Onboarding The New Dean:

Transcription

1 Onboarding The New Dean: Tips and Tools for Success Focus on: Christine Wynd, PhD, RN President and Dean Mount Carmel College of Nursing

2 MCCN at a Glance Established in 1903, Sisters of the Holy Cross Specialized Institution of Higher Education Offers Graduate and Undergraduate Programs Among Largest Nursing Programs in Ohio Total Enrollment: 1,100 Students Has own Board of Trustees, is a subsidiary of Mount Carmel Health System and Trinity Health

3 Background New President Dr. Christine Wynd: Onboarded July 2014 Came from Dean role: Assumed both presidency and dean with the new position Had never been a college president before Succeeded longest sitting president in Ohio Became College s second president and dean

4 Getting Started College Relations Role: Developing & Executing Transition Plan Phase 1: Six months prior to arrival Research/Media/Key Stakeholder meetings Phase 2: Six to twelve months after arrival Relationship Building Stakeholder meetings/events/media onboarding

5 Onboarding Events

6 Insights Quick Insights from: The Dean Fund Development & Alumni Relations College Relations: PR & Marketing

7 The Dean s Insight What Worked Transition Plan and transition point person Meeting with key people: Myriad of appointments, overwhelming, but SO important Plan sped up orientation/great to have familiar faces at events

8 Challenges The Dean s Insight Problems/issues not corrected by previous dean Difficulty resolving issues in timely manner, when faculty and staff want them corrected NOW/ Getting actual work done due to s, issues management, etc. Anxiety about moving too fast or too slow Everything is hearsay, no facts: different versions of same story Diversity of Issues: From faculty, students and staff to Board, the health system, reorganization and budget

9 The Dean s Insight Advice Don t get caught up with moving too fast Resist urge to take one side of an issue: Take time to assess, locate back up data for decision-making Keep transition highly organized; review BIOs of people you are meeting Ask people to be patient, ready to assist during orientation period

10 Fund Development/Alumni Insights What Worked Initially dean was available for discussion Provided her with notebook on fund development, which included campaign calendar, major donor lists, Schiele Endowment, list of named scholarships and endowments, expectations of new dean NEXT: Scheduling President Circle Receptions and Alumni Gatherings

11 Fund Development/Alumni Insights Challenges Dean had no experience working with Boards, in fundraising Overwhelmed with existing college issues: time not focused on fund development Hoped to introduce her to more donors sooner while she was still new, that has not happened Just now scheduling key appointments, 10 months later

12 Fund Development/Alumni Insights Challenges (cont.) Not easily accessible Alumni Relations: Organizational Issues/Hired FT director who now reports to Fund Development/Alumni President resigned Advice Continue to keep her informed; try to schedule limited one-on-one meetings; note card follow-up with donors; on-going dialogue with donors even if dean cannot

13 College Relations Insights PR & Marketing: Successes, Challenges and Lessons Learned Followed and Executed Plan: Met with first tier key stakeholders Events: Scholarship Dinner with students and donors, Inauguration Enrolled president/dean: Harvard Institute for New Presidents and indicated in plan attendance in two other key conferences.

14 College Relations Insights PR & Marketing: Challenges Influence of former president and dean Her learning curve as a new president Culture: Past and present Volume of PR projects/events: small staff Advice: Be patient, take care of yourself, make yourself and your staff valuable to the process

15 Onboarding The New Dean: Tips and Tools for Success Focus on: Christine Wynd, PhD, RN President and Dean Mount Carmel College of Nursing