[Ailist] Request for proposal

[Dawn Dole]

from: KAY LEVANDOWSKI  klevand1 at kent.edu

Appreciative Advising: 
Creating Supportive Relationships and Environments
An exploration of techniques to increase student success and retention
7th Annual KASADA Conference & 
1st Annual University of Akron Advising Conference

Friday, May 22, 2009

An A collaborative conference with Kent State University and the University of Akron

Call for Proposals:
The Kent Academic Support and Advising Association and the University of Akron are looking for your creative and innovative proposals for the 7th annual KASADA Conference and 1st annual University of Akron Advising Conference, Appreciative Advising: Creating Supportive Relationships and Environments.  The planning committee invites proposals for presentation related to student success and retention that are grounded in research and theory as well as presentations that share best practices, lead discussions, present innovative advising techniques, facilitate discussions on hot topics, and share collaborative approaches to advising.  Presentations can take any number of formats, from interactive workshops, round table discussions, panel conversations, and presentations.  Presentations will be one hour in length and will take place in both the morning and afternoon during the conference.

Who Should Submit a Proposal?
The planning committee encourages anyone interested in sharing ideas or experiences to submit a proposal.  Individuals, groups within advising units, cross-division teams, as well as groups outside of academic advising are all encouraged to submit proposals.

How Do I Submit a Proposal?
Please complete the attached Call for Proposals form with an abstract of your proposal no later than April 6th, 2009.  Forms can be submitted by e-mail, fax or mail to either of the individuals listed on the form.  

Conference Overview
The Kent Academic Support and Advising Association and the Academic Advisors at the University of Akron are pleased to announce a collaborative conference, Appreciative Advising: Creating Supportive Relationships and Environments.  The 7th annual KASADA Conference and the 1st annual University of Akron conference will be held on Friday, May 22nd, 2009 at the Professional Education and Conference Center at the Stark Campus of Kent State University in North Canton, OH.  The conference will focus on the concept of ‘Appreciative Inquiry,’ or techniques that focus on identifying the best in individuals, groups, and the greater community.

Appreciative inquiry is a rapidly growing discipline of positive change in organizational development pioneered by Case Weatherhead School of Management faculty.  The conference will examine appreciative inquiry from an advising perspective, with an exploration into ways that advisors, advising administrators, and other student affairs professionals can use a strengths-based approach to interactions in their daily activities with students, colleagues, and themselves.  Three facets of appreciative inquiry will be explored: students (appreciative advising), self (self-appreciation), and administration (appreciative leadership), with the ultimate goal of improving the student experience.  A foundational base of knowledge of appreciative inquiry is available at http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu.

Morning Keynote
The planning committee is excited to announce Jennifer L. Bloom, a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of appreciative advising, as the keynote for the conference.  Dr. Bloom is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Master’s degree program in the Higher Education & Student Affairs Program housed in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policies at the University of South Carolina. Prior to her appointment at the University of South Carolina in August, 2007, she served as the Associate Dean for Student Affairs & the Medical Scholars Program at the University of  Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. She earned her doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1995.  

Dr. Bloom served as the 2007-08 President of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).  She received the NACADA Outstanding Advising Administrator Award in 2005 and University of Illinois’ Campus Academic Professional Excellence Award in 2007. 

Dr. Bloom has co-authored two books. The first book, Career Aspirations & Expeditions: Advancing Your Career in Higher Education Administration, was released in 2003 and co-authored by Nancy Archer-Martin. The second book, The Appreciative Advising Revolution, was released earlier in September 2008 and is co-authored by Bryant Hutson and Ye He. Her research interests include appreciative advising, academic advising, career paths in higher education administration, leadership, and change management. 
	
Breakout Sessions
Presentations will be offered throughout the day from colleagues at Kent State University, the University of Akron, and the local community that focus on sharing best practices, research, and theory related to strategies and techniques for advising and administration that focus on improving student success.

Who Should Attend?
This conference, centered on techniques for improved interactions with students, colleagues and self, is relevant to all individuals who work with and support students.  Academic advisors, faculty members, deans, administrators, student affairs professionals and staff from all areas of Kent State University, University of Akron, and other local colleges and universities are all encouraged to attend.

Learning Outcomes:
•	Participants will examine national trends, research, and theories related to appreciative inquiry.
•	Participants will learn techniques to enhance advising and support skills for student success and personal growth.
•	Participants will understand the role of self-discovery in the student experience.
•	Participants will explore the connection between self-appreciation, appreciative leadership, and student success.
•	Participants will form collaborations and partnerships within and across colleges, campuses, and universities.