Tom Brown is a former community college student who served for 27 years as a Student and Academic Affairs educator. Tom currently serves as a higher education consultant and has worked with more than 400 two- and four-year colleges and universities in the US and abroad.

What can we do to help all of our students stay at Harper and successfully complete their educational goals? That is the big question.

This year’s Diversity Symposium offers sessions to help every one of us, in whatever role we serve, understand what we can do.

The day is divided up so you can come to as much as you are able – one, two, or all three sessions.

  • Date: Friday, October 20, 2017
  • Time: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
    • 9 a.m. Exercise in Persistence
    • 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Morning Breakout Sessions
    • 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.: Lunch (The lunch menu features Latin-inspired cuisine including Empanadas, Tortilla Española, Cuban Medianoche, Tres Leches cake, Horchata, and Agua Fresca.)
    • 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Afternoon Breakout Sessions
  • Location: Wojcik Conference Center
  • Register

Join us in the morning for an exercise in persistence, a simulation that answers these questions and assists campus communities to act—individually and collectively—to increase student success. The exercise identifies many of the reasons students leave college, challenges some of the common myths and misconceptions about attrition, and shares evidence that what happens to students after they enroll is often more important than their pre-enrollment attributes and experiences. This experience illustrates that increased persistence is the by-product of a campus environment which combines high quality teaching, comprehensive student services, and an effective academic advising program. On such campuses, everyone recognizes that they have the power to make an individual difference—whether they are instructional faculty, deans, department heads, counselors, advisors, tutors, writing specialists, coaches, administrative assistants, maintenance workers, or receptionists. Improve your skills at serving students’ diverse needs and moving the needle on persistence and completion rates. Breakout sessions will follow the exercise and will be repeated after lunch to allow participants to attend two sessions.

Breakout Session Topics:

  • Plan to Actualize the College Mission and Support Student Success, Tom Brown: Recommended for all Harper employees interested in improving students’ interactions with Harper staff as they move in, move through, and move on from college.
  • Inclusive and Data Driven Strategic Planning to Promote the Success & Engagement of Students of Color, José Leyba: Recommended for administrators, staff, and faculty involved in communications and decision making related to strategic planning or accreditation.
  • The 0-100% Learning, Teaching, Counseling, and Advising Method, Mario Rivas: Recommended for instructional faculty, counselors, and advisors working to motivate and support students to move past cognitive, emotional, and behavioral barriers that hinder success.

Join us for any part that fits your schedule. Register now to secure your spot.