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Momentum Summit IV

Momentum Summit IV

February 22, 2021 to March 5, 2021
Online

Planning Template (.docx) 

Over the past four years, the System has made tremendous gains in implementing a Momentum Approach to student success. The past eight months have tested some of this work and underscored its vital role in achieving our goals for increasing the number of Georgians with college degrees and closing gaps in academic achievement.

The overarching goal for the Summit is to support institutional teams to make concrete plans for sustaining gains in student Momentum and address those areas that have been affected by disruption, by reflecting upon the past year’s accomplishments and challenges. The past year has underscored the need for strong support and engagement for students across the institution, reinforcing the value and benefit of the Momentum Approach. Equally, it has exposed a range of ways in which existing and planned work around Purpose, Pathways, and Mindset has been delayed, disrupted or needs adjustments. 

The design of the Momentum Summit for 2021 maximizes opportunities for faculty and staff to reflect on the work that has been done, and how it can be furthered, at their campus. The Summit will be held virtually and feature two sessions each day (one each in the morning and afternoon) arranged in themes distributed across ten days, with time set aside for structured, facilitated planning for your campus. 

Each campus is asked to assemble a cross-functional team for the Summit. Participation is not capped, so you may invite as many individuals as you like to join us. Not every person will need to attend every session, but we encourage you to plan and structure participation to ensure that your campus is represented at each session and that your team is able to share and engage during the designated team planning sessions to the greatest extent possible.

Momentum Summit IV Goals and Outcomes

At the conclusion of the Summit, Institutions will:

  • Assess the impact of the Pandemic and other changes on the status of their Momentum Work
  • Determine the needed remedies to address disruptions in their core Momentum Year work.
  • Understand the areas where their Momentum work has encountered challenges (related to the Pandemic or otherwise).
  • Identify strategies activities that have been successful in the past year and develop plans on how to support, expand, or further develop these.
  • Establish a plan for sustaining their Momentum work for their campus for 2021
  • Use the experience of the past 12 months to identify areas where students have encountered obstacles to success, either across the whole student body or among specific subpopulations, and strategies to address these obstacles.
  • Create or enhance existing plans for advancing the professional skills and well-being of faculty and staff.
  • Understand and have a plan for how the Momentum Work on campus is integrated into units in a collaborative way.

Momentum Summit IV Program Outline

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If you get a message that you can't get into a session because we've exceeded the 300 person cap, head over to our Facebook Page and watch on Facebook Live.

Jump to Week 2 (March 1-5)

WEEK 1 – FEBRUARY 22 - 26

Date

Session

Description

Monday, February 22

Opening Plenary

10:00 – 11:00 am

This session will reflect on the work that has been accomplished in Momentum and frame the opportunities for Momentum in the year ahead. 

Speakers:
Chancellor Steve Wrigley, University System of Georgia
Tristan Denley, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, University System of Georgia.

Opening Plenary Session Recording. Slides (warning 29MB)

Meet Your Data

2:30 – 4:00 pm

This session investigates how institutions use data to understand their work and shape their priorities for Momentum as well as a discussion in how to communicate data to a wide audience. Key to this session will be suggestions and reflection on how to communicate campus Momentum priorities across the full scope of campus.

Presenters:
Gene Van Sickle, Assistant Vice President of Strategic Student Success Initiatives, and
Holly Verhasselt, Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness, University of North Georgia

Michelle Rosemond, Vice President for Student Engagement and Success, Georgia Gwinnett College [presentation]

Angie Bell, Vice Chancellor for Research and Policy Analysis, University System of Georgia

Meet Your Data ession Recording

Tuesday, February 23

Leading Change in Turbulent Times

9:30 – 11:00 am

This session features a discussion with institutional leaders from across the USG on how they approach leadership and  build a culture of adaptability on campus. 

Panelists:
Johnny Evans, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, College of Coastal Georgia

Chaudron Gille, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of North Georgia

Debra Matthews, Interim Provost, Middle Georgia State University

T. Ramon Stuart, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Fort Valley State University

Leading Change in Turbulent Times Session Recording

Lunch and Learn: Accessible Learning

11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Hear from colleagues on how to identify, integrate, and deploy tools and resources that are fully accessible to students, including OERs, adaptive technology, and accessibility checks.

Presenters:
Jeff Gallant, Program Director 
Tiffani Reardon, Program Manager, Affordable Learning Georgia [presentation]

Jeff Linek, Director of eLearning [presentation]
Kim Linek, Disability Specialist, Georgia Highlands College [presentation]

Resource: OER Accessibility Checkers resource [Word file]

Accessible Learning Session Recording

Structuring Faculty Development

2:30 – 4:00 pm

This session focuses on approaches to scalable professional development for faculty. Using the lessons of the past year as a guide, this session provides an opportunity to share and learn about how institutions and the System can improve pedagogy and classroom instructional practice.

Presenters:
Peter Berryman, Director of Faculty Development for Digital Instruction

Marina Smitherman, Coordinator, Committee for Academic Excellence, Dalton State College

Rod McRae, Director, Center for Teaching and Learning, University of West Georgia [Smitherman and McRae presentation]

Laura Carruth, Director,  Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Georgia State University

Megan Mittelstadt, Director, Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Georgia [Carruth and Mittelstadt presentation]

Structuring Faculty Development Session Recording

Wednesday, February 24

Team Planning

All Day (times set by institution)

This Team Planning session provides each institutional team an opportunity to reflect on their priorities for Momentum work for 2021. Institutional teams will be invited to use this time to reflect on the impact and outcomes of the past year on their priority work and how to apply the lessons of the past year to make more resilient Momentum plans.

Thursday, February 25

Responding to Change in the Classroom

9:30 – 11:00 am

This session will expand on the discussion from Tuesday with an in-depth exploration of how student success pedagogies have been promoted and implemented at institutions. In addition to a discussion of implementation, participants will be asked to reflect on methods of assessment, evaluation and broader dissemination.

Presenters:
Jordan Cofer, Associate Provost for Transformative Learning Experiences, 
Cynthia Alby, Professor of Education; Faculty Director of GC Journeys,
Micheal Stratton, Dean of J. Whitney Bunting College of Business,
Georgia College and State University

Michele DiPietro, Executive Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning,
Kris Durocher, Executive Faculty Director of General Education and Curriculum Development, and
Scott Reese, Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Associate Professor of Biology, Kennesaw State University

Responding to Chang in the Classroom Session Recording

Lunch and Learn: Chatbots

11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Chatbots marry artificial intelligence, natural language, and appropriate technology to provide students with increased access to campus resources even when the campus is closed. This lunch and learn session provides an introduction to some of the tools that are available and the process for deployment.

Presenters:
Scott Burke, Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions and Housing and
Lindsey Fifield, Project Director for Chatbot Programs, Georgia State University [presentation]

Tracy Ireland, Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services, University System of Georgia [presentation]

Lunch and Learn: Chatbots Session Recording

Maintaining Momentum with Pathways, Maps and Fuller Schedules

2:30 – 4:00 pm

Building and deploying program maps and fuller schedules were key features of the Momentum Year. As institutions have developed these, the processes for maintaining, updating and improving the tools campuses use to communicate curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular expectations and milestones has evolved. In this session institutions will share how these ideas have evolved on their campuses, how their current program maps and other initiatives help students progress to graduation, and discuss with participants some future directions for these tools.

Presenters:
Christine Ludowise, Associate Provost, Georgia Southern University [presentation]

Julia Butler-Mayes, Director, Academic Advising Services and
Naomi Norman, Associate Vice President for Instruction, University of Georgia  [presentation]

Jonathan Watts Hull, Director, Student Success, University System of Georgia [presentation]

Maintaining Momentum with Pathways, Maps and Fuller Schedules Session Recording

Friday, February 26

Pressure Testing Your Programs

9:30 – 11:00 am

Pressure Testing Programs to make sure students can navigate them successfully is a critical maintenance activity for Program Maps. This session will introduce approaches to this process and how the process can highlight hidden barriers to student progression.

Presenters:
Matthew Schmolesky, Professor of Psychology, Chair of Studies, and 
Alan K. Kelly, Associate Professor of English, Chair of Studies  [combined presentation]
Robert Lutz, Associate Professor of Information Technology, Chair of Studies [presentation]
Tracey Schaller, Associate Professor of Marketing, Georgia Gwinnett College [presentation]

Steven Lloyd, Vice Provost, University of North Georgia [presentation]

Pressure Testing Your Programs Session Recording

Responding to Stress and Supporting Wellness and Mental Health

2:30 – 4:00 pm

Even before the Pandemic, the University System has been engaged in discussions of mental health and wellbeing. This session will provide an update on programming across the state and provide an opportunity to share strategies for supporting student, faculty and staff wellness.

Presenters:
Karin Elliott, Associate Vice Chancellor for Total Rewards
Farrah Williams, System Benefits Wellness Program Manager, and
Chip Reese, System Project Director, University System of Georgia [combined presentation]

Responding to Stress and Supporting Wellness and Mental Health Session Recording

WEEK 2 WEEK 2 – MARCH 1 - 5

Date

Session

Description

Reminders

Monday,
March 1

Student Voices

9:30 – 11:00 am

Including student voices in institutional planning is critical, and challenging. This session will provide an opportunity to hear from students from across the system as well as discuss how best to engage and include student perspectives in your planning.

Panelists:
Kelsey Rios, SGA President, College of Coastal Georgia,

Nathan Graham, SGA President, Georgia College and State University

Khareem Leslie, SGA President, University of West Georgia

Melissa Wolfe, SGA president, Valdosta State University

Student Voices Session Recording

 

Next Steps on Mindset

2:30 – 4:00 pm

Much of the work that System has undertaken on Academic Mindset has been focused on better understanding our students and identifying opportunities for intervention and engagement. This session will provide an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve learned, what we still need to know, and an early look at activity across the system on Academic Mindset.

Presenters:
Judy Orton Grissett, Director of Experiential Learning, and
Mark Grimes, Associate Professor Business and HR,
Georgia Southwestern State University

Bruno Hicks, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs,
Brooklyn Herrera, Assistance Director, Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction,
Elizabeth Hubbs, Director of Field Education and Assistant Professor, and
Mary Neilsen, Associate Provost,
Dalton State College

Eric Sun,  Associate Dean, School of Health and Natural Sciences,
Amy Berke, Associate Dean, School of Arts and Letters, and 
Deepa Arora, Associate Provost,
Middle Georgia State University

Ryan Bronkema, Director of First-Year Academic Initiatives, University of West Georgia

Next Steps on Mindset Session Recording

 

Tuesday,
March 2

High Impact Practices
Implementing HIPs for Equity

9:30 – 11:00 am

A key to deepening learning across for all students is engagement in High Impact Practices and Experiential Learning. This session investigates how different institutions are embedding these practices throughout the curriculum in intentional ways to support student success.

[combined presentation]

Presenters:
Jordan Cofer, Associate Provost for Transformative Learning Experiences,
Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, Associate Professor of Music
Christopher Clark, Professor of Economics
Georgia College and State University

Michele DiPietro, Executive Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Danielle Buehrer, Executive Director of Institutional Quality and Accreditation
Scott Reese, Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Associate Professor of Biology
Kennesaw State University

Implementing HIPs for Equity Session Recording

 

Connecting with Students

2:30 – 4:00 pm

Last March’s shift to remote instruction underscored the importance of being able to connect with and respond to students quickly and in a coordinated manner. This session will discuss a variety of approaches and strategies campuses are deploying, including early alerts, “One Stop Shops,” and coordinated care approaches.

Presenters:
Rodney Carr, Vice President of Student Success and
Rob Friedhoff, Executive Director of Advising and Student Transitions,
Valdosta State University [presentation]

Jymmyca Wyatt, Executive Director, Admissions and Student Life and
Meda Rollins, Director of Faculty and Administrative Services,
Atlanta Metropolitan State College [presentation]

Jon Preston, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs,
André Fortune, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, 
University of West Georgia

Connecting to Students Session Recording

 

Wednesday, March 3

Connecting to Careers

9:30 – 11:00 am

Many institutions included connecting to careers as a key aspect of their Momentum Plans at the Summit III. This session will profile the progress that several have made in integrating career connections into the student academic journey and programs, including career counseling, inventories, and career-focused Nexus degrees. It will also provide a potential Systemwide negotiation for Handshake – a tool that helps students connect with employers. and careers.

Presenters:
Catherine Neiner, Director of University Career Services and
Angela Christie, College to Career QEP Faculty Director,
Georgia State University [presentation]

German Vargas, Vice President for Academic Student Engagement,
Brian Weese, Director of Career and Academic Advising, and
Pat Morris, Associate Director of Career and Academic Advising,
College of Coastal Georgia [presentation]

Deborah Bordelon, Provost and Vice President and
Mariko Izumi, Executive Director for the Center for Experiential Learning and Career Design,
Columbus State University [presentation]

Rich Loftus, Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Implementation, University System of Georgia [presentation]

Connecting to Careers Session Recording

 

Lunch and Learn: Internationalizing the Curriculum

11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Join us to learn more about what it means to Internationalize the curriculum and its benefits.  We will cover practical steps towards internationalizing the curriculum, such as World 101, a free curriculum sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations designed to assist professors with infusing international topics into existing classes or frame new courses with global themes. Also, we will explore how International Virtual Exchange brings students and faculty from around the globe into a shared space for inquiry and creation, as well as ways to implement it on your campus.

Presenters:
Tammy Rosner, Director of International Education, University System of Georgia

Eric Spears, Associate Professor of Geography, Mildred Miller Fort Foundation Eminent Scholar & Chair of International Education, Columbus State University

Anthony Lemieux, Founding Co-Director, Atlanta Global Studies Center, Professor of Communication, Georgia State University

Nannette Commander, Virtual Exchange Coordinator, Professor Emerita, Georgia State University

[combined presentation]

Council on Foreign Relations' World 101 curriculum website

Internationalizing the Curriculum Session Recording

 

Building and Maintaining Communities

2:30 – 4:00 pm

Helping students build a sense of community on campus is an important part of developing resilient and engaged students. This session will explore strategies around reinforcing students sense of belonging and connection to the institution, their chosen areas of study, and their areas of personal interest.

Presenters:
Kimberly R. Andrews, Dean, University College and
Jesse Kane, Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management,
Fort Valley State University [presentation]

Jerry Oliver, Jr., Director, African American Male Initiative, Augusta University [presentation]

Michael Sanseviro, Interim Vice President for Student Engagement and Dean of Students and
Eric Cuevas, Senior Director for Student Success Programs,
Georgia State University [presentation]

Rachel Bowser, Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives
Karen Jackson, Associate Dean for Advising Programs
Justin Jernigan, Senior Associate Vice President and Dean of Student Success,
Georgia Gwinnett College [presentation]

Building and Maintaining Communities Session Recording

 

Thursday, March 4

Team Planning

All Day (times set by institution)

This Team Planning session provides each institutional team an opportunity to shape their plans for 2021. Institutional teams will be invited to use this time to discuss their top priority work, draft their proposed implementation plan, select their “big idea” to share with the community, and develop their report out for the Summit.

  

Friday,
March 5

Campus Spotlights & Reflections

9:30 – 11:00 am

Each institution is asked to submit a brief overview of their “big idea” for review by Summit participants. More details on this will be provided during the Summit.

View the Big Idea Videos here

 

Closing Remarks, Next Steps

2:30 – 4:00 pm

Where next? This session will provide an opportunity for reflection by both the System Office and Institutions on the future direction of Momentum in the coming year. 

Speaker:
Tristan Denley, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer
University System of Georgia