November 15, 2016
K-State team participates in Reinvention Collaborative Biennial National Conference
A K-State team participated in the Reinvention Collaborative Biennial National Conference Nov. 10-12 in Washington, D.C. This year's theme — "Diversity, Culture, & Identity in America's Research Universities" — invited timely analysis and discussion of critical issues for our university.
Joining several hundred other university leaders — including the presidents of the University of Michigan, University of Texas at El Paso, University of South Florida and Colorado State University — were K-State's own Stephanie Bannister, student life; Kimathi Choma, arts and sciences; Steven Dandaneau, undergraduate studies; Charlie Nutt, NACADA/education; and Wendy Troxel, NACADA/education.
Troxel offered a prominent and especially well-received plenary presentation on the "student life cycle," bringing national attention to the new NACADA Center for Advising Research at K-State, while Dandaneau, a Reinvention Collaborative board member since 2013, co-presented with Irma Van Scoy from the University of South Carolina on academic and student affairs collaboration.
The newly renamed Reinvention Collaborative — formally the Reinvention Center — grew from the 1998 Boyer Commission Report and brings together vice provosts and vice presidents charged with leadership of undergraduate education at U.S. research universities. The Reinvention Collaborative was previously housed at SUNY-Stony Brook and the University of Miami, and is currently at the Colorado State University under the executive directorship of CSU's Alan Lamborn. Because a fundamental tenet of the group is that academic and student affairs collaboration is essential in support of undergraduate student success, Blanche Hughes, vice president of student affairs at Colorado State University, also is a member of the Reinvention Collaborative board.
Each K-Stater learned a great deal and looks forward to sharing insights gleaned and knowledge acquired with and among colleagues. The hope is that such discussions will help foster ever-greater access and excellence for K-State's outstanding undergraduate students.
The conference also helped cement mutually beneficial ties between the Reinvention Collaborative and NACADA, both of which are key players in national discussion about undergraduate student success. Breaking down siloes among such organizations, not to mention between and within universities, is critical to moving higher education forward for the benefit of all.
To learn more about the Reinvention Collaborative and this year's biennial national conference online. This link also includes a PDF version of the national conference program. Inquiries also may be made to Dandaneau at dandaneau@k-state.edu or to any of the other K-State participants in this year's conference.