Civic Engagement Administrator Conference

This annual conference is designed for administrators of campus civic engagement efforts. The conference offers structured time for group gatherings, presentations, roundtable discussions, informal question and answer, and deep reflection about civic engagement work.  During this gathering NC Campus Compact presents the annual Civic Engagement Professional of the Year Award. Visit the Awards section of the website for more information.

2008 Conference Highlights

On May 28-29, 2008, 39 civic engagement professionals representing 23 campuses throughout the state convened for the 6th Annual Civic Engagement Administrator Conference. The conference returned to the luxurious Embassy Suites Hotel Resort and Conference Center in Concord, NC for a second year.

This year's theme "Closer to the Goal: Going Deeper in our Civic Engagement Efforts" was designed to assist those working to further a campus’ civic engagement involvement to . . .

• Deepen connections with other civic engagement administrators in North Carolina
• Deepen an understanding of how to concretely facilitate social justice activities on campus
• Deepen reflection processes utilized by faculty and staff
• Consider personal and professional goals for the year that will assist in deepening their work

Click here to download a copy of the conference program.

Wednesday, May 28

The morning began with a training for new VISTA supervisors. Click here for a photo gallery. To view photos, click on the first image in the gallery and then scroll through using the arrow in the right corner.

A panel discussion followed featuring two experienced civic engagement administrators, Dr. Cathy Hamilton, Director of the Office of Leadership and Service-Learning at UNC Greensboro and Stan Dotson, Dean of the LifeWorks Learning Partnership at Mars Hill College.  They discussed their career paths to this type of work, the most rewarding and challenging aspects of this work, the most important steps to advancing this work on campuses, changes in the field and trends they see in the future.   

Click here for a photo gallery.  To view photos, click on the first image in the gallery and then scroll through using the arrow in the right corner.

The afternoon continued with group sharing and open space discussions on topics proposed by participants. Click here for a photo gallery. To view photos, click on the first image in the gallery and then scroll through using the arrow in the right corner.

In the late afternoon Deva Woodly, Project Associate from the Project on Civic Reflection, facilitated a two-hour civic reflection exercise a powerful tool that involves reading and discussing short pieces of literature as a means of reflecting on the central questions of civic life. Click here for a photo gallery. To view photos, click on the first image in the gallery and then scroll through using the arrow in the right corner.

The day concluded with a Dinner and Celebration in which NC Campus Compact acknowledged the steps that each campus has taken on the journey towards civic engagement over the past year. Dr. Lisa Keyne, Executive Diretor, also presented the 2008 Civic Engagement Professional of the Year Award to James Shields of Guilford College. Click here to read his bio and more about the award.

We sadly also said goodbye to two outstanding administrators, Ben Haywood, Pfeiffer University (moving to South Carolina for graduate school) and Lynne Wheatley, Meredith College (retiring).  

Click on the links below for a photo gallery of highlights from the Dinner and Celebration. Thanks to Cathy Hamilton (UNCG) for serving as our photographer.  Click on the first photo in the gallery and then scroll through using the arrow in the right corner.

General

Campus Presentations

Awards Presentation

Thursday, May 29

Thursday morning began with a training for all NC-ACTS! AmeriCorps Campus Coordinators.  The remainder of the morning focused on deepening understanding of and participation in social justice. Special guest presenters (listed below) each provided definitions and key issues in promoting social justice. Click here to download the PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Bettez.

• Dr. Silvia C. Bettez, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership & Cultural Foundations, UNC-Greensboro
• James Shields, Director of Community Learning, Guilford College
• Darris Means, Assistant Director of the Elon Academy, Elon University, American College Personnel Association’s Commission for Social Justice Educators
• Melinda Lawrence, Executive Director, NC Justice Center

Melinda Lawrence, Executive Director, NC Justice Center, followed with a discussion the social justice issues currently facing North Carolina.   A panel discussion followed with all the morning presenters.

The day concluded with lunch and an overview by staff of what members can expect in the next year with NC Campus Compact.