Wright State to host American Association of Colleges and Universities educator, author for student success symposium

Tia Brown McNair, a vice president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, will give a keynote address on “Becoming a Student Ready College” at the Teaching for Student Success Symposium.

In its ongoing effort to learn and adapt to best serve its students, Wright State University will host Tia Brown McNair, Ph.D., an American Association of Colleges and Universities educator, administrator and author, for a campus symposium later this month.

The Center for Faculty Excellence will host McNair for the annual Teaching for Student Success Symposium on the Dayton Campus Thursday, Aug. 24.

The symposium will provide participants from across the university with information, motivation and new ways to think about teaching Wright State students as faculty and staff prepare for a new semester.

Registration information and details about the symposium and breakout sessions are available at wright.edu/center-for-faculty-excellence/workshops.

“Helping our students achieve success both in the classroom and after they’ve graduated is our top priority,” said Wright State Provost Amy Thompson, Ph.D. “We must challenge ourselves to continuously learn and adapt to their shifting needs.”

McNair, a vice president with the American Association of Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C., will give the keynote address and offer two breakout sessions as part of the symposium’s nine workshops.

One session will involve university administrators from the President’s and Provost’s councils. The other breakout session is open to faculty attending the symposium and representatives from university and college retention committees, including advisors, success coaches and staff from Student Advocacy and Wellness, the University Center for International Education and other offices.

McNair’s keynote address, “Becoming a Student Ready College: Shifting Mindsets and Challenging Norms,” will challenge participants to consider promising strategies for designing and leading student success efforts that are guided by a singular question: What does it mean to be a student-ready college?

Breakout session participants will also discuss:

• How educators ensure that all students, especially traditionally underserved students, are fully prepared for life, work and community engagement.
• What changes need to be made in an institution’s policies, practices, partnerships and culture to make excellence inclusive for students.
• How to identify key steps to promote student engagement and success, improve student learning across the curriculum and co-curriculum, enhance professional development and strengthen partnerships.

For more information on the symposium and other programming, contact the Center for Faculty Excellence at cfe@wright.edu or visit wright.edu/center-for-faculty-excellence.