Full Schedule of Events
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Check-In & Breakfast
9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Opening Keynote “Mapping the Future of Student Success at American University”
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Thriving Spotlights: Champions for Student Success
12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Connect & Refresh: Faculty and Staff Affinity Groups (FSAGs) Lunch & Resource Fair (Free Professional Headshots!)
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Spark Tank: Solutions and Innovations for Student Success at AU
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Concurrent sessions hosted by different offices
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. AHealthyU Presents: AU Social & Desserts
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
9:30am – 10:45am Concurrent Sessions (See details below).
11:00am-11:50am Concurrent Sessions (See details below).
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm Lunch & Learn: Who Are Our AU Students?
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm Closing Session – Fostering a Culture of Collaboration
Session Schedule
Tuesday, August 13th
9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Mapping the Future of Student Success at American University
Location: Kerwin T-1
Speakers: Sally Amoruso (AU Board Trustee and Chief Partner Officer at EAB) & Ed Venit, Ph.D. (Managing Director of Strategic Research at EAB)
In this dynamic keynote, we will delve into the ever-evolving landscape of higher education exploring factors that are shaping the future of student success. As a community, we will begin to conceptualize the future of AU through the following lenses:
- The shifting demographics of today’s student body
- Trends in student preparedness for college-level coursework
- The evolving financial pressures faced by both institutions and students
- The growing importance of addressing student mental health and well-being
- Effective strategies for communicating the value proposition of a college degree in a competitive marketplace
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thriving Spotlights: Champions for Student Success
Location: Kerwin T-1
Presenters: Saagar Gupta, David Fletcher, Pallavi Kumar, Hannah Jardine, Noemi Enchautegui de Jesus, Amelia Gruber
Moderated by Andrew Toczydlowski join us for an inspiring session celebrating American University’s dedication to student success! Hear from a dynamic panel of Student Success Champions across various roles on campus and exemplify AU’s commitment to student thriving. They will share their unique perspectives, outstanding student success stories from the past academic year, and impactful initiatives that empower students to succeed on campus and beyond.
This session is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about:
- Inspiring stories of student perseverance, success, and accomplishment from Student Success Champions on campus
- The diverse and exciting ways faculty, staff, and administrators contribute to improving the student experience
Come celebrate our vibrant campus community and discover new ways to champion student success at American University!
12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Connect & Refresh: Faculty and Staff Affinity Groups (FSAGs) Lunch & Resource Fair (Free Professional Headshots!)
Location: Kerwin T-1 Lobby
Join us for a delicious lunch and a chance to connect with fellow members of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at American University! This is your opportunity to:
- Network with colleagues across campus and from various FSAGs
- Learn about the valuable resources offered by each FSAG
- Get a FREE professional headshot (perfect for updating your AU profile)
Come hungry, leave connected! Open to all AU employees
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Spark Tank: Solutions and Innovations for Student Success at AU
Location: Kerwin T-1
Moderated by Regina Curran
Be a part of the Spark Tank! Come listen to brilliant ideas and strategies from all over campus designed to propel student success at American University for the upcoming academic year. Join this interactive session to hear:
- Updates to certain units, operations, policies, and practices
- Scalable student-centered strategies from diverse campus members
- Ways to get engaged with larger student success initiatives on campus
- Spark collaboration and wave of innovation to improve the student experience at AU
Coordinating Care with Data — Erika Ogedegbe, Michael Brown, and Jason Kennedy
Emerging Needs for Enhanced institutional Support with a Special Focus on Graduate Intenational Students — Senem Bakar
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Leadership Education at American University — Melanie Bullock and DaVanta Parker
Ask the Students! Student-Driven Solutions to Improve the Transfer Student Experience — Diane Palmer and Brad Knight
The Complex Problems Program Community-Building Experiment — Rebecca Comfort, Assistant Director, AU Core | Ashley Owens, Assistant Director, Academic Living-Learning Communities, UEAS | Brigid Maher, Faculty Director, Complex Problems & University College, UEAS; Professor, Film & Media Arts, SOC
Eagles DO flock: Promoting a Sense of Connection Among Undergraduates — David Haaga
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Late Afternoon Sessions
Locations TBD
Session 1: Student Success Unlocked: Academic Support and You
Presenters:
Lakeisha Adamson, Assistant Director of Academic Coaching
Jess Edwards, Assistant Director of Student Academic Services
Kayla Hyland, Coordinator of The Writing Center
Amanda Kleinman, Academic Coach
Victoria Kreutzer, Academic Coach
Michelle Mondrey, Academic Coach
The goal of this workshop is to broaden the understanding for campus partners on the academic supports that are available to AU students. During this session, the focus is to provide faculty and staff with the information they need to make referrals to the academic support office for their students. This will include insights into when and why to refer students throughout the semester. In addition, which strategies or resources that could assist students with specific concerns such as time management, content-based learning, writing skill development and more. We will explore the relationship between Academic Support (Academic Coaching, PASS, SI, and the Writing Center) and the greater AU community.
Session 2: AU Abroad and the Career Center: Supporting Students and Internships Abroad
Presenters: Liz Adema, Matthew Stifter, Brian Rowe, and Wangui Kimari.
This session will focus on the collaboration between AU Abroad and the AU Career Center to support students on study abroad programs that have internships. We will talk about the variety of internship opportunities available through our existing programs and partnerships while also discussing how the experience of studying abroad, and having an internship abroad, map across NACE competencies. This session will be aimed at undergraduate-supporting faculty and staff. The goal will be to both inform the community about study abroad opportunities and Career Center resources and highlight the unique opportunity to do for-credit internships abroad. We will have a faculty member from our AU Nairobi Center join us remotely to talk about how the academic aspect of internships is structured on the program, and the student experience in those internships.
Session 3: AU Cornerstone: Madrid SIS Scholars- A Case Study for Cross-Campus Collaboration In Fall 2023
AU Abroad and the Office of Undergraduate Education and Academic Services jointly launched the Cornerstone Madrid SIS Scholars program. Fifteen SIS undergraduate first-year students spent their first semester at AU studying in Madrid, Spain taking courses as a cohort for their International Studies degree and AU Core requirements. This program included extensive experiential learning opportunities which is a key component of the AU Centers’ study abroad programming as well as AU’s University College. The success of the program stemmed from collaboration across the university including the School of International Service, Housing and Residence Life, the Office of Financial Aid, and Undergraduate Admissions. This presentation will highlight how a holistic approach to the student experience with buy-in across campus partners led to the creation of a successful cohort-based program where students were able to build a strong sense of belonging and community.
Session 4: Do I Belong at AU? Creating a Culture of Belonging through Dialogue The Role of School Staff in Enhancing Student Success at American University
This proposal outlines a session that will center on using dialogue as a powerful tool for fostering a sense of belonging. The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) team will lead an interactive dialogue with faculty, and staff, focusing on their specific roles in nurturing a welcoming environment for students. The session will first differentiate between debate, dialogue, and discussion; then examine trust-based relational skills that emphasize empathy, compassion, and respect within the dialogical process; finally, CDI will engage participants in a real-time dialogue to explore their specific roles in cultivating a sense of belonging among students. Objectives: Understand the Concept of Dialogue: Differentiate between debate, dialogue, and discussion and their impact on building belonging. Identify Trust-Based Skills: Learn trust-based relational skills that incorporate empathy, compassion, and respect into the dialogue process. Role of School Staff: Discuss the crucial role of staff in promoting belonging and inclusion. Real-Time Application: Participate in an interactive dialogue facilitated by CDI to explore specific roles in fostering a sense of belonging for students. Session Structure: The session will be designed to be interactive and engaging, encouraging active participation from all attendees. It will be structured as follows: Running Time: 1 hour 15 minutes 1. Introduction (10 minutes) Welcome and overview of the session Introduction to the CDI team and their mission 2. Understanding Dialogue (15 minutes) Presentation on the distinctions between debate, dialogue, and discussion Discussion on the significance of each in the context of student belonging 3. Trust-Based Relational Skills (15 minutes) Interactive exploration of empathy, compassion, and respect in dialogues 4. Practical exercises to develop these trust-based relational skills 5. Real-Time Dialogue (25 minutes) Facilitated dialogue session led by CDI Exploration of staff roles in nurturing a sense of belonging through guided discussion 6. Conclusion and Q&A (10 minutes) Summary of key takeaways and action items Open floor for questions and additional insights from participants Expected Outcomes: Increased awareness among school staff about the importance of fostering a sense of belonging for student success. Identification of specific challenges and barriers to belonging at American University. Development of actionable strategies and initiatives that staff can implement to enhance inclusion and support for all students. Strengthened collaboration and communication among staff, fostering a more inclusive campus culture. Target Audience: School staff members, including administrative, academic, and support personnel Student affairs professionals Faculty members Diversity and inclusion officers Required Resources: Room with seating arrangements for interactive group activities Audio-visual equipment for presentations Conclusion: The proposed session by the CDI team aims to empower school staff with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to foster a sense of belonging among students at American University. By distinguishing between debate, dialogue, and discussion, and through practical, empathy-driven dialogue exercises, staff will be better equipped to create an inclusive and supportive campus environment. This session will contribute significantly to enhancing students’ success and well-being. We look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the Student Success Summit and work together towards creating a culture of belonging at American University.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
AHealthyU Presents: AU Social & Desserts
Location: Kerwin T-1
Online AU Trivia: Test your American University knowledge and compete for sweet prizes (from the comfort of your own couch!).
In-Person Scavenger Hunt: Explore the AU campus with a fun scavenger hunt designed to get you moving and (re)discovering hidden gems across campus! Enjoy delicious desserts while you participate.
Wednesday, August 14th
9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Early Morning Sessions
Session 1: The AU Library’s Holistic Support to Student Success
Location: TBD
Presenters: Natasha Griffin (University Library) & Amelia Costello (Resident Librarian)
According to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, student thriving requires holistic support for activities and services that promote mental, physical, and emotional wellness. When students thrive, they are, as Schreiner, Lewis, and Nelson note, “not only succeeding academically but also engaged in the learning process, investing effort to reach important educational goals, managing their time and commitments effectively, connected in healthy ways to other people, optimistic about their future, positive about their present choices, appreciative of differences in others, and committed to enriching their community.” Library faculty and staff are integral to supporting student thriving. The American University Library applies a holistic approach to supporting student success, from providing specific academic research support to developing many initiatives to support the broader well-being of our students. In this session, we will cover some of the ways in which we not only support student success, but also support staff and faculty who are engaged in the work of supporting graduate and undergraduate students.
Participants will be able to: * understand library services and processes in order to guide students to resources that promote holistic thriving * utilize library resources in order to support their own success * promote library services and resources as part of a holistic community support network for all members of our campus community
Session 2: Coordinating Student Success Efforts Using AU Technology
Location: TBD
Presenters: Gene Logan, Rachel Wu-Pong, Jenice Sabb-Dumas
CRM Advise. ServiceNow. Canvas. Colleague. WorkDay. AU has multiple platforms to keep notes and track student data, but is it utilized to its fullest potential? Are students asked to repeat the same questions over and over because of siloed information? This session will explore ways to utilize these and other systems to provide a better student experience. Come and share your own tips.
Session 3: Community Building with Sustainability
Location: TBD
Presenter: Megan Litke
American University has long prided itself as a leader in sustainability. We know from surveys the Office of Sustainability has conducted that many students choose AU because of sustainability achievements. An Inside Higher Ed poll from 2023 tells us that 71% of students want to take sustainability courses regardless of their major. We also know that 91% of AU students strongly agree or agree that we are exceeding environmental limits but only 53% believe their individual actions on campus matter. Research at Yale informs us that while 72% of American adults believe global warming is happening, only 36% even occasionally discuss it. The feelings of helplessness and isolation that stem from these disconnects can be countered through community. Students across campus have shared with our office a desire to see sustainability efforts highlighted across campus by all offices and departments. In this session, I will share tools and resources to help connect the work happening in individual offices across campus with traditional and less traditional sustainability topics. I will also share ways to use sustainability as a marketing tool, conversation starter, and tool for expanding inclusive spaces across campus. Finally, I will share ways for individuals and offices to earn recognition for their work that connects to sustainability because each of us at AU has a role to play in furthering our sustainability progress and we can use that role to help our students find community.
11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. | Late Morning Sessions
Session 1: Student Employment on Campus: Hiring Effectively While Helping Students Develop Workplace Skills
Location: TBD
Presenters: Gihan Fernando, Shirleyne McDonald, Jennifer Scott, and Rebekah Smith
Student Employment at AU is a collaboration between HR, the Office of Financial Aid (OFA), the Career Center and numerous offices that employ students. Career offices around campus help students apply for available positions, while OFA makes and administers Federal Work Study (FWS) awards. As AU employees, student workers are hired through HR systems that allow for appropriate tracking of time sheets, compensation, and withholding. Representatives from these offices will discuss:
- how to hire students effectively and equitably
- how FWS works
- the benefits to both employers and students of treating student workers as interns in a learning environment
- best practices for helping students develop career competencies that enhance their future employability while earning funds to help offset tuition and other expenses
- effective supervision practices including setting goals, conducting periodic evaluations, course correcting, and recognizing and celebrating successes.
We will conclude with some scenarios and have time to respond to questions from the audience
Session 2: Elevating Student Voices to Support Inclusive Classrooms and Sense of Belonging
Location: TBD
Presenters: Melissa Hawkins and Alison Chrisler
The Department of Health Studies engaged graduating 2024 seniors in the Public Health and Health Promotion majors (n = 49) to provide feedback and suggestions to support student success. During three sections of the spring capstone courses, students were asked to identify positive and detrimental classroom practices, in the department and across the university, that create (or inhibit) a sense of belonging and community. In one section, students were divided into small groups and asked to write examples on sticky notes and then placed those onto large pieces of paper at the front of the room; then, as a larger group, students provided more context around the examples provided. In the two other sections, students provided anonymous feedback. Over 100 student comments were grouped into key themes by Department of Health Studies faculty leaders. This information was then shared at the departmental annual retreat for discussion with the full faculty in small groups. Specifically, faculty discussed how the positive practices could be operationalized, and the detrimental practices minimized, or managed, in the classroom environment. This activity elevated student voices for faculty discussion and self-reflection in supporting classroom practices to build a more inclusive classroom environment and support student retention efforts. This interactive session will be of interest to undergraduate faculty and staff.
Session 3: Applying Universal Design to Academic Advising
Location: TBD
Presenters: Alyssa Harben, Rebecca Little, Talia Burnside, and Ellie Mendelsohn
Much of the resources surrounding supporting students with disabilities is targeted at either teaching faculty or staff who work specifically in disability resource offices. However, other student- facing staff, such as academic advisors, also regularly interact with students with disabilities and have the ability to significantly improve the disabled student experience by implementing disability informed best practices in their daily work. This session will discuss the principles of Universal Design and how they can be applied to developing disability informed advising philosophies and best practices. Universal design is an accessible design philosophy that originated in architecture that has been applied to many disciplines, including instructional design. Under the framework of universal design, a product, system or practice should be designed so that it can be used to the greatest extent possible by all people without the need for adaptation, modification, or specialized solutions. In order for advising practices to be informed by universal design, academic advisors must have a baseline of disability-related best practices in understanding the various needs of students with disabilities when supporting students in planning their course schedules as well as how the Academic Support and Access Center review and determine reasonable accommodations. This session is targeted primarily at both graduate and undergraduate student-support staff and will include resource handouts for attendees.
Lunch & Learn: Who Are Our AU Students?
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Location: Kerwin 1
Presenters: Jeremy Lowe, Ashlie Prioleau, and Michael Brown
Moderated by Michael Brown, Associate Director for Student Success Operations, this session features a dynamic lineup of student presenters delivering captivating “lightning talks” inspired by TED Talks. Hear directly from your fellow Eagles as they:
- Share their unique journeys and aspirations.
- Shed light on the challenges and opportunities they face.
- Spark discussions about how we can best support student success.
Come hungry for knowledge and leave inspired!
Closing Session – 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Location:
Presenter: Dr. Bridget Trogden
Research institutions like American University are celebrated for their tripartite mission of teaching, research, and service, which offers distinctive advantages and poses unique challenges in elevating undergraduate student success. By embracing a culture of innovation and collaboration, we see that institutions like ours can develop approaches that address the evolving needs of students and society. We all have a role to play. In this session, we will not only wrap up what we’ve learned from each other over the past two days, but we will reflect, interact, and ideate on ways we want to move the needle collectively and individually in supporting our students and our American University.