Resources for Colleges
2008 Strategy Institute
The 2008 Achieving the Dream Strategy Institute took place in Atlanta, Georgia, February 4 – 8, 2008. Nearly 900 people participated, including teams of faculty and administrators from each of the 83 Achieving the Dream colleges in 15 states, as well as state policymakers, coaches and data facilitators working with the colleges, invited guests and representatives from partner organizations and funders. Institute participants attended sessions on strategies for increasing student success while members of state policy teams discussed plans for advancing the Achieving the Dream policy agenda in their states.
Among the highlights of the 2008 Strategy Institute:
- An engaging keynote address by Darla Moore (Vice President of Rainwater, Inc., and founder and chair of the Palmetto Institute), who spoke on “Connecting Equity and Achievement with Global Competitiveness,” drawing on her successful business experience and generous philanthropic contributions to higher education. Her views on the resolution of “longstanding challenges about equity and opportunity” resonated with the audience.
- Three Pre-Institute Workshops, including: “Through the Lens of Inequity: Strategies for Improving Equity and Excellence” (Lauro F. Cavazos, Michael Poindexter, et al); “Evaluation Workshop” (Thomas Brock and Elizabeth Zachry); and “It Takes a Community to Help All Students Succeed: Lessons about Community Engagement from Achieving the Dream Colleges” (Lara Birnback and Maria Martha Chavez).
- Four “Spotlight Sessions” led by invited community college experts including “Engines of Completion” (Cliff Adelman); “Lessons of Equity and Excellence” (Lauro F. Cavazos); “Getting Some Traction on the Higher Ed Side of the Ledger” (Kati Haycock); and “Starting Right: Making SENSE of the Entering Student Experience” (Kay McClenney and Arleen Arnsparger)
- More than 80 interactive workshops, most presented by experienced Achieving the Dream college teams, where participants talked in depth about key strategies and institutional practices. Repeat workshops focused on structural inequity issues, eSTATS to support institutional research, and learning communities.
- “Going Green” – In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint on the environment, Achieving the Dream became more eco-friendly in 2008 by using recycled materials for the programs, directories, tote bags, lanyards (complete with the message, “I used to be a soda bottle”) and water bottles. Attendees were encouraged to re-use their water bottles throughout the Institute (with water stations available for refill). Recycling containers were provided for unwanted paper materials and the hotel guest rooms were changed to energy efficient light bulbs.
View hightlights from the 2007 Achieving the Dream Strategy Institute
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