2024 Student Advocates Conference
This year’s virtual convening will bring together a variety of Commission staff to review programs following enrollment that are designed with the goal of student success. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from and engage with staff who are leading the efforts on 21st Century Scholars, Career & Technical Education (CTE), the Indiana College Core Expansion, programs and initiatives for adult learners, and more.
Registration is on a per-session basis. Click on the sessions you'd like to attend and register for each one individually. On the day of the Student Advocates Conference, you can attend any session, however, you will be prompted to complete a registration form before entering the event.
*Recordings of each session will be available after the conference. Please check back in by 12/12/2024
- 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. | Opening Remarks with Commissioner Lowery Chris LoweryIndiana Commissioner for Higher EducationIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. | A. Student Success Coaching: Increasing Degree Completion for 21st Century Scholars Kate MarlingPostsecondary Transitions Manager, K-12 StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. | B. CTE: Supporting Postsecondary Credential Completion Sam RourkeAssistant Commissioner for Career & Technical Education, K-12 StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher EducationLinsay OsosDirector of CTE Programming, K-12 StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- 11:00 am – 11:45 a.m. | A. Expansion of the Indiana College Core Jessica BarrettDirector of Academic Affairs and Transfer, Academic AffairsIndiana Commission for Higher EducationRachel MartinManager for Academic Affairs, Academic AffairsIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- 11:00 am – 11:45 a.m. | B. College Completion Dashboard Brooke KileAssociate Commissioner for Business Intelligence, Business IntelligenceIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. | Stan Jones Award Presentation
Stan Jones Award RecipientMildred A. Vernia, Indiana University SoutheastTeaching Professor of MathematicsKate MarlingPostsecondary Transitions Manager, K-12 StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher EducationVictoria PhairPostsecondary Transitions Manager, K-12 StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher Education - 12:30 – 1:15 p.m. | A. Outcomes-Based Performance Funding Seth HinshawSenior Associate Commissioner and Chief Financial Officer, Finance-OperationsIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- 12:30 – 1:15 p.m. | B. Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship & Transition to Teaching Scholarship Greg HarrellAssistant Commissioner for Public Policy & Strategic Partnerships, Public PolicyIndiana Commission for Higher EducationTai CasmierPublic Policy Coordinator, Public PolicyIndiana Commission for Higher EducationJosé MedinaDirector for Workforce Initiatives, Public PolicyIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. | A. Resources Supporting Adult Learner Attainment Steve St. JohnDirector for Adult Program Implementation, Adult StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher EducationDavyd HallDirector of Adult Strategy Engagement, Adult StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher Education
2023 Student Advocates Conference
This year’s virtual convening will bring together a variety of mentors, educators, student support staff, and thought leaders throughout the business and community sectors to navigate the historic programmatic changes that have recently taken place in Indiana. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from and engage with Commission staff and partners who are leading the efforts on 21st Century Scholars, FAFSA, the Indiana College Core Expansion and My College Core Tool, programs and initiatives underway for military and adult learners, and much more.
*Recordings of each session will be coming soon. Please check back in by 12/15/2023
Click here to review event details on the conference agenda
- 9:00 – 9:40 a.m. | Opening with Governor Holcomb and Commissioner Lowery Eric HolcombGovernorState of IndianaChris LoweryIndiana Commissioner for Higher EducationIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- 10:00 – 10:50 a.m. | A. 21st Century Scholars Auto Enrollment and FAFSA Update Josh GarrisonSenior Associate Commissioner and Chief of StaffIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- 21st Century Scholars Auto Enrollment and FAFSA Update - Presentation
- 10:00 – 10:50 a.m. | B. Indiana College Core Expansion and My College Core Tool Ken SauerSenior Associate Commissioner and Chief Academic OfficerIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- Indiana College Core Expansion and My College Core Tool - Presentation
- 10:00 – 10:50 a.m. | C. Military and Adult Learners Stacy TownsleyAssociate Commissioner for Adult StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher EducationSteve St. JohnDirector of Adult Program ImplementationIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- Military and Adult Learners - Presentation
- 11:00 am – 11:50 a.m. | A. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Tony HarlAssociate Commissioner for K-12 StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) - Presentation
- 11:00 am – 11:50 a.m. | B. Pre-Admissions: Your Path to College McKalaih LegaultDirector for Postsecondary Program ImplementationIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- Pre-Admissions: Your Path to College - Presentation
- 11:00 am – 11:50 a.m. | C. Military and Adult Learners Stacy TownsleyAssociate Commissioner for Adult StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher EducationSteve St. JohnDirector of Adult Program ImplementationIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- Military and Adult Learners - Presentation
- 12:30 – 1:20 p.m. | Stan Jones presentation Emma MeyerExecutive Director of Textbooks and Bookstore SupportIvy Tech Community CollegeMadison PrillwitzAssistant Commissioner for Strategic Partnerships and EventsIndiana Commission for Higher EducationKalyn RudowExecutive Director of 21st Century Scholars and Inclusive LeadershipMarian UniversityAllison KuehrAssociate Commissioner for Marketing and CommunicationsIndiana Commission for Higher EducationFranchessca Cardenas21st Century Scholar CoordinatorMarian University
- Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy+ Tuition and Textbooks) - Presentation
- Marian University (Launch Your Future Camp: A Day Camp for 21st Century Scholars) - Presentation
- 12:30 – 1:20 p.m. | A. 21st Century Scholars Auto Enrollment and FAFSA Update Josh GarrisonSenior Associate Commissioner and Chief of StaffIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- 21st Century Scholars Auto Enrollment and FAFSA Update - Presentation
- 12:30 – 1:20 p.m. | B. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Tony HarlAssociate Commissioner for K-12 StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) - Presentation
- 12:30 – 1:20 p.m. | C. Indiana College Core Expansion and My College Core Tool Ken SauerSenior Associate Commissioner and Chief Academic OfficerIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- Indiana College Core Expansion and My College Core Tool - Presentation
- 12:30 – 1:20 p.m. | D. Military and Adult Learners Steve St. JohnDirector of Adult Program ImplementationIndiana Commission for Higher EducationStacy TownsleyAssociate Commissioner for Adult StrategyIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- Military and Adult Learners - Presentation
- 12:30 – 1:20 p.m. | E. Pre-Admissions: Your Path to College (McKalaih Legault) McKalaih LegaultDirector for Postsecondary Program ImplementationIndiana Commission for Higher Education
- Pre-Admissions: Your Path to College - Presentation
2022 Education Value Convening
(formerly Student Advocates Conference)
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
- 9:00 a.m. | Keynote
Keynote
Chris Lowery, Commissioner for Higher Education
Commissioner Lowery will situate today’s Education Value Convening in the context of Indiana’s college-going rate, adult postsecondary attainment and graduate retention rankings, highlight the economic and social justification for postsecondary education and present CHE’s high-level strategies to strengthen higher education access, completion and outcomes in Indiana.
- 9:30 a.m. | Indiana's Education Value Research
Indiana’s Education Value Research
Charlee Beasor, Associate Commissioner for Marketing & Communications
Allison Kuehr, Communications & PR Manager
Charlee and Allison will present findings from CHE’s education value research and detail how the research is informing CHE’s education value campaign and strategies to equip Indiana’s trusted messengers to promote postsecondary education.
- 10:30 a.m. | Break
Please return to sessions around 10:40 a.m.
- 10:40 a.m. | Breakout Sessions I
Public Policy Update
Josh Garrison, Associate Commissioner for Public Policy
Josh will provide an overview of recent and potentially forthcoming federal and state policy changes influencing postsecondary education in Indiana.
Statewide FAFSA Goal
Michelle Ashcraft, Associate Commissioner for K-12 Strategy
Michelle will present a statewide FAFSA goal for the 2023 high school graduating class, highlight strategies for strengthening FAFSA filing among high school seniors and postsecondary students, and present opportunities for Hoosier FAFSA filers to access Indiana’s robust state financial aid.
Adult Student Report
Lee Rathbun, Assistant Director for Data Analytics
Lee will present for the first time the high-level findings of CHE’s forthcoming Adult Student Report.
- 11:25 a.m. | Lunch Break
Please return to afternoon sessions around 12:20 p.m.
- 12:25 p.m. | Breakout Session II
Expansion of the Indiana College Core
Michelle Ashcraft, Associate Commissioner for K-12 Strategy
Michelle will present a strategy to expand access to the Indiana College Core (ICC) to all Indiana high schools by 2026 and quadruple the number of completions by 2028.
Credit for Prior Learning
Stacy Townsley, Associate Commissioner for Adult Strategy
Stacy will present key opportunities for greater utilization of credit for prior learning to increase Hoosier access to postsecondary opportunities, particularly for veterans.
- 1:10 p.m. | Break
Please return to sessions around 1:20 p.m.
- 1:20 p.m. | Moderated Panel: Indiana's Partnership Pentagon
Panel Discussion: Indiana’s Partnership Pentagon
Chris Lowery, Commissioner for Higher Education
José Medina, Community Partner Manager
Commissioner Lowery will introduce Indiana’s Partnership Pentagon for postsecondary education and José Medina will moderate a discussion with coalition leaders representing education, employers, government, community organizations and philanthropy.
- 2:00 p.m. | Convening Ends
A conference evaluation survey will be sent electronically in the next few days. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to higher education and student success.
2021 Student Advocates Conference
Wednesday, December 15 - Thursday, December 16
Keynote 1 | Education Value and Career Relevance
Teresa Lubbers, Commissioner for Higher Education
Jason Bearce, Vice President, Education & Workforce Development, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Recording
Keynote 2 | From Ally to Accomplice: Helping Student Succeed Beyond Completion
Chantee Eldridge, Ed.D, Vice President, Communications, Equity and Outreach, Strada Education Network
Recording
The 2021 Student Advocates Conference was generously supported by Strada Education Network and hosted in partnership with the Indiana Association for College Admission Counseling. Contact us at events@che.in.gov
2020 Student Advocates Conference
- 2020 CONFERENCE APP & AGENDA
2019 Student Advocates Conference
- 2019 CONFERENCE APP & AGENDA
2018 Student Advocates Conference
- Click here to download the conference presentations.
- Click here for a copy of the conference agenda.
2017 Student Advocates Conference
- Click here to download the conference presentations.
- Click here for a copy of the conference agenda.
2016 Student Advocates Conference
- Click here to download the conference presentations.
- Click here for a copy of the conference agenda.