2023 Student Advocates Conference
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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.
Click here for more information on the conference agenda and registration
Click here for more information on the Stan Jones Award application process
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.