Assessment, Teaching and Learning (ATL) Conference
2025 Conference: Centering Students, Centering Learning
April 29-May 1 at the Vancouver Hilton in Vancouver, WA
Join us for the Assessment, Teaching, and Learning Conference, where we will reconnect with each other, our work, and our passion for teaching and learning.
This invigorating two-day conference is designed specifically for faculty members of community colleges. With the theme “Centering Students, Centering Learning,” this conference aims to foster a transformative educational environment where student engagement and learning are at the heart of every classroom interaction.
Objectives:
- Explore innovative teaching strategies that prioritize student-centered learning.
- Share best practices in curriculum design and assessment that enhance student engagement and success.
- Create a collaborative network of educators dedicated to the continuous improvement of teaching and learning in community colleges.
We will also be intentional about creating spaces and places for attendees to create communities and develop social learning networks.
Who should attend
This conference is designed for faculty, instructional designers, curriculum developers, and educational leaders who are passionate about enhancing the community college experience through student-centered approaches.
It is a great opportunity for those who are passionate about teaching and learning, to come together to share best practices, learn from each other, and collaborate on new ways to support student success.
Conference App
We are using the Whova platform for this event. Here is the link to sign up using the email you registered with.
Conference Logistics
The pre conference events will be free.
The main conference will be $200.
Presenters, Advisory Committee members, and volunteer staff will have registration fee waived.
The deadline to reserve rooms at the per diem rate of $155 + tax per night has passed, and availability is now limited. Each venue below may still offer rooms at or near the per diem rate for April 29 and April 30, but this is not guaranteed. We encourage you to contact the hotel directly to check current rates and availability.
Hilton Vancouver Washington (conference hotel) FULL
301 W 6th St, Vancouver, WA 98660
$155 + tax
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portland Jantzen Beach
2300 N Hayden Island Dr. Portland, OR 97217
Rate: $148.00 +tax
Holiday Inn Portland - Columbia Riverfront
909 North Hayden Island Dr. Portland, OR 97217
Rate $149.00 +tax
Guests can call the Hotel directly at (503) 283-4466 and request the group rate for
ATL Conference SBCTC
Best Western Premier Fishers Landing
1500 SE 167th Ave Vancouver, WA 98683
$150.00 + tax
Booking Link
Guests can call the hotel directly a 1-800-780-7234 and request the group rate for
ATL CONFERENCE
Oxford Suites
12226 N Jantzen Drive Portland, OR 97217
Between 129 and 139 +tax
Guests can call the hotel directly at 503-283-3030 press 1 for reservation and request
the group rate for the SBCTC Conference
Fairfield by Marriott – Portland North
1200 N Anchor Way | Portland, OR 97217
Between 129 and 139 +tax
Preconference
Kelly Hogan and Viji Sathy
Inclusive Teaching through Active Learning
Teaching strategies that emphasize structured active learning can create more equitable classrooms and improve learning for all students. As an introduction to inclusive teaching techniques, Professors Kelly Hogan and Viji Sathy will ask participants to reflect on inequities and diversity in their classrooms through interactive, hands-on activities. After providing a framework for inclusive design and their own research results, Hogan and Sathy will lead participants through active learning exercises and case studies that explore inclusive techniques. Drawing upon their own teaching experiences and educational research, they will model approaches that can be readily implemented with any discipline or class size to help all students achieve their potential.
Dr. Aleya Dhanji
In-class Advising as a Strategy to Reach Underserved Students
Underserved students not only face challenges within the classroom but an entire educational ecosystem that has an inherent inequality of opportunity, or ‘education debt’. Systems are often difficult to navigate, and access to resources or building connection come with unique challenges including overcoming stereotypes and imposter syndrome. I introduce in-class advising as a structured way to build class community, help students succeed academically and actualize degree and career goals. In-class advising is a form of ‘micro-teaching’ that does not necessarily take much time but can strengthen our relationships with students and create a more welcoming, caring and inclusive classroom. Evidence will be presented to support how in-class advising is a critical strategy of Deep Teaching where Dewsbury (2020), for example, challenges us that if our goal is to educate the 'whole student', then we need a 'whole classroom model'.
In this interactive workshop we will take a tour of examples of advising as teaching that incorporate strengths-based advising, validation theory, and demystifying the college ‘hidden curriculum’ to increase student engagement in the classroom. In the second half of the workshop participants will work collaboratively to develop an in-class advising activity for their own students, and exchange peer feedback to gain new perspectives in how to move forward. We will discuss how to use results both as a practical next step and as inspiration to begin discussions on your own campuses for in-class advising as a pedagogy of care.
Day 1 Keynote
Dr. Michael Benitez
Examining Latinidad at the Crossroads of Race, Culture, and Society
What are the ways Latinx people in the U.S. experience long-standing systemic racism and social inequities? In this presentation, Dr. Benitez explores the ways in which culture and racial politics such as colorism and anti-Blackness intersect among Latinx communities, and how Latinx people experience, navigate, and negotiate the U.S. in the midst of white supremacy, racial unrest, and the current political climate.
Day 2 Keynote
Adam Smith
Students Aren’t Broken: Using Asset Based Approaches to Ensuring Student Belonging
The COVID-19 pandemic and virtual learning have impacted young people who are now and will soon be our college students. We often focus on the deficits of these students, instead of their assets, which are considerable. Students find themselves, their community and their belonging on our college campuses where many may not be ready to be in school, and yet so many have no choice than to be at school. This session equips educators on utilizing an asset-based approach to both teaching, learning and practice to increase the sense of belonging of all students.
Day 2 Closing Facilitator
Casey Pollock
Faculty Learning Experience-an AI Sandbox
This workshop provides faculty with the opportunity to learn about and experiment with a range of AI tools. Through presentations, hands-on instruction, and discipline focused collaborative work time, you'll gain practical experience and discover how AI can streamline tasks, enhance student learning, and open new avenues for research. Connect with colleagues, share ideas, and explore emerging technology together.
