Student Success Unconference

To register for the Unconference, fill out our form here: https://forms.office.com/r/NQ3nqXE529.

"Innovating Together, Building on What Works"

A collaborative, co-created gathering of Penn State professionals working to advance student success through shared insight, promising practices, and institutional knowledge.

What is an Unconference?

This isn’t your typical conference. There are no keynote speakers, no pre-packaged panels, and no rigid schedule handed to you at the door. Instead, this intentionally designed participant-driven format invites you to co-create the agenda, bringing your own expertise, questions, and ideas to shape the day.

Inspired by the EdCamp model, which emerged from professional development in K–12 education that sought to honor the knowledge and experience of teachers, unconferences trust the room. Just as EdCamps harness the lived experience of teachers, the Student Success Unconference taps into the deep, diverse expertise of Penn State’s student success professionals—advisors, faculty, program leads, coaches, counselors, administrators, and staff—who support students every day.

You don’t need to prepare a presentation. Just show up ready to share what you know works, explore new ideas, listen, and create.

Why Attend?

At Penn State, every unit, college, and service provider has developed strategies and practices that support student success. But we rarely have the chance to connect across the silos, amplify what’s working, and learn from one another.

This Unconference offers that space.

You’ll leave with:

Connections across a network of like-minded professionals
Fresh ideas and new collaborations
Real-world examples of high-impact practices
Momentum and collaborators to build on what works and design what is needed

Who Should Attend?

This Unconference is designed for any Penn State professional working to support undergraduate student success at University Park. If you work to support student success, you are welcome and belong.

This includes (but isn’t limited to):

Academic advisors and advising leads
Faculty engaged in student mentoring or support
Learning center and academic support professionals
Success and transition coaches
Residence life and student affairs staff
Mental health and well-being professionals
DEI educators and inclusion specialists
Program directors and student service coordinators
Anyone passionate about student belonging, learning, and flourishing

How the Day Will Work

This is a participant-driven event—you help create the day’s agenda.

We’ll begin the day by sharing breakfast and welcoming remarks. Then we’ll launch a “topic sprint” to surface the ideas, challenges, and opportunities that matter most to you. These topics will shape the day’s breakout sessions, which will be facilitated by fellow participants. You don’t need to be an expert to lead a session—just willing to host a thoughtful conversation.

Tentative Schedule:

Time	Activity
8:00–9:00am	Continental Breakfast & Informal Networking
9:00–9:30am	Opening Remarks & Framing the Day
9:30–11:00am	Topic Sprint & Collaborative Agenda Building
11:00–12:00pm	Session 1
12:00–1:00pm	Lunch (provided) & Connection Time
1:00–2:00pm	Session 2
2:00–3:00pm	Session 3
3:00–4:00pm	Synthesis & Reflection

No PowerPoints. No panels. Just real conversations, practical ideas, and opportunities to collaborate.

Register

To register, fill out our form here: https://forms.office.com/r/NQ3nqXE529.

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