Welcome to VCCS New Horizons 2013

To all 2013 New Horizon participants:

The Office of Professional Development extends a sincere welcome to each and every one of you!  We are delighted that you will be joining us in Roanoke April 3-5, 2013 at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.  With the use of modern technology, the 2013 New Horizons conference will offer you easier access to presenter information, session descriptions, schedules, and many other informational pieces.  Specifically, our “going mobile” approach is directly related to the recognition  that our students are getting more and more of their information via mobile devices and we want to give our faculty a similar experience—to see the world with some of their students’ perspective and with that understanding provide insight into how their teaching methods might also evolve.

Taylor Mali will be our keynote speaker in Roanoke!  He is one of the most well-known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement and one of the few people in the world to have no job other than that of poet.  We are so excited to have him join us at the Hotel Roanoke. 

Additionally, several sessions will be live-streamed, as in the past, to offer our colleagues the chance to view sessions that they could not attend.  The wide variety of sessions will offer each and every one of you multiple choices of interesting topics to participate in. 

The Excellence in Education Award will highlight fifteen finalists this year!  These finalists will display their projects to all participants during the Wednesday, April 3 evening reception from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.  Each project is focused on the enhancement of student success within the VCCS.  Be sure to stop by the Pocahontas room and engage the participants on their projects and outcomes.

As always, our focus will on teaching, learning, and technology.  The Office of Professional Development is confident that you will leave the 2013 New Horizons conference with a renewed sense of purpose, several additions to add to your teaching-tool belt, and new networking connections.  Furthermore, you will gain a deeper understanding on incorporating good practices into your undergraduate teaching.   All of these will help you ensure your students’ success in each and every one of your classrooms on all 40 campuses. 

Again, welcome to New Horizons and we look forward to seeing you in early April!

Warmest regards,

The Office of Professional Development