Faculty, staff gather to advance student experiences

With more than 250 attendees, the third annual Elevated Education Exchange (EEE) began with a clear focus on fostering student success through engaging faculty and staff development and presentations. The ever-growing half-day event, held on Feb. 10 in the Melton Student Center Ballroom, was hosted as a collaboration between the Office of Academic Insight, Academic Support, the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, Career Discovery and Success and University Writing.

Grounded in the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) AUBURNACHIEVE, the event showcases Auburn’s approaches to motivating students to realize positive post-graduation outcomes, such as finding employment and pursuing graduate school, encouraging creative problem solving and idea generation across the many disciplines and units on campus. 

“The EEE demonstrates how faculty, staff and graduate students are contributing to achieve the QEP goals,” said Stuart Miller, assistant director of academic data acquisitions and reporting in the Office of Academic Insight and chair of the EEE planning committee. “It’s one thing to apply classroom learning to real life, and it’s another thing to be able to discuss and reflect on these experiences.” 

The event kicked off with an alumni panel featuring graduates from various professions and backgrounds. Beverly Banister, a 1983 graduate of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering; Evan Crawford, a 2010 graduate of the College of Education; Ryann Eads, a 2018 graduate of the College of Agriculture; and Adam Martin, a 2007 graduate of the College of Liberal Arts, shared their insights on a range of topics, including the importance of mentorship, leadership, collaboration and effective communication. Reflecting on their time on the Plains, each shared examples of how they continue to apply the many lessons they learned from their Auburn experiences. 

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life,” Eads said. “Auburn opened my eyes tenfold through networking, mentorship and academic advising. I still keep in contact with my advisors and my professors. Those opportunities helped shape who I am today.”

As participants gleaned valuable information from the panelists, passive poster presentations were also on display, along with various snack and beverage options from alumni vendors Stinson Breads and Pure Joy Coffee. Students also held active roles in several sessions including some of the faculty spotlights showcasing collaborative and innovative projects occurring throughout campus.

Features included study abroad opportunities with the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment focusing on tropical conservation, a student engineering project developing an alignment device for individuals diagnosed with a motor neuronal disease with the Ginn College of Engineering and College of Education, the Gulf Scholars Program with students represented from both the Ginn College of Engineering and the College of Sciences and Mathematics and an interior design virtual reality student learning experience funded by a Bright Ideas Seed Grant with the College of Human Sciences.

Students from the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management also returned this year to plan, prepare and present a sweet and savory dish for all attendees. The small bites provided a tangible and tasty display of the knowledge and creativity gleaned by the students within the program, delicious indicators of student success.

These kinds of innovative presentations are also what brought attendees like Naomi Gehling, an academic programs administrator within the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, back for a second year.

“It’s all about growth both personally and professionally and what that looks like for student success,” Gehling said. “I enjoy learning what services are available around campus and what ways our office can collaborate to simplify things and be more productive in reaching students at different levels. The information is invaluable.” 

Guest speaker Cindy Ann Kilgo culminated the event with the keynote address titled “How to Create, Support, and Sustain Thriving for College Students.” An Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs at Indiana University, Kilgo emphasized to attendees the importance of helping students thrive academically while still considering their personal well-being, keeping student success at the forefront for attendees as they returned to their specialized roles.

All areas and units on campus are encouraged to attend and participate in upcoming iterations of the EEE. For more information or to view past event information, visit the program’s website.