2012 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

ACA SUMMIT XV—2012
  The Changing Landscape of Higher Education in Appalachia:
Opportunities, Challenges, and Successes

 

 

*All presenters are responsible for the registration fee.  Please be sure all co-presenters listed in your proposal have this information.  Registration deadline for presenters is the close of business on Monday, September 1, 2012.* 

 

 

The Appalachian College Association Summit XV will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, at the Knoxville Convention Center on Friday, October 12 and Saturday, October 13, 2012.

Faculty and staff of ACA member schools are invited to submit proposals for presentations that address the implementation, challenges, and success of engaged teaching and learning strategies within an Appalachian context that reflects the realities of the 21st Century learner. Presentations may be fifteen minutes or fifty minutes in length.

The Summit Planning Committee feels that engaged teaching and learning in the 21st century requires   openness on the part of faculty to new ideas and approaches as we embrace the opportunities afforded by a diverse student body, changing technology, and global connectivity. Our classrooms and campuses look and feel different than they did ten years ago; how do we maintain and improve upon the best practices of our small private colleges while acknowledging the changes in the world.  By sharing what you’ve done and what you think, all ACA member faculties can benefit. There are many different approaches to addressing this theme, but we’d like to offer some questions that may serve as prompts (note, these are not the only questions or the best questions—they are intended to get you started thinking about the topic you want to present):

  • How do you improve active engagement of students in their learning?
  • How do you measure the success of this engagement in terms of student learning?
  • How do you help students who come with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and abilities?
  • How is Appalachia changing for higher education?
  • What are some of the successes you’ve had in meeting the challenges of these changes?
  • How can we assist student success in access, retention, and completion?
  • How are new technologies having an impact on students and learning?
  • What role does technology play in addressing changes in Appalachia and in higher education in Appalachia?
  • How can information competency/literacy affect our success in the face of these challenges and opportunities?
  • How do you use high-impact learning practices (such as undergraduate research, service learning, global studies, etc.) to reach 21st century Appalachian students?

Whether your proposal discusses digital humanities, preparing students for college-level mathematics, or increasing access and success for the diverse students of Appalachia, we want to hear what you’re doing and what you’re thinking about as you work with the students of Appalachia.

We are not designating specific topic areas but will review all proposals to determine groupings.

Proposals must be submitted online and should be one to two pages, single spaced by the close of business on Thursday, April 5, 2012, for consideration. Please submit a short paragraph that will serve as a descriptive abstract for the session to use in the program; in addition, you will need to address specifically your plan on how to engage your audience. Criteria for evaluation will include topic, innovation, and program balance. You will be notified by Monday, April 30, 2012, whether or not your proposal is accepted.

Discipline forums currently under consideration are: Sciences, Honors Programs, Learning Centers, First Year Programs, Library, International Studies, Religion and Philosophy, Undergraduate Research, Computer Science/Computer Information Systems/Instructional Technology, Education, Health Sciences, Latino Students in Appalachia, and Business. This year, discipline sessions will be held in the morning of Friday, October 14. All proposals will be considered for the general session with the Summit Planning Committee assigning some to the discipline groups. 

 

Notification emails have been sent to those that have submitted proposal applications.

If you have questions, please email Irene Burgess.