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The next Conference on College Men will be in 2011.

Conference on College Men
May 20-22, 2009
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Program Description | Schedule | Speakers | Call for Programs | Registration | Hotel and Travel

Over the past several years, student affairs educators and faculty have grown increasingly concerned about the experiences and challenges of men on college and university campuses.  Recent inquiries into behavioral trends among college men consistently confirm they are overrepresented among students who:  abuse drugs and alcohol, are cited for non-academic violations of campus judicial policies, perpetrate acts of violence and sexual assault, and choose not to engage in educationally purposeful campus programs and activities.  These trends suggest men may not be achieving the developmental milestones and outcomes that are associated with participation in college.  These trends have also left many educators wondering: "Why are men having such a difficult time on our campuses?" and "How can we be more purposeful and proactive in supporting them?" 

The differences between sub-groups of men have also emerged as a compelling issue in the recent student affairs discourse concerning men and masculinities on college and university campuses.  Some educators have raised questions about other identity dimensions that interact with gender and influence college men's development, behaviors, and outcomes.  For example, some have asked, "To what extent does the 'crisis concerning college men' (as some characterize it) persist across race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and group affiliation?  Others have asked, "How do the gender-related needs, experiences, and challenges of men enrolled at community colleges differ from their male counterparts at four-year institutions?"  

The 2009 Conference on College Men is an exciting opportunity for educators to convene, collaborate, and exchange ideas on how to meet the developmental needs of the men on their campuses.   The theme of this year's conference is:  "Engaging College Men: Bridging Scholarship and Practice."  The goal of the conference is to provide a stimulating venue for educators to share and discuss cutting-edge research on college men's development and propose strategies that have proven effective in helping college men achieve successful outcomes.  Thus, those who attend the conference should expect to leave with both the requisite knowledge and the practical tools to make a positive impact in improving how they work with college men upon returning to their institutions.