The Educational Policy Institute, LHMartin Institute, and ATEM are pleased to sponsor

2008 Student Success Workshop

Christchurch/Melbourne

Special Workshops Announced!

Sunday, September 28, 2008, ATEM Conference, Christchurch, NZ

(Christchurch Convention Centre, Room 7 or 3)

Friday, October 3, 2008, LH Martin Institute, Melbourne, AU

(University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus, Ormond College, Kaye Scott Room)

This year, EPI is partnering with the LH Martin Institute and ATEM for a half-day workshop on student success in tertiary/higher education. The workshops wil focus on the following topics:

• Why students leave
• The cost-benefit factor of student success
• Defining an institutional initiative
• Best practices in increasing student retention and success
• Moving institutions: strategies for campus change

PRESENTERS

Dr. Watson Scott Swail, the president of EPI and an international expert in student retention, will lead the workshops. Dr. Swail has conducted dozens of workshops and assisted over 200 institutions in dealing with student retention. During the workshop, Dr. Swail will introduce his framework for student retention, as published in the Jossey-Bass publication, Minority Student Retention in Higher Education.” This framework has been used by institutions around the world and Dr. Swail is a sought-after speaker and consultant on the issue. He has also coordinated annual workshops called Retention 101. For more information on Retention 101, click here. For more information on Dr. Swail, click here. (Christchurch & Melbourne Workshops)
Dr. Ian Dobson, Director of EPI Australia, will also present. Dr. Dobson holds a Ph.D. from Monash University (2004), with a dissertation entitled Equity, Social Mobility and Australian Higher Education Policy. He also earned a BCom (1970) from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma in Librarianship (1974) from RMIT. He worked in higher education institutions from 1971 until 2005, and continues to hold an honorary research appointment with Monash University. Aside from his formal employment posts, Dr. Dobson has operated as a consultant, author, and editor. Since 1993, he has published over 40 papers in scholarly refereed journals and has undertaken consultancies for a range of bodies, including several universities, the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, government departments and the Australian Council of Deans of Science. He was editor of the Journal of Institutional Research from 1997 to 2002, and currently edits the Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management. (Christchurch & Melbourne Workshops)
Dr. Lynn Meek is the Foundation Director of the L.H. Martin Institute at the University of Melbourne. Prior to this, Professor Meek was Director of the Centre for Higher Education Management and Policy  (CHEMP) within the School of Business, Economics and Public Policy. Trained in sociology of higher education at University of Cambridge, specific research interests include governance and management, research management, diversification of higher education institutions and systems, institutional amalgamations, organizational change, and comparative study of higher education systems. Professor Meek has published 27 books and monographs and numerous scholarly articles and book chapters. He is on the editorial board of several international journals and book series. He is a member of the UNESCO Scientific Committee for Asia and the Pacific. (Melbourne Workshop)
Dr. Sharon Parry, Director, Teaching and Learning Centre, Southern Cross University (Melboune only). Sharon is a Senior Lecturer in Teaching and Learning in the Unit. She works with groups and individual members of academic staff to enhance the quality of teaching, offering programs and workshops on a wide range of topics related to the academic development of university teachers. Her current research concerns the relationship between epistemological foundations of academic culture and approaches to learning, and her research fields are research degree supervision, educational program evaluation, discipline-specific writing, student assessment and the nature of academic work. Sharon has worked in research and development in higher education since 1984, and has been at Southern Cross since 1993. Prior to her appointment, she was a Lecturer in the Academic Development Unit at LaTrobe University. (Melbourne Workshop)
Dr. Glenda M. Crosling, Senior Lecturer and Education Advisor in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University, Australia. Dr. Crosling is the co-author of Improving Student Retention in Higher Education: the Role of Teaching and Learning. (Melbourne Workshop)
Dr. Margaret Heagney, Co-ordinator, Student Equity Unit, Monash University. Dr. Heagney is the co-author of Improving Student Retention in Higher Education: the Role of Teaching and Learning. (Melbourne Workshop)
Other presenters from Australia and New Zealand are currently being finalized. Check back here for updated information.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? The workshop is aimed at institutional practitioners, policymakers, and researchers who are interested in learning more and sharing their own particular insight into student retention, persistence, and success.

TENTATIVE AGENDA. The agenda is currently set as follows:

LOGISTICS. The Student Success Workshops run from 12noon to 4:30pm, including lunch and coffee, plus drinks following the workshop. Participants will also receive session materials that can be used at their institution. Cost for the one-day event is $195 (AUS). To register, click here, email us at info@educationalpolicy.org. Spaces are limited to maximize the interaction.

Listen to what others have said about EPI's student success workshops:

“Whether you are just beginning to develop a student success program or have already developed a draft proposal, this conference will meet your goals and move you toward success.”
-Bernice T. Johnson, Assist. Vice Chancellor for Academic Services (North Carolina Central University)

“Thank you and your entire team for a wonderful learning experience. I am very happy I drove for 12 hours to attend. I am taking back to UMES much that can help us to improve our retention of students. Like you, I do not favor ‘top-down’, but at times, ‘those in charge must take charge’. In this case, I will.”
-Dr. Thelma Thompson, President, University of Maryland Eastern Shore

“Very comprehensive, engaging, and effective. Content was rigorous and very though provoking.”
-Terri Eckel, Associate Director Financial Aid (Northern Arizona University)

“This program causes you to think about what you are doing related to retention and immediately gives you new ideas of that you might try. It forces you to think about a framework for retention”.
-Jill Pfister, Assistant Dean (Ohio State University – Food Agriculture, and Environmental Science)

“The retreat exceeded my expectations and provided me with excellent information that is immediately applicable.”
-Katherine Draughon, Director of Institutional Research, University of Southern Indiana

“The program does a lot for student services and support programs. After attending this retreat, we realize there’s more we can do to enhance our program. All of the information provided at the retreat was invaluable.”
-Janice Wiggins, Director, Indiana University

“The retreat was focused and contains relevant content that is to-the-point.”
-Dr. Ron Drayton, Vice President for Arts and Sciences, Midlands Technical College

“Overall, great conference. I would (and will) recommend EPI to other colleagues. Great setting/venue, good schedule with some down time.”
-Shawna Garrett, Dean of Enrollment Management, Acadia University

To see the institutions that have been served by EPI since 2005, CLICK HERE .

Workshop Materials:

Christchurch Presentation

Melbourne Presentation

The Art of Student Retention

Retaining Minority Students in Higher Education

Other Resources: