Annual Conference
February 11-13, 2009
Greensboro Marriott Downtown
Greensboro, North Carolina The purpose of this statewide forum is to share information and resources regarding two of the most important public policy issues of our time: college access and student success.
This Conference is especially relevant to: College access leaders, researchers and practitioners; secondary and post-secondary educators and administrators; school counselors; career development coordinators; business and community leaders; government officials and policy makers; workforce development professionals; and anyone interested in increasing access to higher education.
Conference Schedule: Opens Wednesday (2/11/09) at noon; closes Friday (2/13/09) at noon.
The 2009 NC College Access Conference Strands are:
- Aspiration
- Accessibility
- Admissions
- Availability
- Accountability
- Affordability
Conference Speakers:
Herman Boone
NCCU Graduate and Inspiration for the hit movie "Remember the Titans"
A native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Herman Boone is a teacher, retired football coach, and a true symbol of social transformation. He is a motivator of young people of all races and is a genuine inspiration to many people of varied circumstances and diverse backgrounds. Herman, known in North Carolina as "Ike", was an outstanding athlete. His pursuit of excellence took him to North Carolina College, now known as NCCU, located in Durham, NC, where in 1958 he received his B.A. and M.S. Degrees.
After thirteen successful years of teaching and coaching, Boone accepted a position at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia that would inspire the award winning film "Remember the Titans." As highlighted in the film, Coach Boone was able to pull together and solidify a diverse coaching staff and an unfocused group of young boys into the most powerful football team in the state of Virginia.
The willingness of these young men to talk to each other, along with their determination to win, brought together a city torn apart by prejudice and hatred. In December 1971, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon was quoted as saying, "The team saved the city of Alexandria".
Boone is currently retired, but still actively imparts his wisdom to students: “I believe, he says, that football is a metaphor for life, and life will never be easy. But remember that the word ‘success’ comes in front of hard ‘work’ only in a dictionary.”
J.B. Buxton
Deputy State Superintendent of the NC Department of Public Instruction
J.B. Buxton currently serves as the Deputy State Superintendent of the NC Department of Public Instruction. Previously, Buxton served as Senior Education Advisor to NC Governor Mike Easley. In the Governor's Office, Buxton led the Governor's Education Office and advised Gov. Easley on educational issues in K-12 public education and higher education. Buxton has played a leadership role in the implementation of various initiatives, including the Gates Foundation-funded NC New Schools Project to reform high schools, the Learn and Earn early college initiative, the NC School Report Cards, the More at Four Prekindergarten Program, the Teacher Working Conditions initiative, the Center for 21st Century Skills, the Child and Family Support Team initiative, and the High School Turnaround initiative.
Buxton attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Morehead Scholarship. He holds a master's degree in public policy from Princeton University. While at UNC-CH, Buxton taught at the University of Western Cape in South Africa and led an education scholarship committee for students in South Africa.
Thursday Evening Event
7:00 pm Carolina Theater, Downtown
Film Screening: Remember the Titans
(Award-winning movie starring Denzel Washington as Herman Boone)
Registration Information:
Registration fee: $185
Registration fee includes:
Lunch - Wednesday and Thursday
Breakfast - Thursday and Friday
Gallery Walk reception on Wednesday evening
Thursday evening entertainment event
All concurrent and plenary sessions
Participants are responsible for their own lodging (see Marriott information below).
Payment Information:
Once you have registered, mail a copy of your confirmation e-mail message or online confirmation page with a check or purchase order for $185 (per person) to:
UNC-GA
2009 NC College Access Conference
PO Box 2688
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688
Hotel Information:
Greensboro Marriott Downtown
304 N. Greene Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 379-8000
$ 101 per night (parking included)
Reservation Information:
Reservations can be made at the Greensboro Marriott Downtown by calling 1-800-228-9290. Please reference “NC College Access Conference” when making your hotel reservation to get the conference rate of $101 per night (parking included). You may register online at www.marriott.com/gsodt. Please reference code “colcola” in group code box when registering online.
Sponsors and Exhibitors:
If your organization would like to exhibit at our conference or explore one of our exciting opportunities for sponsorship, please contact the 2009 Conference Office at (919) 843-5875 or (919) 843-3000. Please note that institutions of higher education and college access initiatives are not required to pay a vendor fee to obtain a table in the exhibit hall.
Additional Forms:
Questions? For more conference information, please check the website regularly for updates, email the 2009 Conference Office at
conference@pathwaysnc.org, or call (919) 843-5875 or (919) 843-3000.