The Learning Brief Initiative
CAHEP has begun the Learning Brief Initiative with Inside Higher Ed and is now accepting manuscript submissions. The purpose of a learning brief is to provide research grounded commentary and group discussion questions inspired by a news story published in Inside Higher Ed. A learning brief consists of four components: an Inside Higher Ed news story with management and/or policy implications, approximately 1,000 words of commentary grounded in the scholarship of that subject, a set of 4-5 discussion questions suitable for classroom or professional development use, and a list of 4-6 additional reading suggestions. The learning briefs will be published electronically and be available as a free pdf download on the ASHE-CAHEP website and via a link from the Inside Higher Ed website and their subscriber emails. Submissions are via email attachment to one of the co-editors: Joshua Powers, Indiana State University (jopowers@indstate.edu) or Rhonda McClellan, University of Texas at Arlington (rmcclellan@uta.edu).
CAHEP Developing Guidelines for Higher Education Masters Programs
CAHEP is working on a project to provide informed guidance to higher education masters programs as it regards curricular emphases and quality enhancement. The materials in development are designed to provide programs with guidance on setting standards, student outcome objectives, and material content coverage suitable for adaptation to particular program emphases. More information will be forthcoming.
ASHE Conference 2009
Early Career Workshop (Wed.): 18 registrants; very strong evaluations; liked off-campus; appreciated combination of panel presentation and roundtable engagement; Gary Poole keynote superb; audio recorded panels and keynote for possible later accessibility for persons who could not attend ASHE this year (additional means of financial support for CAHEP programs).
Barbara Townsend Dinner at Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant (Wed.): 38 attendees (18 from wksp.; 20 program coordinators and/or CAHEP leadership team). Outstanding event! Estimated $1,000 now available for CAHEP project to honor Barbara Townsend, seeded through donations received, willingness to pay for one’s dinner, and general revenues that exceeded expenses for overall CAHEP program. Brainstormed ideas to honor Barbara at dinner (e.g., naming of Thurs. featured keynote or Early Career Faculty Workshop; scholarship for early career faculty to attend ASHE from smaller program(s) with fewer resources; student scholarships; endowment?).
Points of Pride/Issues of Concern Survey (Wed): Sample program points of pride themes: program growth, student retention/success, diversity/social justice orientation, innovative delivery methods, faculty colleagues, initiatives to support dissertation completion. Sample issues of concern themes: Resource constraints, program threat, need for better focus on student outcomes/assessment/guidelines to inform program quality, program vulnerability in tough economic times, understaffing in the face of program growth, curriculum revision needs.
CAHEP Breakfast and Business Mtg. (Thurs.): New officers elected: Chair: Adrienne Hyle, VC: Michelle Nilson; Sect.: Karen Haley, Program Co-Chairs: Les Goodchild & Ashley Sieman; Finance & Development Chair: Barbara Bush; Communications Co-Chairs: Karen Card & Crystal Chambers. Josh Powers and Rhonda McClellan are co-editors of Learning Brief Project.
Learning Brief Roll-Out (Thurs.): Josh Powers, Doug Lederman, and Marilyn Amey rolled out the Learning Brief initiative at Business Meeting. Posters placed at conference, flyers on tables at awards lunch, and website up and operational through CAHEP site. More promotions to come.
Other Informational Items Presented at Business Meeting (Thurs.): (a) State/province/regional representatives initiative: 20 of 50 U.S. states set; representatives from Canada and ultimately from other regions of the world underway. Role of reps: Strategic communications, information gathering, project support; (b) Program Guidelines Project; (c) graduate student needs survey.
CAHEP Pre-Conference Program (Thurs.): 40-50 attendees across sessions each hour; sessions and featured keynote well received. Keynote signed books as gifts for Early Career presenters (provided free by Jossey-Bass). Thank you to our sponsor: Univ. of MN!
Future Direction Plans
1. Planning for ASHE 2010 and leveraging assets of Indianapolis (e.g., IUPUI/NCAA/Statehouse as possible locations for Early Career Seminar and theme link).
2. State/province/national region representatives project
3. Further development of project to honor Barbara Townsend & support campaign.
4. Guidelines for graduate programs
5. Professional development opportunities at moments other than general conference (e.g., webinar(s))?
