Community and Economic Engagement Network Track

Harnessing Industry Pathways and Partnerships to Drive Student Success on Campus and in Degrees
Harbor 2 | Community and Economic Engagement | Strategic | Tag: Faculty, Policy
Join university innovators and Google in an interactive discussion about delivering on-campus value with innovative industry partnerships and unlocking pathways into degrees with A.C.E. recommended industry certificates. Case studies from Google and New York University showcase different approaches to effective industry-university partnerships. Leaders from Ball State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, and University of North Texas will deliver concrete approaches to faculty governance and implementing degree pathways, and to pairing certificates with curriculum. Panelists will share how industry partnerships have impacted educational access, diversity, affordability, and educational outcomes; powered recruitment; and delivered real value to students.

• Quentin McAndrew, Coursera
• Adam Fein, University of North Texas
• Norma Scagnoli, Illinois Institute of Technology
• John Nicholas, Ball State University
• Rob Magliaro, Grow with Google
• Richie Karaburun, New York University

Roundtable Sessions
Harbor 1
Roundtables are table-based, small-group, guided discussion about a specific and timely topic, question, or issue. During one, 60-minute concurrent session, multiple Roundtable presenters concurrently share their ideas at one round table each, and promote the sharing of thoughts, solutions, and questions among their respective table attendees. Roundtables are designed to provide space and time to important but particularly nuanced topics which deserve attention, and as such, attendees are free to move between tables. The Roundtable session will have a moderator who will welcome attendees, invite them to find a topic/table of their choice, and watch the time, inviting presenters to host their discussions twice during the hour, to allow attendees to engage with up to two different topics. 

A Transformative Micro-Credential for Civic Engagement Beyond the Ballot
Community and Economic Engagement | Foundational | Tag: Diversity & Inclusion
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about teaching tools from The Citizens Campaign, including a self-paced asynchronous online course with an automatically generated certificate of completion.  This micro-credential is being offered as a non-credit community resource through Continuing Education at institutions like Rutgers University, Miami Dade College, and North Carolina A&T University, where Assistant Provost Tonya Amankwatia (the roundtable facilitator) has championed it across campus. Topics of discussion will include the logistics of offering the course, what campus and community stakeholders can benefit, and the power of supporting civic skills through continuing education platforms to benefit the community in harmony with the mission of land-grant and anchor institutions.

• Tonya Amankwatia, North Carolina A&T State University

Revolutionizing Professional Education: Harnessing AI for Workforce-Relevant Programs
Carlton | Community and Economic Engagement | Strategic | Tag: AI
Skills-based hiring and education have become urgent imperatives in a post-pandemic world characterized by automation, emerging disciplines, changes in the nature of work, and a retiring Boomer generation. This session addresses how AI can effectively and responsibly address this need. It demonstrates how AI can be used to identify skills in demand by local industries, to develop relevant workforce programs, to inform curricula, and to provide insights when designing courses and programs. Participants will see real-world examples and gain a richer understanding of the possibilities and pitfalls of using AI to align professional and continuing education with workforce requirements.

• Kristen Fox, Business Higher Education Forum
• Stephen Harmon, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Robby Robson, Eduworks Corporation
• Sandra Von Doetinchem, Eduworks Corporation

The Value of Lifelong Learning to Universities and Communities
Burroughs | Community and Economic Engagement | Foundational |
Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLIs) span 50 states with 116,000+ engaged member/learners, “50 and better.” Each is as unique as its host university and brings exceptional value to its members, university, and surrounding community. This session features three Institutes, their national association, and recent research on the 125 thriving outreach programs.

• Stacey Rivera, Northwestern University
• Donna Anderson, University of Southern Maine
• Toniann Leavitt, University of New Hampshire
• Jim Hermelbracht, University of Massachusetts Boston
• Kari Fagin, Northwestern University

Think Globally, Act Locally: How Rice University Endeavors to Solve the World’s Most Challenging Problems by Starting in Houston, TX
Marina III | Community and Economic Engagement | Strategic |
Rice University, an R1 research university, has a big vision for the future which requires strong ties to their diverse community. This session explores how Rice’s online and professional continuing education unit, The Glasscock School, helps reshape perceptions of exclusivity to engage locals in solving Houston’s… and the world’s… most challenging problems.

• Robert Bruce, Rice University
• Lee Maxey, MindMax

• Community and Economic Engagement (Marina II)
  Award Presentation | UPCEA Engagement Award

Leveraging University Research for Outreach: A Comprehensive GIS Training Program for Tribal Communities
Marina II | Community and Economic Engagement | Strategic |
This session invites collaboration and discussion among community and economic engagement leaders and practitioners interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the potential of university research as a catalyst for building transformative outreach programs. Together, we will explore how to identify outreach opportunities and capitalize upon existing research funding and partnerships to serve as hubs for building community-driven outreach. Learn first-hand from members of NOAA and the Bureau of Indian of Affairs (BIA) about how MSU is harnessing intellectual and continuing education resources to meet federal agency objectives while advancing the university’s outreach mission.

• Dixie Cartwright, Mississippi State University
• John Cartwright, Mississippi State University
• David Vogt, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Branch of Geospatial Services

Workshops utlize extended time (70 min) to provide deep dives for participants to be actively, tangibly engaged in their own learning via collaboration and hands-on interaction.

Advancements in Prison Education:  Best Practices from Three UPCEA Institutions
Commonwealth C | Community and Economic Engagement | Applied | Tag: Faculty
Recent research proves that education reduces recidivism.  However, the ability for an incarcerated individual to access higher education differs state to state.  In addition, colleges and universities face many challenges in delivery programs, accessing learners and implementing new teaching and learning tools. Pell Grant availability has enabled more individuals to address one barrier … funding; and has also energized many colleges and universities to provide additional programs, as well as greater access to degrees.  California State Dominguez Hills, Northwestern University and Washington University in St. Louis have all had successes reaching different audiences and will share their stories so other institutions can address this societal opportunity.

• Kevin Windhauser, Washington University in St. Louis
• Jim Fong, UPCEA
• George Calderaro, Columbia University
• Lynda Wilson, California State University, Dominguez Hills
• Matthew Luckett, California State University, Dominguez Hills
• Seth Meisel, Northwestern University

Moderator: Laurel Hogue, University of Central Missouri

The Work Continues but the Roles May Not: Embracing DEI Work in an Unstable Climate
Marina IV | Community and Economic Engagement | Applied |
Many would argue the SCOTUS decision on Affirmative Action paired with state-level attacks on free speech and diversity and inclusion programs has created an inhospitable climate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives on postsecondary campuses. Join members of UPCEA’s D&I committee and other panelists as they discuss campus climates, internal and external political pressures, and the career paths for postsecondary leaders that have a passion for DEI work.

• Tiffany Townsend, Purdue Global
• Shino John, Rutgers University
  
• Del Ruff, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
  
• Pam Wimbush, California State University, Sacramento
  
• Moderator: Mili Maldonado, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón

PowerUP: Reflections and Strategies for Intentional Mentoring and Sponsorship
Marina I | Community and Economic Engagement | Applied | Tag: Diversity & Inclusion
Are you ready to PowerUP your career? Are you prepared to help the next generation of higher education online and professional continuing education leaders advance? In today’s rapidly changing world, mentorship has emerged as a powerful and widely utilized tool for professional development. Additionally, the mentorship experience has become a crucial means to bridge the gap between knowledge acquisition and its practical application. This session focuses on key discussion points, hands-on activities, role play conversations, tools and strategies for mentoring and sponsorship. Participants will understand the benefits that these activities bring to rising professionals as well as how they can positively impact an organization.

• Marie Martin, University of California, Riverside
• Annette Roberts Webb, University of California, Merced
• Krissy Collins, University of California, Irvine
• Marjaneh Gilpatrick, Northern Arizona University Online & Innovative Ed
• Kimberly Love, Weber State University

Ready to Work: Partnering with Local Government to Meet Local Employment Needs
Marina II | Community and Economic Engagement | Strategic | Tag: Diversity & Inclusion
San Antonio’s “Ready to Work” (RTW) program allows qualifying individuals to receive tuition assistance for industry-recognized certifications aligned with targeted occupations in high demand well-paid careers. The University of Texas at San Antonio is partnering with the City of San Antonio on this initiative by providing training in industry-recognized certifications participants. This session will present (RTW) and how it was implemented city-wide with higher education institutions among others to provide training for individuals. This session explores partnerships between higher education and local governments and workforce boards; goals for similar programs, and lessons learned after the completion of the first year.

• Edwin Blanton, University of Texas at San Antonio
• Melissa Mahan, University of Texas at San Antonio
• Mike Ramsey, City of San Antonio