2023 SASUP Conference

Cultivating School-University Partnerships: Come Grow with Us!

Southeastern Association of School-University Partnerships, formerly known as, Professional Development Schools—Southeastern Regional Vision for Education (PDS SERVE) is hosting its 7th annual conference on October 21, 2023, with a pre-conference workshop on October 20th. This year's conference will be held on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. The purpose of the conference is to provide a space for dialogue and discovery about genuine collaborative partnerships between P-12 institutions and institutions of higher education.

At this conference, we look forward to experiencing a deeper understanding of how school-university partnerships are developed. The conference provides a space for sharing stories of programs, initiatives, and research that supports the cultivation and strengthening of our community of school-university partnerships in the Southeast.

Presentations will address at least one of the following four strands:

• Preparing Teacher Candidates
• Developing P-20 Educators
• Learning for P-20 Students
• Inquiry/Research in School-University Partnerships

Strong, sustained school-university partnerships come in various shapes and sizes and require time and attention to flourish and grow. Exemplars range from small partnerships between a single faculty member and P–12 teacher committed to the success of all learners to large, district-wide partnerships that implement The Nine Essentials of professional development school partnerships (NAPDS, 2021). Some impactful school-university partnerships begin with incremental steps as partners grow into a shared mission, while other successful partnerships have existed for decades and become institutionalized over time. This year’s conference will provide ideas and inspiration to help partnerships at all stages of development thrive.

Pre-Conference Event - October 20, 2023

Experience UGA is a partnership between the University of Georgia and the Clarke County School District (CCSD) that aims to bring every CCSD student to the UGA campus for an annual field trip and provide opportunities for CCSD students to experience learning on a college campus, explore college options, and interact with UGA students.

During this pre-conference workshop, participants will have opportunities to:

• Observe a CCSD field trip in action on the UGA campus
• Learn about the genesis and organizational structure of Experience UGA and the campus visit program
• Explore the challenges and benefits of a campus visit program
• Engage with university faculty, students, and Experience UGA staff involved in the campus visit program
• Brainstorm possibilities for a campus program in their own contexts (e.g., potential partners, structures, funding, etc.)

To register for the pre-conference workshop, select one of the two options below:

OPTION 1: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

• Observe CCSD students participating in a field trip
• Lunch and Learn: Field trip debrief
• Attend Experience UGA presentation
• Participate in brainstorming regarding the possibilities of implementing a campus visit program in your own context

OPTION 2: 11:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

• Lunch and Learn: Field trip debrief
• Attend Experience UGA presentation
• Participate in brainstorming regarding the possibilities of implementing a campus visit program in your own context
• Note that this option does not include observing CCSD students participating in a field trip.

You will need to purchase a ticket for both the pre-conference workshop and the main conference.

Hotel Information

Information about hotels in Athens, Georgia and near the University of Georgia campus can be found here: https://www.visitathensga.com/hotels/

About SASUP

SASUP is a non-profit professional organization which provides resources, professional development and advocacy for the Professional Development School model in teacher education. An annual SASUP conference functions to support and advocate for collaborative partnerships across the P-12 and IHE community as a center for inquiry that leads to the discovery and sharing of knowledge that shapes educator practice and leadership.