Scott Beard Leadership Circle

2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021

Beard Leadership Circle: Change Management for Student Success

July 20-22, 2027
The Evergreen State College

The Beard Leadership Circle is tailored to the unique needs of leaders at public liberal arts colleges. The BLC expands strategic skills, trust, and peer networks to help COPLAC professionals work effectively with their institutional missions, lead their units, and support student and faculty success.
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The 2027 program will include a track for Student Affairs and a track for Academic Affairs, with some shared sessions of common interest. It is designed to promote interdivisional collaboration and to strengthen cross-campus networks to the benefit of students, both divisions, and the health of the institution as a whole. Campuses are encouraged to send representatives from both Student and Academic Affairs.

Who should participate in BLC 2027?
Early- to mid-career academic department/division chairs in Academic Affairs and Student Affairs leaders with five to eight years of experience who want to advance their leadership skills and are committed to participating in the BLC activities.
Why participate in BLC 2027?
The Beard Leadership Circle is an investment in the health of your institution at a time when we all face new challenges, current realities like state funding, enrollment challenges, changing student demographics, and ongoing demands on students, faculty, staff, administrators, and programs. 

COPLAC institutions have a different set of contexts for leadership than any other sector of American higher education. Our size and mission often separate us from larger public institutions, and our public focus, governance structure, and funding models often separate us from similarly sized private institutions. COPLAC campuses face similar needs and challenges in identifying, developing, and recruiting leaders who can make a compelling case for the public liberal arts mission.

BLC 2027 will address the following:
  • Reflecting on your leadership journey and identity
  • Gaining deeper exposure to a range of issues, approaches, contexts, challenges, and successes
  • Creating collaborative learning communities
  • Adapting and adopting practices that advance collaborative action

And will specifically focus on these topics and leadership skills:

Administrative Topics that Lead to Student Success Administrative Skills
Retention and Student Success Managing Change- Organizing Framework of BLC
Curricular and Co-Curricular Programming: Trends and Data-Driven Decision-Making for Student Success Effective Delegation and Collaboration
Navigating Policies and Federal and State Guidelines Working within Institutional Constraints
Workload and Life/Work Balance Administering with Emotional Intelligence
Assessing Organizational Structures for Student Success, including Reorganization Leading Colleagues: Accountability and Boundaries
Engaging and Mentoring Faculty and Staff The Art of Saying No
Strategic Visioning and Planning Fundraising Basics for Emerging Leaders
Crisis Management Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Onboarding New Employees Interdivisional Cooperation
What is the nomination process for BLC 2027
The Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges invites your campus to participate in the seventh Beard Leadership Circle. The 2027 iteration will work with early- to mid-career academic department/division chairs in Academic Affairs and Student Affairs leaders with five to eight years of experience and features a virtual introduction in spring 2027 and culminates with in-person workshops held at The Evergreen State College from July 20-22, 2027.
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    Nomination Process & Applicant Requirements:
  • CAOs should discuss the Beard Leadership Circle with interested current or prospective department/division chairs; Senior Student Affairs Officers should do the same with leaders in their division. Nominees should be dreamers and doers, demonstrate a clear interest in leadership, and be totally committed to participating in the BLC activities (see below: What to expect from BLC 2027), including the mandatory in-person session in Olympia, WA from July 20-22, 2027.
  • CAOs and Senior Student Affairs Officers may nominate up to three participants per division.
  • The COPLAC Office will send a nomination link to COPLAC CAOs and CSAOs in December 2026.
  • Nominations must be received by the COPLAC Office before February 15, 2027.
What to expect from BLC 2027
Conducted virtually during Spring 2027 and in-person in July, our format of intensive, problem-based workshops allows teams or individuals from institutions to focus on crucial issues and skills. 

Senior COPLAC administrators from Academic and Student Affairs will facilitate workshop sessions and mentor attendees, encouraging “communities of practice” to create a network for leadership within a public liberal arts context. 
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The July 2027 in-person gathering features workshops and three case studies, in which participants will analyze campus scenarios and develop action plans, present their perspectives on the issues raised, and receive feedback from mentors and peers. There will also be presentations on skills and facilitated discussions on topics listed above. The schedule will include tracks for Academic and Student Affairs that overlap for sessions of common interest.

After the July in-person event, the Beard Leadership Circle will continue throughout AY 27-28 with optional virtual meetings that can continue to build relationships and foster the sharing of ideas and models.
Case Study Discussions
At the center of the BLC curriculum are small group discussions of two case studies that explore issues relevant to leading – not just managing – a unit at a public liberal arts college. These case studies focus on issues related to change management for student success.
When is BLC 2027?
Timeline for Participants

February 15, 2027 – Academic and Student Affairs nominations close
Late February – notification of acceptance to the 2027 BLC cohort and invitation to register
June 2027 – a 90-minute virtual session to meet the facilitators and cohort peers, and receive an overview of the BLC curriculum
July 20-22, 2027 – an intensive, in-person, three-day program at The Evergreen State College, The Evergreen State College, a COPLAC campus. Participation at this gathering is mandatory. In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded.
Where is BLC 2027?
The setting for the three-day July, in-person component of the Beard Leadership Circle is at The Evrgreen State College in lovely Olympia, WA. Campus housing, in Evergreen’s residential facilities, will be available to reduce costs and create a sense of community. Either before or after the Beard Leadership Circle, participants are welcome to extend their stays in the area.
How much does BLC 2027 cost?
COPLAC has worked hard to keep registration fees and other costs affordable. We know your campus faces tough choices about where it spends money and develops campus leadership. Costs for the 2027 program are still being finalized, but for planning purposes please see the 2026 fees below.

Early Registration Fee (February 1 - 28, 2026)*
  • $1650 without housing, but including meals for the three-day gathering.
  • $1900 with on-campus housing (4 nights) and meals for the three-day gathering.
Standard Registration Fee (March 1 - 31, 2026)*
  • $2050 without housing, but including meals for the three-day gathering.
  • $2300 with on-campus housing (4 nights) and meals for the three-day gathering.
*The fees listed are for institutional members of COPLAC. For Unit or Individual member pricing, please contact at info@coplac.org. Registration closes on Tuesday, March 31.

Participants’ travel is not included in the registration fees. However, we offer six (6) $600 Travel Scholarships to help cover travel costs to the in-person workshop in Washington state for participants whose institutions are struggling financially. CAOs or VC/VPSAs for nominated participants should contact the COPLAC Office to apply for a travel scholarship by 1 March 2027.
Why is it called the Beard Leadership Circle?
COPLAC named the Leadership Circle after Dr. Scott Beard, a provost at Shepherd University.  Before his untimely death in 2021, Scott served COPLAC as an At-Large Member of the Executive Committee, as the Chair of the working group that developed the Online Course Sharing Guidelines and registration form, as a member of the Membership Committee, and as an active member of the Leadership Circle planning group. In all these roles, Scott generously shared his significant intelligence, organizational skills, and administrative acumen. Just as importantly, COPLAC benefited from his humor, his spontaneous singing, his collegiality, and his commitment to our mission to promote affordable, public access to a liberal arts based education. 

This initiative has been renamed the Scott Beard Leadership Circle to honor Scott’s contributing his time in planning, writing case studies, and mentoring deans, associate deans, associate provosts.
Meet the BLC Facilitators
2026 Cohort
Past BLC Cohorts
Past BLC Cohorts by YearHere’s the link (read only)
‍Past BLC Cohorts by InstitutionHere’s the link (read only)
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2027 Frequently asked questions

How do I sign up for this?
Participants must be nominated by their Chief Academic Officer or Senior Student Affairs Officer. If you are interested in attending, please contact your division head.
How do I get to campus from the Seattle airport?
More information about travel to campus will be shared by the COPLAC office in Spring 2027.
What does the schedule look like?
The group will meet virtually once in spring 2027 and in person for the three-day workshop in July. At the workshop, there will be a mix of plenary and smaller breakout sessions, with one evening providing a chance to explore Olympia. A final schedule will be shared ahead of time! Opportunities for continued virtual conversations will continue throughout the following academic year. See the schedule for 2026’s event here to get an idea of what to expect. ‍
How accessible are your campus and facilities?
More information to come!
What is the residence hall like?
Accommodation will be a single room with a private bathroom. Linens/towels/pillows are provided, but other amenities that a hotel might offer are not. Bring your own toiletries, alarm clock, hair dryer, etc. The residence hall does have an elevator, and ground floor rooms are available upon request.
What meals are provided?
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and breaks on Tuesday; breakfast, lunch, and breaks on Wednesday; and breakfast, lunch, dinner, and breaks on Thursday. Dinner is on your own Monday while everyone is traveling and settling in. Wednesday will have facilitated (optional) off-campus dinner circles at participants' expense. Friday breakfast is on your own while traveling.
Do I need to prepare for the Beard Leadership Circle?
Participants will be asked to respond to several Case Studies and read others' responses before discussing during the summer gathering.
Where can I park on campus?
There is ample parking in lots and on the street near the residence hall. Parking passes are not required.
What if I need to cancel?
We do accept cancellations and can issue partial refunds up to 7 days (7/12/27) in advance of the event. If your institution nominated more than one person, you can also transfer your registration to the next nominee from your campus without any additional fee.
Will I have time to explore Olympia?
Yes: Wednesday night will be dinner on-your-own in town in (optional) facilitated dinner circles. If you do want to extend your visit to Olympia or Washington we are not able to offer additional nights in the residence hall or provide transportation assistance to the Seattle airport outside of the scheduled travel days.
Which nights have lodging provided?
Your stay in the residence hall will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. If you would like to extend your stay in Olympia on either end of the program, you will need to find other accommodation. 
What should I pack?
Dress for the Leadership Circle is casual, so no need to overpack. Light layers are suggested. Lodging is in a residence hall and linens/towels/pillows are provided, but other amenities that a hotel might offer are not. Bring your own toiletries, alarm clock, hair dryer, etc. Participants will be viewing, sharing, and creating presentations: please bring a tablet or laptop.