Transforming the Gateway Course Experience Workshop
March 13-14, 2025
Location: Asheville, NC
Drawing on Drew Koch’s newest book, “Transforming the Gateway Course Experience: A Call to Action for Higher Education“, and facilitated by a deeply experienced team of Gardner Institute experts, this engaging workshop will help participants examine the critical role of gateway courses in their own institutions, consider a tested evidence-based model for improving teaching, learning, and success in gateway courses, and apply that model to their own institutional efforts.
Participants will leave with greater knowledge and understanding about the pivotal role of gateway courses in learning and student success, a plan to apply what they learn to improve teaching, learning, and student success efforts at their own institutions, and a copy of the book on which the workshop is based.
This is a must-do workshop for faculty, academic leaders, student success staff, and others concerned about helping more students thrive in college courses. Participants are encouraged to come as institutional teams but can participate as individuals if that better suits their needs.
Who should participate:
Anyone who teaches postsecondary courses, whether in person, online, or hybrid. Faculty developers, Deans, Department Heads, and anyone in Academic Affairs. This workshop is designed for all disciplines and types of institutions.
What will I learn?
How to:
- Become a teaching and learning expert, and to apply evidence-based practices to enhance students’ psychological engagement.
- Improve your student outcomes by focusing on the concept of “learning mindsets,” which include growth mindset, a sense of belonging, purpose and relevance.
- Align teaching practices with these psychological insights, to help all students, especially those from historically marginalized backgrounds, feel valued and capable.
- Apply evidence-based teaching strategies that promote equity and student success.
- Create a plan based on a model of Gateway Course Redesign that emphasizes ensuring that student demographics do not determine academic outcomes. The plan includes:
- Analyzing and Planning. This phase involves organizing a diverse task force, collecting and analyzing evidence such as historic course data, surveys, and inventories of current practices, and generating an initial plan for redesign
- Action and Refinement- Participants will focus on the need for ongoing improvement and scaling of successful strategies. Continuous adaptation to changing dynamics and institutional commitment to support and sustain the redesign efforts are vital.
- Implementation- Educators put the plan into action, with ongoing monitoring to assess effectiveness and make necessary adjustments. Leadership, project management
Fees
Early Bird Registration (ends February 7, 2025): $700
Regular Registration : $795
Registration fee includes, two breakfasts, two lunches, refreshment breaks, and conference materials.
Hotel: $159 a night
Refund Policy: There will be no refunds given after February 3, 2025. All refunds will be subject to a 5% processing fee. Registration can be transferred to another participant before March 3, 2025, no transfers will be allowed after that. Requests must be made in writing to events@jngi.org.
All participants will receive a copy of “Transforming the Gateway Course Experience” by Andrew K. Koch
Conference Location Information:
Asheville, North Carolina.
Asheville offers robust cultural offerings through its large array of independent businesses that serve up an eclectic mix of food, art, tours, music, and goods all in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The city caters to foodies and art lovers!
Hotel Information:
Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel
31 Woodfin Street, Asheville, North Carolina, USA, 28801
Air Service:
Asheville is served by both its own regional airport (AVL), 15 miles from the hotel, and by the nearby (about 50 miles) Greenville/Spartanburg (GSP). Airlines providing service directly into AVL are: Allegiant, American, Delta, Jet Blue, Sun Country, and United
