"We should have seen that coming."

Those words might cross your mind when you and your college administrators are blindsided by unexpected criticism (or worse), or when you realize you missed a golden opportunity for your college.

Learn how never to utter those words again at the day-long symposium, "Issues Management for Land-grant Universities" at ACE/NETC in Denver.

The symposium, 8:15-11:30 a.m. and 2:30-4:15 p.m. on Monday, June 13, will share findings from a multi-state team that has examined Issues Management since 2008.

During this session you will:

• Get an overview of Issues Management and how it applies to land-grant universities.
• Learn best practices identified by the Issues Management team and how to put them to work.
• Talk with Tracy Irani at the University of Florida's Public Issues Education Center about how its work helps both the university and the state's agricultural industry.
• Discuss how a concerted effort in issues management can provide a stronger national voice for land-grant universities.
• Engage with a panel of communicators and administrators from Purdue, University of California, and Colorado State about how they've handled issues.

Special Invitation: If you work with administrators when issues arise — and you want to help them be more proactive — ask them to attend this session with you. ACE/NETC offers a one-day registration fee of $135. Attending the symposium together will make it easier to put recommendations into practice once you return home.

Land-grant deans have already been notified of the symposium at the annual APLU meeting (Association of Public and Land-grant Universities) earlier this year. Many expressed interest in attending or sending someone on their cabinet. Give them a nudge and ask them to join you.

It's past time to shift from constantly reacting — draining your time, money, energy and focus — and dealing proactively with issues that are plainly on the horizon. When handled properly, they can be win-wins for you, your administrators, and your institution.