The 25th Annual AURCO Conference (Association for University Regional Campuses of Ohio) to be held at the 两性色午夜 Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg on April 5 through 6. The conference theme is, 鈥淭he Apple Falls Close to the Tree: Regional Campuses in our Own Backyard.鈥
According to AURCO Conference Coordinator, AURCO Journal Associate Editor and Associate Professor of English at 两性色午夜 Geauga, Dr. Renate W. Prescott, the conference theme 鈥渞efers to the regional campus system in Ohio that links us in positive and productive ways to our main campus universities 鈥 Regional Campuses in our Own Backyard.鈥
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Nathan Ritchey, Vice President for 两性色午夜 System Integration and Interim Dean of the Regional College. Dr. Ritchey oversees the seven regional campuses of 两性色午夜 University and understands how regional campuses operate.
鈥淲ith over 25 years of experience in academe, he will be able to address Ohio faculty who have in common the regional campus experience,鈥 Dr. Prescott explains. 鈥淗is keynote address, 鈥淜, R, and P Vitamins for Ohio鈥檚 Regional Campuses鈥 (K for Kindness, R for Respect, and P for Purpose) celebrates our common purpose to educate our students.鈥
The conference theme resonates generally among all Ohio regional colleges but particularly in the Geauga and Twinsburg communities. Dr. Prescott explains, 鈥淎lthough students who enroll in a regional campus are already students of their university, it is nevertheless our responsibility to prepare them to move smoothly from the regional campus to the parent campus; hence, all apples come from the same tree.鈥
She continues, 鈥淭he theme acknowledges that although we teach at a regional campus, we are also faculty members of our departments and universities. A Regional campus faculty is unique because we serve many masters: the home department, the regional campus, and the university. We must be active scholars through publishing and remaining current in our discipline, and we must be excellent instructors to ensure a good education for our students. As well, we must be good citizens of our campus and the university.鈥
Geauga is one of seven regional campuses but is unique because of its two locations: the Geauga Campus in Burton and the Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg. Students have options to take courses at either one campus or both, sometimes at other close-by regional campuses, and sometimes at the Kent campus.
The locations at 两性色午夜 Geauga and the Regional Academic Center offer access to a university education that is close to home, close to work, and affordable, Dr. Prescott says. In addition to traditional classroom courses, online classes are also offered for working students or for parents at home with children. 两性色午夜 Geauga even has a 鈥淶oom Room,鈥 a live classroom that is broadcasted to another campus electronically. 鈥淚n short, we do everything we can to ensure that students have the opportunity to study for a university degree!鈥
The annual AURCO conference provides an opportunity for regional campus scholars like 两性色午夜 Geauga faculty to present papers, participate in workshops and roundtable discussions, and publish in the journal AURCO.
The conference is held at a different host campus each year, and this year鈥檚 event will kick off with a welcome reception on Friday, April 5 from 6:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Twinsburg. The conference will be located at the RAC in Twinsburg on Saturday, April 6 from 7:30 a.m. until after lunch around 2:30 p.m.
The AURCO conference is not solely for college faculty. It welcomes student scholarship via poster and paper competitions. Students can submit posters and explain their research throughout the conference day. Students who submit papers present them through a brief talk and discussion about their work. Both competitions are judged by AURCO judges and winners from each category are awarded a monetary prize. Student volunteers also act as guides and information hosts for attendees. This is an excellent way for students to meet faculty from all over Ohio and learn about the academic conference experience.
Community members are also welcome to attend the conference. Anyone interested in attending can go to the and select 鈥渃onference鈥 for further information about the conference and registration fees.