Common Wealth:
College Learning and Virginia’s Shared Future

An Invitational LEAP Forum

10:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tyler Haynes Commons
University of Richmond
Richmond, VA
Campus Map (pdf)

About the Program

Common Wealth: College Learning and Virginia's Shared Future is a one-day forum to promote dialogue among key stakeholders about how to focus public and campus attention, not just on access to college, but on the broad learning and transferable skills all students need from college. It will be an interactive, action-oriented program designed for a broad audience.  

Participants

Business, civic, school and community leaders from across Virginia, as well as policymakers, are encouraged to join us. Faculty, deans, presidents, and chief academic officers from all of AAC&U’s member institutions in Virginia, as well as campus representatives from non-member institutions in Virginia will also participate.  For more information, please contact Christina Bell (cbell@aacu.org).

Registration

Registration is free to invited participants.  Please register online before Friday, November 14, 2008.

Co-Hosts

The Common Wealth forum is co-hosted by the Assocation of American Colleges and Universities and the University of Richmond.

Preliminary Schedule

10:00-11:00am     Welcome

Tom Morris, Secretary of Education, Commonwealth of Virginia

Sounding the Call:  College Learning and Virginia’s Challenge
Roberts T. Jones, President, Education Workforce Policy, LLC
John O. Wynne, Vice Chair, Council on Virginia’s Future and President and CEO (retired), Landmark communications

11:15am-12:00pm     Plenary Discussion Session

The World is Changing and Higher Education Must Change Too - A Discussion with AAC&U President, Carol Geary Schneider

12:00-1:15pm       Lunch

Liberal Education and the Landscape of American Higher Education
Edward Ayers, President, University of Richmond

1:30-2:45pm         Concurrent Discussion Sessions

From Islands of Innovation to New Standards for College Excellence

Giving Students a Compass
The University of Richmond: Tidewater Community College; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

Focusing All Students on Essential Learning Outcomes of College
Christopher Newport University; Emory & Henry College; Virginia Commonwealth University

Engaging Students with Real-World Challenges
Longwood University; Washington & Lee University

Making Assessment a Catalyst for Higher Achievement
Bridgewater College; James Madison University

Preparing STEM Graduates for the Twenty-First Century
Norfolk State University; University of Virginia

3:00-4:15pm         Concurrent Action Sessions

Connecting Higher Learning with Virginians’ Hopes for the Future
How Employers and Presidents Can Carry the Message on Essential Learning Outcomes for All

Breaking the Silence about What Matters in College
What Students and Parents Need to Hear – And How Employers and Policy Makers Can Help

Redefining College Readiness—and Rescuing the Lost Senior Year:
How Schools and Colleges–Together–Can Make Inquiry and Applied Learning Projects the Expected Preparation for Success in College and Work

Giving Transfer Students a Road-Map for College Learning and Success           
How Two-year and Four-Year Campuses Can Work Together to Focus All Students on Essential Learning Outcomes

Making Education for Democracy Expected Rather than Optional
Why and How We Can Change the Widespread View that College is Only about Careers and Private Benefit

Reframing the Accountability Debate
Designs for Assessment that Challenge Students to Show What They Know – and Raise Achievement in the Balance        

4:30-5:00pm         Plenary Session

The Action Agenda for Higher Education in Virginia

5:00-5:15pm         Closing Remarks

Tom Morris, Secretary of Education, Commonwealth of Virginia

5:15-6:00pm         Reception

Leadership Group

Edward L. Ayers, President, University of Richmond
John T. Casteen, III, President, University of Virginia
Deborah M. DiCroce, President, Tidewater Community College
John S. Edwards, Senator, Commonwealth of Virginia
Thomas Morris, Secretary of Education, Commonwealth of Virginia
Kenneth Ruscio, President, Washington and Lee University
John O. (Dubby) Wynne, Vice Chair, Council on Virginia's Future and President and CEO (retired), Landmark Communications