Friday, September 18, 2020

Keynote Follow-Up Dialogue: From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Designing Pathways for Success

Join Dr. Tia Brown McNair in a follow-up dialogue to her keynote address, "From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Designing Pathways for Success," to further discuss questions and actionable steps to be taken at your institution and within your role.

Creating a V.O.I.C.E. (Voicing Our Initiatives to Create Equity)

Ashlee Spearman, Ed.D, Director, Academic Services & Engagement, Austin Peay State University

Harold Wallace III, M.S., Director, Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center, Austin Peay State University

Kito Aruh, SGA President, Austin Peay State University

Planning and implementing diversity, equity & inclusion opportunities requires buy-in from all campus constituents, but one group often overlooked is students, specifically underrepresented students. The student voice and perspective in all stages of the process is imperative to the success of the institution. This presentation will focus on methods and tactics used by at Austin Peay State University to include student voices and build engagement. Presenters will lead group discussions on student and faculty/staff engagement, discuss common challenges and share improvement strategies on how to expand the conversations across campus.

Helping Faculty to Jump the Divide from Onsite to Online with Digital Style

Brad Garner, Ph.D., Director of Faculty Enrichment, Indiana Wesleyan University

Moving from an onsite class to an online venue can be a scary proposition. Wouldn't it be great to face that challenge with confidence and a whole collection of digital tools that will impress your students and promote their learning? This presentation is based on the principles of the Interaction Equivalency Theorem which states that excellent online courses promote student-student, student-faculty, and student-content interactions. Participants will also receive a bevy of amazing digital resources to help them make this transition. Oh yeah...you can do this!!!

Roundtable: Student Engagement in the Time of COVID-19: Working Toward Attention and Participation (classroom and student life)

Vicki Atkinson, Ed.D., Dean of Student Development, Harper College

Kevin Krauskopf, Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life , Elmhurst University

Patrick Fina, M.Ed., Director of Campus Life , Illinois Institute of Technology

Facilitator: Scott Peska, Ed.D., Assistant Vice President of Student Services, Waubonsee Community College

Roundtable Dialogue – Join in a dialogue with campus professionals invited to share their experiences and best practices. This session will be facilitated by someone from the MFYC Committee.

This session will focus on exploring inclusive practices to engage first year students, especially those of color and from underserved populations, in the classroom and all aspects of student life. During this time we invite you to join in conversation, connect with colleagues, and brainstorm ways to enhance our students’ attention, curiosity, interests, and authentic participation through the lens of COVID-realities.

Results and Lessons from an Online Transfer Success Course

Amanda Wornhoff, Ed.D., Director, Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment, Austin Peay State University

This session presents results and lessons from a required, fully-online, one-credit course for new transfer students aimed at helping students connect with the university mission, build supportive relationships, engage with campus resources, and explore their academic and professional goals. A pre/post survey suggested this course helped support transfer students’ transition to the university. Session participants will learn about the proposal and structure of this course; understand the elements of the course design, assessments, and instructor training; explore the strengths and challenges of this model; and consider ways they might adapt these strategies to support transfer students in their own contexts.

Using Reflection to Amplify Assets in the First Year

Amy Lee, Ph.D., Professor; Director of First Year Writing, University of Minnesota

Margaret Kelly, M.A., Senior Teaching Specialist, University of Minnesota

Catherine Lee, Undergraduate Student, Occidental College

Maggie Bergeron, MFA, Lecturer, University of Minnesota

COVID19 and the integration of online education into First-Year Experience courses provides the opportunity to do and see things differently. As we assess traditional modes of teaching (presenting and practicing skills, using the frame of a deficit model) we must throw out the tools that favor some students or that follow the assimilationist model that presents the “only way” to do things. As we redesign how we teach, we can center students in the educational experience by validating and integrating their experience, perspective, and ideas into FYE courses. Ongoing and habituated reflective practice, particularly journaling, can be used and fostered to support an asset-based approach.

There’s an App for That: Using Technology to Create Equity, Access and Inclusion

Yahaira Hall, M.A., Full-Time Faculty, American InterContinental University

Helena Robertson, M.Ed., Full-Time Faculty, American InterContinental University

AIU Full-time Faculty members will discuss how they use technology/ AIU Mobile App in concert with the grad team model in a positive manner to aid in the First-Year Experience and help students’ overcoming obstacles in the online environment. The presentation will elaborate on the benefits for both faculty and students with a special emphasis on equity, access and inclusion for first year students. Additionally, the presentation will include an opportunity for questions and interactive engagement with polls and surveys. The presentation will be conducted in a round-table format allowing presenters to take turns speaking on their topic.

Roundtable: Anti-Racism in the Academy: From Advocacy to Action

Allison Heard, M.Ed., Director of Institutional Diversity & Title IX Coordinator, University of St Francis

Marc Molina, Executive Director, Public Safety and Emergency Management/Adjunct faculty, Criminal Justice, Elmhurst University

Christa Platt, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Diversity Advocacy, Illinois State University

Charmaine Sevier, Ed.D., Executive Director - HR, Prairie State College

Facilitator: Jessica Monu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Recreation and Sport Management, University of St. Francis

Roundtable Dialogue – Join in a dialogue with campus professionals invited to share their experiences and best practices. This session will be facilitated by someone from the MFYC Committee.

This session will focus on anti-racism on our campuses and how to be allies, accomplices, and advocates for our students who identify as BIPOC. During this time we invite you to join in conversation, connect with colleagues, and brainstorm ways to engage in active and conscious efforts to work against multi-dimensional aspects of racism.

Think Globally, Act Locally: How the International FYE Movement Informs Our Daily Practice

Dallin George Young, Ph. D, Assistant Director for Research, Grants and Assessment, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition

Jennifer R. Keup, Ph. D, Executive Director, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition

The FYE movement has gained traction throughout many countries and regions throughout the world. Many of the issues that institutions and nations are facing with first-year college and university students across the globe find echoes in other spaces. Issues of access, financial need, preparation, adjustment, and engagement are common across national settings. However, the contexts of individual countries shape the intensity and tenor of these conversations; similarly, the understanding that can be gained and translated from learning about international perspectives must be resituated in our own local contexts. In this session, we will elucidate common conversation points in the international FYE space and engage participants in a discussion about how these global perspectives can help point to better understanding of how to improve the FYE work on our own campuses.