Keynote at U of A Student Success Conference to Speak on Equity in High-Impact Practices

Equity in high-impact student success practices is the focus of Tia Brown McNair's upcoming keynote address at the "Are We Still HIP and Well? Examining the High Impact Practices and Wellness at the U of A in 2022" Conference.

The conference is free and open to the entire U of A community, and will be Friday, July 29, at the new Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence.

McNair is the vice president in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Student Success and executive director for the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Centers at the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education called McNair one of 35 outstanding women who have tackled some of higher education's toughest challenges.

"Dr. McNair inspired and equipped us at our 2019 HIP conference, and we are honored to have her guidance again this summer. Engaging students in the deep learning work of high-impact practices is crucial to our academic success mission. I have no doubt our collaborations this summer will help us scale and strengthen experience-based learning opportunities for our students," said Trevor Francis, associate vice provost and director for Student Success at the U of A.

Deb Korth, conference co-coordinator and director of Student Success for Fulbright College, said McNair's keynote will be directly relevant to the meaningful work that all our faculty and staff throughout the university are engaged in.

"The research shows that when we're committed to these high-impact practices — like first-year seminars, ePortfolios and global learning — our students benefit overwhelmingly," Korth said. "Dr. McNair's work and the resources she'll share at our conference will underscore how imperative it is that all of our students have equitable access to these practices and their transformational benefits."

Toby Phebus, Fulbright College's assistant director of retention, said McNair's 2016 book Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student Success was praised for providing perspective on creating institutional value and facilitating student success.

Her latest book, From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education, builds on her seminal student success work.

McNair will also share her expertise on promoting campus culture, aligning strategic student success priorities and utilizing data analysis in student success.

The campus community is invited to join McNair's keynote by registering for the conference. Click here to sign up to attend the event or volunteer to be a room host, moderator and/or discussion group leader.

In addition, presentation proposals are being accepted in the following categories: 15-minute presentation, 45-minute presentation, 45-minute panel presentation or poster presentation. Submissions are due May 23. Click here to submit a presentation proposal.

This event is sponsored by the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Student Success Team; the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education; the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; the Student Success Center; the Teaching and Faculty Support Center; Teaching Innovation and Pedagogical Support; and many other campus partners.

For questions, please email Deb Korth at dkorth@uark.edu, Brande Flack at bmflack@uark.edu or Toby Phebus at tphebus@uark.edu.