Washington Center Collaborative Newsletter |
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Our Guiding Purpose: We are guided by the academic success of all students. Ultimately, the measures of our success are improvements in students’ persistence, achievement, and graduation rates—particularly students who are the first in their families to go to college and those from groups historically under‐served in higher education.
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I am writing this on election day trying to stem the worry and dread about what might unfold in the coming days while simultaneously wondering if I am being ridiculous. To help myself stay grounded, I am turning to the contemplative and mindfulness practices I've learned from many of my wonderful colleagues with a gratitude practice:
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To the Washington Center team, thank you for your commitment to our work and the attention you bring to it.
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To my many colleagues who I am so lucky to be working with on meaningful projects, I appreciate you! Much of what we do together is above and beyond your day-to-day jobs and yet you keep showing up because the work matters. I'm looking forward to connecting with many of you in person at the National Learning Communities and POD conferences over the next two weeks.
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To my family, thank you for your constant support and love - it's been a rough couple of weeks and I am so grateful we are weathering it together.
- To you as you're reading this newsletter, thank you for contributions to our collective endeavor of teaching and supporting students as they work towards their goal of an undergraduate education.
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To the many of you who are concerned about this election, I am with you. Thank you for persisting and showing up for those who need you to.
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Reintegrating Higher Education |
Highlights from a Plenary Address at the Academic Initiatives Conference and the Residential College Symposium |
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We are often saddled by traditions and not adapting to the actual needs of our students and ever-changing population. -- Audience Comment
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Washington Center Director, Julia Metzker, recently presented the plenary address at the Academic Initiatives Conference and the Residential College Symposium in Portland, Oregon October 7-9. Julia's presentation addressed the critical need for reintegration across various divides in higher education and society. She highlighted the divisions that permeate campuses, institutions, and disciplines, arguing that the current fragmented approach to knowledge and learning is insufficient to address complex global issues such as climate change, resource inequality, and the rise of artificial intelligence. Drawing from personal experience and her work developing and supporting learning communities, Julia advocated for integrative learning, which bridges disciplines and fosters collaboration beyond traditional academic silos.
The address emphasized that belonging, a foundational human need, can serve as the "golden joinery" that helps reintegrate learning and community engagement. Through the metaphor of Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with precious metals, Julia illustrated how integrative learning and a focus on belonging can transform educational environments into spaces where individuals bring their full selves, fostering creativity and cooperation. The presentation concluded with practical strategies for promoting belonging and integration within educational institutions, challenging attendees to reimagine how they design learning experiences and structures.
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Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event or conference? Contact us about booking Julia!
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Washington Center Presentations
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POD Conference 2024
November 10-14 | McCormick Place Conference Center | Chicago, IL
Nov. 10 | 2-5 pm | Directors as Catalysts: Transformative Pathways for Center and Professional Growth
Nov. 11 | 9-10:15 am | Navigating ED Competencies: Roadmap for Professional Growth and Diverse Paths
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Visit the Learning Community Program Directory
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Connect through the collaborative! |
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Do you have a teaching dilemma? Get unstuck through cooperative consulting with colleagues.
facilitated by JuliA Metzker, The Washington Center and Sonja Wiedenhaupt, The Evergreen State College
November 21, 2pm ET | 11am PT
In this workshop we will use a teaching dilemma you are experiencing to practice a step back consulting protocol. Through this experience, you will develop ideas for implementing this protocol as a fruitful and generative practice. Consider a dilemma you are anticipating or in the midst of that you are prepared to share. For example:
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In this workshop we will use a teaching dilemma you are experiencing to practice a step back consulting protocol. Through this experience, you will develop ideas for implementing this protocol as a fruitful and generative practice. Consider a dilemma you are anticipating or in the midst of that you are prepared to share. For example:
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You anticipate a difficult conversation with a student or a colleague , and you aren’t sure about how to proceed.
- Students are in conflict with each other and it's impacting the learning environment, and you're trying to decide how to navigate the situation…
- Students are challenging something about your approach in the classroom, and you aren’t sure how to respond…..
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National Learning Communities Conference |
The NLCC 2024 planning committee welcomes proposals from educators, researchers, administrators, and practitioners engaged in teaching, creating, implementing, assessing, and sustaining high quality learning communities. Registration begins in June!
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Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life |
Seeking next host campus!
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CILC 2025 Best Practices Symposium |
Teaming Up: Working Together for a Strong Learning Community Program
Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL - April 4
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The Consortium for Illinois Learning Communities (CILC) is currently developing the program for the 2025 Best Practices Symposium, held on Friday, April 4 at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, IL.
Institutions may submit teams [a minimum of five individuals] that would work during the symposium for one or two two-hour sessions on a topic of their choice. CILC will provide each team with a facilitator who will work with a team leader in advance of the symposium and with the team at the symposium to help that team in achieving its target outcome. Each team would pay a $100 fee toward compensation of its facilitator, in addition to the regular individual symposium registration fee. Team members would be encouraged to attend symposium sessions outside of their team’s work hours.
Individuals would be encouraged to submit proposals for other symposium sessions, either as workshops or other formats under the general symposium theme. Of particular interest would be proposals highlighting what is particularly successful at their institution that they would like to share with others.
Finally, individuals will be encouraged to suggest session topics to CILC that they would like to have scheduled that they, as attendees, would find particularly useful to them or to their institution. Submitted ideas would help in the construction of the full symposium schedule.
For a flyer you can share, download this file: CILC Call for Proposals 2025 Flyer Draft 2
To submit a team workshop proposal or a general symposium proposal, please complete and submit the following form: CILC 2025 Symposium Proposal Form
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