Program & Speakers

We are pleased to announce that Jennifer Lewington will be the host of Stepford Universities! See below of a tentative listing of conference programs sessions, and keynotes, including the following:

Jump to speakers and bios | Jump to daily schedule

Speakers: Jennifer Lewington | Bonnie Patterson Ian Clark | Ellen Hazelkorn | Harvey Weingarten | Mel Schiavelli | Constance Adamson | Hans Vossensteyn

Jennifer Lewington

Jennifer Lewington is an award-winning journalist who has reported on local, national and international issues since 1972. After a 29-year career with The Globe and Mail, which included stints as bureau chief in Washington, DC and Toronto City Hall and as a member of the Ottawa Parliamentary Bureau, she became a freelance writer and editor based in Stratford, Ontario.

In 1984, she was named the Globe's first female foreign correspondent and later was co-winner of a National Newspaper Award for coverage of the Canada-U.S. free trade negotiations. In 1990, she was chosen as a Nieman Fellow, joining 20 journalists from around the world to study for a year at Harvard University.

Currently, she is a Canadian correspondent for the U.S. Chronicle of Higher Education and writes for various publications in Canada.

Her most recent award was a rare citation from Toronto City Council, issued on her retirement from the Globe, for her "thoroughness, accuracy, fairness and transparency in reporting news and features of interest to residents."

In 1993, with Graham Orpwood, she was co-author of a book on education reform in Canada, Overdue Assignment: Taking Responsibility for Canada's Schools. Many of its recommendations have been adopted by school authorities.

Jennifer is married to George Pearson, a freelance editor and founder of the grammar website, www.upwordlymobile.com.

Ian Clark

Ian Clark became Professor at University of Toronto's School of Public Policy and Governance in 2007 after nine years as President of the Council of Ontario Universities. Clark has served on the executive board of the International Monetary Fund and in six different departments in the Government of Canada, including as Deputy Secretary in the Privy Council Office, Deputy Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, and Secretary of the Treasury Board.

Clark chairs the Accreditation Board of the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration, the Departmental Audit Committee for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and Statistics Canada's National Advisory Committee on Postsecondary Education Statistics. He is a member of the board of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, the Canadian Urban Institute and the Ontario Innovation Trust, the Canadian Public Administration Journal, and the Departmental Audit Committee for Health Canada. Clark has a BSc from the University of British Columbia in 1966, a DPhil from Oxford in1969 and an MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School in 1972 and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Victoria in 2008. He is a member of the Order of Canada. In 2009, Clark co-authored with Greg Moran, Michael Skolnik and David Trick, the book Academic Transformation: The Forces Reshaping Higher Education in Ontario. Details on this and other publications can be found at www.ian-clark.ca.

Ellen Hazelkorn

Professor Ellen Hazelkorn is Vice President of Research and Enterprise, and Dean of the Graduate Research School, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, where she also leads the Higher Education Policy Research Unit. She is Consultant to the OECD Programme on Institutional Management of Higher Education, and is also associated with the International Association of Universities. She is a member of the Higher Education Authority (Ireland).

Professor Hazelkorn was a member of review teams for Dutch Higher Education (2010), the OECD review of the state of Victoria, Australia (2009), Catalonia, Spain (2010) and forthcoming for Wroclaw, Poland (2011), and the EUA team reviewing Romanian higher education (2011). She chaired the Teaching Evaluation Exercise, School of Art and Design, Aalto University, Finland (2011). Ellen is a member of Management Board for the Irish National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) and the International Advisory Council of the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS). She was Rapporteur and lead author for the report of the EU Expert Group, Assessing Europe's University-based Research (2010), and a member of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Foresight Working Group (Ireland).

Ellen was awarded a BA (University of Wisconsin, Madison) and PhD (University of Kent, Canterbury). Ellen is Visiting Professor at the Management School, University of Liverpool, and on the Editorial Boards of Higher Education Management and Policy (OECD) and Higher Education Policy (IAU), and the International Editorial Advisory Board, International Journal for Researcher Development (University of Cambridge).

Ellen is an acknowledged expert on university rankings and the impact on higher education and higher education policy, on higher education systems and university strategy, management and leadership of higher education institutions, and research policy and institutional strategy. Ellen is currently co-leader of an ESF/IRCHSS project Measuring the societal impacts of universities' research into arts and the humanities (HERAVALUE), with partners in the Netherlands and Norway. Her research and commentary has been reported by The New York Times, International Herald Tribune, The Economist, the Times Higher Education, U.S. News & World Report, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and others.

Developing Research in New Institutions was published by OECD (2005), and Rankings and the Reshaping of Higher Education: The Battle for World-Class Excellence was published by Palgrave Macmillan (2011).

Harvey Weingarten

Dr. Harvey P. Weingarten became President and CEO of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) on July 1, 2010.

Prior to his role at HEQCO, Harvey Weingarten was President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calgary from 2001 to 2010. When he left that position, the University of Calgary wrote the following about his presidential legacy: “Harvey Weingarten ended his term as the University of Calgary’s seventh president on Dec. 31 2009. He left the university a far better place than when he arrived almost nine years before. Under his leadership, the university increased access, invested in students, recruited world-class faculty and attracted record amounts of research revenue and philanthropic support. There were so many sod-turnings as a result of the billion-dollar capital growth plan he launched that he kept a shovel on hand in his office. A relentless agent of change, he pushed for excellence across campus. Throughout it all, he never lost sight of the goal: do what’s best for students.”

Dr. Weingarten was at McMaster University from 1979 to 2001. He served as a Professor of Psychology, a Department he chaired from 1989-1992, and as a teacher and mentor to many undergraduate and graduate students. His research, supported by federal granting councils, industry and foundations, examined the biological and psychological controls of eating and body weight. At McMaster, Harvey also served as the Dean of Science from 1995 to 1996 and as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) from 1996 to 2001.

Harvey Weingarten holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree from McGill University and a Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree from Yale University.

Dr. Weingarten has served on many boards and councils including the Science, Technology and Innovation Council (STIC) of Canada that advises the federal government on issues related to science, research and development and innovation policy; Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC); Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research; Alberta Ingenuity Fund; Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network; and Shad Valley.

Bonnie M. Patterson

In December 2009, Prof. Bonnie M. Patterson was appointed President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities, after serving as Interim President since September 21, 2009.

Prof. Patterson had served as President of COU from 1995 to 1998 before taking the post of President of Trent University, a position that she held for 11 years. She also served as Dean of Business at Ryerson University (then known as Ryerson Polytechnic Institute), and chaired and taught at its School of Administration and Information Management.

Prof. Patterson served as one of four Canadian university presidents to the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. She has served as Chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada; as a Director on the board of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre for nine years, including two as its Chair; and on the board of directors for the International Consortium on Anti-Virals (ICAV). Currently, she is a member of the Ontario government’s Private Sector Advisory Committee, the Advisory Board for the Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation, and The Roberta Bondar Foundation.

In addition, Prof. Patterson served as the province's representative on the founding board of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and participated in a number of provincial advisory committees including the Biotechnology Commercialization Centre Fund; Health Industries Advisory Committee on Sectoral Strategy Development; and the Centres of Excellence, Ontario Technology Fund. In 2006, she was recognized by the Women's Executive Network with a Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada award in the Trailblazers and Trendsetters category. In 2010 Prof. Patterson was appointed to the Order of Ontario and as a Member of the Order of Canada for her contributions as a leader in postsecondary education.

Mel Schiavelli

Dr. Mel D. Schiavelli became founding president of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in April 2002. A champion of making a science and technology-focused education accessible to traditionally underserved students, Dr. Schiavelli has committed Harrisburg University to increasing the number of students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

He is a charter member of the Manufacturing Institute’s Education Council, where he provides leadership, counsel and research to ensure America’s manufacturing workforce is properly prepared to compete in the global economy. The Manufacturing Institute is the research, education and workforce arm of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

Additionally, he serves as a member of The Early Learning Investment Commission, which secures public investment in early learning by focusing on practices that are educationally, economically and scientifically sound by increasing business, civic and public awareness of the importance of early childhood education.

Dr. Schiavelli’s distinguished career as scientist and academic leader includes serving as provost and professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Delaware (1994-2002). As provost, Dr. Schiavelli served as the University of Delaware’s chief academic officer and provided academic leadership for 10 colleges as well as research, extension programs, graduate studies, continuing education, the library, international programs and several interdisciplinary research centers and academic support units, including admissions and financial aid.

Hans Vossensteyn

Hans Vossensteyn works as the Acting Director, Senior Research Associate and Research Co-ordinator at CHEPS, the Center for Higher Education Policy Studies at the University of Twente in the Netherlands and as a Professor at the MBA-Hochschul- und Wissenschaftsmanagement at the University of Applied Sciences Fachhochschule Osnabrück in Germany.

Since 1991 Hans has participated in research, training and consultancy projects covering a widearray of subjects including: internationalisation, higher education indicators, quantitative and qualitative international comparative analyses. His major research interest is in funding matters, including national allocation models, tuition fee policies, student financial support and the affordability of higher education. He completed his PhD on students’ price-responsiveness in 2005.

Hans has worked as an external advisor on student financing policies at the Dutch Ministry of Education and represented the Netherlands in the Eurydice (European Information Network on Training and Youth) Expert Network on student financing issues. Since 2000, he is a member of the International Advisory Board of the International Comparative Higher Education Finance and Accessibility Project, Co-ordinated by Prof. Bruce D. Johnstone at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Sponsored by the Ford Foundation. From 2005 onwards he is a member of the Advisory board of the MESA Project (Measuring the Effectiveness of Student Aid) of the Educational Policy Institute (EPI) Canada sponsored by the Canada Millennium Scholarships Programme.

Hans is member of the editorial boards of the Dutch/Belgian journal on higher education (Tijdschrift voor Hoger Onderwijs en Management, TH@MA) and of the Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management.

Constance Adamson

Constance Adamson is OCUFA's 29th president and is a Research and Instruction Librarian at Queen’s University. She came to Queen’s in 1992 from positions at the Metro Toronto Reference Library and the accounting firm KPMG. Based in the social sciences and humanities library, she has served on several bargaining teams, as a department head, and President of the Queen’s University Faculty Association. For OCUFA, she has served as a Member-At-Large on the Executive, as the Treasurer, and most recently as Vice-President. Constance received her degree in history from McGill and her MLS from the University of Toronto.

Schedule of Events

Sept 28, 2011	Day 1       (jump to Day 2)
7:00 - 9:30	Registration Light refreshments available
9:15-9:30 9:30-9:45	Opening Remarks Alex Usher President, Higher Education Strategy Associates Welcome Address Jennifer Lewington
9:45-11:15	Armchair Panel 1 Visions of the future: Why North American institutions are changing: the rising importance of differentiation to universities and colleges Description: Differentiation of mission is occurring in all segments of the postsecondary sector, and is a rapidly evolving and highly debated topic. This session introduces the key issues in the debate: What is changing and why do some players think differentiation is problematic, while others see it as inevitable? How are different stakeholders reacting to proposals to support a differentiated postsecondary sector? Are the consequences and opportunities of differentiation that are experienced by Colleges and Polytechnics different from those experienced by Universities? Harvey Weingarten view bio | personal website Constance Adamson view biopersonal website Moderated by Jennifer Lewington view bio
11:15-11:45	Coffee Break
11:45-12:45	Concurrent Session 1 Differentiation in Digital Higher Education Keith Hampson, Founder, Alston Road Group Download presentation (pdf) The rapid expansion of online and blended (“digital”) higher education in North America, and the subsequent proliferation of choices it offers students, is altering the quality of competition between institutions in key markets. Where, once, the decision to offer online programs was itself a sufficient means of establishing a meaningful difference in the market, in an increasing number of market segments, institutions now need to consider the best way to differentiate from other online providers. Few institutions are adequately prepared. This talk provides conference participants with an analysis of the obstacles and opportunities of differentiation in digital higher education. It includes a review of current differentiation tactics employed by traditional and non-traditional institutions, challenges faced by academic leaders seeking to create effective market positions, changing criteria used to determine the value of online education by prospective students, and new and innovative opportunities for differentiation that digital technology can enable. Reframing Humanities Programs for a Knowledge Economy: Learning (and Teaching) as Knowledge Work Thomas Carey, Visiting Senior Scholar, Center for Technology-Enhanced-Knowledge, Research and Innovation, Athabasca University Pierre Zundel, President, University of Sudbury Download presentation (pdf) Reframing Humanities Programs for a Knowledge Economy: Learning (and Teaching) as Knowledge Work. Most humanities programs are designed around a corpus of disciplinary knowledge, within broader goals for student development. In contrast, professional programs focus on work-related capability with a clearly instrumental outcome. Many students would like to have it both ways: to engage with the intellectually broadening subjects of the humanities in ways that demonstrate value to employers. In this session, we will explore the opportunity for a new generation of humanities programs, which incorporate advances in our understanding of “knowledge workers” and frame student learning as examples of, apprenticeship in and preparation for such careers. This has implications for institutional and program differentiation and for faculty teaching as exemplary knowledge work. Service with a Smile, the Soulless Enterprise Margaret Shepherd, Professor, The Royal Military College of Canada (Presentation files not available) Behind the smile is a business like any other, where the bottom-line is the first priority and customer satisfaction is only a tick in the box. This presentation will explore the changing landscape of post-secondary education, and consider specifically the University as a corporation.
12:45-1:45	Lunch Gourmet Catered Lunch, Plenary Ballroom
1:45-3:15	Armchair Panel 2 Incentive structures vs. the market: Can we control the direction of differentiation? Should we? What tools are at our disposal? How have jurisdictions reformed and regulated differentiation in higher education? How does the labour market influence post-secondary education supply? Description: Policymakers, ambitious administrators, and a wide range of interests have attempted to change the post-secondary sector in a variety of ways. What tools are available to “steer the iceberg”? Why have some jurisdictions decided to change the types of institutions that are able offer degrees? Can expansion of degree granting authority, shifting sequencing and laddering, or other changes affect postsecondary education for the better? Is it possible to initiate widespread change of any kind without alienating some stakeholders? Ian Clark    view bio | personal website Bonnie Patterson view bio | personal website Hans Vossensteyn Moderated by Jennifer Lewington view bio
3:15 - 3:45	Day 1 closing address
4:30 - 7:30	Stepford U Homecoming Reception additional details
6:30 - 8:30	Leaders' Circle Dinner and reception additional details

Sept 29, 2011	Day 2       (jump to Day 1)
7:00 - 9:30	Registration Light refreshments available
9:15-9:45	Day 2 Welcome Alex Usher Jennifer Lewington view bio
9:45-11:15	Armchair Panel 3 Research, vocations, or something completely different: how polytechnics, colleges, and universities are finding new ways to succeed Description: Institutions across the world are experimenting with unique missions, program delivery mechanisms, internal policies, and different ways of meeting needs while attracting students. Does the emphasis on research-intensive imply fundamental change to an institution’s mandate? Are alternative missions available for colleges and polytechnic institutions? Can a center of excellence exist outside traditional structures? In this session, speakers will explore the many unique institutions experiments that have chosen to reshape communities of learners and instructors – asking how, when, and if “alternative” missions can succeed. Ellen Hazelkorn view bio | personal website Mel Schiavelli view bio | personal website Moderated by Jennifer Lewington view bio
11:15-11:45	Coffee Break
11:45-12:45	Concurrent Session 2 The Transformation of Cariboo College to Thompson Rivers University Dr. Zena A. Seldon, Thompson Rivers University Download presentation (pdf) To extend access baccalaureate degrees to regions beyond commuting distance from existing degree granting institutions, in 1989 the BC government approached several colleges seeking interest in being mentored by a host university while offering their degrees. Cariboo College took them up on this offer. This presentation reviews the transformation of Cariboo College into Thompson Rivers University (TRU), including a description of how different governments attempted to position the institution in the post-secondary landscape. Today TRU continues the mandate of offering trades and technology programs as well as undergraduate and some Masters degrees. Are we on the road to Stepfordization? Are Academic Libraries Becoming Undifferentiated and Less Valuable to the Higher Education System? Michael Ridley, Chief Information Officer and Head Librarian, University of Guelph Download presentation (pdf) As academic library collections converge because of the collaborative purchasing of electronic content, are we experiencing a democratization of access to information or a diminishment of the uniqueness and depth of scholarly resources? Libraries are challenged to provide both comprehensive collections and to support unique institutional missions. The resulting strategies illustrate how academic libraries have balanced these demands and become models of 21st century organizations. Changing Arrangements in Ontario’s Colleges: Pathways to Isomorphism or Differentiation? Dr. Anne Caroline Charles, Professor, Conestoga College ITAL Download presentation (pdf) Policy changes over the last two decades have dramatically changed the structure of the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAATs) system. This presentation provides an overview of recent policy changes and investigates how these policies have supported or restricted differentiation of the CAATs system. What effects have been generated by The Postsecondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000, and by The Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002? What lessons can be learned from these processes to support future policy reforms?
12:45-1:45	Lunch Gourmet Catered Lunch, Plenary Ballroom
1:45-3:15	Plenary Round-Table Discussion
3:15 - 3:30	Closing Address