IMPACT+–+Creating+a+service-oriented+conference

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**IMPACT: Creating a service-oriented conference to serve the needs of college students and their campus administrators,** **or**
 * Market research to better meet the needs of student leaders and administrators through the IMPACT National Conference**

Trisha Gott, Coordinator of Programs, Instructor, School of Leadership Studies, Kansas State University, IMPACT Board of Directors [tcgott@ksu.edu] Savannah-Jane Griffin, Associate Director of Community Engagement, Stetson University, IMPACT Board of Directors [satkins@stetson.edu] Julianne Dunn, Assistant Director of Field Service, University of Arkansas, IMPACT Board of Directors [julianne@impactconference.org] John Sarvey, Executive Director, School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs, Northeastern University, IMPACT Board of Directors [j.sarvey@neu.edu] Heather McNew Schill, Assistant Director, Center for Excellence in Learning Through Service, Berea College, IMPACT Board of Directors Kristen Wright, The Fund for American Studies, IMPACT Board of Directors


 * Keywords:** IMPACT conference, conference programming, board of directors, survey, long-term strategic planning


 * Conference track:** Higher education student outcomes


 * Format:** Poster presentation

The IMPACT conference is historically the largest national gathering of student leaders, administrators, faculty, and nonprofit staff. The conference is committed to the civic engagement of college students and campus administrators in community service, service-learning, community-based research, advocacy and other forms of social action. This conference continues and builds on the legacy of the COOL national conference and the Idealist campus conference, spanning an incredible 27 plus year history. Initially planned by paid staff, the conference is currently planned and implemented by a national team of volunteers that include campus administrators, field practitioners, and undergraduates. In 2011, the conference was incorporated with a board of directors to oversee long-term strategic planning.
 * Summary**

When incorporating, the board identified the need to evaluate the current conference programming. The conference’s goal is to provide an event where students, campus administrators, and practitioners can interact, share their own programs, and learn from each other in a fun and safe environment while gaining skills and knowledge they can take back to their own campuses.

A 2011 survey was sent to previous participants of the IMPACT, COOL, and Idealist conferences as well as subscribers to the //Chronicle of Higher Education//. We also asked our 2012 conference participants to evaluate their experience. Our results show that the conference is providing a valuable experience for participants, but there is still much more the conference can provide, including year-long programming and outreach, issue round tables, and following up on programs created due to the conference. This poster will highlight the efforts of the IMPACT conference board of directors to provide a meaningful service conference for college students and campus administrators. We invite you to join us in our discussion on how to provide a meaningful service conference for undergraduate students.

There were no references provided with this proposal.
 * References**

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