Discussion Sessions

January 6, 2025 Grand Oaks K-M

This roundtable session will focus on recent trends in higher education research, featuring the latest updates to the CIC Digest of Recent Research. Our fall issue examines the skills needed to navigate dialogue and conflict across differences. Join us to discuss this and other current topics and suggest themes for future editions.

Phil Dunwoody, Professor of Psychology and Social Science Division Head, Juniata College (PA)

Campus Engagement in Refugee Resettlement and How Changes in Immigration Policy May Impact Campuses

The US has pledged to resettle record numbers of refugees, in an era of historic global displacement. There is enormous potential for colleges and universities to collaborate with local agencies to engage in the resettlement journey of refugee families and students and in ways that advance a school’s mission, enrich the experience of traditional students, and, of course, benefit refugees. This discussion, hosted by the program Supporting Higher Education in Refugee Resettlement (SHERR), will focus on why schools should consider getting involved, how to go about it (steps, tools, resources), and overcoming barriers and challenges.

Matt Brown, Director, Global Programs, World Learning
Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director, Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration
Amy Novak, President, St. Ambrose University (IA)

Educating Character Initiative

The Educating Character Initiative is leading efforts to infuse character into curricular and co-curricular life at universities. Facilitators will discuss campus character initiatives and grant projects underway.

Susan Donovan, President, Bellarmine University (KY)
Nathan Hatch, President Emeritus, Wake Forest University (NC)
Matthew Scogin, President, Hope College (MI)

Fostering Student Engagement and Environments for Belonging

The importance of ensuring more students persist and all have equitable learning experiences is vital. CIC leaders can benefit from reliable data about students’ experience in practices that matter for their learning and success. As the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) looks forward to its revisioning as a greater resource for data-informed change, facilitators are eager to discuss what matters to student retention and success, data about belonging by student identities, and how results from CIC member institutions can reveal what enhances the quality of the undergraduate experience.

Jillian Kinzie, Associate Director, National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
Leonard Taylor, Director, National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)

How to Future-Proof Your Financial Aid Strategy

Hear from an expert in financial aid optimization on building high-performing financial aid teams that can adapt and overcome future challenges. Discuss how successful institutions navigate political uncertainty, economic downturns, global unrest, botched government programs, and other outside forces that threaten colleges’ ability to grow enrollment and revenue while meeting other key institutional priorities.

Brett Shraeder, Managing Director, Financial Aid, EAB

Multiple Employer Plans

Explore innovative approaches to offering multiple employer retirement plans that align with institutional goals, optimize budgets,  and enhance resource management. Gain insights into simplifying plan administration, improving retirement outcomes and fostering financial well-being for your faculty and staff.

Zach Evans, Director, TIAA
Jeff Mussel, Director, TIAA

Navigating Campus Civil Discourse in Tense Times

Many higher education leaders have noticed that increasingly students are hesitant and fearful to engage with others about contentious issues, especially with those who disagree with them. In this session, facilitators will discuss the larger societal forces shaping civil discourse on college campuses, examine successful models for campus dialogue, and explore the role of college presidents in shaping discourse both on and off campus.

Mylien Duong, Senior Director of Research and Innovation, Constructive Dialogue Institute

Outcomes-Based Thinking

The pace of change for higher education is increasing rapidly. It’s important to have clear and measurable goals for your institution and to ensure department, and even individual, goals align with institutional priorities. In this session, we’ll discuss best-in-class approaches for managing revenue with unified and transparent metrics.

Alex White, Founding Partner, Business Development, MARKETview

Sponsored by Risepoint

Council of Independent Colleges