AEEE's 48th Annual Conference at La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort

Thinking beyond the graduate school acceptance letters, are your students prepared to navigate the social aspects of the process? According to researchers, a strong link exists between social support networks and graduate school persistence. In this workshop, we will interactively discuss teaching students how to navigate the 3 P's of life: " People," "Policy," and "Politics." Utilizing both research and practice-based approaches, this workshop is designed to provide foundational (yet underestimated) concepts to mentoring that will stick with your students beyond undergrad. These tools include 1) guiding students on how to advocate for themselves tactfully, 2) finding their tribe/support network(s), and 3) establishing and maintaining healthy habits/boundaries during their graduate journey.

This presentation will examine the lived experiences of high school counselors to understand how they serve as institutional agents in the college decision-making process, assisting in the elimination of a student’s decision to undermatch. The presentation will engage attendees in a solution-driven think-tank that reiterates further connection is needed to bridge research to practice; through (a) the development of mandatory professional development trainings and, (b) standardizing norms and guidance to utilize during college counseling sessions as two leading recommendations. Attendees will share out additional recommendations that will better ensure equity and access during the college decision-making process for all students, and aid in removing a barrier to first-generation college completion.

This workshop is designed to cultivate transferable leadership skills students can use presently in their high school setting, college, and beyond. This session will provide Upward Bound programs with strategies for creating, maintaining, and evaluating present and new student leadership organizations. The delivery style of this workshop is both informational and interactive; participants can anticipate the takeaway of fresh perspectives on best practices and a cheat sheet on how to revamp or jump-start student organizations within their own Upward Bound program. Let’s create student leaders!

In today’s diverse educational landscape, institutions of higher learning are continuously tasked with how to effectively serve multi-generational college students and/to ensure their success. This presentation will focus on the unique challenges faced by colleges and universities, particularly community colleges to adequately accommodate the needs of students spanning different generations, inclusive of Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z.

For TRIO programs, the challenge is not gathering resources for students – it's figuring out how to access and engage your students so they know what resources are available to them. Too many institutions are still relying on outdated communication tools like emails, phone calls, and even text messages.

Get ready for a closer look at Pronto, a FERPA-compliant communication platform that gives institutions direct access to their students– instantly. Embraced by over 300 higher education institutions nationwide, Pronto understands education and how today's students want to engage with faculty and administrators. Join Pronto to learn exactly why students aren't engaging with your content and how Pronto solves this problem.

In this session Paradigm Shift will show you strategic ways to use a variety of different card decks as a tool in your workshops for engagement. From emotional management to communication and leadership, we invite you to come play with us as we explore the power of interactive learning

Catch Me If You Can focuses on the strategies used to support students in class completion and credit accumulation. Research confirms that when students receive advising, coaching, and mentoring, they are more inclined to have successful dual enrollment experiences. Supports such as tutoring, mentoring, and supplemental programming help high school students to prepare and persist through the rigor of college classes and beyond. However, competing with students' high school schedules, extra-curricular activities, and family responsibilities can be challenging. Catch Me If You Can shares the best practices of the Dual Enrollment Program at Rutgers University-Newark and the creative and resourceful strategies used to support hard-to-reach students. This interactive workshop will offer insight into the program model as well as engage workshop participants in some modeled student experiences.

Disability, despite being one of the largest minority groups worldwide, is often misunderstood, misrepresented, and marginalized. If we wish to see our disabled students thrive, we must first increase our own literacy around disability as a concept and the forces that marginalize our disabled students and peers. This session will use a blend of theory and personal experience to offer suggestions on enhancing the experiences of disabled students within our programs and on our campuses. We'll spend some time on contemporary community discussions, including self-diagnosis, access intimacy, and disability-as-identity, that are quickly becoming hot-button topics!

"The current declines in NAEP math and reading, SAT, GRE, and ACT scores present a unique and historic challenge for educators. Simply returning to the ""go-to"" curriculum and practices of three years ago will not be enough to address the largest skill deficits students have experienced in 387 years.
There is absolutely no grade-level math or reading curriculum which addresses an unheard-of situation: six ability levels moving rigor forward one year, while simultaneously remediating backwards two years.
This session will provide inspiration and enlightenment as to how you move backward (remediation) and forward (grade level rigor) at the same time to increase academic achievement, student motivation, test scores and college and career readiness:"

In today's educational landscape, student engagement and retention are critical factors influencing the success and satisfaction of collegiate support services programs. With the emergence of diverse learning environments and competing responsibilities, Trio programs must constantly seek innovative strategies to foster deeper connections between students and their educational experiences. A notable approach in gaining traction is the utilization of student staff as key components in enhancing engagement and promoting resources.
This presentation explores the transformative potential of integrating student staff into programmatic initiatives aimed at increasing engagement and retention rates. While exploring best practices, this session delves into the multifaceted benefits and effective strategies for leveraging student staff.

In the changing world of higher education and STEM, how do we refine strategies that prepare first-generation students for success in higher education on a STEM focused trajectory? We build upon the resources and assets they already possess! As a group we will discuss effective ways to support students' precollege and college journeys to best prepare them for success in STEM.

In this workshop, we will shed light on the pivotal role mentorship programs play in addressing the evolving challenges of the current educational climate. The focus will be on how mentorship in our upward bound program has enhanced student engagement and retention.