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Peak Performance: Innovate, Collaborate, Elevate

We’re excited to announce that SIGUCCS will travel to the Mile High City for our Annual Conference. Please join us in Denver April 6-9, 2025!
Type: Lightning Talk clear filter
Wednesday, April 9
 

4:00pm MDT

LIGHTNING TALK: A Lesson for the Leader
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Picture this, May 2020 and the semester is wrapping up - classes were 100% virtual, students had vacated their dorms in March and commencement has been postponed - for a year??

My institution, a small liberal arts college in New England, was trying to balance financial obligations with the want to continue to provide for its employees. With the campus on lockdown and hundreds of thousands of dollars returned for room and board, there needed to be a way to cut costs. I was approached by my leadership and told that I would need to furlough one full time employee.

With a small team of only 4 people, I knew the team would never recover if 1 single person had to bear that weight. I shared this concern and suggested that each position be cut 10 hours per week - equally sharing the weight of the furlough.

It was then up to me to develop a plan that still provided the coverage needed for our department. Often as leaders, we feel like we have to have all the answers. Why is that? Is it because leaders feel a strong sense of responsibility and accountability to their direct reports?
Are they afraid of being vulnerable in front of their team? Are they supposed to have every answer and work in a vacuum? Is it all decisions or just these personnel decisions that we wrestle with having to have the right answer.

In this talk, hear a real world example of how empowering your team to devise a solution improved the overall outcome of a difficult situation.
Speakers
avatar for Heather Romanski

Heather Romanski

Director, computer support services, Connecticut College
After working in corporate IT for almost 20 years, I made the leap to Higher Ed IT in 2015. I manage a small team of 6 at Connecticut College - a small, private liberal arts college.As a personal empowerment coach, I help women find and confidently use their voice to advocate for... Read More →
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Crystal Salon BC

4:00pm MDT

LIGHTNING TALK: Leadership Takes Courage, Boldness and Leaps of Faith
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
This lightning talk explores the multifaceted nature of leadership in today's higher education landscape. I will share personal anecdotes and insights emphasizing that effective leadership requires more than technical expertise. It involves understanding human behavior, building relationships, and possessing a strong sense of self. I will highlight the importance of defining personal success and leveraging unique strengths while emphasizing the need for strategic thinking, decision-making, and emotional intelligence. The goal of this talk is to encourage aspiring leaders to trust their instincts, be bold, and embrace both the expected and unexpected opportunities that lie ahead.
Speakers
avatar for Beth Rugg

Beth Rugg

Assistant Vice Chancellor, UNC Charlotte
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Crystal Salon BC

4:00pm MDT

LIGHTNING TALK: SIGUCCS 2026
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Get a sneak peek into the upcoming SIGUCCS 2026 conference! This session will highlight the exciting opportunities that await you. Learn how attending and presenting at the conference can benefit you and your institution. Be inspired and motivated to submit your abstracts and be part of this transformative event!
Speakers
avatar for Becky Klein

Becky Klein

Assistant Director, Campus Relations, Drake University
I oversee the ITS Support Center, manage ~25 Student Techs, handle departmental communications, and administer our TeamDynamix system.My certifications and campus roles:NCBI facilitator and ally-in-trainingAdjunct ProfessorAdvisor, Pi chapter, Sigma Alpha Iota International Music... Read More →
avatar for Jeffrey Kontio

Jeffrey Kontio

Department of Politics - IT Manager, Princeton University
Jeffrey is the IT Manager for the Department of Politics at Princeton University, where he support the department’s IT needs, including procurement, end-user support, departmental systems administration, data collection and visualization, and permissions management. He also provide... Read More →
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Crystal Salon BC

4:00pm MDT

LIGHTNING TALK: The 2024 SIGUCCS Book Report
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Join Laurie and Lisa as we review the books read in 2024 and look ahead to some exciting titles in 2025.
Speakers
avatar for Laurie Fox

Laurie Fox

Director of Educational Technology, SUNY Geneseo
avatar for Lisa Brown

Lisa Brown

Assistant Director, Teaching and Learning Systems, University of Rochester
University of Rochester, Warner School of EducationEdD Educational LeadershipAdvanced Certificate in Online TeachingAdjunct Faculty at Warner School of Education
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Crystal Salon BC

4:00pm MDT

LIGHTNING TALK: The Power of Community in Higher Ed IT: Lessons from Service Dog Training and Communities of Practice
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
This talk explores the indispensable role of community within communities of practice (CoPs) in shaping the growth and resilience of Higher Education IT professionals. Much like the relationship between a raiser and a Seeing Eye puppy, CoPs provide guidance, patience, and collective wisdom, fostering an environment where members can grow confidently into their roles. By nurturing this partnership of shared goals, mutual support, and continuous learning, CoPs empower IT staff to adapt to new challenges, drive innovation, and support the diverse needs of their institutions. Using the bond between a raiser and a service dog in training as a framework, this presentation illustrates how community involvement and shared responsibility cultivate expertise, adaptability, and a sense of purpose within Higher Ed IT, ultimately enhancing outcomes across the institution.
Speakers
avatar for Jeffrey Kontio

Jeffrey Kontio

Department of Politics - IT Manager, Princeton University
Jeffrey is the IT Manager for the Department of Politics at Princeton University, where he support the department’s IT needs, including procurement, end-user support, departmental systems administration, data collection and visualization, and permissions management. He also provide... Read More →
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Crystal Salon BC

4:00pm MDT

LIGHTNING TALK: Thinking Locally? Act Globally
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
If we want our technical documentation and communication to have a wider audience reach, it's time to examine the elements that might cause issues with comprehension. These include using colloquial speech, sports jargons, pop culture references, and other expressions which do not translate well.
Why is this important? Our audience is made of diverse backgrounds and life experiences. We are expecting our audience to heed our calls to action through our technical communication..
In this Lightning Talk, we will discuss how to write in a globally inclusive style. We will focus on what to include and what we can leave out.
Speakers
avatar for Mo Nishiyama

Mo Nishiyama

Technical Writer, Oregon Health & Science University
He/Him/His. Straight outta Portland (Oregon), Mo is passionate about promoting an inclusive workplace culture, adopting frameworks that are centered around empathy, and sneakily inserting the Oxford Comma in business documents (despite his institution's Style Guide which discourages... Read More →
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Crystal Salon BC
 
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