Presented by University of Central Oklahoma, Pace University, New York University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Kennesaw State, Augusta College

Lightning presentations are roughly seven minutes in length and are paired with others into a single session. Timestamps are indicated in parentheses so you can forward to the presentation you want to view.

  • Antiracism and Universal Design for Learning: A Book Suggestion (00:00)
    Presented by Marty Ludlum, University of Central Oklahoma

Antiracism and UDL is a new book (2020) and a quick read on incorporating changes in your urban classroom.  See how Antiracism and UDL offers practical improvements to make to your classroom, and should be encouraged reading across your campus. Start your own campus book group!

  • Re-Energizing Collaborative Partnerships of Non-Profit Organizations and Students in a Major Metropolitan University (09:10)
    Presented by James Lawler and Anthony Joseph, Pace University

The Covid-19 pandemic has been affecting collaborative partnerships of the metropolitan university and non-profit organizations. Disadvantaged people may not be engaged enough by non-profit organizations and the community outreach of students, disproportionately impacting help to this population. The presenters of this lightening session inform attendees of an innovative response in re-imaging the partnership role of service of their university.

The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems of Pace University is re-engaging students with its client non-profit organizations, in helping disadvantaged people that include disabled, distressed entrepreneurs, elderly, income limited and minority populations. Prior to the pandemic, the outreach of students in entrepreneurial help had been physical at the school. Since then, students have re-imagined an entrepreneurial paradigm of person-centered help—beyond how to live on-line—remotely through diverse non-profit organizations in the city. The students help non-profit organizations in helping the disadvantaged populations in a needed network of assistive options in entrepreneurial literacy projects, essentially in proposition solutions integrating virtual technologies of the Web. In the session, the presenters illustrate their practices in a passion-centered co-creation program of remote service that has international roots in Scandinavia.

The re-energizing of the response of the school is continuing to be positive for the non-profit organizations and their involved populations. For the outreach role of the university, the partnership perceptions of the students in their remote roles of service—a great reckoning for the students—are co-presented and shared in the session with the presenters. This lightening session will be helpful to administrator and faculty attendees desiring to apply an innovative proven response to supporting non-profit organizations in a crisis such as a pandemic.

  • Student Aid Advocacy in the COVID-19 Era: Leveraging the Power of E-Advocacy Platforms to Multiply Impact (22:41)
    Presented by Konstantine Tettonis, New York University

This presentation will (1) Present a model for student aid e-advocacy that NYU employed this past winter in lieu of our annual student aid advocacy trip to Albany, NY. (2) Discuss advantages and disadvantages of the model, which engaged 185+ students through an interactive social media campaign, a virtual panel discussion, letter writing, virtual meetings with several legislators, and more. (3) Suggest areas to enhance the model’s effectiveness, and furthermore, to incorporate e-advocacy methods into the University’s post-pandemic student aid advocacy efforts.

  • Addressing and Elevating Race and Equity Research Across Urban and Metropolitan Universities (34:15)
    Presented by Jeffery Wilson, Kevin Allison and Rosalyn Hobson Hargraves, Virginia Commonwealth University; Sylvia Carey-Butler, Kennesaw State; Tiffany G. Townsend, Augusta College

Recently, we have seen a number of demonstrations across the nation related to the social tensions in respect to diversity, particularly in our urban areas. It should not come to anyone’s surprise that key constituents to the change movement are college students who are more diverse and socially connected through technology and social media. Postsecondary institutions are at the center of this renewed interest in social justice and responsibility. Therefore, it is imperative that we understand efforts made by urban-identified colleges and universities to enact their mission with commitments and investments in equity and anti-racism.

This session seeks to engage participants in: Highlighting critical issues related to racism, anti-racism, equity, and inclusion in urban and metropolitan universities. This will include: Discussing demographic shifts, the relevance of current and recent events relevant to antiracism on urban campuses and in the communities we serve, institutional responses, the work of chief diversity officers, the special role of relationships with community for urban and metropolitan universities, as well as evidence based research, practice and program implementation; Applying intersectional perspectives and a critical race analysis of metropolitan and urban institutions that were often not historically designed for the communities of color that they now serve; Sharing the announcement of the call for manuscript submissions to a Special issue of Metropolitan Universities Journal devoted to anti-racism, equity and inclusion.