AEA Conference
| Monday, May 20 | ||
| 3:00 p.m. | Executive Committee Meeting | Shawnee Porter Room Ortner Center (Bldg #13) |
| 6:00-7:00 p.m. | Registration | Lobby Ortner Center (Bldg #13) |
| 6:15 p.m. | Campus Tour (optional) | Lobby Ortner Center (Bldg #13) |
| 7:00 p.m. | Welcome Reception | Ortner Center Terrace (Bldg #13) |
| 9:00 p.m. | Evening Events (optional): - AEA Basketball Classic - The Mill Coffee & Tea |
Gymnasium (Bldg #8) 4736 Prescott Avenue |
| Tuesday, May 21 | ||
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome (John Wagner, President) Worship (Buell Fogg, Assistant Chaplain) |
Heartland Hall College View Church (Bldg #4) |
| 9:00 a.m. | Noel-Levitz — Enrollment presentation (Peter Bryant, Senior VP) |
Heartland Hall College View Church (Bldg #4) |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break | Heartland Hall College View Church (Bldg #4) |
| 10:45 a.m. | Noel-Levitz — Retention presentation (Gary Fretwell, Senior VP and Principal) |
Heartland Hall College View Church (Bldg #4) |
| 12:15 p.m. | Lunch (hosted) | Union Market (Bldg #13) |
| 1:15 p.m. | Group photo | Ortner Center Terrace (Bldg #13) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Noel-Levitz — Enrollment session (Peter Bryant, Senior VP) |
Heartland Hall College View Church (Bldg #4) |
| Noel-Levitz — Retention session (Gary Fretwell, Senior VP and Principal) |
Shawnee Porter Room Ortner Center (Bldg #13) |
|
| 3:00 p.m. | Break | Heartland Hall College View Church (Bldg #4) |
| 3:15 p.m. | AEA Business | Heartland Hall College View Church (Bldg #4) |
| 5:00 p.m. | Depart for dinner downtown at Blue Orchid Thai Restaurant |
129 N. 10th St (Parking garage available at 925 "Q" St.) |
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner (hosted) | Blue Orchid Thai Restaurant |
| 7:30 p.m. | Ice cream social at Ivanna Cone | 701 P Street #101 (Free street parking after 6 p.m.) |
| 9:00 p.m. | Evening Event (optional): Mini-golf/batting cages (please sign up at registration) |
Adventure Golf Center 5901 S. 56th Street |
| Wednesday, May 22 | ||
| 8:30 a.m. | Announcements & Worship (Rich Carlson, VP of Spiritual Life) |
Heartland Hall College View Church (Bldg #4) |
| 9:00 a.m. | "No Jellyfish" — Presentation (Chris Blake, Associate Professor) |
Heartland Hall College View Church (Bldg #4) |
| 10:15-11:15 a.m. |
Breakout Sessions (descriptions below):
|
Hagan Room |
| 11:30-12:30 p.m. |
Breakout Sessions (descriptions below):
|
Hagan Room Ortner Center (Bldg #13) Shawnee Porter Room |
| 12:30 p.m. | Lunch and AEA Awards (hosted) | Union Market (Bldg #13) |
| 1:30–3:30 p.m. | AEA Business Wrap up |
Heartland Hall College View Church (Bldg #4) |

Peter Bryant
Senior Vice President, Noel-Levitz (Monday sessions)
Peter Bryant is one of the nation's most respected enrollment managers, perhaps most widely known for his ability to diagnose enrollment opportunities effectively and efficiently. Over the course of his extensive career in higher education marketing, he has consulted directly with over 500 institutions. Mr. Bryant has more than 25 years of on-campus enrollment management experience, serving Cornell College (IA), Coe College (IA), Drake University (IA), Kirkwood Community College (IA), and the University of Iowa. He also served on the staff of a worldwide public relations firm, a Young & Rubicam affiliate based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1991, Mr. Bryant received the prestigious CASE Steuben Apple Award for excellence in speaking. He has been published in national professional journals and is co-editor of Advancing the Two-Year College (Jossey-Bass), a sourcebook for presidents and other administrators. Currently he serves on the Cornell College Board of Trustees. An active civic leader and past national officer in several higher education organizations, Mr. Bryant holds an MA from the University of Iowa.

Gary Fretwell
Senior Vice President and Principal, Noel-Levitz (Monday sessions)
As a senior vice president and a consultant for Noel-Levitz, Gary Fretwell has been a strong catalyst for enrollment success on hundreds of campuses throughout North America. His recommendations and guidance have helped institutions establish strategic and tactical enrollment plans, train staff and faculty in enrollment management practices, and coordinate comprehensive enrollment management initiatives for both graduate and undergraduate programs. In addition to providing consulting services, Mr. Fretwell frequently delivers presentations on such topics as strategic enrollment management, developing a campuswide retention program, graduate and professional school recruitment, and mobilizing your campus to achieve enrollment success. Mr. Fretwell has conducted hundreds of workshops and presentations at international, national and regional conferences in higher education, including the International Roundtable of Residential Colleges in Oxford, England. Over the course of his 30-year career in higher education, Mr. Fretwell has served as vice president for enrollment and student affairs and dean at Millsaps College (MS). He has also held a variety of administrative posts at Tulane University (LA) and the University of South Florida. Mr. Fretwell holds an MA from Stetson University (FL).

Chris Blake
Associate Professor of English and Communications, Union College (Wednesday morning presentation)
Breakout Session #1 (Wednesday, 10:15-11:15 a.m.)
“Ambassadors and the Visit Experience”
Hagan Room, Ortner Center (Bldg #13)
Discussion on how to create a successful ambassador team, the registration process and how to manage stats for campus visits.
- Becky Daniel, Director of Campus Visits, Union College
- Shelly Erhard, Director of Student Visits, Andrews University
“6 Ways to Spice Up Your Recruitment Strategies”
Shawnee Porter Room, Ortner Center (Bldg #13)
A look at marketing/recruiting ideas and strategies to reach out to students through public high schools, community colleges, churches/youth groups, Christian school alliances, parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
- Natasha Castro, Enrollment Specialist, Adventist University of Health Sciences
- Lewis Hendershot, VP for Marketing, PR, and Admissions, Adventist University of Health Sciences
- Yoouhenky Hickman, Assistant Director for Recruitment, Adventist University of Health Sciences
“NAD Graduate Tour”
Presidential Dining Room, Union Market (Bldg #13)
Presenters/Facilitators:
- Bobby Brown, Associate VP of Enrollment, La Sierra University
- Chuck Dart, Director of Marketing and Recruitment, Loma Linda University
“AEA Boot Camp!”
Everett Dick Building, Room 302 (Bldg #6)
An introduction to the Adventist Enrollment Association with a discussion on competition, collaboration, and championing Adventist higher education and how we all work together. This presentation is required of all newcomers to the organization.
Presenters/Facilitators:
- Dave Lofthouse, VP of Enrollment, La Sierra University
- Randy Graves, VP of Enrollment Management, Andrews University
- Rob Weaver, VP for Marketing, AACU
“13 Schools, 1 Goal: Why We Do What We Do”
Everett Dick Building, Room 303 (Bldg #6)
Why we do what we do.
Presenters/Facilitators:
- Adam Brown, Director of Admissions and Recruitment, Southern Adventist University
Breakout Session #2 (Wednesday, 11:30-12:30 p.m.)
“How You Can Successfully Navigate the High Seas of Campus Politics (Bonus: How to Identify and Best Avoid Hidden Shoals)”
Shawnee Porter Room, Ortner Center (Bldg #13)
Campus politics has its very own adage—Sayre's Law: "Campus politics is the most vicious and bitter form of politics, because the stakes are so low." So why should we care about campus politics? We will review how we could understand and navigate campus politics and how to create spaces and approaches that invite input and participation/buy-in from all levels within your own organization. Navigating and responding positively to the realities of campus politics will help ensure success (and even optimism) for your team and campus.
Presenters/Facilitators:
- Stephen Payne, Gum Guy and VP, of Integrated Marketing and Communication, Andrews University
“If You're Not Getting Better, You're Getting Worse”
Presidential Dining Room, Union Market (Bldg #13)
Presenters/Facilitators:
- Trevor Congleton, Associate VP of Marketing and Enrollment Services, Walla Walla University
- Gerry Larson, Recruiter, Walla Walla University
- Melissa MacPhee, Associate Director of Recruitment, Walla Walla University
- Jodi Wagner, Vice President of University Relations, Walla Walla University
“How to Survive the Summer Melt”
Everett Dick Building, Room 302 (Bldg #6)
- Cammie Wheeler, Director of Recruitment, Pacific Union College
“Clarity and Conciseness in Professional Writing: Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say”
Everett Dick Building, Room 303 (Bldg #6)
Our personal and professional lives are filled with writing. Are you an effective communicator? Would you like to sharpen up your resume? This session will introduce a few tips, tricks and resources to help improve your professional writing.
Presenters/Facilitators:- Katie Shaw, Director of Enrollment Services, Adventist University of Health Sciences
AEA Business
- AEA Agenda (05.07.13)
- NAD Fair Tour Draft (04.08.13)
- AEA Executive Minutes (3.18-19.13)
- AEA Executive Minutes Final (05.22-23.13)
- AEA Minutes (05.22-23.12) - General Membership Approved by Email Vote Oct. 2012
- AEA Constitution and Bylaws (03.19.13)
Breakouts
- 13 Schools, 1 Goal: Why We Do What We Do
- 6 Ways to Spice Up Your Recruitment Strategies
- Ambassadors and the Visit Experience
- AEA Bootcamp
- Clarity and Consciousness in Professional Writing
- How You Can Successfully Navigate the High Seas of Campus Politics
Noel-Levitz
- Best Practicers in Student Recruitment Presentation (slides or handout)
- Best Practicers in Student Recruitment Breakout (slides or handout)
- Best Practicers in Student Retention Presentation (slides or handout)
- Best Practicers in Student Retention Breakout (slides or handout)
School Updates
- Adventist University of Health Sciences
- Andrews University
- Canadian Union College
- Kettering College
- Loma Linda University
- La Sierra University
- Oakwood University
- Pacific Union College
- Southwestern Adventist University
- Southern Adventist University
- Union College
- Washington Adventist University
- Walla Walla University
- The Union College Ortner Center is an excellent location for lodging. Breakfast is not provided gratis, but the Union Market and bakery is on the first floor—below the guest rooms. The Union Market accepts cash and credit card and provides a variety of fresh breakfast options.
- Since it is the closest off campus hotel, Union College has reserved a block of 20 rooms at the Hampton Inn (see below), available until April 20.
- No matter what hotel you choose, please be sure to indictate that you are with Union College to receive the special rate below.
- All rates are valid until April 20. After that, rooms and prices are not guaranteed.
On-campus hotel
Ortner Center
Union College center of campus, above Union Market cafeteria
402.486.2545
$55 + tax
Off-campus hotels
|
AmericInn—4.5 miles away Candlewood Suites—2.1 miles away Comfort Suites (East)—3.2 miles away Hampton Inn—Heritage Park—2.1 miles away |
Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites—4.5 miles away Victorian Suites—2.8 miles away Residence Inn—2.8 miles away |
View our campus map and access virtual tours here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|