These presentations, workshops, and consultancies are derived from the extensive research and writing presented on this site. There is a common theme: Being "relentlessly pragmatic."

Momentum Presentation

This is a one-hour Prezi presentation that summarizes in a visual fashion the key aspects of the book Momentum: The Responsibility Paradigm and Virtuous Cycles of Change in Colleges and Universities. It details the shift from an accountability paradigm to a responsibility paradigm and then describes the nature of virtuous cycles and how spiral dynamics can be used to bring about effective change in college and universities.   

Q & A follows.

This presentation can also be used in conjunction with the Momentum Institutional Index (described under Resources) that is administered on-line prior to the beginning of a strategic planning or accreditation effort.         

Future College Workshops

This introductory half-day workshop is designed to be used in conjunction with Future College Fieldbook:  Mission, Vision, and Values in Higher Education.  The workshop is best used to kick-off the strategic planning process or in conjunction with the mission-related standards used by regional accrediting associations. The intended venue is a strategic planning retreat or an early accreditation session that focuses on mission or institution effectiveness criteria. The key deliverables are:

  • Familiarity with the language associated with mission, vision, and values.
  • An understanding of how these elements are used to drive performance improvement.

While the half-day workshop provides the basics, a consultancy is also available. It is divided into a full-day workshop that serves to introduce the basics but then describes in detail the process of generating mission, vision, and values statements. This first day is then separated by a period in which teams begin drafting materials through an iterative process. A second full-day workshop is scheduled to review results and discuss implementation efforts and communication strategies followed by methods to produce continuous improvement. The key deliverables are:

  • Familiarity with the language associated with mission, vision, and values.
  • An understanding of how these elements are used to drive performance improvement.
  • Develop a planning to plan process. 
  • Draft materials associated with a collective ambition.
  • Describe how this ambition drives strategic planning.
  • Identify implementation and communications strategies.

<< Contact Dr. Seymour to find out more about the Future Colleges workshop and/or consultancy >>

Noble Ambitions Workshops

This introductory half-day workshop is based upon the book Noble Ambitions:  Mission, Vision and Values is American Community Colleges and is targeted for use at community colleges. Again, it is most effectively used as part of the strategic planning process or as part of the mission or institutional effectiveness standards in the accreditation process. The key deliverables are:

  • Familiarity with the language associated with mission, vision, and values.
  • An understanding of how these elements are used to drive performance improvement.

As with Future College Workshop, there is a consultancy available that is specifically geared toward community colleges.

<< Contact Dr. Seymour to find out more about the Noble Ambitions workshop and/or consultancy >>