From funding issues and navigating contract requirements to unreasonable demands from customers and rapidly changing technology, testing centers are often beset by hassles and frustrations. For many of us, stress is so commonplace that it seems natural for it to become a way of life. Challenges can give us an opportunity to innovate and improve, but constantly running in emergency mode can take a toll on our minds and bodies. There's good news! You can protect yourself by recognizing the signs and symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce its harmful effects.

This session will begin by providing a brief introduction to common challenges encountered by testing centers that can create highly stressful environments. The presenters will then discuss a few simple stress reduction techniques to utilize prior to responding to a potential crisis situation. Finally, participants will have the opportunity to work in small groups to create plans using the new techniques to respond effectively to scenarios that could arise at a test center. Through these examples, the presenters will facilitate a discussion on how to continue to provide excellent customer service with limited resources all while maintaining balance in the work environment.

Conference Track: Professional Development

Negotiation is a dialogue between two or more people or parties intended to reach an understanding, resolve points of difference, gain advantage, or produce an agreement upon a course of action. From birth, humans and non-humans negotiate every minute, hour, day, and week of their lives. Negotiation is how we settle conflict and exact change. Conflict in itself is a natural by-product of human and non-human interaction. We do so by various means of persuasion.

Conference Track: Professional Development

This interactive session is a follow-up to the 2014 session "Surviving the Human Zoo" and takes a more in-depth look at communication and behavioral styles while relating the styles to motivating employees, job fulfillment and enjoyment, and team success. Participants are asked to bring an amusing story, situation, or challenge they have faced in the testing world. Attendees will be divided into teams and asked to share their "best and funniest" story. Each team will select one to share with everyone. Laughter, a sense of humor, and "survival" skills will be explored and enjoyed!

Conference Track: Professional Development

This presentation will cover some of the fundamental soft skills needed to successfully run a testing center including giving and receiving feedback, communication skills, hiring/firing skills, and professional partners. All of these skills and more will be addressed and assessed to find out your strengths and where you could use a little tweaking.

Conference Track: Professional Development

As more women rise to leadership positions in higher education, change has been necessary for institutions and the individuals working within them. In this session, presenters will share personal stories to define common barriers that women in higher education face as they pursue leadership opportunities and advancement, including unexpected changes in one's personal and/or professional life, gender-based expectations, and building an authentic leadership style. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their own and learn others' coping strategies and be provided a "survival kit" to help navigate the world of higher education. The goal of this presentation is for attendees to have a better understanding of their own leadership style and how to be successful women of influence.

Conference Track: Professional Development

The NCTA encourages every state to have a state or regional organization. Have you been planning to develop/strengthen a state or regional organization but are not sure where to start? Here is your opportunity to hear how the state of Florida did it. Welcome to the Florida Association of College Test Administrators (FACTA) Journey Continues! FACTA, begun in May 2008, has developed into a fully organized association with a name and logo, mission and vision statement, bylaws, elected officers, a representative council, committees, annual conference plus two additional meetings throughout the year, a website, a newsletter, a listserve with 278 members, and 12 business members. FACTA has been a vital link for colleges, universities, and testing companies throughout the state of Florida as various issues have impacted our institutions. This session will describe how FACTA has matured into a very active organization. Leaders from other selected NCTA State and Regional Organizations will also share their organizational highlights with you. If you are a member of a state or regional organization looking to strengthen your organization or wish to start one in your state, this session is for you.

Conference Track: Professional Development