Suggested Topics for the 2010 TABS Conference
A compilation of suggestions from conference attendees of previous conferences.
PDF version available for download

Academic Administration:

• Innovative teachers talking about what really works at their schools
• Implementing assessment processes
• Staff training workshops
• Improving a residential curriculum through training (residential/academic/dorm faculty)
• Faculty evaluation - specific programs/models
• New faculty orientation
• Faculty motivation
• Recruiting and retaining house faculty
• Peer mentoring programs
• Working with faculty of different backgrounds/beliefs
• Keeping faculty connected after they move out of the dorm
• Opening Days- juggling orientation, leadership, pre-season, settling in
• Emergency preparedness training for students and adults
• New student orientation
• School Traditions and Hazing - legal, ethical and educational implications
• Sessions for aspiring heads
• Advanced professional development for experienced staff

Admission Financial Aid & Enrollment Management:

1. International recruitment
2. Use of educational agents in attracting international students - pros and cons
3. Admissions demographics
4. Admission marketing
5. Enrollment, marketing and recruiting strategies - domestic and international
6. New admission practices
7. Affordability enrollment management
8. Financial aid

Development & Advancement:

• Globally connecting our students (semester programs, exchanges, community service projects)
• Transitions for faculty
• Being a leader: School decision-making
• Development/Advancement/Marketing

Financial Management & Sustainability:

• Financial issues: sustainability in uncertain times
• Schools facing current economic challenges
• School improvement
• Programmatic sustainability

Heads & Senior Management:

• Sessions for aspiring heads
• Financial sustainability

Marketing & Communications:

• Marketing research demographics
• Web marketing, viral marketing
• Innovative marketing
• Selling your product
• Media relations
• Crisis communications

Residential & Student Life:

• GLBT workshops
• Discipline issues
• Substance abuse: best practice, policies & discipline
• Student Dismissals: community responses
• Student activities 
• Student leadership
• After hours curriculum: character education, life skills training, reslife curriculum
• International Students issues - Specific to dorm life
• Programming for students in relation to the issue of "over-programming
• Risk-management/crisis-management planning for residence life
• "Parent's weekends" AND dealing with issues like homesickness
• Discipline – substance abuse, cell phones, etc.
• Training younger residential faculty and ways to improve a residential curriculum that aren't dependent upon special schedules
• Opening Days- juggling orientation, leadership, pre-season, settling in

Health & Counseling:

• Infectious diseases in boarding schools
• School Traditions and Hazing - legal, ethical and educational implications
• Adolescent brain development - understanding of adolescents
• Eating disorders
• Drug & alcohol abuse

Technology:

• Old world etiquette with new world technology
• Challenges of technology- both in terms of teaching and student use. 
• Integrating technology throughout the learning process
• Technological advances: i.e. virtual worlds, webinars, viral videos, etc.
• Student misuse of technology & solutions
• Developing and implementing an AUP (acceptable use policy)

Multidisciplinary/Other:

• Topics on athletics  
• Environmental topics: Going green on a budget
• College counseling topics specific to boarding schools
• Student leadership
• Legal issues facing schools
• School/local community involvement
• Educational/cultural travel programs
• Parental communications
• Parent association topics
• Multicultural Integration
• Transitional programs for underprivileged students
• Diversity/cultural awareness & issues
• Korean student topics
• Asian cultures:  conflict resolution
• Implementing healthy global residential life programs