Five Minutes with ACHE

9.  Meeting new colleagues and catching up with old friends.  ACHE is a friendly group.  And continuing educators have instant rapport with each other because we don’t have to explain what the heck we do.  Or defend it as we sometimes have to back on campus.  If we say “non-credit,” we know what that means and how important it is.

8.  Having a voice in the future of the organization.  There are several changes in the Constitution and Bylaws that will be voted upon at the ACHE Business Meeting.  The meeting is open to the whole membership, and although only Institutional Representatives can vote on this issue, everyone can express his or her opinion.  Issues this important only come up occasionally, and your voice matters.

7.  Attending the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame Induction.  This is a rare opportunity to see important American and international leaders in our field honored by induction to the IACEHOF.   This year’s inductees include Hal Beder, Lalage Bown, Stephen Brookfield, Rosemary Caffarella, Brian Groombridge, Arnole Hely, Susan Imel, Juanita Johnson-Bailey, Sandra Morrison, Gunder Myron, Michael Newman and Cora W. Stewart. 

6.  Learning best practices and emerging successes.   We have the opportunity to learn from continuing educators how their operations are thriving even in difficult times.  What are they doing that you might not be doing?  We have more than 50 concurrent sessions and workshops where practitioners will share their exciting new programs, innovative ideas, and best advice on what works and what doesn’t.

5.  Learning about the best of what we do.  ACHE awards its best programs.  We recognize outstanding credit and non-credit programs, as well as exemplary programs for underserved             populations, older adults, and use of technology.  We will also honor the best marketing effort with the Crystal Marketing Award and the best article to appear in this year’s Journal of Continuing Higher Education with the Marlow Froke award.

4.  Recharging your batteries.  It’s hard out here for a continuing educator.  We face tremendous pressure in our field today.  This takes a toll.  Keynoter Rosanne Taylor tells us how we can transform ourselves from where we are to where we want to be.  And just to remind us why we entered continuing education in the first place, another keynoter, NBA referee Joe Crawford, inspires us with his own experiences as an adult student.

3.  Learning from the best and most informed.  Our Hot Topics Panel Discussion, Higher education and the recession:  Challenges, Trends and Creative Solutions, will give us important, practical, cutting-edge advice on how we can keep doing our job better.  Another keynoter, Peter Cappelli, Professor of Management at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Wharton School’s Center for Human Resources, will teach us how to succeed even with all the uncertainty in today’s economy.

2.  Benchmarking.  How many times are you asked: How are you doing? Are you doing the same programs other schools are doing?  Are you charging more?  Less?  How do you compare with continuing education operations at similar institutions?  Or at larger institutions?   We’ll have numerous opportunities to benchmark our programs through concurrent sessions, listening to presenters, and social networking activities.

And the number one reason for attending the ACHE Annual Conference and Meeting in Philadelphia is (Ba-doom Pshh!):

1.  Networking, networking, networking!  Sometimes call netweaving, ACHE members consistently report that this is their most valued benefit of belonging to the organization.  It’s so important to us that I’ve listed it separately at number one, even though many of the other nine could be categorized under this activity.  In Philadelphia, we’ll get to meet and mingle with leaders in continuing education and exchange cards, contacts, questions, and other information.  We can find mentors and help mentor others.  I often think that this is what ACHE does best.

In short, come join us in Philadelphia.  We look forward to seeing you there.

We've received requests for articles on the following topics:

• Experiences in marketing a continuing education program
• A profile of a unique continuing education program at your institution
• Experiences as a professor in adult continuing education
• Article or book reviews

If you're arriving on Sunday afternoon, this is an experience you don't want to miss! To attend, separate registration is required, so sign up today. more information...

The induction will begin with a panel discussion at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17 designed to highlight the careers of these notable names in adult continuing education. The event will then progress to the induction itself at 6:00, and finally wrap up with a reception at 7:00. All ACHE conference attendees are encouraged to attend! more information...

Three separate tours have been arranged for conference attendees who would like to experience more of what Philadelphia has to offer. On Saturday, Nov. 14, take the comprehensive, full-city tour The Philadelphia Story, "a fully guided tour via deluxe transportation through four centuries of art, architecture and Philadelphia's growth to the 2nd largest city on the east coast." On Sunday, Nov. 15, spend some time with the "Ducks": "This wacky-quacky day begins with the ever-popular Ride The Ducks for an approximately 70-minute tour and ride on the river ... all on board one amazing vehicle.  Follow the fun with an authentic Philly cheesesteak lunch!" Finally, on Monday, Nov. 16, travel back in time with the Colonial Philadelphia Experience "a fully-guided tour both on-bus and on-foot through America's Birthplace - the heart of Philadelphia's historic district." more information and to sign up...

• The first U.S. stock exchange was in Philadelphia.
• Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth, once owned the Walnut Street Theater.
• The Walnut Street Theater is the oldest continually operating theater in the United States
• The first bank in the United States was created in Philadelphia in 1791
• William Penn was kicked out of Oxford University for religious nonconformity
• Worshippers at Christ Church included Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Betsy Ross and Thomas Jefferson
• Benjamin Franklin and four other signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried in Christ Church cemetery
• The Philadelphia Mint produces over 30 million coins per day
• Philadelphia has more public art than any city in the country
• Logan Square was once used for public executions. Gallows stood in the square until 1823.
• Al Capone was once a prisoner at Eastern States Penitentiary.

source: Philly Fast Fact and Trivia

In describing her approach to her dissertation, Scatliff said, "I believe adults can strengthen their formal educational experiences when they reconnect to the powerful learning resources that exist in their personal environments. In my dissertation I explore the idea of adults leading creative information exchanges, which foster new skill development and strengthen personal relationships within informal networks of friends, family, neighbors and colleagues. As part of my doctoral study I conceptualized a seven-step process for an illuminative andragogy, which is explained in the attached proposal. The seven steps of the illuminative method reinforce inquiry and collaboration within social networks of adults. By strengthening these bonds I believe we can enhance learner-centered engagement, provide a renewed energy for degree completion and expand the meaning of lifelong learning. I am particularly interested in envisioning how continuing educators could adapt this method to problem or appreciative-based learning instructional models, that would be integrated into first year seminars, Web 2.0 training initiatives, Prior Learning Assessments as well as to support the work of student services."

Amy will be writing about her experiences at the Philadelphia conference as it applies to her research in upcoming additions of Five Minutes with ACHE.

In describing the goal of her dissertation research, Stone said, "This research initiative focuses on the value of Leadership Develop.ent Programs (LDPs) that are offered through continuing education units for administrators at four-year institutions of higher education. Specifically, this research examines the non-financial value of three types of leadership development programs: non-credit, credit, and blended (non-credit/credit). This study also examines the intangible benefits LDPs create at the individual, institutional, and enterprise levels in higher education. In addition, this study explores leadership as an intangible competency, and asset, which if effectively developed and applied can serve as a source of unseen or unrecognized value in today's competitive higher education environment. The concepts of value and intangibles and their relationship to leadership development programs for administrators in higher education are important factors in my study."

Geri plans to present on her research at the 2010 ACHE Annual Conference and Meeting in Albuquerque, N.M.

Lisa Dodson is an independent consultant working with nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions, providing research services, program evaluation, educational program design and administration, grant writing and strategic planning. She serves as the Director for The Kansas Museum Association (a part-time position) and as consultant to the board for The Kansas African American Museum. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Education/Student Affairs in Higher Education (emphasis in Global Education) with Kansas State University. The title of her dissertation and research is “Assessing Student Outcomes in Online Masters Degree Programs: Development and Validation of a Student Exit Survey.

Karl Stevens is currently the Director of Distance Education within the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at Southern Utah University. He is in the Utah State University doctoral program and pursuing his degree in Curriculum and Instruction. The title of his dissertation and research is “A Case Study of Relationships Between Faculty and Production Designers During Online Course Development and Delivery.”

The grant is open to all Graduate Students who desire to conduct research in the wide range of graduate enrollment management activities and programs including any aspect of recruiting, enrolling, retaining and graduating professional, masters, and doctoral level degree students.

This award includes

• $2,500, payable directly to the individual researcher. NAGAP will not pay institutional overhead or indirect costs.
• One year of NAGAP membership with full privileges.
• Travel to and registration for the NAGAP national conference during the year of the award.
• Recognition at the NAGAP national conference.

The deadline for submissions is January 15.  Additional information and guidelines can be found at http://www.nagap.org/research/. Please contact Kristen Sterba (kmsterba@uams.edu) with any questions.