AAC&U Annual Meeting
January 25-28, 2012
Washington, DC / Grand Hyatt Hotel

SHARED FUTURES / DIFFICULT CHOICES
Reclaiming a Democratic Vision for College Learning,
Global Engagement, and Success

The New American Colleges and Universities

The New American Colleges and Universities (formerly the Associated New American Colleges) is a national consortium of 20 selective, small to mid-size independent colleges and universities dedicated to the purposeful integration of liberal education, professional studies, and civic engagement.

AAC&U is pleased to welcome NAC&U members to the 2012 Annual Meeting.  The following session, sponsored by NAC&U, is open to everyone.

Presentation of Ernest L. Boyer Award

All in a Life’s Work: Improving Institutional and Student Success
Renowned scholars and practitioners Betsy Barefoot and John Gardner are the recipients of the 2012 New American Colleges & Universities Ernest L. Boyer Award. Following the presentation of the award, they will reflect on more than three decades of working to create environments that effectively promote student success. Founders of the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, they have worked with colleges and universities throughout the world to improve student learning and retention. Currently, the Institute’s work focuses on implementing a previously non-existent set of aspirational standards for the first year and the transfer student experience. These standards are known as “Foundational Dimensions”®in a process called Foundations of Excellence® in the First College Year or Foundations of Excellence® – Transfer Focus.

John Gardner, President, and Betsy Barefoot, Vice President—both of the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education;
Welcome and Introductions:  Richard Guarasci, President, Wagner College; Levester Johnson, Vice President of Student Affairs, Butler University

The Role of Place in 21st Century Higher Education
Seven private, comprehensive institutions will discuss their approaches to creating an institutional culture and curriculum that promotes students’ understanding of the role of place by intentionally integrating the local in the global and global in the local.  From the perspective of president and provost, they will briefly describe how their institution is ensuring that these concepts and practices are being woven into the fabric of the institution: its mission, strategic planning processes, general education, and co-curricular programs.

Moderator: Harold Baillie, Provost, The University of Scranton
Panelists: Thomas Burns, Provost, Belmont University; Jamie Comstock, Provost, Butler University; Thomas Kazee, President, University of Evansville; Steven Michael, Provost, Arcadia University; Thomas Rochon, President, Ithaca College; Charles Taylor, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Drury University; and Terry Weiner, Provost, The Sage Colleges