Best Practices in Christian Higher Ed Conference

2024 BPCHE Conference
“Expanding Minds and Hearts Through Global Learning and Study Abroad”

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September 29 – October 1, 2024

The 2024 conference theme, “Expanding Minds and Hearts Through Global Learning and Study Abroad,” sets the stage for keynote addresses and presentations that delve into this overarching theme. Additionally, various presentations will highlight high-impact practices within Christian higher education.

This conference offers a platform for attendees to network, exchange insights and research findings, contemplate the distinctive qualities of Christian education, and come together in worship.

This year, we’re excited to introduce Special Interest Groups (SIGs) as well as an online learning track. Our focus on best practices continues our research-based emphasis on undergraduate education and the unique affordances of faith-based higher education.

Conference Registration opens on March 1, 2024

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Click Here to Find a Hotel

Meet the 2024 Conference Keynote Speakers

The theme for the 2024 conference is “Expanding Minds and Hearts Through Global Learning and Study Abroad,” and keynote addresses and presentations will focus on this theme. Other presentations will spotlight various high-impact practices in the context of Christian higher education.

Melissa Torres

Melissa Torres joined The Forum on Education Abroad as President and CEO in 2019. She has over two decades of experience in higher education and program design, development, and implementation. She previously served as Vice President for Academic Programs at IES Abroad where she supervised 36 international study abroad centers in Asia, Europe and Latin America and worked with faculty and administrators across the globe. Her campus-based experience includes leading a variety of international initiatives for three institutions: Brown University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and The Ohio State University. Before joining The Forum, Melissa served as a volunteer Chair of the association’s Outcomes Assessment and Research committee for three years, was a member of NAFSA’s Work, Internships, Volunteering and Research Abroad (WIVRA) subcommittee, and was a founding member of the Business International Studies Network (BISNet) Business Colloquium. She holds a BA in International Studies from Stonehill College and a Master’s degree in Global Education from The Ohio State University.

Alex Sosler

Alex Sosler is Assistant Professor of Bible and Ministry at Montreat College and Assisting Priest at Redeemer Anglican Church in Asheville, North Carolina. He is also author of Learning to Love: Christian Education as Pilgrimage and editor of Theology and the Avett Brothers. Alex is also writing a book on spiritual formation with Baker Academic called A Short Guide to Spiritual Formation (May 2024) and co-writing a book with Gary Ball on theology and the arts with Cascade (Fall 2024). He’s married to Lauren and dad to Mariela, Auden, and Jude.

About the Conference

Join faculty and staff from Christian colleges and universities as we examine the intersection of high-impact practices and Christian higher learning. The conference will provide attendees the opportunity to network, share insights and research, reflect on the distinctiveness of Christian education, and join together in worship.

This year, an online learning track has been added as we continue to examine high impact practices in undergraduate education adding the online modality.

High-impact practices include:

First-Year Experiences
Common Intellectual Experiences
Learning Communities
Writing-Intensive Courses
Collaborative Assignments and Projects
Undergraduate Research
Diversity/Global Learning
ePortfolios
Service Learning/Community-Based Learning
Internships
Capstone Courses and Projects

Conference Highlights

Conference Sessions

Participants will have the opportunity to join multiple sessions on various topics related to best practices in Christian higher education. Each session will examine one or more high-impact practices in relation to the following aspects of Christian higher education: teaching and learning, diversity, equity and inclusion, study abroad/global learning, Christian spiritual formation, online learning, vocational and leadership development, and retention and outcomes.

There will be a Highlight session and student panel that will each emphasize our conference theme as we hear from and interact with a leading expert in the field as well as hear from student alumni of study abroad programs.

Time for Fellowship

The conference will open on Sunday night, September 29 at 6:00 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to check in, connect with old, and meet new friends as we enjoy light hors d’oeuvres on the patio of the Hunter Welcome Center. We will then gather in the beautiful Chapel on the Hill for worship, prayer, and fellowship.

On Monday evening of the 2024 conference, attendees will enjoy an on-campus experience that will feature local cuisine from a variety of food trucks with opportunities for fun, fellowship, and special interest group conversation opportunities as we enjoy the beauty and relaxation on the quad of ACU’s campus.

Coming to Abilene

The Abilene Christian University campus is located just 5 miles from the Abilene airport and only 175 miles from the DFW airport. Numerous rental car agencies operate out of the Abilene airport for your convenience.

Click Here to Find a Hotel

The DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Abilene is the recommended conference hotel. It is a short distance to campus and a complimentary limited shuttle will be provided to and from the conference. The hotel is conveniently located across the street from the convention center in downtown Abilene, among restaurants and businesses. The Adamson-Spaulding Storybook Garden is a block away, and the Grace and Frontier Texas museums are within a mile. Abilene Zoo is only four miles from our front door and we’re just a 10-minute drive from the regional airport. We offer a pool and fitness center.

Biennial Conference