Abstract
Session presented on Saturday, March 18, 2017: A healthy work environment can be summed up in a single word - communication. There are multiple lines of communication pathways within the virtual academic environment of the School of Advanced Studies at the University of Phoenix. These pathways foster unique opportunities for student and faculty growth and development. Free of the restraints of traditional gatekeeping and keepers, communication is fostered through multiple venues. Nursing and non-nursing faculty have direct access to each other and administration through our University-based Leadership Journal, faculty meetings offered on the degree program level, the School level, and the University level, and our unique PhoenixConnect portal. Of course, email, phone and video calling are also utilized as effective means of communication when a more 'direct' approach may be appropriate, such as for faculty mentoring (Smith, 2015). Through PhoenixConnect, our University-based blogging system, ongoing discussions are available to students, faculty, and administrators according to their interests and needs. Open interdisciplinary forums along with 'by invitation only' forums provide opportunities to connect with others who share the same interests, and facilitate the exchange of information and support on multiple levels (Breen, 2013; Hollyhead, Edwards, & Holt, 2012; Ko & Kuo, 2009; Schwartz, Wiley, & Kaplan, 2016). Requirements for 'classroom' teaching are incorporated into all administrative contracts, and all administrators who meet the criteria for serving on doctoral committees are encouraged to participate as either a committee member or dissertation chairperson. Lead Faculty Area Chairs (LFACs), who serve as the 'first line of administration' conduct program content meetings for faculty where information is integrated with lively discussion and policy updates, and scholarly exchanges are supported. The LFACs share the insights generated in the meetings with higher level administrators who utilize the feedback to strengthen the organizational vision and mission (Erskine, 2009). The key to our positive work environment is the multiple opportunities for communication. All day, every day, students, faculty, and administrators from around the world come together for the social and scholarly exchanges that are at the core of our healthy, productive academic environment at the University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies. Learning Objectives: The learner will identify two strategies that can be used to promote engagement and inclusion in a healthy virtual work environment. The learner will identify two communication strategies that can be used to promote a healthy virtual work environment.
Sigma Membership
Omicron Delta
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
VIrtual Communication, Virtual Work Environment, Virtual Academic Environment
Recommended Citation
Orshan, Susan A.; Miller, Marilyn; and Brooks, Mirella, "'Flying' the Phoenix Way" (2017). Creating Healthy Work Environments Event Materials. 19.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2017/posters_2017/19
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments 2017
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2017
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.
All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
'Flying' the Phoenix Way
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Session presented on Saturday, March 18, 2017: A healthy work environment can be summed up in a single word - communication. There are multiple lines of communication pathways within the virtual academic environment of the School of Advanced Studies at the University of Phoenix. These pathways foster unique opportunities for student and faculty growth and development. Free of the restraints of traditional gatekeeping and keepers, communication is fostered through multiple venues. Nursing and non-nursing faculty have direct access to each other and administration through our University-based Leadership Journal, faculty meetings offered on the degree program level, the School level, and the University level, and our unique PhoenixConnect portal. Of course, email, phone and video calling are also utilized as effective means of communication when a more 'direct' approach may be appropriate, such as for faculty mentoring (Smith, 2015). Through PhoenixConnect, our University-based blogging system, ongoing discussions are available to students, faculty, and administrators according to their interests and needs. Open interdisciplinary forums along with 'by invitation only' forums provide opportunities to connect with others who share the same interests, and facilitate the exchange of information and support on multiple levels (Breen, 2013; Hollyhead, Edwards, & Holt, 2012; Ko & Kuo, 2009; Schwartz, Wiley, & Kaplan, 2016). Requirements for 'classroom' teaching are incorporated into all administrative contracts, and all administrators who meet the criteria for serving on doctoral committees are encouraged to participate as either a committee member or dissertation chairperson. Lead Faculty Area Chairs (LFACs), who serve as the 'first line of administration' conduct program content meetings for faculty where information is integrated with lively discussion and policy updates, and scholarly exchanges are supported. The LFACs share the insights generated in the meetings with higher level administrators who utilize the feedback to strengthen the organizational vision and mission (Erskine, 2009). The key to our positive work environment is the multiple opportunities for communication. All day, every day, students, faculty, and administrators from around the world come together for the social and scholarly exchanges that are at the core of our healthy, productive academic environment at the University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies. Learning Objectives: The learner will identify two strategies that can be used to promote engagement and inclusion in a healthy virtual work environment. The learner will identify two communication strategies that can be used to promote a healthy virtual work environment.