Bringing It

Bringing It #6: Pausing to Look Back, Look Forward, and Take Joy

December 19, 2018

Dear friends,

Six months ago, we launched a new chapter of Bringing Theory to Practice; and we started the Bringing It biweekly letter as a way to reach out to you–and hear back from you–more frequently and informally.  With 2018 coming to a close, we wanted to remind you of some of our earlier communications and to look forward to some upcoming events and opportunities.  Most of all, we wanted to thank you for your contributions to the BTtoP community and to higher education more generally.  And to wish you the most restful and joyful of holidays.

Early numbers of Bringing It offered links to resources that we hope you still find useful: an infographic that distilled BTtoP’s activities in its first 15 years; a survey in which we asked for your feedback about our mission, accomplishments, and future direction; and a sampler of essays and articles from BTtoP publications.  We also invited you to send in your own news, suggestions, and thoughts about what you’re reading and learning.  Thanks to the many readers who gave us feedback and contributed to Bringing It.

In the new year, we hope that you will continue to write with your views, your news, your queries and concerns.  We aim to grow Bringing It into a shared, active platform for conversation and collaboration across the BTtoP community.  Please send us ideas, reviews, and posts.

Multi-Institutional Innovation Grants

2019 will also be a time of new projects and programs from Bringing Theory to Practice.  Last week we issued a Request for Proposals for a new funding opportunity, Multi-Institutional Innovation Grants.  We hope that you are already working with potential partners on proposals. Remember that grant applications are due on Monday, February 4, as detailed in the RFP. Please feel free to reach out to Mercedes ([email protected]) with any questions.

Come join us at the AAC&U’s Request for Proposals from January 23-26!

This year, BTtoP will be offering three “fishbowl sessions” instead of traditional panel presentations.  In each one, a circle of four discussants will unpack the session’s theme in conversation, with the surrounding audience listening in on their dialogue. The audience members will then have the opportunity to tap into the fishbowl, replacing discussants and offering their own questions, comments, disagreements, and stories.

Here’s a brief look at our fishbowl sessions.  For scheduling details and speakers’ information, visit our website or the Annual Meeting conference site:

  • Student Well-Being and the Equity Imperative, featuring Adriana Aldana, Tim Eatman, Katharine Broton, and Laurie Schreiner
  • Work and the Purposes of College, featuring Laura Perna, Gilda Sheppard, Allen Delong, and Caroline Coward
  • Building the Community of Change: An Open Call to Envision the Future of Bringing Theory to Practice (and Higher Education), featuring Tessa Hicks Peterson, Michelle Fine, Joyce Bylander, and David Scobey

Join us as well at our Annual Reception on January 24th at 7:00 PM in the Hyatt Regency’s Inman Room.  We look forward to seeing old friends and welcoming new allies.

We look back on these past six months with pleasure; we look forward to 2019 with excitement. Thank you for joining us in this work of educational creativity, equity, and change.

Warmly,

David, Caitlin, and Mercedes