This newsletter covers what happened in April and will give you a heads up on what to look for in May and the months following.

In this issue (please note the links below will only work when viewing this newsletter in a browser):

When we begin a new journey, we often know the direction or vision of our destination, but not the markers to get there. Transformation requires visualization and multiple steps to get to the end of the journey. Each movement forward helps to manifest the goal. It impacts individuals (psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially) as well as organizations. As organizations transform, individuals are transformed.
 
This past year has been one of significant change for all of us including civic unrest and a pandemic that exposed major health disparities nationally. The Covid-19 pandemic upended plans, expectations, relationships, and outcomes. Given the shift in how we can relate to each other due to the pandemic, many organizations and individuals took this opportunity to transform processes and practices. Likewise, the Academy of Process Educators (AoPE) transformed in multiple ways including how the annual conference is delivered.  Just as higher education institutions pivoted to shift classes online for a period, the Academy redesigned its face-to-face conference and delivered it virtually.
 
There is no growth without change; there is no transformation without reflective change. Since change is continuous, at the core of transformation is learning and growth. Transformation is a process of making a complete change in structure, composition, or perspective. A conscious focus on transformation provides opportunities for continuous movement toward a specific vision or goal. Transformation is a step-by-step process that permits us to understand where we are, to define key steps forward, and to manifest goals to reach the vision.

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it;
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

―Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832

Let’s consider how members were engaged in the process of developing and implementing the Academy’s Strategic Plan for 2020-2025. It is a developmental process that strives to engage as many members as possible, their thoughts, ideas, and their talents. This was a key part of building internal capacity. As articulated by Timothy Moore in his book The Four Stages of Psychological Safety, it is essential that leaders focus on achieving organizational vision by cultivation of participant psychological safety. Psychological Safety is “a condition in which individuals feel (1) included, (2) safe to learn, (3) safe to contribute, and (4) safe to challenge the status quo.” He postulates that teams and organizations progress through these four successive stages, without fear of embarrassment, marginalization, or punishment.

These four steps are embodied in our transformational process. For example, all members were included in the strategic planning process, helping to define the Academy’s 2025 vision and direction. This was essential to developing planning capacity within the Academy. Learning is expected and accepted as part of one’s ongoing development.  The president-elect is facilitating a robust member self-growth community. Teams are contributing to the development of strategies to ensure that the Academy’s priorities are achieved. The contributions of one team are guiding the organization’s fiscal policies to support actualization of the Academy’s mission. Finally, members are challenging the status quo by addressing a social issue of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in a professional development series. In doing so, members are challenging issues of bias and institutional racism, which are prevalent within our society. Transformation is a continuous process of moving from priorities to practice.

As the Academy of Process Educators integrates these developmental concepts, it is actualizing its vision of leading in the transformation of education (see graphic). Transforming the organization is a deliberate act. The Academy can only achieve its vision with the diverse talents of its members. Join us in this exciting journey!

Recent Board Meetings

Remember, you can find out the Board’s current work by checking the Academy Board Meeting Agendas and Minutes posted on the Academy members’ page:

March 2021 minutes (approved)

April 2021 minutes (not yet approved)

Summary of April Board meeting work:

In April, the Board

• Continued to receive updates on Communications Policy booklet

• Received update on 2021 Annual Conference plans

• Approved 2-year pilot certification program

• Introduced plans for grant funding opportunities based on certification work

• Took a final look at a business model draft before bringing to the board for approval in May

• Reviewed a survey to be sent to new and continuing members of the Academy to capture their interests, expertise, and desired communication

The Next Board Meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2021 (10:30am to Noon CDT).

All Academy members are welcome to participate. You will be able to find the agenda for the meeting as well as the needed information to attend through Zoom on the Academy Member site.

It’s coming up fast. Just about 10 weeks remain until the 2021 Academy of Process Educators Annual Conference opens! Registrations for the conference have been rolling in quickly. We encourage you to register today so you have the dates (June- 24-26.) set on your calendar. You are also encouraged to invite colleagues who may not be current members to join us for what promises to be an introspective examination of critical topics related to the theme “Experiencing Growth in Times of Change”.

Click HERE to view the full schedule on the Conference Website.

Thanks to the many presenters for submitting innovative and interactive proposals for participants. A preview of just a few of the interesting topics scheduled includes 10+ workshop sessions on:

• A Model for Viewing the COVID-19 Pandemic and Systemic Racism at Local, National and International Levels
• Faculty-Administrator Relationships: Building Bridges of Resilience
• Escaping the Lecture - Breaking from Monotony the use of Virtual Escape Rooms in Education
• Self-Growth and Naikan Reflection
• Becoming an Insight Generator - Produce Insights Others Can't

In additional to workshops the Conference will also include Research Paper Sessions conducted by Academy members, Plenary/Panel Sessions on hot topics from our time, Keynote Speakers sharing the latest news about the Academy’s projects and a cutting-edge Interactive Hall of Innovation/Poster Session on a variety of teaching methodologies and concepts.  The Conference will conclude with the Annual Academy business meeting and an exciting final plenary session on  “Mental & Physical Health and Their Impact on Equity – A Potential for Growth?”.

In an added feature the Academy will sponsor a 1 day Pre-Conference Leadership Institute on June 23rd. This Institute will focus on the need for leadership capability at all levels in colleges and universities to meet the demands of the present and the future. Conference registrants get a 50% discount on the additional costs for the Leadership Institute.

So join us, register today for this exciting and innovative virtual conference. With no travel or lodging costs, no meal costs the conference is a great bargain! Plus, you can join us from anywhere in the world you can get a reliable internet signal. Wherever you plan to be, in your office, in your jammies, your swimsuit, or your hiking clothes.  Just join us!

June 23, 2021, Online 9am – 6pm Central

As a Process Educator, you are a learning leader – leading the transformation of learning! Join us to strengthen your leadership skills in advancing learning across institutional boundaries in this Academy-sponsored workshop. Participants will grow skills and mindsets to advance your role in enhancing the Quality of Life (QoL) for the people you lead and who matter to you.

In this activity-based workshop, each person and team will identify their learning outcomes for the event, and the facilitator will model the characteristics of a learning leader who helps all participants achieve their outcomes.

We’ll study 7 styles of leadership through specific models of these leaders. These stories inventory desired characteristics of leaders and are contrasted to a Profile of a Transformational Learning Leader that participants can use to assess their current capabilities with a Performance Measure for Leadership.

We’ll also study the change process for transformation in an organization’s processes, systems, or culture, and learn how to better facilitate this change process. A methodology for project management will be analyzed and used to assess previous projects. And everyone will have the opportunity to explore possible transformational change projects from the Academy’s strategic and operational plans.

Finally, participants will have time to incorporate this new learning by advancing their growth plan and growth goals.
 
We encourage you to invite your colleagues to attend this workshop! They don’t have to be an Academy member to participate. And invite them to the PE Conference, too! The workshop prices is just $50 for those participating in the Conference, and $100 to attend the workshop only.

Since January of 2020 we have examined the Faculty Guidebook in the Academy's monthly newsletter. It has been my honor to solicit recommendations from Process Education veterans and take a closer look some of the most powerful practices in one of the greatest resources the Academy has to offer. My goal with this column was to spread awareness to all members of their privileged access to the eFGB and while you may not see a module of the month in the future you still have this benefit as an Academy member. Since that initial post the layout of the member site has changed a little so I feel it is worthwhile to highlight the recommended access point for the electronic Faculty Guidebook. As seen in the image below, you now click on FGB under PE references near the top of the main page of the member site. The username and password are still "academy".

As someone who prefers a paper book, I should also mention that physical copies of the book can still be purchased from the Pacific Crest website.

I would like to thank everyone that contributed to this project and selected a module: David Leasure, Tris Utschig, Steve Beyerlein, Joyce Adams, Peter Smith, Cy Leise, Betty Hurley, Chaya Jain, Dan Cordon, Libby Mahaffey, Ingrid Ulbrich, Joann Horton, Wade Ellis, and Dan Apple. Any praise intended for me should surely be sent to the source of all this knowledge, the authors. Since the list is too long to mention here, I recommend you peruse Appendix C to see bio-sketches of each person that authored a module.

The Faculty Guidebook is what inspired me to join the Academy and remains a perennial classic. If you are interested in contributing to the development of a fifth edition or have questions about accessing the book, feel free to email me at Matthew.Watts@rrcc.edu

The Academy of Process Educators is launching a PE Certification program, and YOU can receive a certificate based on your current performance level! The certification program lets you measure your current performance in areas of PE performance and be deliberately developmental by setting and pursuing goals for your growth as a Process Educator.

You’ll be able to display your credential in presentations, on social media sites like LinkedIn, and in your CV and annual review. Your certification can help expand conversations about what Process Education is and how your professional development benefits your learners and your institution.

And you’ll have a new way to share with others about the Academy and Process Education. Others in your network will be interested in how they can get this credential, too!

Our first certifications will be announced at the Academy Conference Awards Ceremony on June 26. Load your certification submission by June 17 to receive your certification at the Conference! For more information on the certification system and submission expectations, check out the PE Certification area in the Members site.

Questions? Send them to Ingrid Ulbrich (Ingrid.m.ulbrich@gmail.com) or Cynthia Woodbridge (cwoodbridge@ggc.edu).