OWHE Handbook - What You Need to Know About The ACE Network

From ACEwiki

What you need to know about the ACE Network

History of the ACE Network

With a grant from the Carnegie Corporation in 1977, the Office of Women (OWHE) started the ACE National Identification Program (NIP), which, 25 years later, is the ACE Network. The purpose of ACE/NIP, broadly stated, was to address the needs and issues relating to women leadership in higher education—needs and issues that had been identified during the early years of the Office through its meetings with women faculty and administrators throughout the U.S. It is a mission that is still relevant today, and one that is supported by ACE Networks across the nation.

In 1977, California, New York, and Florida became the first states to create an ACE National Identification Program. Within a year, they were joined by Wisconsin, Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. New Jersey followed shortly thereafter. Within the next five years, the ACE Network became a state-based, national program.

The initial grant proposed creating state planning committees in each state with representation reflecting the state’s higher education structure. A woman holding a senior-level administrative position would lead the planning committee as the state coordinator. Working with a panel of advisors of men and women leaders within the state, the planning committee and state coordinator would create effective strategies to identify and advance women into senior leadership positions within the state’s colleges and universities. Over time, the state networks have developed organizational structures and initiatives that best fit the structure of higher education within the particular state. Nonetheless, the structure of a planning board, a state coordinator, institutional representatives, and support of college presidents remains the hallmark of the ACE Network. The state networks are linked to one another through their connection with OWHE and a national executive board, established in 1991 to serve as both mentors to the state coordinators and advisors to support OWHE staff in working with the states. For thirty-five years, the state networks have retained a shared vision, common purpose, and mutual commitment to advancing women’s leadership in higher education.

During the past 35 years, the individual state networks have developed a variety of effective programs and initiatives, responsive to the needs of women in their states. Statewide or regional conferences are annual events in many states, providing professional development and networking opportunities for women at all levels in higher education administration. Some state networks have created their own versions of the OWHE national forums for mid- to senior-level women leaders, providing an opportunity to identify and develop emerging women leaders. Many states present awards to women leaders, enhancing public awareness of their contributions. Several states have sponsored women student leadership conferences, and others include women students in meetings and award programs. Receptions for women legislators, women college presidents, and women board members are other ways that the state networks have sought to advance women’s leadership. Similarly, some states have targeted specific audiences—deans, department chairs, and vice-presidents—with workshops and seminars. Many states have followed OWHE’s example by partnering with other women’s organizations to collaborate in meeting shared goals.

In 1995, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the ACE Network, Donna Shavlik and Judy Touchton wrote, “It is a rare privilege to be able to look back over two decades and to say, truthfully and with pride, ‘This is an idea that has worked.’” Their words are timeless, as state networks continue to enhance their support for women in college and university administration.

Structure of the ACE Network

In 1977, OWHE created what has become the ACE Network, with state planning boards and state coordinators throughout the nation, in order to build the infrastructure needed to identify, develop, encourage, advance, link, and support women in higher education administrative careers. Although most states have a single state coordinator, some have co-coordinators, and some large states are divided into two regions, each with a state coordinator and planning board. In 1991, OWHE established the Executive Board of the ACE Network to serve as advisors to the Office and as liaisons to state coordinators. Today, the Executive Board uses geographic locations to divide mentoring responsibilities for individual state networks among its members. The Chair of the Executive Board, the primary liaison between OWHE and the Board, works directly with the Associate Director and Director of OWHE. State coordinators and the Executive Board are also advised by college and university presidents who have agreed to serve as Presidential Sponsors for specific states.

Roles and Expectations of the Executive Board

The ACE Network Executive Board supports a national system of state networks for women in higher education by serving as liaisons to state planning boards; mentoring state coordinators; and advising OWHE on issues relating to identifying, developing, encouraging, advancing, leading, and supporting women in higher education administrative careers. The Executive Board nominates women to serve as state coordinators and may suggest presidential sponsors. Members of the board nominate women to OWHE to participate in national and regional leadership forums and to assume senior level positions in higher education administration. Board members have a group of states for which they serve as liaisons. When needed, they provide primary leadership for developing or strengthening state planning boards and networks.

Expectations of the ACE Network Executive Board members revolve around the state networks and the mission of OWHE:

Identify

• Identify and nominate state coordinators for state networks.
• Identify state networks that need extra support and assistance in maintaining their effectiveness.
• Keep OWHE informed about what is happening in each state for which the board member serves as liaison.
• Identify the kinds of information that would be helpful to states and provide that information to OWHE.
• Identify core issues affecting all states and make recommendations for action as appropriate.
• Identify and share information about promising practices that meet the needs of women in the states.
• Nominate individuals and organizations to be honored or thanked by the ACE Network and OWHE.
• Nominate women to provide leadership on the ACE Network Executive Board and suggest Presidential Sponsors.

Develop

• Assist OWHE in developing an annual leadership program for state coordinators.
• Prepare and lead presentations and workshops at conferences and other programs for women in higher education at the state or national level.
• Mentor state coordinators and members of state planning committees.
• Assist state planning committees in developing organizational strategies to meet the needs of the state and ensure continuing leadership of the state network.
• Assist state coordinators with developing communication and media publicity and public relations plans.

Encourage

• Encourage state coordinators to attend the annual state coordinators conference.
• Assist in recruiting Institutional Representatives.
• Offer moral support to emerging leaders in their next steps.

Advance

• Collect vitas of women to be nominated for senior level positions, sending the vitas to OWHE.
• Nominate state coordinators and other senior level women for national and regional leadership forums.
• Nominate women for senior level positions in higher education.
• Recommend women for participation on statewide committees.

Link

• Connect coordinators to one another, to OWHE, and to Institutional Representatives.
• Participate in conference calls, board meetings, and retreats of the ACE Network Executive Board.

Support

• Inform states of ACE and OWHE priorities and initiatives.
• Inform states on issues regarding women in higher education.
• Celebrate women’s leadership in higher education through at least one annual event, held in conjunction with the ACE Annual Meeting and/or state coordinators conference.
• Prepare op-ed pieces on issues related to women in higher education for release to the media, with ACE approval and coordination.

Roles and Expectations of Presidential Sponsors

Together, the Board and OWHE have revitalized this network of college and university presidents; each state should have at least one president to serve as an advisor and mentor to the state coordinator and state planning committee.

The ACE Network presidential sponsor should:

Identify

• Identify and nominate state coordinators for state networks.
• Nominate individuals and organizations to be honored or thanked by the ACE Network and OWHE.
• Nominate women to provide leadership on the ACE Network Executive Board and to be presidential sponsors.

Develop

• Prepare and lead presentations and workshops at conferences and other programs for women in higher education at the state or national level.
• Mentor state coordinators and members of state planning committees.
• Assist state planning committees in developing organizational strategies to meet the needs of the state and ensure continuing leadership of the state network.
• Assist state coordinators with developing communication and media publicity and public relations plans.

Encourage

• Provide moral and, where possible, staff, time, and funding support to your ACE Network for worthy projects.
• Demonstrate the value of the work done by the Coordinator and Planning Committee by publicly citing their work where appropriate.

Advance

• Collect vitas of women ready for senior level positions, sending the vitas to OWHE.
• Nominate state coordinators and other senior level women for national and regional leadership forums.
• Nominate women for senior level positions in higher education.
• Recommend women for participation on statewide committees.

Link

• When possible, arrange to introduce the state coordinator to other women in higher education, presidents, politicians, and community and corporate leaders.

Support

• Inform states on issues regarding women in higher education.
• Help state coordinators and state planning committees in identifying and securing resources necessary to sustain the state network and its initiatives.

No presidential sponsor is expected to accomplish all items in these areas. A presidential sponsor should select from the various ideas presented under each heading or develop other strategies that meet specific needs of women in higher education within her/his state.

Roles and Expectations of State Coordinators

The State Coordinator is the key leader of the ACE Network in her respective state. She chairs the state planning committee and serves as the principal liaison among the ACE Network in her state, Institutional Representatives, OWHE, and the members of the Executive Board of the ACE Network.

Selection as state coordinator is based on the coordinator’s previous administrative experience as well as her clear commitment to women’s issues in higher education. (See Succession Planning in What You Need to Know to Organize a State Network, Section V). Most often, the coordinator has served over a period of years as a member of the state planning committee and has been nominated for this position by the members of the state planning committee. Members of the Executive Board or one of the state’s presidential sponsors may also nominate women to serve as state coordinator.

A nomination or nominations to fill the position of state coordinator will be forwarded to the Chair of the Executive Board. She will review and assess the nomination(s), forwarding one or more to OWHE along with her recommendations. The Director of OWHE will make the formal appointment of a state coordinator. In addition, the Director of OWHE will write the college or university president of the campus on which the woman serves, acknowledging the honor and outlining the responsibilities of the state coordinator’s position.

The state coordinator is expected to work closely with OWHE and the members of the Executive Board to lead and support the vision and programs of the ACE Network and OWHE. In order to fulfill the expectations of this role, it is critical that the state coordinator plan to attend the annual meeting of the state coordinators. This two-day seminar is developed and implemented by OWHE and the Executive Board members and held in conjunction with the annual meeting of ACE. The Conference is vital to the achievement of the goals of OWHE and the ACE Network and must receive a high priority in the coordinator’s strategic plan for the advancement of women in her state.

Every state coordinator must turn in a year-end report by June 1st.

The state coordinator may be expected to:

Identify

• In collaboration with the members of the state planning committee, identify, nominate, and recruit members to the state planning committee. Develop a succession plan for assuring that the state planning committee remains strong and vital.
• In collaboration with the members of the state planning committee, identify and recommend women to serve as institutional representatives at each institution in the state.
• Identify key women in senior administrative positions in the state and seek their involvement and support in the work of the state network.
• Identify and nominate women for senior administrative positions and facilitate nomination of women ready for college presidencies and other senior-level positions.

Develop

• Identify and nominate state coordinators for state networks.
• Sponsor annual state and/or regional conferences that bring together women administrators and women in higher education interested in and/or aspiring to administrative roles or provide other professional development opportunities that support women’s leadership development in the state.
• Invite key players in higher education in the state to participate in and/or lead sessions at the annual conference.
• Develop connections with women on college and university governing boards.
• Develop connections with women in positions of leadership in state and local government.
• Disseminate information throughout the state regarding professional development activities and programs initiated by ACE, OWHE, and the ACE Network.

Encourage

• Encourage all women in all institutions of higher education in her state to become ACE Network participants and supporters.

Advance

• Encourage women to apply for top-level positions.
• Encourage search committees for administrative positions to ensure fair and sound practices in finding and supporting women candidates.
• Advocate for women at all levels of higher education—students, support staff, faculty, and junior administrators.

Link

• Foster all possible means of connecting and communicating between the women of her state in higher education and their peers as well as between women academics and women civic, political, and corporate leaders.

Support

• Provide creative leadership for the work of the state planning committee and strong support for each of the members of the state planning committee.
• Provide support and recognition for the Institutional Representatives throughout the state and for the campus networks that may be developed at each institution.
• Communicate on a regular basis with OWHE, the Chair of the Executive Board, and the regional liaison member of the Executive Board with whom she is partnered.
• Publish a state newsletter that communicates key information regarding women’s issues and network activities in the state.
• Meet with college presidents within the state.
• Support women throughout the search and selection process.
• Target barriers to women’s advancement and develop services and supports to address these barriers.

No state coordinator is expected to accomplish all items in these areas. A state coordinator should select from the various ideas presented under each strategy or develop other strategies that meet specific needs of women in higher education within her state.

Roles and Expectations of the State Planning Committee

The state coordinator and the members of the state planning committee form the key leadership for the ACE Network at the state level. Each state coordinator and state planning committee is linked to the ACE Network’s Executive Board through a member of the Executive Board who serves as a regional liaison. In addition, the Chair of the Executive Board and the Director, and the Associate Director, OWHE, communicate on a regular basis with the state coordinator and, through her, to the planning committee.

The state planning committee should be composed of a variety of women administrators from throughout the state and should represent the diversity of positions held by women in the state. The geography of the state, the many types of women administrators working in the state, and representation of women of color should be among the criteria considered as selections and appointments are made.

Basic expectations of the members of the state planning committee are to:

Identify

• Identify a strong network of institutional representatives and establish strong connections with these institutional representatives across the state.
• Serve as a state repository for the information regarding women administrators that has been collected by the institutional representatives at each campus.
• Establish connections with all women presidents in the state.
• Provide statewide leadership for the identification of women who aspire to leadership roles in higher education.

Develop

• Develop strategies, initiatives, programs, and statewide or regional meetings that focus on women’s leadership development in the state and provide opportunities for women in higher education throughout the state to develop a network that provides mentoring and professional development activities for senior women, new administrators, and women aspiring to administrative positions.
• Provide information on and encourage participation in national women’s leadership development programs sponsored by ACE (e.g., OWHE National and Regional Leadership Forums, the ACE Fellows Program) and programs sponsored by other organizations.
• Build strong connections between and among women administrators in order that communication links are frequent and regular.
• Develop plans that enable the state coordinator or her representative to participate in the annual state coordinator’s conference sponsored by the Executive Board and OWHE.
• Continue to monitor campus climate(s) for women and persons of color throughout the state.

Encourage

• Encourage women to apply for senior-level positions.
• Make certain your state coordinator knows she is not expected to accomplish projects single-handedly, that you will provide moral support and practical assistance.

Advance

• Nominate women for administrative positions.
• Create a leadership succession plan for the position of state coordinator and for the members of the state planning committee.
• Ensure that the state coordinator and the members of the state planning committee stay in close communication with the Executive Board and OWHE.

Link

• Make every effort to recruit an Institutional Representative from each institution of higher education in your state.
• Encourage the Institutional Representatives to pass along information about the Network and advancement opportunities to all women on their campus.
• Use whatever connections you have to connect the Network to women leaders in the civic, corporate, and political arenas.

Support

• As appropriate, support and sustain women in administrative positions throughout the state.
• Provide visibility throughout the state for the discussion of issues that continue to hinder women from attaining their full leadership potential as administrators in higher education.
• Involve women and men at the state level who influence and shape educational policy.

No state planning committee is expected to accomplish all items in these areas. The state planning committee should select from the various ideas presented under each strategy or develop other strategies that meet specific needs of women in higher education within the state.

Roles and Expectations of Institutional Representatives

The Institutional Representative (IR) is a key person in the development and implementation of the strategic plans of the ACE Network in each state. Ideally, each institution of higher education in the state will appoint an IR to represent and serve as an advocate for the interests of women’s leadership development and advancement in higher education at her institution.

The president of the institution usually appoints the IR to her role. Often, the state coordinator or a member of the state planning committee makes a recommendation to the president on behalf of the ACE Network. The IR’s appointment recognizes the critical role she has already played at her institution with regard to the identification and development of women’s leadership issues on her campus and signals the institution’s support for the advancement of women into key leadership positions in higher education. The IR works in close collaboration with the state coordinator and the members of the state planning committee and serves as a liaison between the women at her institution and the members of the state planning committee, the Executive Board, and OWHE.

Women fulfilling this role serve as catalysts for innovation among women in higher education and as communication links between and among women administrators, women aspiring to leadership roles in post-secondary educational environments, and ACE leaders committed to the furtherance of women’s roles in higher education leadership. When implementing activities planned in consultation with the ACE Network and OWHE, the IR represents these groups and ACE. The institutional representative may wish to appoint a committee of women to work with her on her campus.

Basic expectations of the institutional representative will be to:

Identify

• Identify all women in key leadership positions on campus, including women administrators and women who hold significant leadership positions on the faculty, in student services, and in other key departments, such as the business office and the development, advancement and alumni offices.
• Provide information to the State Coordinator about women administrators on the campus, including new appointments, resignations, title changes, vacant leadership positions, etc.
• Establish, when appropriate, linkages between the state network and other campus programs focusing on women.
• Keep the institution’s president informed on a regular basis regarding the agenda and/or programs of OWHE and the ACE Network.
• Build a campus network whereby other women are identified as potential leaders and mentored in their aspirations

Develop

• Assist the state coordinator and the state planning committee in the development and implementation of state workshops and conferences designed to encourage women aspiring to administrative leadership roles.
• Participate as appropriate in local, regional, and state-wide meetings.
• Keep women on campus informed regarding the agenda and/or programs of OWHE and the ACE Network.
• Keep women on campus informed of leadership programs, fellowships, and grants for which they are eligible at both the state and national levels.
• Encourage senior-level women and men to serve as mentors or sponsors to women in middle-level administrative positions or to other women who have demonstrated potential for administrative responsibilities.

Encourage

• Assist the women on campus in relaying their suggestions and concerns to an appropriate institutional, state, or national body.
• Establish support groups and mentoring opportunities for tenure-track women.
• Urge women on campus to consider their next steps and to take advantage of opportunities.

Advance

• Learn about institutional policies and procedures that identify, prepare, and advance the college or university’s administrators.
• Encourage search committees for administrative positions to follow sound practices in finding and supporting women candidates.
• Nominate women for leadership positions as opportunities arise.

Link

• Create opportunities for campus women at all levels to get to know one another’s interests, ambitions, and talents.
• Take advantage where possible of opportunities for campus women to meet and share ideas and concerns with women from the political, civic, and corporate spheres.

Support

• Urge women to seek appointment to appropriate boards, committees, and professional organizations.
• Publicize formally and informally the accomplishments of women on campus.
• Organize or join roundtables or networks for women administrators on campus.
• Organize events in celebration of women (e.g., Women’s History Month).

No institutional representative is expected to accomplish all items in these areas. An institutional representative should select from the various ideas presented under each strategy or develop other strategies that meet specific needs of women in higher education at her institution.