Registration Form
We invite you to join us for the 15th National Conference on Students in Transition. Because students face significant transitions from the beginning of their undergraduate experience through graduation, we as college educators are challenged to provide support for their entire undergraduate experience. Conference participants will share the latest concepts, ideas, research results, assessment strategies, and institutional initiatives—all with a focus on student success and learning throughout the college experience.
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College students of all types are in a constant state of transition. Therefore, proposals are invited that highlight student group that might have unique transition experiences. Theme tracks for this conference are:
Educators interested in the college student experience from the first year through graduation, the collegiate curriculum, and innovative pedagogies impacting the undergraduate student should attend.
Lunch is included with all preconference workshops
W-1 Evidence-Based Strategies for Promoting Student Academic and Career Success Saturday, November 8, 2008 <> 8:00 am – 12:00 noon <> $135
Paul Gore, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Student Success Special Projects Coordinator, University of Utah
Colleges and universities are committed to promoting the academic and career success of their students. Recent research has revealed critical ingredients in understanding and promoting academic and career success. In this presentation participants will learn more about these critical ingredients, have an opportunity to assess their current use of these ingredients and develop new strategies for including these ingredients in their work with students in different institutional contexts. This workshop is designed for course instructors, program directors, and administrators interested in enhancing their course, program, or institutional efforts at promoting student success.
W-2 Using Student Development Theory to Improve Educational Practice in the First College Year and Beyond Saturday, November 8, 2008 <> 9:00 am – 3:00 pm <> $235
Tracy L. Skipper, Editorial Projects Coordinator, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition
Since the 1970s, theories of student development have provided a useful framework for identifying student needs, designing educational practice, and assessing learning and developmental outcomes. Much of this work has taken place within student affairs. However, institutions now recognize the need to remove the barriers between in-class and out-of-class experiences in order to enhance student learning, satisfaction, persistence, and success. As such, student development theory is an important body of knowledge that can inform the work of educators throughout the academy as they design classroom experiences, programs, and interventions for new and returning college students. This session introduces several key student development theories and offers a theory-to-practice model. Participants discuss the usefulness of these theories for their own campuses and identify developmentally appropriate educational practices and strategies for assessing them.
W-3 Next Steps in Improving the First Year of College: Moving Beyond Retention to Best Practices and a Pursuit of Excellence Saturday, November 8, 2008 <> 9:00 am - 4:00 pm <> $245
Betsy O. Barefoot, Co-Director and Senior Scholar — Policy Center on the First Year of College; Fellow, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience® and Students in Transition—University of South Carolina John N. Gardner, Executive Director—Policy Center on the First Year of College; Senior Fellow, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience® and Students in Transition—University of South Carolina
For three decades, a significant investment has been made by many colleges and universities to improve the first year, but campuses are under more pressure than ever to improve accountability and performance, with retention rates being a leading indicator of focus. In this workshop, the presenters explore the question, What is working to improve retention and why . . . or why not? Gardner and Barefoot draw from recent research findings, their work on two related Jossey-Bass books, and their professional practice to provide a variety of examples of best practice. They will argue that to move to the next level in achieving student learning and retention there has to be a concerted effort to go beyond minimum standards to a vision of educational excellence in the first college year, relative to institutional type and mission.
W-4 The Sophomore-Year Transition: Approaches for Enhancing the Experience of Second-Year Students Saturday, November 8, 2008 <> 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm <> $135
Jimmie Gahagan, Assistant Vice Provost for Student Engagement—University of South Carolina; Julie T. Stockenberg, Director, First-Year and Sophomore Studies and Advising—Colorado College; Barbara Tobolowsky, Associate Director, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition— University of South Carolina
Over the past 20 years, colleges across the nation have developed extensive programs to support first-year students and, as a result, have witnessed a rise in first- to second-year retention rates and improved academic engagement of first-year students. But, what about second-year students? This workshop focuses on the characteristics, needs, and issues of second-year students, drawing on various psychosocial and cognitive development models. In addition, presenters feature the latest sophomore-year research and best practices from across the nation. Throughout the workshop, presenters draw on their experiences developing sophomore-year initiatives at a small, liberal arts college and a traditional-aged, residential state institution. Presenters conclude the workshop by helping participants develop an action plan for their own campuses.
W-5 From Orientation to Assimilation … Fostering Transfer Student Success Saturday, November 8, 2008 <> 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm <> $135
Mark Allen Poisel, Associate Vice President, Academic Development and Retention, University of Central Florida; Charlene Stinard, Director, Transfer and Transition Services, University of Central Florida
With more students making educational decisions that include transferring at least once as undergraduates, challenges and issues related to transferring are especially relevant in higher education. Beyond the admission process, transfer students require intentional interventions and advocacy to assure their integration into the new campus community. The workshop highlights how Transfer and Transition Services at UCF creates programs and services to meet the specific needs of a large and diverse transfer student population. A discussion of applicable research and current practices provides resource information and assessment tools to assist in developing programming, transition workshops, and social networking to assure transfers a smooth transition and integration into the campus community. Participants will discuss developing intentional programs and services on their campuses that will assist transfer students beyond the admission process, improve the transition experience, promote student satisfaction, and increase transfer graduation rates.
The National Resource Center invites online proposal submissions. Concurrent session, roundtable discussion, poster session, and exhibitor presentation proposals are invited on topics addressing student transitions.
Proposal Deadline
Proposals must be received by July 14, 2008.
Selection Criteria Program proposals will be reviewed for selection based on appropriateness and consistency with the conference focus, timeliness of session topic, creativity of approach, and demonstration of expertise by presenters.
For more information on session types and submitting an online proposal, visit our web site at www.sc.edu/fye/events/sit/proposal/html . The proposal form can be faxed to you upon request. If you have any questions as you complete this form, contact Shana Harrison at scharri2@mailbox.sc.edu or call (803) 576-6328.
The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience® and Students in Transition invites applications for 2008-09 Paul P. Fidler Research Grant. With a comprehensive award package, the grant will promote the development and dissemination of original research with the potential to have a national impact on college student success. The Center invites applicants to submit proposals addressing a variety of topics, including students of color, community colleges, advising, transfer and articulation, administrative policies, and other issues related to college student transitions.
Application Process The application and proposal form may be downloaded at www.sc.edu/fye/research/grant and must be submitted electronically to NRCresearch@gwm.sc.edu by July 1, 2008.
Conference Venue A block of rooms has been reserved at the Columbia Marriott at a special rate of $125 single/double occupancy plus tax; $135 triple/quadruple occupancy plus tax. Reservations must be made by October 8, 2008 to receive this special rate. After this date, reservations are accepted on a space-available basis and may not be available at the conference rate. Additionally, once the room block is filled, we cannot guarantee the room rate will be available. Specify “Students in Transition Conference” when making reservations.
Columbia Marriott 1200 Hampton Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201 Phone: (803) 771-7000 Fax: (803) 254-2911
Discount Airfares American Airlines is offering a convention discount of 5% off of applicable coach and first-class fares into Columbia, SC only. To obtain this discount, call American Airlines Meeting Services Desk at 800-433-1790 and refer to Authorization Number STARfile A11N8AA (National Conference on Students in Transition)
