The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience & Students In Transition now welcomes online submission of conference session proposals. If you would like to submit your proposal online, you can take advantage of our interactive submission process below. However, we encourage you to read all of the information and directions for completing a proposal before getting started. 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.
Concurrent session, roundtable discussion, poster session and exhibior presentation proposals are invited on topics addressing student transitions. Any quality proposal that sufficiently and seriously addresses college student transitions is welcomed for review.
The proposal deadline is July 14, 2008. You are strongly encouraged to submit proposals as soon as possible. Since the conference program must be finalized and presenters notified in time to provide preconference coordination, it may not be possible to accept late proposals.
Program proposals will be reviewed for selection based on appropriateness and consistency with the conference topic, timeliness of session topic, creativity of approach, and demonstration of expertise by presenters. For concurrent and poster sessions, evidence of assessment is necessary for acceptance. An interactive schedule planner which includes all of the accepted sessions will be available on the Center's web site after October 1, 2007.
Due to budgetary considerations, it is not possible to offer an honorarium or to waive registration fees for program presenters. All program chairs and additional presenters will be expected to register and pay appropriate conference registration fees.
The cost of providing LCD projectors for conference sessions continues to reach exorbitant levels; therefore, conference organizers are unable to provide this equipment. As an alternative to PowerPoint presentations, we encourage the use of overhead transparencies of PowerPoint slides. We have found them to be equally effective.
College students of all types are in a constant state of transition. Therefore, proposals are invited that highlight any student group that might have unique transition experiences. While the conference typically has a wide variety of session topics, many sessions focus on the following four themes:
Sophomore Issues Is there such a thing as the “sophomore slump?” If so, what can we do to better serve second-year students? How do we become more intentional in our support of this population in order to prevent student departure after the second year?
The Transfer Student Experience How can institutions help these students feel prepared for the change and also feel connected to their new institution? What special needs do transfer students have? What policies and practices work?
The Senior Year The national dialogue concerning college seniors continues to engage educators interested in the range of support programs available for this population. What are the needs of these students as they prepare for the “real world,” continuing education, and community and family life?
The First Year First-year issues remain critical in the work of the National Resource Center including how to engage students in active learning; increase ownership of the first year by a wide variety of campus constituents; and improve student success, satisfaction, retention, and graduation rates.
Poster Sessions These sessions allow for 90 minutes of informal interaction with a large number of conference participants. Poster sessions are presented in the form of an exhibit and delivered primarily through the use of brief remarks, visual displays, and handout materials. Numerous poster sessions will be scheduled concurrently, and conference participants will be free to move from one poster session to another.
Concurrent Sessions These sessions allow for 30-45 minutes of formal presentation and 15-20 minutes of discussion. This session type is best for those wishing to make formal presentations with questions and interaction.
Concurrent session types:
Roundtable Discussions These sessions are designed to promote open discussion around a significant issue or theme. Rather than making a formal presentation, session facilitators will encourage and maintain substantive discussion among session attendees, not emphasizing any one program or institutional initiative. This session type is best for those presenters wanting to share ideas and gain information from other conference participants in an open forum.
Exhibitor Presentations These sessions provide vendors the opportunity to network with conference participants in a formal setting providing information on publications, products, or services. Presentations are scheduled in a 60-minute time slot during the conference.
Exhibitor Presentation Types:
