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EMERGE Annual Meeting

May 15-17, 2024 in Indianapolis, IN

The EMERGE two-day Annual Meeting is intended for universities and colleges that are creating or are in the process of growing a new engineering program and are interested in networking with other faculty and administrators, developing expertise in culture building, faculty development, and collaboration, and building entrepreneurial-minded learning into the curriculum. In 2024, EMERGE Annual Meeting moves to the campus of Marian University and the E. S. Witchger School of Engineering.

Returning and new attendees are welcome to attend this unique workshop experience, which includes ample time for networking and learning together with colleagues. A workshop agenda will be announced in the spring. Please note that universities/colleges do not have to be part of the KEEN network to participate. If you are interested in joining the KEEN network, please email EMERGE@unc.edu.

Registration

Please check back in 2024 for details.

Travel and Hotel

Please check back in 2024 for details.

Previous Year’s Agenda

6:00pm
Welcome Dinner

Location: Top of the Hill, 100 East Franklin St, Chapel Hill

9am-12pm
Workshop and Conversation I: Exploring the Unexpected Opportunities Within Your Institution

Facilitators: Rich Goldberg and Robert Nagel
The creation of a new engineering program provides a unique opportunity so that students can develop their engineering skills and mindsets in new ways. For example, how can engineering connect with other established programs and resources across a wide variety of areas (i.e. other professional programs like medicine, law, business, or the creative arts, music and theater)? This is an ideal time to explore new and unexpected opportunities that will equip students to pursue impactful and rewarding career opportunities. During this session, participants will explore how to identify and foster new opportunities for students to collaborate and engage more broadly beyond engineering, using resources already established at your institution.
Location: Graham Memorial Hall, room 039

12pm-1:30pm
Networking Lunch

1:30-4:30pm
Workshop and Conversation II: Achieving Impact Through Externally Partnered Projects

Facilitator: Scott Hersey
This workshop focuses on developing a framework for achieving impact through externally-partnered undergraduate learning experiences and programs. Through active and reflective modes, we will work toward a shared understanding of what “impact” means in the context of work with community or industry partners. We will also focus on the process of engaging with external partners, and on the collaborative process of identifying appropriate student projects that are aimed at achieving real and sustained impact in the world. We will explore characteristics of collaborative and mutual partnerships, guidelines for identifying and prioritizing project goals, markers of successfully-scoped projects, and strategies for maximizing social impact in sustainable ways.
Location: Graham Memorial Hall, room 039

6:30pm
Networking Dinner

Location: 411 West, 411 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill

9am-12pm
Workshop and Conversation III: Building Culture and Community in a New Program

Facilitators: Rob Martello and Jessica Townsend
The creation of a new academic program comes with a unique opportunity to create or reset departmental or institutional culture, and to build a connected and supportive community that can take on challenges productively and collaboratively. Early strategic choices and clear intention-setting are essential in fostering your desired culture and community, but serendipity plays a role as well. In this workshop, we will share examples of how culture is signaled and supported at a variety of academic programs and institutions. We will share strategies for building and sustaining a constructive, innovative culture. We will ask participants to identify the unique characteristics of their community (program or institution) that can be strengthened to support collaboration and a sense of common purpose among faculty, staff and students.

Closing and Final Reflection
Facilitators: EMERGE Leads

12pm
Boxed Lunch To-Go

Location: Graham Memorial Hall, room 039
Networking lunch as we wrap up the workshop.

For any further questions, contact EMERGE@unc.edu.