Bringing Theory to Practice
Faculty, Student Affairs, Service-Learning, and Health Center Professionals Conference/Workshop: "Developing and Enhancing a Strategic Plan for Bridging Divides and Addressing the Wholeness of Student Learning and Experience"
March 30-31, 2007
Hilton Washington Hotel
Participants of the Bringing Theory to Practice project, as well as all those interested in becoming involved with the project – were invited to the "Strategic Bridges" Conference/Workshop which was held in Washington, DC March 30-31, 2007.
About the Workshop
The Conference/Workshop assisted informal campus “teams” of faculty, student affairs, service-learning, and health center professionals in designing and implementing strategic bridges which can address what they perceive as divides. Many campuses see the need to develop the strategies and means to institute or expand campus projects which bridge the divides that separate, categorize, and compartmentalize students’ experiences and their development. There are other divides reinforcing that compartmentalization including institutional structures, access and communication, as well as professional responsibilities. Building forms of bridges that fit the culture of the institution can blend perspectives and approaches so as to better understand and assist students as whole persons having multiple and integrated experiences and trajectories.
The Workshop brought reviews of:
"The most important conference I've attended; in meeting others here, I realize I'm (we're) not alone in thinking that the objectives at stake are central to what we shoud be about at our college (university)." ~faculty attendee
""BTtoP is not only helping to build knowledge-based awareness, but it is among the few resources we can go to to find direct support." ~faculty attendee
"The focus on assessment activities was particularly worthwhile as we all try to document what works and what doesn't work in an area difficult to quantify." ~Faith Leonard, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, American University
"I cannot articulate enough the importance of the BTtoP Program and what its doing for our students at Georgetown. This is something I have thought about happening on campus for literally 18 years. My deepest thanks." ~Patrick Kilcarr, Director, Center for Personal Development, Georgetown University
Presentations
Session III: Expanding and Stengthening Any Strategic Bridge: What Are the Boundaries of the Roles of Faculty, Student Affairs Professionals in Identifying and Addressing Issues of Student Health and Behavior?
The Impact of Mental Health Issues on the Student Learning Experience--Mike Malmon-Berg, The College of Wooster
College Student Suicide: Law and Policy Perspectives--Gary Pavela, University of Maryland
Session IV: Protocols, Resources, Strategies and Professional Rewards: What Constitutes "Good Work"?
"Good Work" Project under direction of Howard Gardner--presented by Lynn Barendsen and Wendy Fischman, Harvard University
Session V: Building Bridges: The Complexity of the Perspectives from Student Affairs and Service Learning Professionals
David Schoem, University of Michigan, presented his perspective through the Michigan Community Scholars Program--www.lsa.umich.edu/mcs/.
Session VII: Strategic Steps in Understanding Internal and External Contexts; How to Evaluate What You Plan to Do: Using Research Tools and Evaluation Strategies for Your Own Campus Project
First Two Years Project, St. Lawrence University--Cathy Crosby-Currie & Christine Zimmerman
For more information
Please contact Jennifer O'Brien at obrien@aacu.org or at 202.884.0815 if you have any questions.
AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises more than 1,150 accredited public and private colleges and universities of every type and size.
AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators, and faculty members who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning. Its mission is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education at both the national and local levels and to help individual institutions keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges.
Information about AAC&U membership, programs, and publications can be found on the AAC&U Web site.
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