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  • June 2008: University of New England, Biddeford, ME
  • June 2006: "Creating Community"
    Maryville College, Maryville, TN
  • June 2003: "Courageous Leadership for Changing Times"
    Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR
  • June 2002: "Initiatives for a Changing World"
    St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
  • June 2000: "Endless Possibilities"
    Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
  • July 1998: "Current Issues and Promising Practices"
    Trinity University, San Antonio, TX

History of NASPA Small Colleges and Universities Institute

During the 1996 Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Joint Dean's Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, several NASPA members shaped their first ideas of having a professional development experience specifically designed for small college student affairs leaders. The CIC conference brought together professionals primarily from small, private institutions. In addition, the conference programs were largely targeted toward professionals at these colleges.

The NASPA group mentioned above believed that this experience was highly valuable, and provided learning experiences that were not being provided by NASPA at that time. As several of the NASPA members involved in this discussion were involved with the NASPA Small College and University Network, it was logical that this Network become the focal point for coordinating a new professional development event to better serve the needs of members from these institutions.

Incoming Network Chair, M. Ben Hogan (formerly Lycoming College, PA; currently Springfield College, MA) took this idea on as a major priority. Involving many colleagues through the Network, plans were put in motion to design a Small College and University Institute. Five primary goals were established for the Institute. First, it was to be held on a small college campus, virtually making the site a learning-laboratory. Second, all the participants were to be small college senior student affairs officers, or others from those schools with significant student affairs experience. Third, all programs were to relate directly to the small college experience. Fourth, the Institute was intended to be a very affordable experience. Fifth, the Institute should be offered on an every-other-year basis.

1st Small College Institute:  "Current Issues and Promising Practices"
Trinity University, San Antonio TX, July 1998

The first Institute was organized and presented at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, July 12-15, 1998. The theme for the Institute was Current Issues and Promising Practices. Ben Hogan served as Institute Chair, and Peter Neville (Trinity University) was Conference Host. Tim Millerick (Austin College, TX) and Joe Marron (US International University, CA) were Local Arrangements Co-Chairs. A total of 52 NASPA members participated in the Institute, representing all NASPA regions. Keynote Speaker was Dr. James E. Douthat, President of Lycoming College. Sponsors were Maxon Company and ARAMARK Corporation.

2nd Small College Institute:  "Endless Possibilities"
Colorado College, Colorado Springs CO, June 2000

The second Institute was presented at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO, June 24-27, 2000. The theme for the Institute was Endless Possibilities. Ben Hogan served as Institute Chair. Bill Seymour (Maryville College, TN) served as Local Arrangements Chair. A total of 41 NASPA members participated in the Institute, representing all NASPA regions. Sponsors were the Maxon Company and Sodexho Marriot Corporation.

3rd Small College and University Institute:  "Initiatives for a Changing World"
St. Olaf College, Northfield MN, June 2002

The third Small College and University Institute took place at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, June 22-25, 2002. The Institute theme was Initiatives for a Changing World. Institute Co-Chairs were Maggie Balisteri-Clarke (Edgewood College, WI) and Bill Seymour (Maryville College, TN). Institute Host and Local Arrangements Chair was Greg Kneser (St. Olaf College, MN). Keynote speakers were Joel Epstein, Senior Associate, Education Development Center and author of  A Parent's Guide to Sex, Drugs and Flunking Out. Sponsors were the Maxon Company and Bon Appetit Corporation.

4th Small College & University Institute: "Courageous Leadership for Changing Times"
Lewis and Clark College, Portland OR, June 2003

 Institute planning committee:

Maggie Balistreri-Clarke, Edgewood College
Levester Johnson, Butler University
Sandy Olson-Loy, University of Minnesota, Morris
Xavier Romano, Knox College
Lou Stark, Coe College
Bill Seymour, Maryville College

The fourth Small College and University Institute was hosted by Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon, June 26-29, 2004. The Institute theme was Courageous Leadership for Challenging Times. The Co-Chairs were Tara Knudson Carl (Midland Lutheran College) and Tim Millerick (Austin College, TX). The Institute Host was Jon Eldridge of Lewis and Clark College. Larry Roper, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Oregon State University, provided the keynote and was instrumental in challenging the Institute participants to contemplate the challenges to providing leadership for each of the topics presented. Bon Appetit, Markel A & H, and USA Today were the corporate sponsors.

5th Small College and University Institute:  "Creating Community"
Maryville College, Maryville TN, June 2006

Institute planning committee:

Kim Goff-Crews, Wellesley College
T. Hampton Hopkins, Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Mary Ann Searle, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Jim Thorius, Simpson College
Beth Tyler, Lake Forest College

The fifth Small College and University Institute took place at Maryville College, Maryville, Tennessee, June 24-27, 2006. The theme for the Institute was Creating Community. Institute Co-Chairs were Levester Johnson (Butler University) and Sandy Olson-Loy (University of Minnesota Morris) and). Co-Hosts were Bill Seymour and Vandy Kemp of Maryville College.  Keynote speakers were Bill McDonald, editor of Creating Campus Community…In Search of Ernest Boyer's Legacy and Sam Schuman, Chancellor, University of Minnesota, Morris and author of Old Main:  Small Colleges in Twenty-First Century America. Corporate sponsorship was provided by ARAMARK, USA Today: The College Readership Program, Caldwell & Gregory, Inc, and the Follett Corporation.

6th Small College and University Institute
University of New England, Biddeford ME, June 2008