Identify target gatherings
Locate conferences, meetings, symposiums, workshops
There are many types of gatherings for academics, with different purposes and possibilities. New faculty members may need to browse the landscape for the first few years to identify which are most helpful, appropriate, and inspiring. A venue that is most effective early in an academic career may change for middle and latter stages of a career. The purpose of attending academic gatherings is to learn about new innovations in the field, make connections with colleagues doing similar or related work, and broaden thinking and reflection beyond current understanding. Accomplished faculty members use conferences strategically to pace their work, stay in the larger dialogue in a field, get feedback from colleagues, refresh their thinking and practice, and network with others.
Broad array of venues
There are some key conferences in each discipline that are respected for the draw of well-known scholars in the field, and the competitiveness of proposal acceptance. New faculty members are well advised to attend these key conferences to enter the milieu of their discipline and become familiar with the landscape. Another level of gatherings is smaller, regional or local conferences that although not as well known, still offer many opportunities to connect with colleagues interested in studying similar issues, teaching similar courses, or engaging in similar service. Finally there are annual meetings, or symposia around a particular topic or initiative that can inspire, energize and enhance commitments to the profession. Any of these may be local, regional, national or international in scope. All can be energizing and renewing. Accomplished faculty members determine a number of key gatherings and over a career increase their involvement in attending, presenting, planning and serving as officers for the organizations that sponsor academic gatherings.
Seek community
It is clear that attending academic gatherings offers opportunities to go to sessions and hear information about initiatives and learn about research happening at campuses around the country and the world. It may be less obvious that these gatherings are opportunities to find like minded colleagues and connect with their thinking, their work, and establish future collaborations. Accomplished faculty members use conferences, meetings or forums strategically, never passing up a chance to make connections. If new faculty members establish this network early in their careers, they will find support, challenging perspectives, new directions, and refreshing insights from the interactions fostered by these events.
Types of gatherings
Types of Meetings and Gatherings
Merrill, A., Organizational Facilitator, AMDS, a certified minority business enterprise
This site outlines a number of different kinds of gatherings from a facilitator’s perspective.
Search for Conferences
Higher Education Conferences Worldwide
Conference Alerts, Academic Conference Worldwide sponsored website
This site lists conferences in all disciplines, and invites conference organizers to add their conference to the site.
Academic Keys for the Humanities
AcademicKeys.com
This site offers a searchable database of conferences, exhibitions and other events by subject, month/year, academic field, state and county.
List of Past and Upcoming Science Education Conferences
Rudge, D., Department of Biological Science, Western Michigan University
This webpage offers a listing of major conferences in the area of science education by organization.
Example Higher Education Conferences
Annual Conference
Association for the Study of Higher Education
Example Gatherings
American Educational Research Association
AERA
This website offers information on numerous lectures, meetings and events in the field of education.
Diversity Web
Association of American Colleges and Universities
This website offers a place for recent conference calls for proposals or announcements.
Access and Diversity Collaborative
Advocacy and Policy Center, College Board Sponsored Website
This website lists a number of conferences and annual meetings that invite educators to focus on the needs of minority and underserved groups.
Instructional Technology Conferences, Seminars, and Institutes
EDUCAUSE
This website lists numerous gatherings sponsored by EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.
Audio Conferences
Inside Higher Ed (February, 2010)
This site lists upcoming and past audio conferences for download.
National Business Education Association
NBEA Online
This site offers links to information on the NBEA annual convention, international meetings, regional meetings, and state / territory and Province meetings.
Annual Education Conferences
National Education Association
This is a listing of annual Education Conferences compiled by the NEA.
Annual Meeting, (August)
American Political Science Association (APSA)
The purpose of this meeting is to provide an environment conducive to connections among political scientists and help the discipline thrive.
Assessment Conferences
ACAT Online
This listing is sponsored by a company that offers multiple choice exams in many disciplines, and provides a listing of conferences focused on assessment.
Finding Community
How to Network at a Conference
wikiHow
This article describes strategies for connecting with others at a conference.
Pathable – Social Network for Conferences and Events
New Media Consortium
This site is an organization offering a means of connecting with others at the same event.
