Many thanks to those of you who noted that the link to join our slack community was expired.  Please excuse our error!  All are encouraged to join our slack community with this new link. 

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. 

Dear colleagues and friends,

Three months ago, on the eve of the presidential election, I wrote to you about my worries for the future. Today, those concerns have become reality as we grapple with a dizzying number of policies and initiatives that have real implications for our work, for our students, and for the communities we serve. I know many of you are carrying heavy hearts and legitimate worries about what lies ahead.

Now, more than ever, we need to hold space for each other and link arms. I invite you to join us in the coming weeks at one of our upcoming events where we can learn together, share strategies, and simply be present for one another. And as always, you are welcome to drop in to our slack community whenever you need a reminder that we're not alone in this work.

To each of you reading this: please be gentle with yourself. Take the breaks you need. Reach out when you need support. Remember that small acts of kindness and resistance matter.  Remember that you are needed.  Remember that you are not alone.

Together, we can continue to create spaces of learning and growth that honor our shared humanity and commitment to education.

In Solidarity,

JuliA Metzker
Director
Washington Center for Improving Undergraduate Education

Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience

February 16-19 | New Orleans, LA

Washington Center Director JuliA Metzker invites you to connect at the upcoming First-Year Experience conference in New Orleans February 16-19. Contact us if you'd like to get in touch or schedule a time to meet with JuliA at the conference.

Finding Deep Meaning and Authentic Relationships
in First-Year Experience Programs

February 18

When students are challenged to integrate and apply concepts across academic disciplines and co-curricular activities they can experience the point of learning beyond memorizing facts. This purpose-driven learning is the hallmark of many well-designed first-year experience programs. It is the kind of learning facilitated by friendships with other students and authentic and trusting relationships with instructors. What happens to students in these programs replicates the intellectual sophistication and social intelligence students need throughout and beyond college. Participants in this session will examine how integrative learning and creating a sense of belonging can transform students in the first college year.

PRESENTERS
- Phyllis Worthy Dawkins, Clark Atlanta University
- Jillian Kinzie, Indiana University, National Survey of Student Engagement
- JuliA Metzker, The Evergreen State College
- Rita Sperry, Texas A&M University Corpus-Christi

Learning Community Essentials in Higher Education:

Models and Practices

February 28 | 12 PM ET | 9 AM PT | Free virtual workshop

[REGISTER]

The National Learning Communities Association (NLCA) is delighted to sponsor a focused, one-hour virtual session exploring the features of learning community programs in higher education. This free session offers valuable insights for faculty, scholars, practitioners, and administrators with an interest in the benefits of learning community programs for student belonging and success.

Whether you're exploring learning communities for the first time or seeking to enhance your existing program, this session offers valuable insights for all experience levels.

PRESENTERS

Nathan Phelps, NLCA President | University of Wisconsin - Madison

JuliA Metzker, Director for the Washington Center for Improving Undergraduate Education | The Evergreen State College 

The Washington Center Collaborative is a space for higher education faculty, scholars, practitioners, and administrators to come together and discuss emergent issues of importance to our collective work educating and supporting students. The Collaborative consists of free virtual workshops, a newsletter, and a slack space.

February 21, 6pm ET | 3pm PT

Facilitated by Wajeehah Aayeshah, The University of Melbourne

[REGISTER]

Kindness is often the core fabric of a good academic space. However, despite being a fundamental part of our tapestries, it isn’t often acknowledged. We face a lot of interesting challenges in the current toxic academic systems. [Learn more]

March 21 | 1-2:30 PM ET | 10-11:30 AM PT

Facilitated by Ansley Clark & Carla Haddad, The Evergreen State College

[REGISTER]

What does intentional, creative, and linguistically and culturally spacious academic writing look like?  This workshop focuses on how instructors can use linguistic justice and critical language awareness frameworks to teach grammar and other foundational college writing skills. [Learn more]

Join us for a free information session!

March 7 | 1-1:45 pm ET | 10-10:45 am PT

[REGISTER]

Are you looking for a cost-effective way to drive meaningful change on your campus? Our Campus-Based Action Planning Institutes offer a dynamic planning opportunity for your cross-divisional team — right on your own campus!

April 24-25

Looking for dedicated time and space to plan with your team? Join us for an Integrative Learning Curriculum Planning Retreat! Early-bird registration rates through February 18.

The Washington Center is pleased to co-host the Integrative Learning Curriculum Planning Retreat with the Washington Learning Communities Consortium April 24-25 at the Rainbow Lodge Retreat Center in North Bend, Washington.