Baylor Will Host Seminar on Christian Academic Leadership May 16-20

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Trends in Christian higher education, moral dimensions of academic leadership and Baptist contributions to Christian higher education will be examined in a Baylor University seminar May 16-20.
Eleven speakers from Christian colleges and universities across the nation, including Baylor, will speak at the fourth annual Seminar on Academic Leadership in Baptist Universities. The event will be attended by 35 individuals from across the country, said Dr. Donald Schmeltekopf, director of the Center for Ministry Effectiveness and Educational Leadership at Baylor.
"The goal is to help prepare people for future leadership," Schmeltekopf said. "Most are department chairs, deans and provosts, but people come from a broad spectrum, including faculty members interested in moving into administration."
Seminar participants will consider how Christian colleges and universities can sustain their religious identity, including whether the concept of a "gathered congregation" can serve as a model for a campus community.
Among the speakers will be:
• Paul R. Corts, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and former Assistant Attorney General for Administration for the U.S. Department of Justice.
• Robert Benne, director of the Center for Religion and Society at Roanoke College in Salem, Va. He is the author of 10 books on Christian ethics, social interpretation and the character and mission of church-related institutions.
• Joel Carpenter, director of the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., and former provost at Calvin.
• Charles Beckenhauer, general counsel of Baylor University, who previously served as deputy director of legislative and legal policy within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
• Bryan R. Cole, professor of educational administration, Texas A&M University.
• Susan Felch, professor of English and director of the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship at Calvin College.
Because preparation for leadership is so multi-faceted, topics will range from conflict resolution to budgeting to personnel issues, Schmeltekopf said.
A new component of the seminar will be breakout sessions on campus residential life, development, enrollment management and technology.
"The breakout sessions all will be led by individuals at Baylor," Schmeltekopf said. "This is in response to requests from past participants to these specific issues."
The seminar will be co-sponsored by the center and the Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts. Sessions will be held at Alexander Hall at Baylor campus.
The schedule of speakers includes:
SUNDAY
3-3:45 p.m. Leadership in Baptist Colleges and Universities: Introductory remarks -- Donald Schmeltekopf, Alexander Hall 115, Honors Residential College
3:45 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Mission of the Christian College/University: Keynote speaker -- Robert Benne, Director of the Center for Religion and Society, Roanoke College.
8- 9 p.m. Academic Leadership -- Bryan R. Cole, Professor of Educational Administration, Texas A&M University, Alexander Hall 115
MONDAY
8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Educational Systems and Institutional Culture -- Speaker, Bryan R. Cole
10 30 a.m.-noon Moral Dimensions of Leadership: The Ethics of Administration - Robert Benne, director of the Center for Religion and Society, Roanoke College
1:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m. Conflict Resolution and Legal Issues -- Speaker, Charles Beckenhauer, General Counsel, Baylor University
7:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. The Place of Self-Knowledge in Leadership: Understanding the StrengthsFinder Online Assessment -- Facilitator, Ashley Thornton, Director of Professional and Organizational Development, Baylor University
TUESDAY
8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Personnel Issues: Faculty Hiring and Faculty Development -- Speaker, Susan M. Felch, Professor of English and Director of the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship, Calvin College
10:45 a.m.- noon Curriculum Development, Assessment, and Institutional Effectiveness -- Leader, William Ellis, President, Howard Payne University
1:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions
• Development: Dennis Prescott, vice president for development, Baylor
• Residential Life: Doug Henry, associate professor of philosophy and faculty master, Brooks Residential College, Baylor University
• Enrollment Management: Sinda Vanderpool, vice provost for enrollment management, Baylor University
• Technology: Pattie Orr, vice president for information technology and dean of University Libraries, Baylor University

7-9 p.m. Dinner and Program: Trends in Higher Education/Christian Higher Education -- Special guest speaker, Paul R. Corts, President, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities

WEDNESDAY
8-10 a.m. Strategic Planning and Finances/Budgeting -- Speakers Paul R. Corts and Elizabeth Davis, Interim Provost, Baylor University
10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Teaching and Scholarship -- Speaker, Susan M. Felch
1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m. Understanding Your 360 Degree Evaluation -- panel discussion about leadership
2:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m. In-Basket Discussion -- Leader, Donald Schmeltekopf
7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Baptist Contributions to Christian Higher Education -- Speaker, Ralph Wood, University Professor of Theology and Literature, Baylor University
THURSDAY
8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Academic Leadership: For Mature Adults Only -- Speaker, Joel Carpenter, Professor of History and Director, Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity, Calvin College
10:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. End-note speaker, Joel Carpenter Topic: Christian Higher Education: 'The Work of Our Hands' in the Midst of an Industrial Revolution
For more information, call Julie Covington, assistant director for the Center for Ministry Effectiveness and Educational Leadership, at (254) 710-4677.
Contact: Terry Goodrich, Assistant Director of Media Communications, (254) 710-3321