#RealCollege Conference 2022: Thoughts & Prayers: Policy & Change
September 16–18, 2022
Rutgers University–Camden
Campus Center Building | 326 Penn St. | Camden, NJ
Our research shows that three-fifths of students face basic needs insecurities. In other words, three-fifths of students — disproportionately students of color — lack access to resources for food, housing, health care, technology, transportation, personal hygiene, and childcare. How can we give students the best chance at a successful learning experience?
We invite you—policymakers, business leaders, higher education staff and students, advocacy groups, and more—to be a part of the answer.
Join us at the 7th Annual #RealCollege Conference: Thoughts & Prayers: Policy & Change—a professional development and movement-building event. No more thoughts and prayers: we need policy and change now.
Scheduled for September 16–18 at Rutgers University–Camden, this year’s conference is particularly urgent. As our 2021 report explains, the pandemic has exacerbated insecurities among #RealCollege students and racial disparities have widened. Timed before midterm elections, our 3-day gathering will include inspirational keynote speakers, dynamic discussions and workshops, and more. Our intersectional lens will focus on higher education policy and local, state, and federal advocacy. Our 2022 agenda centers equity, health and well-being, and economic recovery for #RealCollege students.
This conference is organized in partnership with Believe in Students, and will offer both in-person session content with selected plenary sessions available to be viewed virtually. This will help provide an accessible platform to dissect the crucial policy and advocacy aspects of this work and help to examine how structural reforms can ensure students’ basic needs are met. We’ll also invite #RealCollege students to help inform these conversations by centering their lived experiences.
Registration for the #RealCollege Conference 2022 opens on Monday, March 21.
At the conference we will be working to address:
- How our state and federal governments can center students’ humanity and enact both social and higher education programs to meet students’ basic needs
- How we can ensure students’ voices are elevated and given a seat at the table where decisions and policies in the higher education sector are being made
- How we can secure staff and faculty engagement in a culture of caring
- How to facilitate partnerships for affordable transportation and childcare, as well as food and housing
- How to create effective advocacy campaigns
Contact Information
Speaker/sponsor/exhibitor questions:
Tanya Mikkelson, Swaim Strategies, Conference Coordinator
[email protected]
Registration questions:
Nia Fillo, Swaim Strategies
[email protected]
Past #RealCollege Annual Convenings
Check out our Annual Convenings from prior years here.