Two conferences are scheduled for the Spring semester: the Faculty Research Conference (April 17, 2010 at Central) and the Assessment Conference (April 30, 2010 at Central). Planned for fall 2010 are the Technology-Assisted Learning Conference and International Education Conference. In addition, speakers and programs for CSUS faculty are held throughout the year at each of the universities.

Research Conference

CCSU - April 17, 2010
The 2010 CSUS Faculty Research Conference will be held at Central Connecticut State University. Participants should park in the Vance Garage, adjacent to the Vance Academic Center, where the majority of the conference will be held. The conference is open to faculty from Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western - tenure track or non-tenure track, full-time or part-time - and to Doctoral students presenting their dissertation work.
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Assessment Conference

CCSU - April 30, 2010
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Marilee Bresciani, San Diego State University
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13th Annual Faculty Research Conference"Looking Towards the Future of CSUS Research"

Saturday April 17, 2010
Vance Academic Center
Central Connecticut State University

About the Conference

The 2010 CSUS Faculty Research Conference will be held at Central Connecticut State University. Participants should park in the Vance Garage, adjacent to the Vance Academic Center, where the majority of the conference will be held. The conference is open to faculty from Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western - tenure track or non-tenure track, full-time or part-time - and to Doctoral students presenting their dissertation work. Students working on collaborative research with faculty members may also participate. The event will represent the research and creative work accomplishments of faculty through paper presentations, symposia, performances and poster exhibits.
(View types of Presentations)

Schedule Summary

7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. - Continental Breakfast
7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Registration
8:30 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. - Presentation Sessions (Each individual panel presentation will be about 15-20 minutes long)
1:30 p.m to 2:45 p.m. - Lunch: Keynote Speaker and Trustees Research Awards Recognition

Detailed Schedule (PDF)


Presentations Abstracts Book (PDF)

Available Technology

All rooms have access to the internet, a DVD player, VCR player, a PC computer, and a projector.

Map & Directions

View driving and parking directions (pdf)
Campus Map

Conference Committee

• HOST Dr. Christopher Pudlinski, Communication - CCSU
• HOST Dr. Diana Cohen, Political Science - CCSU
• Dr. Julia Kara-Soteriou, Reading and Language Arts - CCSU
• Dr. Zbigniew Prusak, Engineering - CCSU
• Dr. Joseph Farhat, Finance - CCSU
• Dr. Neli Zlatareva, Computer Science - CCSU
• Dr. Michael Wizevich, Physics and Earth Sciences - CCSU
• Dr. Thomas Vasko, Engineering - CCSU
• Dr. Elizabeth D. Scott, Business Administration - ECSU
• Dr. Joel Rosiene, Computer Science - ECSU
• Dr. Jennifer L. Brown, Economics - ECSU
• Dr. Kevin Buterbaugh, Political Science - SCSU
• Dr. Christine Unson, Public Health - SCSU
• Dr. Linda Sampson, Communications - SCSU
• Dr. Marcy Delcourt, Education and Education Psychology - WCSU
• Dr. Thomas Lonergan, Biology - WCSU
• Dr. Karen Daley, Nursing - WCSU
• System Coordination Dr. Germán Bermúdez, Academic and Student Affairs - CSUS

Questions and Comments

Please e-mail Dr. Christopher Pudlinski or Dr. Diana Cohen

Spring 2010 CSUS Assessment Conference

April 30, 2010
Central Connecticut State University

The 2010 CSUS Assessment Conference will be held at Central Connecticut State University. The conference will be directed to departmental faculty and chairs. The focus will be on the assessment of learning in the context of academic program review. Participants will have opportunities to participate in conversations about the values, goals and processes involved and how the results can be used at the program, department, school, and university levels. Attendees will acquire a broad understanding of the elements and factors for a successful process, gain knowledge and perspective about their own program review process, and examine ways in which the process supports the improvement of student learning at their universities.
Conference Schedule (PDF)
Conference Assessment Concept Document

Conference attendees should park in the
Student Center Parking Garage
Directions
Map

Assessment Grant Program

Program Description and Requirements (PDF)
Cover Page and Budget Form (DOC)
Summary of 2009-10 Assessment Grant Reports (PDF)

About Assessment

Assessment is an iterative process consisting of:

• Defining/revisiting/asking questions about learning goals/outcomes, including the ways in which learning has occurred so far.
• Selecting/designing tools and methodologies and collecting evidence for student learning. Value added methods take a look at the gains attributable to the learning experiences offered to students in a program.
• Analyzing and interpreting the collection of evidence in relation to the learning goals/outcomes, and making judgments about the learning that has occurred.
• Using the results in a reflective process to plan and implement changes in teaching and/or the curriculum, with the expectation of demonstrable improvements in student learning.

Assessment Committee

• Dr. Braden Hosch - Central
  Director of Institutional Research and Assessment
  2-1780 | hoschbrj@ccsu.edu
• Dr. Aimee L. Pozorski - Central
  School of Arts & Sciences - English
  2-2773 | pozorskia@ccsu.edu
• Dr. Darren Robert - Eastern
  University Assessment Coordinator and Associate Professor - Health and Physical Education
  5-5184 | robertd@easternct.edu
• Dr. Marianne Kennedy - Southern
  Associate Vice-President for Assessment, Planning, and Academic Programs
  2-5960 | kennedym4@southernct.edu
• Dr. Jerry Wilcox - Western
  Director of Institutional Research and Assessment
  7-8242 | wilcoxj@wcsu.edu
• Ms. Pamela McDaniel - Western
  Professor/Associate Chairperson of Theater Arts
  7-8422 | mcdanielp@wcsu.edu
• Dr. Germán Bermúdez - System Office
  Associate Executive Officer, Academic & Student Affairs
  3-0054 | bermudezg@ct.edu

Technology-Assisted Learning Conference

This faculty centered conference will focus on pedagogy and design topics for successful online and Web-enhanced learning. The conference will provide opportunities to examine specific approaches and best practices. It will incorporate conversations by disciplinary areas or groupings and to exchange practices and successes, explore new opportunities, and discuss current research on teaching and learning in an online environment.

2009 International Education Conference: Review

Western Connecticut State University hosted the Connecticut State University System's 2009 International Education Conference in October. Faculty and student attendees participated in 12 conference sessions held throughout the day, and heard keynote speaker Michael Despines, climate resilience campaign coordinator for Friends of the Earth, based in Washington, D.C. Despines promotes policy solutions "that support domestic and international populations most at risk from climate change." Details on the 2010 conference will be available later this year.

Several speakers from outside the area interacted with conference participants via the web, including presenters in Czech Republican, Costa Rica and the U.S. In addition to discussions about global warming and climate change, the agenda included investigations of ways to:

• Reduce the environmental impact of international travel through the use of renewable energy, carbon neutrality and carbon-reduction offsets;
• Prepare CSUS students for "Green Collar" jobs
• Determine international trends in sustainability education, and
• Develop grants available through international education services.

The conference planning committee, led by Missy Gluckmann, Western's international services coordinator, also solicited proposals for papers during the summer from faculty throughout the Connecticut State University System. In one of the sessions, Western faculty members Alba Skar and Theodora Pinou joined two undergraduate students in sharing experiences from WCSU's Global Academy program in Nicaragua. The conference also emphasized the importance of learning languages other than English as a way to increase one's chances of success in an international setting.

In keeping with the green theme, no brochure was printed for participants and the font used to print posters publicizing the event used less ink than is customary. Biodegradable plates, cups and flatware were used.

One attendee summed up the day: "This was extremely well organized, coherently framed, and timely in its focus...the use of online presentations to complement the on-ground presentations was inspired and on point."

The initial CSUS International Education Conference was held in 2008 at Central Connecticut State University, beginning an annual rotation among the four CSUS universities. The theme, location and date of the 2010 conference will be announced shortly.