In the spring of 2022, the Office of the Provost sponsored participation in the online seminar, “Advising Practices: Embracing Diversity & Dialogue to Enhance Academic Outcomes” by Innovative Educators. The workshop was provided free of charge to all UH Mānoa faculty, staff, and administrators, courtesy of the UH Mānoa Commission on Racism & Bias, the Council of Academic Advisors, and the Office of the Provost.
A recording of the workshop is available through April of 2023. –>View Recording!
Description (Courtesy of Innovative Educators)
Objectives
- Acquire self-knowledge regarding listening and dialogue levels and enhance academic outcomes for advisees.
- Explore the meaning and creation of Gracious Space and why it’s so essential in building an atmosphere of trust and transformation
- Identify the four levels of listening and dialogue and the impact on advising techniques.
- Learn to recognize the behaviors that promote bias in our advising practice and eliminate such behaviors.
- Explore recommendations on adapting Gracious Space to your advising practice for successful outcomes by utilizing the four elements of “spirit’, a setting where you are, inviting the “stranger,” and learning together.
Overview
This online seminar will focus on the concept of Gracious Space as a conduit to building lasting rapport and eliminating bias. We will review the four levels of listening and deep dialogue. Additionally, this online seminar will provide information on behaviors that perpetuate bias. As academic advisors, we can recognize these behaviors and choose other behaviors that empower us to provide our advisees with the tools and resources to succeed. It is about “spirit” leadership and being intentional in all our actions with our advisees.
Recognizing and using the techniques provided in this presentation will allow advisors to uncover their intentional selves. It is a journey of rejuvenation. The best part of Gracious Space is that it is rooted in ethical leadership. Elements of mutual influence, inquiry, and advocacy are the foundation within the framework of Gracious Space. If as advisors, we are willing to invite diversity and learn from one another, Gracious Space is the pathway to bring your advising practice to a transcendent level. Enhancing your deep listening skills, creating meaningful dialogue, and avoiding the pitfalls of bias in our behaviors is what makes Gracious Space the only way to uncover our intentional and authentic self. It begins with creating a space that is comfortable and inviting. We call it Gracious Space.
We will end the online seminar with an activity in which we will be identifying behaviors in the context of Gracious Space. Finally, we will look at an incidence of bias, and together we will use what we have learned to understand the negative impact on our students’ chances for success and persistence when bias occurs. We want better outcomes with our students, and this online seminar will provide another perspective to the important work that, as advisors, we do every day.
Who should attend?
- Administration
- Enrollment Management
- Human Resources
- Student Services/Affairs
- Academic Advising/Coaching
- Financial Aid
- Any educator interested in learning more about gracious space
Presenter Information
Eileen Snyder has transitioned from an academic advisor to an independent educational consultant. She is currently writing a monograph on transcendent academic advising that focuses on narrative theory and family systems. She previously worked as an academic advisor for Georgia Southern University. She has worked as a corporate trainer for workforce development and began her career in education as a Retention Manager for Peirce College in Philadelphia, Pa. She is a frequent presenter at NACADA and enjoys mentoring academic advisors that are mid-career to the profession and wish to brand their practice in order to establish their authentic self. Eileen’s education is in Organizational Development and Leadership in which she has adapted concepts like Gracious Space, Bowen Theory of Family Systems, and the Four Rooms of Change to the professional advising practice. Each providing a unique perspective to the work of the professional advisor seeking tools and techniques to assess transitional change, recognize and understand systemic anxiety and how it impacts student success and now the applicability of Gracious Space to recognize and eliminate inherent bias and build lasting rapport.
Presentation Materials
Materials from the workshop are available for all members of the campus community. –> Download presentation materials
Workshop Recording
A recording of this workshop is available to UH Mānoa faculty, staff, and administrators through April of 2023.
Questions?
For questions, please contact provost@hawaii.edu.