Washington, D.C., Jan. 17, 2007—Major colleges and universities from across the nation are gearing up to attend the 2007 Summer Academy, July 23–27, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. Hosted by the Institute for Higher Education Policy, the weeklong event—with the theme “Cultivating Access & Success for Students of Color: Inspiring Communities of Learners” —builds upon work from previous gatherings to focus on access and success for students of color through connected and collaborative learning experiences and institutional change.
Serving as the 2007 Summer Academy keynote speaker is Vincent Tinto, distinguished university professor and chair of higher education at Syracuse University and senior scholar at the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education. Considered a leading authority on higher education, Tinto is widely known for his work on student retention and the impact of learning communities on student growth and attainment. He has consulted widely with federal and state agencies, independent research firms, foundations, and two- and four-year institutions of higher education on a broad range of higher educational issues. His current research focuses on the impact of learning communities on the academic achievements of under-prepared college students in urban two- and four-year colleges.
“The themes of access and success have gone from a limited audience of academic leaders to mainstream thinking about higher education in our nation,” said Institute for Higher Education Policy President Jamie P. Merisotis. “The Summer Academy’s focus on how institutions can foster access and success and inspire communities of learners is especially appropriate at this point in our national dialogue. We are particularly fortunate to have Vincent Tinto kick off our meeting because in many ways his work has inspired much that has happened in access and success for students over the last two decades.”
The Summer Academy is an annual gathering that brings together teams from colleges and universities in a collaborative setting. With the aid of expert consultants, teams create action plans to increase access and success for students of color in higher education. This unique event allows participating campuses an opportunity to identify institution-focused solutions that, if proven successful, may influence national higher education policy. Highlights include strategic conversations and action planning, institutional and cross-institutional teamwork, networking opportunities, tailored workshops and plenary sessions, and national leaders in higher education.
Participants include senior academic administrators, faculty, student affairs representatives, students, and other campus stakeholders. Attendees also include members of such programs as the Building Engagement and Attainment for Minority Students Project, a major initiative of the Institute for Higher Education Policy comprised of four-year minority-serving institutions committed to the systematic use of campus data to inform student-learning initiatives and improve student success.
To participate in the 2007 Summer Academy, online applications must be submitted by March 2, 2007. Applications are available at www.ihep.org and require a fee of $799 per person. The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa is offering a discounted room rate through June 29, 2007. To make reservations, contact the hotel directly at (800) 233-1234.
For sponsorship opportunities and general event information about the 2007 Summer Academy, send an e-mail to summeracademy@ihep.org.