Administrative Management Institute Exceeds High Expectations

Pat Lefferts had heard so many positive things about AMI that her expectations were high. “You didn’t disappoint me!” she said in an interview after this year’s Administrative Management Institute (AMI), held at Cornell University, July 25–30. Lefferts, director in the purchasing department at SUNY Fredonia, was one of the many administrative managers who couldn’t say enough good things about AMI.

Since 1993, this acclaimed professional seminar, co-sponsored by Cornell University and EACUBO, has been offering talented professionals an opportunity to enhance their effectiveness and excel within their institutions and departments. Through information-packed panel discussions, presentations, workshops, and case studies, this year, AMI participants discussed timely topics including current issues in employment law and compliance, improving business practices, risk management and liability, ethics and fiduciary responsibility, hot topics in higher education, and dynamic negotiations.

“The topics presented pulled the picture together very nicely,” said participant Jackie Gilbert, business administrator in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University. “They were certainly very tuned in to our current environment.” Gilbert said.

Bob Campe, director of library management services at Dartmouth College, agrees. ”The topics were a very good mix of what happens daily on a campus. I recommend this course for new managers as well as for those needing a refresher,” Campe said.

Institute highlights included a keynote address by Cornell University President Jeffrey S. Lehman exploring “The Challenges Facing Higher Education Today;” an in-depth workshop on building leadership skills and managing change, presented by Thomas J. Champoux, executive vice president of The Effectiveness Institute, Inc.; and a very well-received interactive session presented by the Cornell Interactive Theatre Ensemble, dealing with sexual harassment and racially-biased joke telling.

Karren Bee-Donohoe, director of capital projects for physical facilities at Binghamton University, found the session on “Changing the Way We Do Business,” particularly helpful. This session presented ideas and strategies regarding the centralization of purchasing, travel, and other fiscal activities into several business centers, each serving a specific clientele. “All of the Institute’s sessions had valuable bits and pieces that are very pertinent to my job, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to improve myself as an employee and as a supervisor though the Institute. I highly recommend this program for others in the future,” Bee-Donohoe said.

For more information about next year's institute, set for July 24–29, 2005, contact AMI: