Explore Our Courses
Tools, Insights, and Conversations for
Art and Design Institutions
Our online learning series offers engaging, accessible sessions designed for academic leaders, faculty, and staff navigating change in higher education. From data-informed decision-making and curriculum design to GIS mapping, assessment strategies, and leadership best practices, each session blends practical tools with human-centered insight. Join us to learn, question, and build alongside a community of curious, mission-driven educators.
Upcoming Courses
Mapping Insight:
Spatial Thinking in Higher Education
In an era where institutional decisions must be both data-informed and equity-driven, spatial thinking offers a powerful lens for understanding patterns, gaps, and opportunities across the educational landscape. Through hands-on exploration, real-world case studies, and critical discussion, participants will learn how to use spatial data to visualize access and enrollment trends, make resource decisions, and build predictive models that support mission-aligned planning. For those new to GIS, this course centers human insight alongside technical tools, helping you map what matters most.
Course Format: The course includes three 90-minute sessions, offered synchronously or asynchronously, with optional follow-up labs or one-on-one consultations. Participants will have access to template datasets, GIS tool recommendations, and sample case studies for continued exploration.
Course Dates: The course will be recorded and available to all registrants. Live sessions will take place:
September 9, 2026 11:00am CT September 16, 2026 11:00am CT September 23, 2026 11:00am CT
Academic Program Portfolio Review
A working session on how to Evaluate Majors and Programs Using Demand, Mission Fit, Cost, Outcomes, and Strategic Relevance
Course Format: The course includes six 30-minute video lesson modules (asynchronous), a live introduction, two open live advising sessions, worksheets, templates, case studies, scoring tools, and support in the creation of a final portfolio action plan.
Course Dates:
This course will launch on September with the expectation of completion of all modules within 4 weeks.
Introduction session will take place September 2, 2026 1:00pm CT (also recorded).
Live advising sessions will take place:
September 16, 2026 1:00pm CT and September 30, 2026. (Additional individual advising at the time of your choice may also be arranged.)
One 30 minute individual review session at the time of your choice before October 15th.
Leading Enrollment at Art & Design Colleges: A Practical Guide for New Enrollment Directors
Build the strategy, data literacy, and leadership skills needed to recruit the next generation of artists, designers, and creative thinkers.
Course Format:
9 Live Virtual Sessions, one per month September-June. Designed to align with the responsibilities of each portion of the admissions cycle, each session will review current challenges and preparation for the next month. Courses are taught by a former Director and also include a different current/former Director/VP from a different art and design institution in each session.
Participants who complete all 9 sessions will receive one complimentary individual advising session with course leader or any session guest after the completion of the course to assist in developing their 2027-28 (arranged individually prior to August 1, 2026).
Course Dates: Coming Soon
Building a Research Culture: Developing a Research Curriculum with Existing Resources
Coming Soon:
Many institutions recognize the value of research but struggle to know where to begin. Research is often concentrated in a few programs, inconsistently defined across disciplines, or dependent on individual faculty champions. At the same time, institutions face increasing pressure to improve student outcomes, demonstrate impact, support accreditation, strengthen funding opportunities, and prepare graduates for a rapidly changing world.
This course helps colleges develop a coherent, scaffolded research curriculum using existing faculty expertise, courses, and institutional structures. Rather than importing a traditional research university model, participants will learn how to build a research framework that reflects their own mission, disciplinary strengths, and available resources.
Participants will leave with a customized institutional roadmap for integrating research across the curriculum.