Strategic Communications Academy celebrates fourth cohort and looks ahead to 2021

When the provost announced that all university classes would be moved online for Spring 2020, the Strategic Communication Academy training team knew the mandate included all leadership workshops as well. In times of uncertainty, it can be healthy to take action on the things you can control. The SCA team quickly moved the course online to offer the 30 participants, all university leaders and scholars, a chance to develop their communication skills to build communities, communicate persuasively and drive positive change.

The Center for Public Interest Communications in the College of Journalism and Communications in partnership with UF Training & Organizational Development (T&OD) offered the fourth Strategic Communications Academy for UF Leaders and Scholars (SCA) in an online setting. The SCA team is made up of faculty and staff with substantial experience in live online teaching and were able to incorporate important active learning methods to enhance the program.

Through interactive sessions, some homework and completion of a final project, program participants learned and applied skills in the areas of storytelling, the science of strategic communications, systems thinking, message development, TED-style presentations, working with influentials and communicating inclusively.

On September 24, the SCA wrapped up its fourth cohort, with UF faculty and staff delivering their strategic communications campaigns and TED-style presentations live via Zoom. At the graduation ceremony (also on Zoom) the cohort celebrated each other’s accomplishments throughout the 9-month long academy.

Lesa Phillips, the Guest Services Specialist in the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, was a part of the 2020 cohort. She said, “The SCA assisted me with looking outside the box of how I traditionally communicate and explore new innovative ways of inspiring the audience. The pandemic challenged us all, in the way that we were used to communicating and telling stories. The SCA instructors were able to transition, without warning and the ability to plan ahead, to an online format and give us an amazing experience. I was able to apply the skills I learned immediately. The small group sessions allowed us to exchange creative ideas and form new relationships with campus partners. I highly recommend SCA to anyone interested in discovering a new and advanced way to communicate.”

Registration for the 2021 cohort is now underway. Discounts available for three or more participants in the same department. (link: https://leadership.hr.ufl.edu/programs/sca/strategic-communications-academy-application/)

Please join us in congratulating to our 2020 cohort.