Facing the Divides: Diversity, Learning, and Pathways to Inclusive Excellence

October 21-23, 2010

Houston, Texas
Deadline for proposals: March 15, 2010.

Facing the Divides: Diversity, Learning, and Pathways to Inclusive Excellence will focus on the creative ways in which colleges and universities are building these bridges and investing in the kind of learning that matters for our shared futures. AAC&U’s Network for Academic Renewal invites faculty, administrators, student affairs educators, students, and others to submit proposals that highlight research, promising practices, and innovative institutional structures related to five key areas:

• Framing Goals for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence;
• Ensuring Access and Essential Learning;
• Developing and Assessing Curricular and Co-Curricular Programs;
• Fostering Identity, Civility, and Democratic Classrooms; and
• Building Institutional Capacity to Make Excellence Inclusive.

For more information, visit the conference Call for Proposals. Questions may be directed to Siah Annand at annand@aacu.org.

Webinar: An Empowering Heritage - Democracy Colleges and Freedom Struggles

January 28, 2010

Part of the webinar series, Agents and Architects of Democracy

AAC&U, in collaboration with the American Democracy Project (ADP), the Center for Democracy and Citizenship, the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), and others, is pleased to announce the second webinar in the Agents and Architects of Democracy series, entitled "An Empowering Heritage - Democracy Colleges and Freedom Struggles."    

The webinar series seeks to spark discussion and action on the future of higher education and its roles as architects and agents of thriving democratic societies. In the January 28 webinar, Harry Boyte will talk with two noted scholars, Scott Peters, Professor, Cornell University and Herman Blake, Inaugural Humanities Scholar in Residence at the Medical University of South Carolina. Acknowledging higher education’s complex past, “An Empowering Heritage” will examine the ways in which colleges and universities have sometimes functioned as “free spaces” where people develop civic power and confidence. The webinar will also consider the often-forgotten civic roles of land grant universities and “democracy colleges.” Join with other participants to explore the history and future of civic agency and the theory and practice of empowerment as an organizing theme for higher education.  

To learn more about the webinar or to register, please visit: http://www.scup.org/page/profdev/webcast/2010/democracy2.

Expanding the Circle: Creating an Inclusive Environment in Higher Education for LGBTQ Students and Studies

February 25-28, 2010

San Francisco, California

Expanding the Circle will address a variety of factors that have contributed to excluding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) issues from academic study and student life, as well as strategies to make campuses more inclusive for all students. Through five preconference workshops and forty concurrent interactive sessions, participants will have the opportunity to examine strategies and best practices that effectively integrate LGBTQ areas of teaching and research with student life activities. This will be among the first national conferences in higher education to focus on LGBTQ concerns by seeking connections across academic and student affairs, across kinds of diversities, across disciplines, and across LGBTQ subfields. The conference will direct attention to best practices and initiatives in higher education regarding:

• Curricular revision in the disciplines
• Interrelationship between LGBTQ and ethnic/racial/cultural identity
• Expansion of curricula in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
• Examples of LGBTQ research projects
• Counseling and support services for LGBTQ students
• Religious and spiritual issues for LGBTQ students
• Off-campus community resources for LGBTQ students
• Professional training programs for psychologists, counselors, and educators
• Faculty development programs concerning LGBTQ issues
• Campus dialogues and public forums addressing LBGTQ issues
• Role of higher education in the formation of public policy
• The new politics of inclusion
• Community support and networking opportunities for counselors, faculty, and student services professionals working on LGBTQ issues and concerns in isolation.

Registration information can be found at http://expandingthecircle.com/registration.

Contact: ExpandingTheCircle@ciis.edu.

Achieving Academic Excellence Through Diversity and Inclusion

National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) Fourth Annual Meeting

March 8-10, 2010

Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel

NADOHE is the principal organization of chief and senior diversity officers at institutions of higher education. The association was established in response to the growing need for higher education to leverage and maximize investments in diversity initiatives, foster research, provide opportunities for cross-institutional exchange, and enhance professional standards among diversity professionals.

For more information on the annual meeting or to register, visit www.aceannualmeeting.org/nadohe.cfm. For more information on NADOHE, visit www.nadohe.org.

11th Annual White Privilege Conference

April 7-10, 2010

La Crosse Convention Center, La Crosse, WI

The 11th annual White Privilege Conference (WPC) will help participants examine and explore difficult issues related to white privilege, white supremacy and oppression. WPC provides a forum for critical discussions about diversity, multicultural education and leadership, social justice, race/racism, sexual orientation, gender relations, religion and other systems of privilege/oppression. WPC is recognized as a challenging, empowering and educational experience. The workshops, keynotes and institutes not only inform participants, but engage and challenge them, while providing practical tips and strategies for combating inequality.

Program-related questions may be directed to Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. at eddie.moorejr@bush.edu or 206-326-7731. Other questions may be directed to Daryl Miller at dmiller4@uccs.edu or 719-255-4764.

Emerging Paradigms in Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference

November 4-7, 2010
Chicago, IL

Deadline for Proposals: April 1, 2010

Emerging Paradigms in Critical Mixed Race Studies, the 1st annual Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference, will take place at DePaul University in Chicago. The CMRS conference brings together scholars from a variety of disciplines nationwide. The 1st annual Critical Mixed Race Studies conference, hosted by De Paul University, is devoted to the general theme “Emerging Paradigms of Critical Mixed Race Studies.” We invite panels, seminars, and proposals that address this theme, although participants are welcome to propose papers and panels that speak to their own research, pedagogical, and community-based interests as well.

Contact: All queries and submissions should be directed to the conference
co-chair Laura Kina: lkinaaro@depaul.edu or 773-325-4048.