CGS offers a full schedule of interactive, cutting-edge workshops that provide participants with helpful strategies, information sharing opportunities, and resources to bring back to their campuses.
All workshops are half-day sessions with a fee of $75 per session. The pre-meeting workshop. registration fee includes workshop materials and morning coffee. Lunch will be on your own.
Morning Sessions: 9:00 – 11:00 am
Strategic Planning during Tumultuous Times
Flexibility to meet emerging challenges and opportunities in an ever-changing higher education environment has led many universities to move from five-year strategic plans to shorter, more nimble plans. This session will call on the expertise of deans who have been involved in strategic planning at their universities, addressing elements such as university mission, place-based and online strategies, revenue and changing enrollment patterns.
Making the Case for the Value of the Graduate School
Making the case for the resources necessary to support graduate students’ academic and career success is perhaps the single most important part of a dean’s job. Sometimes, this work involves advocating for a graduate school or other central office. Learn from colleagues who have served as CGS consultants on this topic about the common issues that graduate leaders face and the strategies, tactics, tools, and resources that can help deans lead, rather than lag, organizational transformation.
Strategies for Supporting Graduate Student Wellness
Good mental health is critical to the success of master’s and doctoral students. This session offers practical guidance for supporting graduate students’ mental health and well-being. Presenters will share examples and practices that foster stronger support networks and create environments that foster resilience, balance, and thriving. Participants will learn actionable strategies to cultivate a culture of care for master’s and doctoral students navigating academic and personal challenges.
Afternoon Workshops: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Fundraising for Graduate Education
With the significant disruptions to federal student aid and investments in basic research, securing external funding from a variety of sources is more important than ever. In this workshop, graduate deans will share strategies for obtaining philanthropic support for graduate education, even when resources are scarce. This hands-on workshop will focus on development fundamentals, building cases for support, and identifying potential donors among alumni, employer, and regional stakeholder networks.
Review of Graduate Programs: Master’s and Doctoral
Assessment of master’s and doctoral programs provides an important opportunity for reflection and strategic decision-making. The presenters will share best practices for managing the program review process, using data to inform assessment, and strategies for identifying and helping struggling programs. How to incorporate feedback from external reviewers and accreditation requirements into program reviews will also be covered.
New Models of University/Employer Partnerships
Graduate education relies more than ever on partnerships with stakeholders in the business, government, and non-profit sectors. This workshop explores innovative collaborations between universities and employers to develop curricula, professional development, and financial support for current and prospective graduate students and employees. It will highlight promising practices involving microcredentials, paid internships, employer tuition reimbursement, and collaborative research projects.
Degrees Within Reach: Improving Access and Affordability in Graduate Education
This session explores innovative strategies to reduce financial barriers and expand access to graduate education. Panelists will share cost containment strategies, tools to improve cost transparency, ways to maximize ROI, and other timely topics. Join us for a discussion on practical, scalable approaches to making advanced degrees more attainable for a diverse range of students.