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Registration Deadline: January 13, 2023
These workshops offer extended presentation, discussion and interaction on a particular
topic or area of interest. Workshops are available for in-person attendees only.
2-Day Workshop
First-Year Student Success in the Community College
Dates: February 2 - 3, 2023 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Registration Fee: $450
Presenters:
- Julie McLaughlin, Professor and Chair of First Year Experience (FYE) - Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
- Catherine Hartman, Postdoctoral Research Associate, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, University of South Carolina
- José Del Real Viramontes, Assistant Professor, Higher Education Administration and Policy - University of California, Riverside
- Yancey Gulley, Program Director & Associate Professor, Higher Education Student Affairs - Western Carolina University
- Drew Yamanishi, Dean of Student Services – Glendale Community College
With enrollments in community colleges on the decline, the quality of the first-year experience for students is critical to their success, whether they wish to obtain a certificate, earn an associate degree, or transfer to a four-year institution. The First-Year Student Success in Community College Workshop will provide attendees the opportunity to discuss the current role of the community college in higher education and develop an action plan for creating or enhancing pathways to community college student success. Interactive sessions are designed with practical application in mind so that participants will be ready to implement strategic initiatives when they return to campus.
Full-Day Workshop
Best Practice in the First College Year: Defining What Works and Why
Date: February 3, 2023 | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Registration Fee: $250
Presenters:
- John N. Gardner, President, John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education;
Senior Fellow, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition - University of South Carolina - Betsy O. Barefoot, Senior Scholar, John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education;
Fellow, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition - University of South Carolina
For more than three decades, a significant investment has been made by many colleges
and universities to improve the first year. But funds spent have often not yielded
expected returns in student learning and retention. In this workshop, the presenters
will explore the questions, "What works in first-year programs and why... or why not?"
They will draw from recent research findings and provide a variety of examples of
best practice. Participants will be challenged to reflect on the first year at their
own campuses-what initiatives have made a positive difference in the first year and
what challenges remain?
Half-Day Workshops
Date: February 3, 2023 | 8:00 am - 12:00 noon
Registration Fee: $150
Presenters:
- Amy Baldwin, Senior Lecturer of Writing, Literacy, and Academic Success in Student Transitions - University of Central Arkansas
- Bryce Bunting, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Education - Brigham Young University
Beginning college has always been challenging, but this is particularly true for today’s students as they face the double-transition of starting college while also adjusting to the “new normal” of post-pandemic learning. Consequently, fostering belonging, positive mindsets, and resilience among students in transition has never been more critical. In this workshop, we will explore relevant literature and then offer practical strategies that support belonging, growth mindset, and resilience in and outside of the classroom, particularly for underrepresented students. In fact, we boldly claim that supporting students in developing learning mindsets is the most important outcome for the first-year experience.
Date: February 3, 2023 | 8:00 am - 12:00 noon
Registration Fee: $150
Presenters:
- Brad Harmon, Assistant Dean for the First-Year & Second-Year Experience - Furman University
- Annie Kelly, Assistant Professor - University of Cincinnati
- Emma Reabold, Assistant Director for Peer Leadership - University of South Carolina
The most recent National Survey of First-Year Experiences revealed that over 60% of institutions offering a first-year seminar reported using undergraduate students in some capacity to assist in seminar instruction (Young & Skidmore, 2017). The purpose of the workshop is for attendees to engage in critical reflection, discussion, and actionable steps with campus experts on three areas within peer educator learning and engagement: recruitment and selection, training, and assessment. Participants will identify recruitment and selection processes to enhance student learning; develop training curriculum outcomes; articulate assessment metrics; and create an action plan to maximize peer educator learning and engagement.
Date: February 3, 2023 | 8:00 am - 12:00 noon
Registration Fee:$150
- Dottie Weigel, Assistant Professor of Higher Education/Program Director - Messiah University
- James Winfield, Associate Dean of First Year Experience, General Education and Retention Strategies - Southern New Hampshire University, Global Campus
A quick glance at headlines from the Chronicle of Higher Education show student disconnection is problematic. As educators, we know student engagement is critical for student success. Unfortunately, it can seem like an insurmountable task in a digital age where reaching students is challenging. Workshop participants will gain strategies to engage students in a variety of classroom and beyond-the-classroom contexts, including first-year seminars. Participants will be able to enhance curriculum or first-year programming and consider ways to assess effectiveness. Special attention will be given to engaging first-generation students. Participants will be better equipped to engage students in a powerful way.
Date: February 3, 2023 | 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Registration Fee: $150
Presenters:
- Sandra Greene, Assistant Director for Communications - University 101 Programs, University of South Carolina
- Heather Harrison, Director of First-Year Experience - Johnson & Wales University
- Katie Hopkins, Assistant Director for Faculty Development - University 101 Programs, University of South Carolina
There is a foundation of research and scholarship on diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and on the impact of first-year seminars. However, there is a need for additional conversations about DEI in first-year seminars. In this interactive workshop, presenters will share and demonstrate strategies that can be used to effectively build inclusive communities where students are able to reflect on their identities and worldviews and develop a greater understanding of issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Date: February 3, 2023 | 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Registration Fee: $150
- Ryan Bronkema, Associate Dean of University College - University of West Georgia
- Jenna Harte, Assistant Director of Academic Transition Programs - University of West Georgia
- Celia Senerman, Graduate Student - University of West Georgia
This workshop will encourage a meta-awareness for how to design instructor/faculty professional development workshops at one’s own institution, while also exposing participants to a sampling of professional development topics we have already developed for other academic professionals. As a result of participating in this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to create preliminary annual professional development plans for their own teaching faculty, and develop workshop outlines that align with their needs.