We Built It and They Came! A Blueprint for Developing a Community Conference Nola Coulson, Carlow University Karen Hall, Point Park University Ruth Newberry, Duquesne University Deborah Ayers, Butler County Community College

2 Purpose – Answer the following questions: Who are we? Why do we have a regional conference? What can we tell you about hosting a conference?

3 Carlow Univ Carlow Univ Private BB Since FTE/ 82 faculty Basic Who are we? 3 Point Park Univ Point Park Univ Private BB Since FTE/ 128 faculty Basic Duquesne Univ Duquesne Univ Private BB Since FTE/ 486 faculty Enterprise Butler CCC Butler CCC Public BB Since FTE/ 70 faculty Enterprise

4 The Pgh Bb User Group takes shape… Our Mission –Promote collaboration among members Conference –Exchange ideas Ways to leverage the BB investment Supplemented, hybrid, and online courses Committees and student groups –Share resources Training, technical support, best practices –Share the pain Meetings and User group

5 24 Member Institutions in 2007! Butler County Community College Californian University of Pennsylvania Carlow University Carnegie Mellon University Chatham College Clarion University of Pennsylvania Community College of Allegheny County Community College of Beaver County Duquesne University Gannon University Geneva College Grove City College La Roche College Mercyhurst College Mount Aloysius College Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Point Park University Saint Vincent College St. Francis University Thiel College University of Pittsburgh Washington and Jefferson College Westmoreland County Community College Wheeling Jesuit University

6 Conference Building Overview We Break Ground –1 st Conference, October Carlow University We Build the Foundation – 2 nd Conference, March Carlow University We Frame Our Structure and Finish Rooms –3 rd Conference, November Duquesne University –4 th Conference, March Duquesne University We Maintain and Improve –5 th Conference, October Butler County Community College

7 Blueprint for a Conference What do you want to see/learn from vendors? Pick a Conference Chair –Someone to track, manage, coordinate all the details and keep the idea moving forward Call for Presentations –Involve presentations from faculty and staff and group members –Lisa Byrnes, Mt. Aloysius Create a Conference Web site – Form a Review Committee –Develop a review rubric – proposals to conference chair –Accept as many proposals as possible

8 We Break Ground 1 st Conference - October 2003 Carlow University The Chart… the evolution seen in the categories Carlow’s Layout –Attendance free for Users Group members –8 vendors – small, tiered fee for each $250 for presentation slot, exhibit, food $500 to sponsor a Lunch Presenters: User Group Members/Vendors/Faculty BB’s Participation – they were learning too! –Keynote Sales pitch and product roadmap –Wanted to do the keynotes on both days –Social Hour –Special lunch time gathering

9 We Break Ground 1 st Conference Chairperson - Dos Get the help of Colleagues Keep the momentum going Meet and plan Create a shared goal and vision for the conference Solicit help from other departments Build community and commitment

10 We Build the Foundation 2 nd Conference - March 2005 Carlow University Growth … see the Chart –March 2005 (pushed back from October 2004) –Revenue covered expenses 12 vendors - vendor fees the same –$250 for presentation slot, exhibit, food –$500 to sponsor a Lunch –tier pricing opens options of sponsorship Making it easier –Co-chair w/ Ross Donohue, CCAC –Logistics easier a bit What’s New –Raffle

11 We Build the Foundation 2 nd Conference Results The Role of Blackboard Changed Blackboard Requests to host –Transaction System Breakfast Wanted VPs/ Provosts to attend –Adrian & Nola contact each other Adrian Alleyne gives Keynote –Talked about User Groups

12 Time out! Pgh BbUG Re-evaluates its Purpose Blackboard used for many purposes -Online, hybrid and web-enhanced classes -Clubs, departments, groups, etc. Group’s interest encompasses more than Blackboard…all instructional technology Some members move to open source solutions Host challenges – burnout and dependency  Is conference a distraction?

13 We Frame Our Structure 3 rd Conference - November 2005 Duquesne University Capitalizing on past strengths… more growth –See chart What’s New –Conference Theme: Blackboard and Beyond… – Formalized Sponsor Commitment You get this for $$; Collected sponsorship fees sooner –Developed online registration with pay later option –Secured lodging discounts –Assembled and raffled Institutional baskets

14 We Frame Our Structure 3 rd Conference Chairperson – Dos New Challenges –Keynote Speakers? Sign them up! Who? How much? Logistics Matthew Pittinsky and the President –The future vision – networked learning Melissa Anderson and the Provost –The here and now… Give & Take w/ Blackboard Executive only Luncheon for Pittinsky The Bb Executive Team and Entourage Listening Sessions

15 We Frame Our Structure 3 rd Conference Money is a problem! –Institutional “anxiety” Breaking even Whose revenue is it? –“Seed money” and faith $10,000 institutional Sponsorship revenue asap –$1500 Excess Revenue Attendees + Sponsors – Costs = Revenue Crossing Budget Years

16 We Finish the Rooms – Is Bigger Better? 4 th Conference Duquesne University Capitalizing on Success! –The Conference Checklist and the chart What’s New –“Sponsored by” Pgh BbUG It’s more than Blackboard – it’s Educational Technology Conference theme: Reinventing the Classroom of Today for Tomorrow –Securing Keynote speakers Enhance your marketing with timely speakers Travel, Lodging, Honorariums

17 We Finish the Rooms – Is Bigger Better? 4 th Conference What’s New –Early Bird pricing for registrants and vendors Online registration and payment 2 days $40/50 or 1 day for $20/$25 Vendor visit cards for prizes –Poster sessions – get them in some way Blackboard’s Support and Requests –K-12 Track –The Social Hour –Listening Sessions

18 Maintenance and Improvements 5 th Conference - October 2008 Butler County Community College Motivations and Drivers Institutional –Showcase campus and Technology Building –Bring conference to a location that serves a larger regional audience –Expose faculty and administrators to new educational technologies –Strengthen the connection

19 Maintenance and Improvements 5 th Conference Motivations and Drivers Personal Commitment to the User Group Champion Community Colleges Can get it done

20 Maintenance and Improvements 5 th Conference Future plans –Broaden K-12 presence –Add a hands-on “training track” –Expand beyond BB & learning systems

21 Lessons Learned & Words of Encouragement It’s worth it! Lots to gain by hosting Needs the support of the group; conference comes from the group –Does a conference fit with your mission? Must have institutional support If we had known,… Formalize the Group Create by-laws

22 The Conference Blueprints Timeline Conference checklist Budget Overview Marketing Tips

23 Contacts Nola Coulson, Coordinator, Instructional Technology, Carlow University, Karen Hall, Associate Director Instructional Technology & Media Services, Point Park University, Ruth Newberry, Director, Educational Technology, Duquesne University, Deborah Ayers, Dean of Educational Technology, Butler County Community College,

24 Want More? To view my resources and references for this presentation, visit Simply click “Advanced Search” and search by newberry and tag: ‘bbworld07’