WALF 2011 Annual Meeting

the Politics of Student Success: Meeting the Challenges – from Readiness to Completion

April 13-15, 2011 | Fort collins, co
Hosted by: colorado state University 

Special Pre-meeting Workshop

Wednesday, April 13

8:00-1:00 PM - Lunch included

Practical Implications of the Common Core State Standards for the West

WALF AGENDA

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13

Hilton Fort Collins

1:00-4:00 PM

WALF Executive Committee Meeting

5:30-5:45 pm

Welcome
Alan Lamborn, WALF Chair; Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs, Colorado State University

5:45-6:30 pm

The Politics of Student Success
Paul Lingenfelter, President, State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO)
Governors and legislators have become increasingly critical of the quality of K-12 and higher education. To encourage change they have instigated or supported several new education initiatives. What are their greatest concerns? How are the recently implemented initiatives addressing them? How are educators responding? What else may be on the horizon?

6:30-7:00 pm

Discussion

7:00-8:30 pm

Reception/Dinner

Sponsored by TIAA-CREF

THURSDAY, APRIL 14

Colorado State University, Lory Student Center, Ballroom - West

8:00 am

Depart from hotel lobby for CSU campus

8:30-9:00 am

Check in and Breakfast

9:00-9:15 am

Welcome & Meeting Overview
Alan Lamborn, WALF Chair; Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs, Colorado State University

9:15-10:30 am

Common Core State Standards: Status and New Assessments
Allison Jones, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC); Joe Willhoft, Executive Director, Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium
Two national initiatives are striving to close the alignment gap between high school and college by developing and assessing common core standards. Some WICHE states participate in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC). Others participate in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). Some states participate in both. What are the similarities and differences in these initiatives? How is higher education involved in the development of their assessments?

10:30-10:45 am

Break

10:45-Noon

Early Assessment and Alignment Programs: Exploring their Validity
David Conley, Chief Executive Officer, Educational Policy Improvement Center; Ephraim Smith, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer, California State University System
In this session we’ll hear about the results of two studies recently conducted by the Educational Policy Improvement Center. The Standards Validity Study was designed to examine entry-level postsecondary courses to determine the degree to which the college- and career-readiness standards represent the knowledge and skills necessary for postsecondary readiness. The Standards-to-Standards Alignment Study was designed to describe the correspondence between the college- and career-readiness standards and six existing sets of standards. In addition, we’ll hear about the California State University system’s Early Assessment Program and Early Start Program and the lessons learned over the last five years.

12:15-1:15 pm

Lunch

1:15-2:30 pm

Complete to Compete and Complete College America
Travis Reindl, Program Director, Postsecondary Education, National Governors Association; Tom Sugar, Senior Vice President, Complete College America
The United States, once the world’s leader in the proportion of students completing college, is now trailing a dozen countries. In today’s knowledge-based economy, this makes our nation increasingly vulnerable to international competition. How do the Complete to Compete and Complete College America initiatives propose to reverse this trend? What are the metrics that will help states measure the effectiveness of their current policies and drive future funding decisions to increase completion rates?  

2:30-3:15 pm

Overview: Performance-Based Funding Programs
Kevin Corcoran, Program Director, Lumina Foundation for Education
Performance-based formulas provide funding for institutions based on their ability to retain and graduate students, rather than funding institutions based on the number of students they enroll. Which institutions are using performance-based formulas? How does this funding strategy affect selective vs. open access institutions? Is grade inflation an issue? What are the lessons learned?

3:15-3:30 pm

Break

3:30-5:30 pm

Tour: CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and University Center for the Arts
This year’ s campus tour will include a visit to the CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, which is internationally known for its innovative curriculum. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital is home to a talented and dedicated group of experts covering every field of veterinary medicine. We will also tour University Center for the Arts, which is home to Colorado State University’s School of the Arts, where programs in music, theatre, dance, and art reside. The new 225,550-square-foot facility provides five state-of-the-art performance venues – the Griffin Concert Hall, the University Theatre and Studio Theatre in the Bohemian Theatre Complex, the University Dance Theatre, and the Organ Recital Hall – as well as several art museums. This tour will conclude with a reception provided by our gracious host.

6:00 pm

Return to hotel.
Dinner on your own.

FRIDAY, APRIL 15

Hilton Fort Collins

7:30-8:00 am

WICHE Internet Course Exchange: Meeting Student Needs through Institutional Collaboration
Tom Miller, Vice Provost for Accreditation and Undergraduate Programs, University of Alaska Anchorage; Maggi Murdock, Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs, University of Wyoming
In this era of fiscal challenges, institutions may be forced to cut low-enrollment programs or scale back offerings in certain disciplines. Find out how your institution can partner with others to offer online courses that bridge the gap caused by cuts. Bring a list of your needs to discuss with colleagues.

8:00-9:15 am

Breakfast/WALF Business Meeting
Alan Lamborn, WALF Chair

8:00-10:15 am

Implications of the Common Core State Standards for Colleges of Education: A Breakout Session for Deans of Colleges of Education
A major implication of the adoption of the Common Core State Standards relates to teacher education and professional development for in-service teachers. Colleges of education have the opportunity to play a significant role in preparing teachers for the common standards and curriculum in a collaborative environment among the K-12 and higher education sectors. This session will provide a forum for deans of colleges of education to discuss potential strategies for implementing new approaches of preparing teachers for the implementation of the Common Core State Standards.

9:15-10:15 am

Washington Community Colleges Performance-Incentive Funding Model: Two- and Four-Year Perspectives
Jan Yoshiwara, Deputy Executive Director of the Education Division, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Jane Sherman, Vice Provost for Academic Policy and Evaluation, Washington State University
The performance-incentive funding strategy used by Washington’s community colleges is very popular with the state’s legislators. How is it working for educators at the two-year schools? What’s on the horizon for the four-year schools?

10:15-10:30 am

Break

10:30-11:30 am

Advancing the Quality Needle during the Numbers Initiatives
David Longanecker, President, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
After some opening remarks about the relationship of readiness and completion initiatives to maintaining and advancing the quality of student learning as well as how the Common Core State Standards fit into these efforts, Longanecker will pose several questions for consideration by the attendees. During this open forum, all are invited to share their comments.

11:30-Noon

Meeting Wrap-up and Adjournment
Alan Lamborn, WALF Chair