Let me begin by saying what an exhilarating experience and motivational environment NCORE was. I have never felt such an abundance of optimistic energy. It was so enlightening to see so many people all pursuing one goal; higher education reform. This was despite the fact that this common goal will require such a complex and lengthy process in order to progress and will most likely take decades before we get to where we want to be. One of the significant takeaways from this conference was that I became aware of the archaic politics that are present in higher education just as they are in governmental systems. I also gained an understanding of how the power trickles down through a myriad of positions associated with this higher education hierarchy. This is one of the most important concepts I became familiar with at this conference, by understanding how the system works, we can influence it through the knowledge we have of it. What I mean is that by understanding all these positions in the hierarchy, we as students can approach the proper person who has the power to make an impact depending on your situation/issue that you present to them. Lots of discussion during conference sessions revolved around this idea. Experiences from all across the country were shared and they all resembled each other. Students began to realize that if they were going through a trial, then somebody else is most likely experiencing one similar to it as well.
Another topic frequently discussed that I feel could really relate to our own campus, and specifically the McNeill Program and other LEAD-Alliance Programs across campus, is how racialized campus environments are. Faculty and students are coping with a campus environment that is consistently influenced by 鈥渘eoliberal ideologies of competitiveness, individualism and conformity; and position themselves in a manner to be able to navigate the campus but additionally resist the assimilating terrain鈥�. I got this direct quote (partially paraphrased) from Carl E. James鈥� article that he used to develop one of the workshops I attended at the conference. The entire workshop revolved around discussing several experiences that resembled this motif from many different campuses across the nation. We then discussed methods we can use to resolve those issues created by such an environment. We created our own communities which provided for us in ways that are not contestable or quantifiable in their effectiveness because the relationships made here are life-long and invaluable. The professional staff devotes countless amounts of efforts and energy to expose us to professional development and to bring in connections from all major professions in industry so that we can learn from their experience and also practice initiating conversation and making that link.
NCORE offered not only a justification for organizations like McNeill but also provided a push to move forward. What we do at McNeill provides support that is unmeasurable because of the depth of impact it has had on its students. The conference emphasized the contributions made by underrepresented students and their communities and how we need to continue to pursue equity for all such students in every setting of the University bubble. At NCORE I learned that providing qualitative and quantitative evidence showing the benefit of our program is a good way to expand the ideology of our program to all corners of the university. An ideology that recognizes the importance of self-awareness, perspective, and a sense of belonging within a supportive community; one that promotes self-efficacy and self-determination.听 Just as we have equal access to material and non-material resources in McNeill, this ideology needs to be emphasized across the campus. No student shall experience something different when addressing the university for something it offers. Higher education reform is a big challenge but it is possible so long as everyone is engaged in making change. This is a national movement that is recognized every year by NCORE and you see recurring experiences and movements in universities across the country. We can make a difference so long as we continue to push for it. And just like Dolores Huerta repeated during her keynote address at NCORE: 鈥淪i se puede鈥� (Yes we can)!