faculty that students were number 1, a professor asked if that meant the faculty were number 2. “Yes,” Kevin replied. That philosophy led to a new SEM plan with student supports that would realize a 20% enrollment growth in one year.
All three presidents emphasized engagement with business and industry in their local communities, leading to innovative, collaborative programs. Listening, you could sense barriers and walls falling as new programs and opportunities for learners developed. Each of these panelists spoke to repositioning their institutions as major players in their communities: relevant education for learner- and community-defined needs.
Speaking the day before a consequential U.S. presidential election, each expressed a pragmatically adaptive approach to their political environments, whether "sapphire blue" or "ruby red."
The bottom line is that working with their diverse environments allowed benefits for their learners, whether through financial aid programs like MassReconnect in Bay State, South Carolina’s investment in two-year colleges, or Tennessee’s creation of a new institution.
The Takeaways
So, are “SEM presidents” born or made? Yes, Laura, Linda, and Kevin’s backgrounds make them naturals to walk the SEM talk. However, they also lead the kind of institutions where 80% of our learners are enrolled. And those learners might be considered the “new normal” in our colleges and universities, folks who need to be convinced of the value of expending energy, time, and resources needed for college in the face of competing demands of family, jobs, and life. That requires that we see them not as passive students but as active learners who partner with us in our institutions. “Just in time, just enough, just for me,” they say. Clearly, Laura, Linda, and Kevin are listening to them. That’s not just the result of their backgrounds; it’s strategic for their institutions.
Only 36 percent of Americans have confidence in higher education. That doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t value education, but it surely means we had better be able to show how higher education can make their lives better. Return on investment for our learners should be our passion, shaping strategic directions. That’s the secret sauce for getting presidents’ attention, regardless of their backgrounds.
Senior SEM leaders have the responsibility to ensure that their presidents and senior leadership see the connection between the strategic plan and SEM. But those on the front lines in admissions, financial aid, student success and advising operations can also show that connection in how they formulate their services to meet learner needs. Putting learners at the core with regard to process, policy, and service can demonstrate the power of SEM in advancing institutional strategic interests.
However, maybe we rely too much on ourselves to make the strategic case for SEM with our own presidents. This year’s SEM Conference presidential panel sparks the idea of using existing SEM presidents to reach other presidents. We know there are other SEM presidents out there. In fact, if you see your president as a champion who walks the SEM talk on your campus, let AACRAO know. There could be a directory of such SEM presidents, a presidents’ SEM publication by and for presidents, presidential breakout sessions at SEM, and presidential blogs through AACRAO. We should work to make presidents more a part of SEM, not just wish for it.
I’m the only person to have attended 33 of the 34 SEM conferences. This year’s presidential plenary was the best I’ve seen. It should not just be the buzz of the conference; it should inspire us to engage our SEM presidents.