Thinking institutionally is one of the most important decisions that a leader can make if his goal is to move on the corporate hierarchical ladder, nationwide. The hires that we make, the funds that we spend, the decisions than we ultimately propose must advance our institutions forward for the betterment of the system and our careers.

The moment that we are given the liberty and authority to make long lasting recommendations about a college or university, we must critically and strategically think about how our decisions will be impacting the institution in the future.

At Claflin University where I serve as the Interim Department Chair, I always make decisions for the advancement of the department, school, and university. When I started my administrative assignment in August of 2022, our department’s facilities were highly disfuncional, inoperative and without any use. Students were not producing media artifacts; Morale was low, and we were dying as a department. Our enrollment was 58. Our social media presence was not in alignment with the reputation of our university. The boat was sinking, as far as I was concerned.

Terminal circumstances call for drastic changing measures… I must add.

I have no option but to introduce a different way of thinking department’s stakeholders, albeit being an untenured faculty member in an interim position, not an easy task to do.

I took the initiative to immediately fix our facilities for students to be able to start producing media content, with the intent of putting our department on the map in the social realm. It was risky but it worked!

Which chance would we have as a department (and university wanting to raise enrollment) if the campus and local community couldn’t see our media productions in free media, I felt. Long story short, we are back in business, thank goodness. Our stakeholders know who we are now.

It’s been a little over a year since I because interim, many aspects of our department have changed, e.g., facilities, enrollment, retention, and now we are working on curriculum revisions. It’s the right thing to do to take care of the units that we manage and advance its mission of excellence in both micro and macro levels.

Now, many students are celebrating which is a great feeling. What is my next step? Do a data driven strategic plan for the unit, in alignment with the goals and value proposition of the school and university, set by the President. We are going to transform our curriculum and move Claflin Mass Communications forward.

It’s my job and will be done.