Local and National Presentations
EdgeCon Winter 2026
Success by Design: Transforming Academic Operations at MCCC
Coursedog National Conference 2025
Curriculum to Contracts: How Mercer Leverages Workflows to Support Institutional Needs
Tri-State Consortium of Opportunity Programs 2025
Re-Imagining Advising to Retain and Empower Students
As colleges navigate increasing complexity in scheduling, curriculum management, and student support, building an integrated Academic Operations structure has become essential. In Success by Design: Transforming Academic Operations at MCCC, Adelina Marini, Assistant Director of Academic Operations, and Dr. James H. Whitney III, Associate Provost, Mercer County Community College, explored how their institution strategically combined multiple administrative and academic support units into one cohesive department.
The presentation highlighted how the team leveraged Coursedog to streamline scheduling, improve data accuracy, and enhance cross-departmental collaboration, ultimately reducing barriers for students. Marini and Whitney discussed the development of a unified mission rooted in access, efficiency, and student-centered decision-making, as well as the cultural and structural shifts required to bring diverse units together under a shared purpose. Participants left with practical strategies for designing an Academic Operations model that strengthens institutional effectiveness and meaningfully supports student success.
This presentation explored how institutions can expand the use of the Coursedog Curriculum platform beyond traditional curriculum management by leveraging its workflow capabilities to centralize and streamline key Academic Affairs documentation. The session demonstrated how customizable workflows can be used to collect, review, and approve a range of institutional documents including academic agreements, grant proposals, and advisory commission materials within a single structured system.
Participants learned how implementing workflow-based processes can increase transparency, improve document tracking, and create standardized approval pathways across departments. The presentation also highlighted strategies for reducing reliance on email and disconnected systems by integrating administrative processes into an existing academic platform. By reimagining the role of curriculum management software, institutions can create more efficient, accountable, and collaborative processes that better support the broader operational needs of Academic Affairs.
This presentation explores forward-thinking approaches to academic advising that prioritize student success and retention. It highlights the implementation of a cohort-based advising model, showing how strategically grouping students can create stronger relationships, enhance peer support, and provide a more personalized advising experience.
The presentation also examines how leveraging technology such as academic planning platforms, workflow management tools, and data analytics can streamline advising processes, improve communication between advisors and students, and provide actionable insights to guide interventions before students encounter obstacles.
Attendees gain practical strategies to integrate cohort structures and technology into advising programs, optimize resource allocation, and empower students to take ownership of their academic journeys. This session offers a roadmap for institutions aiming to transform traditional advising into a proactive, student-centered experience that drives retention and long-term success.