Informational Webinars

An Invitation

Join John N. Gardner, Betsy O. Barefoot, Drew Koch, and other Gardner Institute staff members in an interactive, live webinar to explore how Foundations of Excellence self studies can help you reengineer your campus’s approach to the first year and/or transfer student experience. Since 2003, 231 four- and two-year institutions have participated in Foundations of Excellence and are implementing action plans for improvement. The 2012-2013 FoE application process is now open and applications must be received no later than May 31, 2012. Applications are reviewed and spaces awarded on a rolling basis during this period until capacity is reached.

You will learn how this process can

support learning and retention of first-year and transfer students
help you set cost-effective priorities for student support initiatives
involve your faculty in a substantive discussion of new student success
provide a strategy and rationale for integrating academic and student life
serve as a framework for reaffirmation of accreditation

Who Should Participate?

Faculty, academic and student affairs leaders, institutional research professionals, and others who have an interest in the first college year and/or transfer student experience.

Registration

A confirmation email* will be sent immediately after registering. Group viewing is recommended to facilitate discussion.

Date of Webinar	Current Status
Wed, Dec 14, 2011	2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST	Closed
Mon, Jan 23, 2012	2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST	Closed
Fri, Feb 24, 2012	2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST	Open
Mon, Mar 19, 2012	2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT	Open
Wed, Apr 11, 2012	2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT	Open
Thu, Apr 26, 2012	2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT	Open
Mon, May 7, 2012	11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT	Open
Tue, May 22, 2012	2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT	Open

*Please contact Rob Rodier at rodier@jngi.org if you do not receive the email within one hour.

For more information about the Foundations of Excellence self study, please visit this section of our website.

Questions? Please contact
Betsy Barefoot,
Vice President and Senior Scholar
barefoot@jngi.org
800-385-8399 ext. 104.

Institute News

I am proud to say that our work is still going on almost four years later, and the focus on what is most important, the student, is still a large part of our planning for new programs and curriculum redesign. — Amy Baldwin, Instructor of English - Pulaski Technical College

Our FoE Philosophy Statement served as the basis for the development of our Quality Enhancement Plan for SACS and for the improvements we have made to new student orientation, advising, and retention. — Debbi Clear, Vice President of Instruction & Student Services - Virginia Highlands Community College

Individuals have the opportunity to connect with a broad national network. Participants in FoE gain the tools and perspectives to reach aspirational goals. The process can transform an entire college community; I know it changed me. — Mary Lou Frank, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs - Gainesville State College

The FoE process was transformational for MCCC. It helped us bring all stakeholders together and have a dialogue that has brought real changes to our institution. As we journey on, we are now very mindful and intentional in thinking about student success. — Dr. Steady Moono, Vice President for Student Affairs - Montgomery County Community College

We've been in the implementation process for a short time and have achieved great momentum. In a time of 'lean' operating, FoE is the perfect tool to help institutions achieve efficient and effective operating goals while adding value to the student experience. — Shawn A. Anderson, Dean of Student Services - Minnesota State Community and Technical College

The FoE self study helped us to identify initiatives that were working well, pin-point gaps in our services, and set goals for continuing to improve our efforts in meeting the needs of our students. — Amanda Yale, Associate Provost for Enrollment Services - Slippery Rock University

Working with the Gardner Institute provided a structure to look at institutional effectiveness. This structure was more encouraging, and less threatening, than evaluative agencies and brought people together from across the campus, all cimmitted to the same task - new student success. — Mark Lange, Former FoE Liason - Holyoke Community College

We maximized our efforts by linking FoE with the higher learning commissions AQIP system for accredidation. Through this link, efforts related to the first year had instant cross-functional commitment and were viewed through a continuos improvement lens. — Ali O'Brien, Acting Asst. Vice President for Workforce Education - College of Lake County

Perhaps the most valuable outcome of our participation was the collaboration among faculty that has led to clear articulation agreements with CSU-Bakersfield and ongoing dialogue centered on improvement. This has led to an increase in student success among students transferring from our college to the university. — Mildred P. Lovato, Ed.D., Vice President of Student Services - Bakersfield College

Based on my experiences with the Institute, I can assert with assurance that FoE is a highly structured but very flexible process that has 'evolution' as its signature characteristic. An institution that participates in FoE exemplifies what Peter Senge calls "a learning instituion." — Roberta Matthews, Former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs - Brooklyn College