The Kardia Group

Diana Kardia, Ph.D.

For each potential topic, consider the following:

1. How knowledgeable are faculty about this topic?

• do they know/understand the facts?
• do they appreciate the nuances and complexities?
• do they realize the interconnections between this topic and other areas of department life?

2. What is the current faculty sentiment on this topic?

• have there been other whole group discussions of this topic?
• are there strong divergent views based on the facts?
• are there strong divergent views based on uninformed opinions?
• does a small group of faculty have more clarity on this topic than the group as a whole?
• does the leadership have more information on this topic than the rest of the department?

3. Where are you in the decision process on this topic?

• no decisions need to be made yet (still considering and exploring options)
• a decision is needed now
• a decision has recently been made but we're exploring and understanding the implications
• a decision has been made and now we need to build consensus/reduce resistance
• a decision made awhile ago needs to be reviewed/re-negotiated

4. Are there any recent events that relate to this topic?

• has there been a significant recent experience that increases the salience of this topic?
• will there be significant new information presented at the retreat?

5. In what ways does this topic have a differential impact on the faculty?

• by rank
• by discipline
• by social identity
• by other faculty standing (such as funding levels)
• is there an individual who is more more significantly impacted by this topic than others?

6. What next needs to be accomplished on this topic?

• are there goals that that would be difficult to accomplish in a regular faculty meeting?
• will this topic naturally move forward on current momentum even without the retreat?
• is there someone tasked with this topic (to prepare for the retreat and lead follow up)?