Coalition Annual Meeting & Conference

Washington University in St. Louis

August 8-9, 2024

 

About the Conference

 

This annual event is a chance to engage with and learn from your fellow Coalition members on a range of college access topics; and to discuss how we can continue to leverage the power of our membership to help achieve our vision: a future where all students have access to a successful, affordable and transformative college experience.

The conference will be held at the Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center on WashU’s campus.

Hotel reservations

We have blocks of rooms (in quantities ranging from 10-50) available at the following locations.

Knight Center, $229 per night, 0 miles from the conference

Hampton Inn and Suites Clayton/St. Louis, $150 per night, 2.0 miles from the conference

Courtyard by Marriott - St. Louis Brentwood, $154 per night, 2.8 miles from the conference

Residence Inn by Marriott, $184 per night, 3.1 miles from the conference

Aloft St. Louis Cortex, $139 per night, 3.7 miles from the conference


Please note: Transportation will not be provided from the hotels to the conference.

 

Conference registration rates

Registration is $375.

Jump to registration below ↓

 FAQs

  • We aspire to have each of our member institutions represented at this key event.

    Many members send enrollment leadership, as well as staff who are passionate about expanding college access.

  • The program will take place at the Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center in St. Louis, MO.

  • Here’s a Campus Map that includes lots of helpful information about getting to campus, as well as around campus. Please note that the conference will be held on WashU’s Danforth Campus at the Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center.

  • We have rooms reserved at the hotels listed above under “Hotel Reservations.”

    If you are interested in staying outside of the blocks above, we recommend these hotels.

  • St. Louis Lambert International Airport is the local airport.

    From I-170E (or Lambert International Airport)

    Take Exit 238A for I-170 South to Exit 1E for Forest Park Parkway exit

    Go east on Forest Park Parkway through Clayton, past Big Bend Boulevard to Throop Drive (first stoplight after Big Bend)

    Turn right (South) onto Throop Drive. Approximately 15 minutes

    By GPS

    We recommend you use Throop Drive and Snow Way, Washington University for GPS directions.

    By Taxi or Rideshare

    Cab fare is approximately $30 each way. Uber and Lyft Ridesharing apps are approximately $25.00 each way.

    By MetroLink

    You can take the light-rail system to the University City/Big Bend Station. After exiting the train, take the elevator or stairs to the street level. Washington University’s Danforth Campus is on the southeast corner (Big Bend and Forest Park Parkway).

    The Charles F. Knight Center is located on the north side of the Danforth Campus at the intersection of Throop Drive and Snow Way, directly across from the Millbrook Garage.

  • Visitor parking is available in the Millbrook Garage. Guests can park in any available visitor or yellow permit space that is not marked “red-permit”. Pull a ticket at the gate when you enter. Parking garage tickets will be validated at check-in in the Oval Lobby, courtesy of the conference planning team.

  • Aug. 8

    Breakfast

    Lunch

    Dinner, compliments of WashU Admissions

    Aug. 9

    Breakfast

    Boxed Lunch

  • We recommend business casual attire and suggest dressing in layers as some spaces may be cooler than others.

  • We have two open WiFi networks for guests to use (WUSTL Guests and WUSTL Guests 2.0). Neither of these networks will require login credentials.

  • We reserved smaller work rooms for anyone that needs a quiet space to work.

Have a question you don’t see here? Get in touch: info@coalitionforcollege.org.

Schedule

 

Thursday, August 8

 

8-9:15 a.m. | Anheuser-Busch Dining Room & Oval Lobby

Breakfast and Registration

 

9:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Emerson Auditorium

Welcome and Annual Business Meeting

 

10:45 - 12 p.m. | Emerson Auditorium

How to Innovate and Make Strategic Change with an Access Lens

In the past few years, member institutions have attracted attention for making a strategic change or successfully securing an investment that increases access and addresses affordability. In this session, hear from campus leaders who have been involved in the creation and launch of these initiatives, and learn about how they went from initial idea to gaining campus buy-in to going public to measuring their success.

PANELISTS:

  • Benjamin Baum, vice president of enrollment, St. John’s College

  • Marjorie Betley, deputy director of admission & executive director of STARS, University of Chicago

  • Kristin Diekevers, director of campus experience & engagement, Hope College

MODERATOR:

  • Grace Chapin James, assistant vice provost & director of admissions, Washington University in St. Louis

 

12 - 1 p.m. | Frick Forum

Lunch

 

1-1:45 p.m. | Emerson Auditorium

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Anna Gonzalez, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Washington University in St. Louis

 

1:45 - 3:00 p.m. | Emerson Auditorium

Identity, Belonging and Retention During a Politically Fractured Time 

This year, many campuses grappled with charged political debate and expression from within and outside their communities, while seeking to support students of all backgrounds and identities. In this session, hear how member schools aimed to foster a sense of belonging with prospective and current students during polarizing times. 

PANELISTS:

  • Brent Benner, associate vice president for enrollment management, The University of Tampa

  • Adam Sapp, assistant vice president & director of admissions, Pomona College

  • Kasey Urquídez, vice president for enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions, University of Arizona

MODERATOR:

  • Kevin Mathes associate vice president & dean of admissions, Bucknell

 

3-3:15 p.m.

Break

 

3:15-4:30 p.m. | Emerson Auditorium

Navigating Testing Policy Decisions

As colleges and universities consider how and whether to use standardized tests following pandemic policies, hear from several institutions who have announced their testing plans. Hear the process each institution used to evaluate policy options, considerations they weighed in making the decision, and how they engaged other stakeholders.

PANELISTS:

  • Liz Kinsley, director of undergraduate admission, Northwestern University 

  • Jeremiah Quinlan, dean of undergraduate admissions, Yale University 

  • Tamara Siler, interim director of admission, Rice University

MODERATOR:

  • Liz Cheron, chief executive officer, Coalition for College

 

4:30-6 p.m.

Break

 

6-9 p.m. | Crowder Courtyard

Cocktail Reception & Dinner

 

Friday, August 9

 

8-9 a.m. | Anheuser-Busch Dining Room

Breakfast

 

9 - 10:15 a.m. | Emerson Auditorium

Redefining Academic Excellence

The 2023 SCOTUS ruling banning race-conscious admission pushed institutions to not only reevaluate their admission policies and practices, but reexamine how those policies and practices align with their institutional mission and values. In this session, admission and enrollment leaders discuss strategies on how to navigate this new legal framework while considering the quality merit of prospective students and how those students may fit into their campus communities.

Presented by College Board's Access & Diversity Collaborative

PANELISTS:

  • Elena Hicks, assistant vice provost and dean of admission, Southern Methodist University

  • Art Rodriguez, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid, Carleton College

  • Victor Thomas, deputy director of admissions, Washington University in St. Louis

MODERATOR:

  • Crystal Newby, senior director, Strategic Admission, Access, and Diversity Initiatives, College Board

 

10:15 - 11:30 a.m. | Emerson Auditorium

Where Do We Go from Here? Lessons Learned from A(nother) Challenging Year

Counselors and CBO advisors were on the front lines helping students navigate a year with major changes to the admissions and financial aid processes. In this session, hear their experiences and perspectives of supporting students through the turbulence, with discussion around the impacts, lessons learned, emerging best practices, and how we can partner to break down barriers for underserved students in the year ahead. 

PANELISTS:

  • Carolyn Blair, counseling services director, Clayton High School

  • Teresa Stock Steinkamp, director of advising, The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis

  • Sara Urquidez, executive director, Academic Success Program Dallas

MODERATOR:

  • Justin Wilson, associate director, Washington University in St. Louis

 

11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Emerson Auditorium

Reflections & Conference Closing

 

12 - 12:45 p.m. | Frick Forum

Boxed Lunch

Optional: Stay for lunch with local school counselors and CBO advisors attending our post-conference professional development offering.

 

Register

Registration is $375.

Please note: this event is for members of the Coalition for College, our Counselor Advisory Committee, members of our Board of Directors, and select presenters.

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Why attend the conference?

  • To be in the room once again with people dedicated to college access was reinvigorating. The conversation was substantive and weighty, which is precisely where it needs to be at this critical moment.

    2023 attendee

  • Every moment felt like it was intentionally used to communicate (actionable) information.

    2023 attendee

  • The sessions "were incredibly relevant to what is going on in our field right now. The speakers were fantastic, and I felt like I learned something in each session."

    2023 attendee