Preconference Workshops

Outreach and Engagement Staff Workshop

What: A preconference workshop sponsored by the Engagement Scholarship Consortium
When: Sunday, September 27, 6:00­–8:00 p.m., and Monday, September 28, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (with reception to follow)
Where: The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel
Registration fee: $75

Who Should Attend?

The Outreach and Engagement Staff Workshop (OESW) is designed for university staff and nontenure-track faculty members who, in roles distinct from those of tenure-track faculty, facilitate, manage, direct, and administrate ongoing projects, programs, services, research, and relationships with community partners. These professionals span the boundaries between campus and community and have an emerging professional identity and a unique set of strengths and challenges that will be addressed in this workshop. Because of the overlap in roles, skills, and values, "boundary spanners" who facilitate community-university partnerships on behalf of community organizations are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Theme

From Theory to Practice: Community-University Engagement through a Critical Lens
By examining our role as boundary spanners through a critical lens, we can identify ways in which we can improve our practice, our building of partnerships, and our ability to promote equitable social problem solving. Through this session we seek to reveal power relationships, differences between equality and equity, social justice imperatives (our comfort or discomfort with this approach), and the role that institutions can play in responding to community needs — all in the context of reciprocal community-university partnerships. Organized and led by peer practitioners, the workshop will offer a variety of activities and content on this theme.

The goal of this OESW workshop is to:

  • engage participants in exploring the common roles, skills, and values of successful community-university boundary spanners
  • deliver tools and resources for addressing key challenges
  • provide a venue for practitioners to establish visibility and a voice in the field of community-university partnerships
  • strengthen interpersonal and intercampus engagement networks to support learning, resource sharing, problem solving, innovation, and collaboration

To learn more about the OESW or the national practitioner network, contact OESW Logistics Chairs Katherine Loving at kaloving@uhs.wisc.edu or 608-263-5714, or Susan Erickson at susaneri@iastate.edu or 515-294-1790.

Pre-College Programming Workshop

What: A preconference workshop sponsored by the Engagement Scholarship Consortium
When: Monday, September 28, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Where: The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel
Registration fee: $95

The Pre-College Programming Workshop is a new opportunity for the Engagement Scholarship Consortium. Postsecondary institutions serve a valuable role in communities, not only by educating college students but also by providing a wide range of youth programming. This workshop will explore ways in which universities and institutions, through youth programs, have had a significant impact on student decisions to enroll in postsecondary programs.

The Pre-College Programming Workshop will be filled with four tracks of professional development for all levels of faculty and staff involved with college or university programs that work with youth. Discussions will focus on program management, sustainability, recruitment, community and university impact, and how to evaluate effectively. If you have a University youth program or are thinking about starting one, this session is for you. Join us as we discuss best practices of youth and pre-college programs. You may register for the pre-college preconference session only or in conjunction with the full conference.

  • PK–12 partnerships — Things to think about and the benefits
  • Working with Diverse and Underserved Youth
  • Building the pipeline — Forum/Panel discussion about recruitment
  • Community Impact and Evaluating Effectively

Who Should Attend?

  • Postsecondary education administrators, faculty, staff, and graduate students
  • Program directors and coordinators (GEAR UP, Upward Bound, Trios, and similar programs)
  • K-12 teachers, counselors, and administrators
  • Community representatives interested in the role of pre-college and youth development programs

About the Workshop

This workshop will provide insight and information about accessing resources, building networks, and utilizing best practices in evaluations, through exploration of successful programs across the United States. Throughout the day we will take an in-depth look at goals for pre-college programs, and their place in a university and community.

Making the Case:

  • The need for pre-college and college access programs

Pre-college Programs Are: 

  • designed to educate pre-college age students
  • offered and delivered by university faculty, staff, and designated representatives
  • intense in content level and intentional contact hours
  • purposeful in exposing students to potential careers and academic programs on the university level

Evaluating and Tracking:

  • Discussion will focus on identifying measurable outcomes for pipeline programs and their effectiveness in transitioning students from "cradle to career" in college success

Take Away

All participants will receive a workbook and training materials to continue advancing their knowledge and skills.

Assessment and Metrics Workshop for ESC Conference

What: A preconference workshop sponsored by the Engagement Scholarship Consortium
When: Monday, September 28, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Where: The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel
Registration fee: $95

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is intended for administrators, faculty, and staff who wish to evaluate the effect of their engagement endeavors on students and/or community partners. Experience levels from beginner (no experience with assessment) to intermediate (some experience with assessment) will find this workshop useful. 

About the Workshop

Engagement is successful to the extent that it positively affects project and student and/or community partner outcomes. This interactive workshop is designed to help participants capture the impact of their engaged scholarship project(s). The sessions will address assessment of a variety of engagement experiences, including study abroad, undergraduate research, and community engagement.

After this workshop, participants should know the process involved with:

  • developing  intended outcomes for their project
  • determining engagement activities that align with those outcomes
  • selecting appropriate measures
  • collecting data
  • presenting and using results

Take Away

Participants will receive resources to help them develop their own assessment plan.

First-Time Attendee Orientation

When: Monday, September 28, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Where: The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel

First-time attendees of the ESC Conference will want to participate in the Newcomers Workshop to get an overview of the ESC from our consortium's leaders. You'll learn about this year's conference highlights, including sessions and programming that you will want to attend. You will also meet your conference buddy — an experienced ESC participant who can help you get the most out of the conference.

If you are a first-time attendee, please identify yourself on the online registration form and at the registration desk. Welcome to the ESC!