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.
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.