Midwest First-Year Conference

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Midwest First-Year Conference

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An annual, one-day conference that brings college and university faculty, administrators, staff and graduate students together to discuss improving the FYE

Since 2008, the Midwest First-Year Conference has brought together academic and student affairs professionals from colleges and universities across the Midwest to hear from national experts and share ideas, best practices, and innovative practices for improving the first-year of college. The conference is held in late September and the location is variable based on institutional support and the make-up of the conference planning committee. The Midwest First-Year Conference is an independent organization with a volunteer planning committee, which maintains an educational partnership with the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. Locations/Keynote Speaker
2021 - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Dr. Sonja Ardoin
2020 - Virtual - Dr. Tia Brown-McNair
2019 - Illinois State University - John Gardner & Betsy Barefoot
2018 - University of St. Francis
2017 - Loyola University Chicago - Dr. Laura Rendon
2016 - Northern Illinois University - Dr. Jennifer Keup
2015 - Waubonsee Community College - Dr. Vincent Tinto
2014 - Waubonsee Community College - Dr. Joe Cuseo
2013 -
2012 - Northern Illinois University - Dr. Vasti Torres
2011
2010
2009
2008

09/14/2026

This Friday, The Student Empowered is headed to the Midwest First-Year Conference at Gateway Technical College in Racine, Wisconsin.

I’ll be presenting After the Notification: Coaching Students Through the Digital Hidden Curriculum, a session focused on something we often overlook when talking about college readiness: getting the notification is the easy part. Knowing what to do with it is the skill.

Students are navigating email, LMS platforms, student portals, academic alerts, course tools, texts, and an already crowded personal digital world.

The goal isn’t simply to get students to “check their email.” It’s to help them learn how to notice, interpret, prioritize, act, and follow through.

08/19/2026

MFYC is excited to announce our 2026 Key Note Speaker!

Dr. Liz Gross is higher education’s most trusted voice in social intelligence, and an
award-winning speaker, author, and strategist. With over 20 years of experience at the
intersection of social media, education policy, leadership, and marketing, she’s shaped
the higher education digital landscape since Facebook’s launch. She founded Campus Sonar in 2017 to empower higher ed leaders with knowledge and insights gained from vast social media and online data. College Board acquired Campus Sonar in 2026. Liz was named to GreenBook’s 2019 GRIT Future List, which showcases forward- thinking individuals and innovations shaping the market research industry. She’s spoken at 100+ higher education events, and authored two indispensable guides for higher ed: The Higher Ed Social Listening Handbook and Fundamentals of Social Media Strategy: A Guide for College Campuses.

Liz’s higher education experience spans the private and public sector (including the
University of Wisconsin campuses in Milwaukee and Waukesha). She received a Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education at Cardinal Stritch University, a master’s degree in educational policy and leadership from Marquette University, and a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communication from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point.

Join us for the 2026 annual conference happening Friday, September 18th, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM at Gateway Technical College in Racine, WI!

Register by September 1st for the early bird rate.

See link below to register:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-midwest-first-year-conference

06/26/2026

📣 Don’t Forget! Important Midwest First-Year Conference Deadlines Are Coming Up!

As we prepare for the 2026 Midwest First-Year Conference, be sure to mark these important dates:

💡 Call for Proposals – (EXTENDED) Due July 1st:
Share your innovative first-year strategies, student success initiatives, and impactful programs aligned with this year’s theme, Digital Transition: College Success in a Swipe Culture.

🏆 Carrie Schade Award Nominations – Due August 14th:
Help us recognize a higher education professional who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and advocacy for first-year students.

🎟️ Early Bird Registration – Ends September 1st
Register early to save your spot and join colleagues from across the Midwest on September 18, 2026, for a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration.

We look forward to seeing you this September!

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06/02/2026

Aligning with this year’s theme, Digital Transition: College Success in a Swipe Culture, the Midwest First-Year Conference invites presenters to celebrate, and critically examine the digital landscape shaping today’s first-year students.

From TikTok study strategies to AI-assisted writing, from digital community-building to screen time anxiety, our students arrive on campus already immersed in a culture that is fast, visual and algorithm-driven.

We welcome proposals that engage this topic across a range of disciplines, institutional types and student populations.

You can read more using the link below. We have also extended our deadline for proposals to July 1st, 2026!

Submit a Proposal:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdo5cH76lr4G5bfAoZsaIXgyrnShg8oY5tF_KGiED7sGYMjKA/viewform?usp=send_form

05/16/2026

Save the date and join us for the 2026 Midwest First-Year Conference on Friday, September 18th at Gateway Technical College in Racine, Wisconsin!

In an ever-evolving landscape for higher education, our 2026 theme will discuss "Digital Transition: College Success in a Swipe Culture." From TikTok study strategies to AI-assisted writing, from digital community-building to screen-time anxiety, our students arrive on campus already immersed in a culture that is fast, visual, and algorithm-driven.

This regional one-day drive-in conference provides a forum for academic and student affairs professionals to share ideas, resources, and engaging pedagogy to enhance their instruction of first-year students.

Register today: https://lnkd.in/gj9EQ4Ef

03/25/2026

Join us on April 22nd for a facilitated dialogue with the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition about ways you can get connected with their recent publications, research, and resources. Attendees will have opportunity to discuss these resources with NRC leadership and colleagues from across the Midwest.

Register today! - https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-mfyc-spring-virtual-mixer

Address

Racine, WI
53401-53408

Website

http://www.mfyc.org/

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