Student Success Conference | It Takes a Community
About Our Annual Conference
The Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Student Success Conference is jointly sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Education and the Division of Student Life.Ìý
Save the date: The Student Success Conference will take place Feb. 17, 2027.
This annual event is open to all staff and faculty and serves as an opportunity to:
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Engage in personal and professional developmentÌý
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Enhance and share student success practices across campus
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Connect with and learn from colleagues who are committed to maximizing the success of our students
Call for Committee Members
- Gain hands-on experience leading a group of people through decision making processesÌý
- Strengthen your skills aroundÌýlogistics, organization and working with a diverse group of peopleÌý
- Earn a $2000 stipend for the dedicated time you will commit to this projectÌý
- Develop and practice your leadership skillsÌý
- Engage with colleagues from across campusÌý
- Serve in a voluntary role to get more hands-on experience with conferenceÌýlogisticsÌýÌý
The deadline to apply for a committee Aug. 28, 2026.Ìý
Conference Champion Team
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Lory-Ann Varela
Assistant Vice Provost, Office of Undergraduate Education
Executive Sponsor
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Joe ThomasÌý
Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Division of Student Life
Executive Sponsor
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Dawn Folston
Project Manager, Academic Affairs
Executive Sponsor
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Colin Spaulding
Associate Director for Events, Division of Student Life
Logistics Lead
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Meagan Goulian
Director of Student Life Communication & Marketing, Division of Student Life
Communication Lead
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Nash Albrecht
Assistant Director - Assessment & Program Review, Division of Student Life
Assessment Lead
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Dylan Dybedahl-West
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Enrollment Management
Enrollment Management Lead
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Scarlett Pontón de Dutton
Director of Campus Advising Initiatives & Strategy, Office of Undergraduate Education
Undergraduate Education & Advising Lead
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Vacant
Co-Chair of Awards Committee
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Vacant
Co-Chair of Awards Committee
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Vacant
Co-Chair of Awards Committee
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Vacant
Co-Chair of Awards Committee
Conference Champion Roles
ÌýÌýExecutive Sponsors: Provides strategic oversight, resources and support to ensure the event aligns with student success initiatives, Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder priorities, and accreditation needs. They determine the overall budget, choose the leads, and provide the overarching vision for the ongoing conference.ÌýÌý
ÌýÌýLogistics Lead: Ensures the facilities and materials needed for the conference are in place. They work closely with other committees to ensure the appropriate space and setup for each element of the conference achieve the goal.
ÌýÌýCommunication Lead: Led by Student Life Communication, this person will work toward marketing all aspects of the conference, including the call out for committees, volunteers, ed sessions, awards, general marketing of the event via campus channels, along with any swag or branded materials. This person leads the registration process of the conference and maintains virtual and print materials for the conference and works closely with other committees to provide up-to-date information.Ìý
ÌýÌýAssessment Lead: This person works to collect and analyze data each year to inform quality and educational improvement of the conference over the year, both from volunteer leader/committee perspectives and participants. They work to integrate learning outcomes with overarching campus goals and accreditation needs.
ÌýÌýEnrollment Management Lead: In addition to fully participating in conference planning activities, this person serves as the primary liaison to the enrollment management community (admissions, financial aid, scholarships, bursar, precollege, registrar) to ensure participation and representation from those areas.
ÌýÌýUndergraduate Education & Advising Lead: In addition to fully participating in conference planning activities, this person serves as the primary liaison to the advising community, the OUE community, and the faculty community to ensure participation and representation from those groups.Ìý
Committees
Co-Chair Expectations and DutiesÌý
- Applications must beÌýsubmitted. They are reviewed and selected by the Executive Sponsors.Ìý
- Remuneration includes aÌý$2,000Ìýstipend for theÌýadditionalÌýtimeÌýallottedÌýbetween July 1 – March 15 of each year.Ìý
- Estimated time is 4-5 hours/week on average. The busiest time will be October through February.ÌýÌý
- Co-chairs must attend bi-weekly Conference Champion Team meetings. These meetings will be held Wednesdays at 10-11 a.m. through the conference.Ìý
- Co-chairs can recruit sub-committee members as needed. We estimate 25 total hours for sub-committee members. Sub-committee members will be recognized for their work, but there is noÌýremuneration.Ìý
- Co-chairs mustÌýparticipateÌýin a debrief after the conference providing feedback for upcoming conferences.Ìý
The Educational Sessions Committee is a key component of the conference planning process, tasked with creating the callout, reviewing, selecting educational proposals submitted for presentation at the event, and the communication and preparation of presenters through the conference. Ìý
This group plays a crucial role in shaping the content and success of the conference, curating a range of topics and perspectives that reflect current trends in the field and ensuring that the conference delivers valuable and relevant insights to its participants.ÌýÌý
Committee responsibilities:Ìý
- Create/maintainÌýthe Submission Guide, including the process and content obtained for proposals and instructions and guide toÌýsubmittingÌýan excellent proposal.Ìý
- Create and use aÌýrubricÌýto review andÌýselectÌýproposals.Ìý
- Create andÌýmaintainÌýthe overall callout, review,Ìýselection, and training timeline.ÌýÌý
- BrainstormÌýidealÌýtypes of proposalsÌýandÌýcreate targeted recruitment strategies as needed.Ìý
- Shape the conference scheduleÌýby slotting educational sessions strategicallyÌý
- Develop tracks/labels and ensure balance of types of sessionsÌý
- Partner withÌýthe Executive SponsorsÌýon overall visionÌý
The Awards Committee willÌýbe responsible forÌýrecognizing and honoring exceptional contributions within the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder student success community.ÌýThis could include outstanding service, innovations,ÌýresearchÌýor achievements in the field,ÌýasÌýdemonstratedÌýin work presented at the conference.ÌýThis group plays a crucial role in celebrating high-impact student success practices across campus.Ìý
Committee responsibilities:Ìý
- Create a rubric and overall timelineÌý
- BrainstormÌýidealÌýtypes of awardsÌýandÌýcreate targetedÌýnominationÌýrecruitment strategies as neededÌý
- Work withÌýtheÌýStudentÌýAffairsÌýCommunication teamÌýtoÌýcreateÌýa nominationÌýprocessÌýandÌýmarketing strategyÌý
- Review nominationsÌý
- PartnerÌýwithÌýconferenceÌýsponsorsÌýon overall visionÌý