Getting the most out of the C.O.O.L. Idealist Conference
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In an effort to help students and administrators make the most of the 2006 C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference,
we have put together some suggestions to enhance your experience before, during, and after the conference.
 Administrators/Staff
Before the conference:
Whether you are attending the conference or not, consider taking some time to share
the following information with the students you are sending to the event:
- If more than one student will be attending, be sure to introduce them to
one another before the event. The conference staff and student volunteers will
keep your students very busy, but its always nice to have a traveling buddy!
- Make sure the students understand where theyre going and why. Help students
think through what goals they hope to accomplish by participating in the largest
convening in the country of campus community members involved in service, activism,
politics, and socially responsible work.
- Give students a quick history of the various student movements that they are
becoming a part of by participating in this conference, especially those that have
begun or that have gained momentum in Nashville or the U.S. South. (Check out these websites
for some ideas: Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee, Freedom
Summer (Congress of Racial Equality), and Freedom Summer (Newseum).)
If you are attending the conference, think about what you would like to accomplish.
Do you want to:
- Learn more about similar programs at other campuses?
- Explore ways to create new programs or initiatives in your office?
- Network with other campus administrators?
- Learn more about the nonprofit sector, either personally or professionally?
- Rejuvenate yourself in the company of others in your field?
- Feed off the energy and passion of over a thousand young, idealistic students?
During the conference:
If you are attending the conference, be sure to check in with your students
occasionally. Some might need frequent check-ins; some might just need an occasional
wave. Be sure to get a sense throughout the conference of whether students are finding
what theyre looking for and dont hesitate to ask an Idealist staff member or a
conference volunteer for help!
Network, network, network! This is your time to be fed with all kinds of information
and experiences from other administrators. Whether youre new to higher education or a
seasoned professional, be sure to connect with as many people as you can.
Collect business cards from campus administrators and nonprofit representatives, and
jot down notes on the back. Be sure to follow up with these folks after the conference
to extend your personal and professional network.
Dont be afraid to learn! While youre probably at the conference representing a campus,
this is also a fantastic opportunity to feed yourself with information about issues that are
important to you. Dont hesitate to get in on conversations and discussions about issues that
generate your own passion!
After the conference:
Make plans to reconvene student attendees after the conference. Students will
undoubtedly come back to campus energized by what they experienced at the conference.
But they may get back to campus, become overwhelmed by work, and lose that momentum. Before
students leave for the conference, make plans to gather again as a group to share what
they have learned. This is one of the best ways to exponentially increase the amount
and degree of learning from the conference. When students share their learning and
their passion, only good things can happen!!
Follow up with all of the good folks you met at the conference. Pull out those
business cards and send a few emails or make a few phone calls. While the conference
is a great opportunity to meet new people, it is often so packed with events that the
deep and meaningful conversations have to happen later. Be sure that they do!
Connect with Idealist On Campus for trainings, ideas, events, and a multitude of
other resources. We strive to provide a host of resources for students and
administrators who are interested in making the world a better place. Send us an email (heather@idealist.org),
or give us a call — we would love to support your work and the work of students on your campus!
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