Higher Education Track

Partnering with the The Tennessee Service Learning Consortium (TN-SLC), Volunteer Tennessee is excited that the 2025 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning will offer a Higher Education Track for higher education institutions interested in community engagement, student volunteerism, and other ways to improve social well-being. The Higher Education Track will be on February 17 at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, TN. Click here to register. 

You can view the Higher Education Track agenda below or download a copy here

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Higher Education Track  Agenda

Room: Franklin

All times are in Central. Please note: All events and times are subject to change - check back regularly for the latest schedule and details about conference events.

7:30 – 9:00 a.m.                        Continental Breakfast

7:30 – 9:00 a.m.                        Higher Ed Track Registration            

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.                        Conference Welcome, Terry Sliver, Volunteer Tennessee Commission Chair, & Kristin
                                                        Henning, Miss Tennessee Teen Volunteer
                                                       Plenary: The Power of Belonging: How Volunteer Identity and the Psychology of
                                                        Belongingness Shape Recruitment
                                                              Speaker: Dr. Kevin Dean, Executive Director, Tennessee Nonprofit Network

9:15 – 9:30 a.m.                        Welcome and Opening Remarks, Higher Ed Track Committee

9:30 – 10:15 a.m.                     Focusing on Tennessee Student Engagement        
                                                               Presenters: Hannah McKay, Miss Tennessee Volunteer; Kristin Henning, Miss Tennessee
                                                                Teen Volunteer; Jamie Cyphers, UTK; Scott Jenkinson, ETSU     

10:30 -11:30 a.m.                      Workshop 1: Student Success and Graduation Rates Associated with Enrollment in
                                                        Multiple Experiential Learning High Impact Courses (MTSU)
                                                               Presenters: Janet McCormick & Carol Swayze

                                                       Workshop 2: Caring for Community...A Discovery of Service-Learning (MTSU)
                                                               Presenters: Dr. Barbara Whitman & Elaine Covington  

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.          Lunch & Panel Discussion: Multigenerational Panel Discussion around VolunteerRecruitment, Retention and Recognition
                                                               Moderator: Rebecca Nofi, Greater Nashville Regional Council

1:15 – 2:15 p.m.                          Workshop 1: Developing Online Courses with Virtual Service-Learning Opportunities(UT-Knox)
                                                                Presenter: Jamie Cyphers

                                                        Workshop 2: Increasing the emphasis on service-learning in future STEM graduates: a workshop on building cross-campus partnerships (UT-Knox)
                                                                Presenters: Laura Knight, Jessica Jeffries & Dr. Betsy Chesnutt       

2:30 p.m. -3:30 p.m.                  Workshop 1: Building Effective Community Partnerships for Successful Community-Based Learning & Career Readiness (ETSU)
                                                                Presenter: Teresa Taylor

                                                         Workshop 2: Beyond the Blood Drives: Youth Engagement with the American RedCross (MTSU)
                                                                Presenters: Madison Staggs & Amy AtchinsonResource

3:45 – 4:45 p.m.                           Resource Fair/Poster Presentations**

** A poster presentation is a visual and interactive way for college students to showcase their research, projects, or ideas. Students create a large-format poster summarizing their work, including key points such as the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions. Students stand by their posters during the event to engage with attendees, answer questions, and discuss their findings. This format allows for dynamic exchanges and networking while giving students experience in effectively communicating their work.