Presidential Sessions - WT Grant Collaborations

ASHE-PELL INSTITUTE COLLABORATION

Thursday, November 5th, 2:30 - 3:45 PM in Capitol 4
Title: Reflections on Connecting Research and Practice in College Access and Success Programs

This session will highlight the work of the authors who contributed essays to Reflections on Connecting Research and Practice in College Access and Success Programs. We would share survey results, and then have authors give a 3 minute "elevator speech" of their reflection. Then we would have breakout groups by reflection that participants could move to and hear more and engage in conversation about the reflection of most interest.
Conveners: Heather Rowan-Kenyon/Boston College, Margaret Cahalan/Pell Institute
Participants: Judy Marquez Kiyama/University of Denver, Kristan Venegas/University of Southern California, Angela Bell/West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, Paul Beasley/University of South Carolina, Mika Yamashita/Pell Institute, Ryan Wells/University of Massachusetts Amherst, Oscar Felix/Colorado State University, Christopher Mullin/State University System of Florida

ASHE – WICHE COLLABORATION

Thursday, November 5th, 4:00 - 5:15 PM in Granite ABC
Title: Translating research to policy to reduce inequality in state higher education outcomes: Lessons learned from multi-sector collaborations

Through a collaboration with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), ASHE-affiliated researchers and members of various policy organizations are evaluating how academic research can better inform and influence state higher education policies, especially in order to address issues of inequity in postsecondary access and outcomes. The panel will consist of perspectives on lessons learned from the collaboration between policy groups and academic researchers and will include a presentation of findings from a white paper from a year-long research group examining the most effective strategies for merging rigorous academic research with policymaking bodies on issues relating to access and equity in postsecondary education
Session Chairs: Victor Saenz/UT, Austin, Brian Sponsler/ECS
Presenters: Stella Flores/NYU, Brian Prescott/WICHE, Nick Hillman/University of Wisconsin, Katie Zaback/SHEEO
Respondent: Michelle Asa Cooper/IHEP 

ASHE-CIC COLLABORATION

Friday, November 6th, 9:00 – 10:15 AM in Granite ABC
Title: Beyond Research to Practice: Institutionalizing Collaboration Between ASHE Researchers and Smaller Private Institutions

The Council of Independent Colleges and ASHE have partnered to create a manuscript written by some of higher education’s most prominent scholars addressing the research to practice gap that exists for smaller private institutions. Learn what research needs small to mid-size private liberal-arts colleges have and participate in an interactive, fun discussion with scholars and practitioners about stories ripped from the headlines that address the opportunities and challenges these institutions face.

Chairs: Christopher Morphew/University of Iowa, Natalie Pullaro Davis/CIC, Harold V. HartleyIII/CIC
Participants: John Braxton/Vanderbilt University, Jim Hearn/University of Georgia, Laurie Schreiner/Azusa Pacific University, Nick Hillman/University of Wisconsin, Jillian Kinzie/Indiana University, Cynthia Wells/Messiah College 

ASHE-NAFSA COLLABORATION

Saturday, November 7th, 9:15 - 10:30 AM in Capitol 4
Title: Bridging the international higher education gap: Practitioner perspectives and research agendas

A collaborative effort between ASHE and NAFSA: Association of International Educators explores the gap between the work of higher education researchers and the work of international education practitioners. Through facilitated conversations and a NAFSA member survey, the project team will identify sets of professional priorities representing a diverse range of practice areas and institutional contexts across a complex and evolving field. By sharing these findings with higher education researchers, the session seeks to stimulate scholarship that takes advantage of NAFSA member knowledge and experience as well as the tools and perspectives of ASHE member researchers. Panelists will share preliminary data and lead discussion about implications and opportunities.

Chairs: Jenny Lee/University of Arizona, Kevin Hovland/NAFSA
Participants: Chris Glass/Old Dominion University, Simon Marginson/University College London, Amy Metcalfe/University of British Columbia, Sheila Schulte/NAFSA, Susan Twombly/University of Kansas

ASHE-NASFAA COLLABORATION

Saturday, November 7th, 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM in Granite ABC
Title: Affecting practice and policy with financial aid research: A collaboration between the Association for the Study of Higher Education and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Student financial aid plays a central role in helping make college affordable. Affordability is an on-going and increasingly important concern for postsecondary educators as well as policymakers. Although financial aid is among the most researched topics in higher education, there remains a disconnect between published scholarly research and the use of this research by financial aid practitioners. This presidential session will focus on areas of research identified by practitioners as important but that remain understudied. We will share results from a survey of and conversations with financial aid practitioners regarding how they use research in their daily work. In addition, panelists will consider how extant lines of financial aid research can be better communicated to practitioners. We also discuss the kinds of research (e.g., descriptive reports versus peer-reviewed) that practitioners value. Finally, we will engage in a discussion with audience members about areas of financial aid on which more research is needed for policy and practice.

Session Participants: Don Heller/Michigan State University, Megan McClean Coval/National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Charlotte Etier/NASFAA, Jacob Gross/University of Louisville