Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

Direct Connection to Policy Area 5 of The Illinois Commitment
Annual Heritage Conferences, Office of Academic Development
Northeastern Illinois University
What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice?
Northeastern Illinois University is enriched by the diversity evident in the university-wide community. This
diversity is further enhanced by the opportunity provided through the annual heritage programs to understand
and appreciate the contributions of various cultures, while framing issues of local, national and international
importance. The conferences provide significant platforms to explore cultural and social values that highlight
our interconnectedness and promote awareness. They facilitate the acquisition of knowledge, abilities and
attitudes which form a foundation for life-long learning among our students. The heritage conferences laid the
foundation and expanded expectations of global learning as is evident by the conferences on Iran and Guatemala
and Democracy in Iran, Middle East and Central Asia.
Description of the effective practice:
The Office of Academic Development hosts several annual heritage conferences as single or multiple day
events. These are the Equity in Action Conference (October), the Inter-Faith Conference (November), the
Martin Luther King Day Program (January), the African, African-American, Native American, Caribbean and
the Americas Heritage Conference (January), the Native American Conference (February), and the Asian
American Heritage Conference (April). Content, context and programming for the conferences is designed by
the collaborative efforts of a committee comprised of faculty, staff and students from various disciplines at the
university. Committees begin meeting a year in advance of the conferences and subsequently meet 12-15 times
during the academic year to formulate themes, focus, and decide on program content. These conferences provide
a rich and vital forum for faculty and students to serve on panels alongside each other and to present on common
research interests or current issues of importance.
How does this practice achieve sustainability?
Faculty and external scholars use the heritage conferences as a forum to present current research interests. This
enhances the curriculum and further enriches student learning. Faculty members plan for future programming,
and student inclusion on panels. Because the conferences emphasize the diversity of our campus, student clubs
and co-curricular groups understand that this is also their forum for program development and involvement.
What are the results/measurable outcomes?
The annual heritage conferences have seen an increase in participation since their inception over a decade ago.
Faculty view their participation as an important way to create interdisciplinary partnerships with colleagues.
Student engagement allows students to view themselves as valuable community partners and collaborators,
creating a component of civic ownership and citizenship within the global community. Attending heritage
conference presentations and learning from the sessions becomes an integral part of the inter-disciplinary focus.
Last year, 7 annual heritage conferences included 97 presentations, featured 74 presenters/moderators and were
attended by approximately 2000 students.
The heritage conferences further the university’s mission of cultural, economic and political diversity and create
an environment that emphasizes analysis, involvement, inclusion and identification with the university
community.
Contact Information
Name: Dr. Wamucii Njogu
Email: W-Njogu@neiu.edu
Phone: (773) 442-5420
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