In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, academic leaders at colleges and universities across the United States have faced the nearly impossible challenge of rapidly introducing remote operations. Remote instruction is not new within higher education, but deploying all services and instruction from face-to-face to online in a matter of days comes with underlying challenges. Provosts, deans, associate deans, and department chairs are pressed to make quick decisions about instructional continuity with little time for deliberation. Many leaders feel unsure about these decisions and worry about future implications. Student-centered decision-making has never been more critical than now. Here are five practical strategies for consideration when making decisions about academic affairs during uncertain times.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
