Track
General Education and Curricular Innovation
Emerging trends in general education and high-impact practice design.
Conference
Conference on Learning and Student Success (CLASS)
–
San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Online
AAC&U is excited to launch its newest event, the 2025 Conference on Learning and Student Success (CLASS).
CLASS is designed to elevate, amplify, and extend AAC&U's core work on transforming student learning and the undergraduate experience by bringing together for the first time in one program the work traditionally delivered by AAC&U’s two largest thematic conferences: the Conference on Diversity, Equity, and Student Success (DESS) and the Conference on General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment (GEPA). CLASS is the ultimate manifestation of AAC&U “practicing what we preach”—dismantling siloes and collaborating across organizational structures to harness the collective wisdom and power of our diverse expertise and experiences to make our shared vision of educational excellence a reality.
Innovating through Collaboration, Challenging the Status Quo
Building on the legacy of DESS and GEPA, the Conference on Learning and Student Success (CLASS) will tackle current realities head-on, from the questioning of the value of the college degree to the challenges inherent to creating and sustaining educational environments that seek to achieve a sense of belonging for all students and educators informed by who they are. Collectively and collaboratively, we must remain focused on what we know is foundational for learning and student success: evidence-based, inclusive and expansive teaching and learning practices; proven strategies that advance recruitment, retention, progression, and graduation practices; robust assessment praxis and data-driven truth-telling; effective academic, co-curricular, and social program supports; transparent curricula to careers; systems to examine inequities in student and educator outcomes, and capacity-building through faculty and staff professional development that improves diverse learning environments.
DESS + GEPA = CLASS: Exploring effective practices, identifying solutions to emerging challenges, and leading change for students, educators, and the common good.
Conference Tracks
Track
Teaching and Learning In and Beyond the Classroom
Leveraging empirically validated, student-centered, culturally responsive teaching and learning in and beyond the classroom.
Track
Measuring What Matters
Evidence-based truth-telling through assessment and evaluation.
Track
Leading Institutional Transformation
Partnerships within and across institutions guided by data-informed decision-making and strategic implementation.
Track
Connecting Curricula to Careers
Ensuring the relevancy and real world value of higher education.
Track
Embracing Student Perspectives
Students as co-designers of their educational experience.
Track
Ensuring the Success of All Students
Reimagining our approaches to and models for student success in the curriculum and co-curriculum.
Track
Dismantling False Beliefs in a Hierarchy of Human Value
Understanding diverse experiences and identities through care, empathy, community-building and healing.
In-Person or Virtually, CLASS is in Session.
The hybrid program is designed to connect participants both in-person in beautiful Puerto Rico as well as virtually, with live streaming of all plenary sessions, virtual posters, and virtual concurrent sessions throughout the program. Regardless of how you choose to participate, the conversations at the conference will be open to all educators—contingent faculty and full professors, assessment professionals and faculty developers, academic and student affairs professionals, diversity and inclusion professionals, deans and department heads, institutional leaders and other higher education professionals—as well as students, policymakers, and community members.
Program Highlight: Forum on Transformational Leadership - April 3, 2025
The daylong forum is designed to prepare you and other leaders in higher education with the knowledge, tools, and courage to meet complex challenges and create change at your institutions.
Program Highlight: Pre-Conference Workshops - April 3, 2025
Cultivate new skills, identify alternative approaches to your work, and connect with resources, such as new practices, theories, frameworks, and/or research.
Program Highlight: Forum on Digital Innovation - April 4-5, 2025
The multiday forum will focus on rapidly emerging practices and technologies—AI, open learning, ePortoflios, and digital ethics—that will help you promote learning, equity, affordability, and access.
Are you ready to come to CLASS?
- Are you an educator recognizing and making connections between your discipline and students' interests and ambitions?
- Have you been charged with leading major institutional transformation in the curriculum or co-curriculum?
- Do you have a passion for exploring the nuances and relationships inherent to teaching, learning, and assessment?
- Are you charged with ensuring that your institution lives up to promises made to all of students?
- Have you helped dismantle barriers to student learning and success and seek to reimagine systems, practices, and policies?
- Are you a student who wants to improve your community and learning environment for yourself and others?
- Do you have a passion for connecting with and supporting others who want to deliver on the personal, professional, and financial promise of higher education?
Share your story by submitting a proposal and registering for CLASS.
Dates to Remember
Call for Proposals Closes
Early Bird Registration Closes
Conference Begins
Questions about #AACUCLASS?
If you have questions about the AAC&U Conference on Learning and Student Success or would like additional information, please email us at [email protected].