MIHEC 2024 Conference Agenda

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2024 Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Conference

Harnessing Momentum, Building Capacity, Empowering Futures

Agenda

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Location: Humphrey School, Mondale Commons Atrium and Online. From 8:15 am to 4:30 pm.

8:15 am - 8:55 am: Check-in. Light Breakfast Provided

9:00 am - 9:15 am: Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:15 am - 9:45 am: Guided Discussion

9:45 am - 10:45 am: Inclusive Higher Education: A National Movement. Cate Weir, Think College, Institute for Community Inclusion, UMass Boston

Since 2008, postsecondary education pathways have been expanding for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This session, led by Cate Weir, a Program Director at Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion, UMass Boston, will provide an overview of the national movement for inclusive higher education and its impact on individuals with IDD, educational institutions, and broader communities at the state and national levels.

Participants will gain insight into how inclusive higher education is reshaping perspectives on academic and career possibilities for individuals with IDD. Additionally, attendees will learn how they can contribute to this movement, whether as students, family members, educators, faculty or staff, or representatives of disability advocacy organizations. The session will also share resources for helping students with IDD prepare for college during their K-12 years, reinforcing that college is not only possible for students with IDD but also a pathway to greater independence, personal growth, and community participation.

10:45 am - 11:00 am: Break

11:00 am - 12:00 pm: University Leadership Panel. Facilitated by Amy Hewitt, ICI

Amy Hewitt, the Director of the Institute on Community Integration, will facilitate a panel discussion with university leadership. The panel includes Joshia Litant, Paula O'Loughlin, Michael Rodriguez, and Paul Sheperd. The panel will explore the purpose of higher education, the institution’s diversity equity and inclusion initiative, and expectations for student outcomes. The panel will also provide their insight and advice on steps faculty can take to expand enrollment to include students with intellectual and developmental disabilities on their campuses.

12:00 pm - 12:45 pm: Lunch

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm: Reflections from a First-Year Initiative: Staff and Student Experiences. Molly McKinnon, North Dakota State University (NDSU), and Alexander Aikens, NDSU student

Molly McKinnon, the Director of the NDSU Center for Accessibility, will share insights into the journey to establish and implement an inclusive postsecondary education option for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The session will discuss campus ally relationships, student campus membership, student support, meaningful credentials, employment opportunities, celebrations, and challenges first-year students face. McKinnon will be joined by Alexander Aikens, who is in her second year this fall.

1:45 pm - 2:15 pm: Guided Discussion

2:15 pm - 2:30 pm: Break

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Framework to Expand High-Quality Inclusive Higher Education Options. Mary Hauff, MIHEC

Join Mary Hauff, Director of MIHEC, as she shares her perspective as a parent of a young adult with an intellectual and developmental disability while leading the way in expanding postsecondary opportunities across the state of Minnesota. Mary will discuss the Minnesota Standards for inclusive higher education, offering a framework for ensuring students with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access and opportunities to pursue a postsecondary education.

Following Mary’s presentation, Karen Swanson from Lake Superior Community College will share the college's vision for launching inclusive higher education in its first year of planning.

3:30 pm - 3:45 pm: Closing Remarks

3:45 pm - 4:30 pm: Student Poster Presentation

Informal poster presentations by prospective and current college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Learn from the students about their interests, college plans, experience, and the careers they want to pursue.