Scott Beard Leadership Circle

2025
2024
2023
2022
2021

Beard Leadership Circle: Change Management for Student Success

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 2026 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 2026?
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 2026?
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 2026 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 2026
The Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges invites your campus to participate in the sixth Beard Leadership Circle. The 2026 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 2026 and culminates with in-person workshops held at Georgia College & State University from July 21-23, 2026.
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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 2026), including the mandatory in-person session in Georgia from July 21-23, 2026.
  • 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 in December 2025.
  • Nominations must be received by the COPLAC Office before Sunday, February 15, 2026.
What to expect from BLC 2026
Conducted virtually during Spring 2026 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 2026 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 26-27 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 three 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 2026?
Timeline for Participants

February 16, 2026 – Academic and Student Affairs nominations close
Late February – notification of acceptance to the 2026 BLC cohort and invitation to register
Mid-April – a 90-minute virtual session to meet the facilitators, cohort peers, and overview of the BLC curriculum
July 21-23, 2026 – an intensive, in-person, three-day program at Georgia College & State University, a COPLAC campus. Participation at this gathering is mandatory. In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded.
Where is BLC 2026?
The setting for the three-day July, in-person component of the Beard Leadership Circle is at Georgia College & State University in lovely Milledgeville, GA. Campus housing, in Georgia College’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 2026 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 2026 cohort are finalized.

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 Georgia 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 2026.
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 and Staff
  • Angela Criscoe (Georgia College & State University)
  • Holly Joseph (The Evergreen State College)
  • Karen Moranski (San Francisco Bay Region Network)
  • Niti Pandey (Eastern Connecticut State University)
  • Jeannette Smith (Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts)
  • Claire Bailey (COPLAC)
  • Jeanine Went (COPLAC)
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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2026 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 Atlanta airport?
Once your travel is booked, please share your itinerary with   bailey@coplac.org. A shuttle van will run between ATL and Milledgeville twice on the arrival day (7/20/26) and the departure day (7/24/26). The COPLAC office will facilitate shuttle runs.
What does the schedule look like?
The group will meet virtually once in spring 2026 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 Milledgeville. 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 2025’s event here to get an idea of what to expect, but please note that 2026 will also include a track for Student Affairs professionals. ‍
How accessible are your campus and facilities?
Distances at Georgia College are easily walkable. We can provide rides from the residence hall to the meeting areas if needed. The residence hall does have an elevator, and ground floor rooms are available upon request.
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. (Campus is also walking distance from a CVS.) 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?
On-campus parking information will be provided closer to the July event.
What if I need to cancel?
We do accept cancellations and can issue partial refunds up to 7 days (7/13/26) 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 Milledgeville?
Yes: Wednesday night will be dinner on-your-own in town where there are restaurants easily walkable from campus. If you do want to extend your visit to Milledgeville or Georgia we are not able to offer additional nights in the residence hall or provide shuttle service to the Atlanta 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 Milledgeville 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: Georgia in July is hot, but buildings are very air conditioned! 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. (Campus is also walking distance from a CVS.)