September 25, 2009
at Northern Illinois University
DeKalb Campus
For more information:
815-753-1535
firstconn@niu.edu
Click here for photos of the event
Educators committed to student success are continuously looking for ways
to improve the college experience. What can we do to better engage
students' curiosity and interest in learning? How can we make choices
for academic programs and student services that increase students'
chances for success? What factors matter most in planning for the
success of new students?
This regional one-day drive-in conference provides a forum for academic and student affair professionals to share ideas, resources, and engaging pedagogy to enhance their instruction of first-year students.
Keynote speaker:
Dr. John N. Gardner
John N. Gardner is an educator, university professor and administrator, author, editor, public speaker, consultant, change agent, student retention specialist, and first-year students’ advocate. He is best known as the initiator and scholar of an international reform movement in higher education to call attention to and improve what he has coined “The First-Year Experience.” [click here to read more]
Click here to view his presentation from the Midwest Drive-In Conference.
Plenary speaker:
Dr. Betsy Barefoot
Betsy Barefoot serves as Co-Director and Senior Scholar for the Policy Center on the First Year of College in Brevard, North Carolina. Dr. Barefoot is directly involved in the development of instruments and strategies to evaluate and improve the first college year. In addition, she conducts seminars on the first-year experience across the United States and in other countries and assists other colleges and universities in implementing and evaluating first-year programs.
[click here to read more]
Click here to view her presentation from the Midwest Drive-In Conference.