SMC + NCORE

NCORE is the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education.

This year's conference will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, May 29 - June 1, 2024.

Formed in 1961, the Southwest Center of Human Relations Studies is devoted to the study, understanding, and resolution of human conflict and to promoting understanding and cooperation among people of different racial, ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds. One of the major programs of the Southwest Center is the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE®). Held annually, NCORE® serves as the leading national forum of its kind and attracts national and international attendees representing more than 1,200 institutions of higher education, non-profits and other educational organizations. It is the most comprehensive national forum on issues of race and ethnicity in American higher education. 

NCORE is designed to provide a significant forum for discussion, critical dialogue, and exchange of information as institutions search for effective strategies to enhance access, social development, education, positive communication, and cross-cultural understanding in culturally diverse settings.

This dynamic annual conference is a place of community and inclusion; it is a forum for building skills, alliances, and knowledge about issues of race and ethnicity in higher education. At NCORE, individuals and campus teams can work collaboratively under the guidance, tutelage and expertise of recognized and effective scholars, practitioners and change-makers. It is a place where individuals and institutions share their on-the-ground knowledge about program development, student development, academic assessment tools, effective theoretical frameworks, the latest practice-based research findings and radical and innovative experiential curriculum to transform higher education in its mission for diversity and inclusion for students, staff, faculty and leadership.

Participation brings faculty, staff, students, and administrators together from more than 1200 institutions and organizations and allows them to create new or elevate existing networks with premier educators in the U.S.  NCORE attendees can design their conference experience from a wide variety of more than 350 sessions on race and ethnicity in higher education over 5 days:

• Professional development on skills for inclusive practices
• Personal identity development to improve own work with diverse communities
• Literacy about other specific ethnic/racial groups specifically in higher education settings.
• Multicultural leadership skills
• Innovations in fine arts, humanities, social sciences and STEM based initiatives in student affairs and academic affairs
• Alliance building skills across multiple identities and communities

The multi-racial, multi-ethnic and intersectional identity space of NCORE is both challenging and affirming allowing attendees to interact directly about issues of race, ethnicity, sovereignty, institutional racism, historical discrimination, and social justice from one’s own social location and one’s own developmental place. NCORE will deliver tremendous ROI. These "wins" will pay off in the form of better practices, tested solutions and a network of peers and experts to call upon when troubleshooting. We think you will agree that the cost of attendance is a small investment when we consider the value our attendees can bring back.

What is the conference schedule? Click for an At-A-Glance outline

NCORE 2024 DETAILS: 

• Location:Honolulu, Hawaii
• Dates:May 29 – June 1, 2024 (May 28 Pre-Conference not covered with this funding source)
• Days:Wednesday through Saturday
• Times8:15 a.m.- 5:45 p.m. with optional morning and evening social events

Please visit the NCORE website for more information

 Click for an At-A-Glance outline

First Timers! Priority for EpiCenter funding will be given to FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES of NCORE and to those who have not attended the last 3 years of the conference.

• Professionals in virtually all campus activity/service areas, including admissions, student life, financial aid, personnel, public safety, alumni affairs, and athletics
• Senior administrative officers at both campus and system levels
• Academic affairs administrators, deans, department chairs, and teaching faculty
• Directors and staff of offices of affirmative action, equal employment opportunity, and minority affairs
• Representatives of state and national institutes, associations, agencies, commissions, and foundations
• Leaders of student organizations
• Representatives of community-based agencies and organizations

PLEASE NOTE:

1. The SMC + NCORE conference interest form is open to all SMC Employees. If you are unsure about whether NCORE is right for you, please visit their website or read the full descriptions and information on this page. 
2. Submission of the interest form does not guarantee your attendance at NCORE. Funding is limited and will be considered based on the criteria listed. 
3. Please discuss/get approval for your attendance of this conference with your immediate supervisor or department chair prior to filling out the form. If you need assistance with justification, we have modified a letter template and packet that NCORE provided for your use: SMC + NCORE 2023 Justification Letter
4. Airfare, meals, hotel, and incidentals must be paid for by each individual attendee, with reimbursement available upon return for approved expenses with receipts and proper documentation submitted via district-approved reimbursement forms. The EpiCenter will provide instructions for all required forms and documentation.
5. You will need to "braid" funding in order to cover costs outside of the EpiCenter's $750.00 sponsorship, if you are approved for it.

 

The EpiCenter is covering up to $750.00 toward costs associated with attendance of the conference, which may include: 

• Registration Fee (without pre-conference)
  • Group rate can be arranged and paid in advance by SMC's The EpiCenter if you choose.
• Round trip economy airfare to Honolulu
• Up to 4 nights in an approved hotel*
• Per diem for meals not provided by the conference (up to $25/meal, receipts required)
• Taxis, rideshare, or public transit between hotel and conference or airport as needed (rental vehicles cannot covered via this funding)

OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES:
Airfare, meals, hotel, and other incidentals must be arranged paid by each individual attendee, with reimbursement available upon return for approved expenses with receipts and proper documentation submitted via district-approved reimbursement forms. This is standard SMC conference protocol, and The EpiCenter will provide instructions for all required forms and documentation. 

EXPENSE LIMITS:
For NCORE 2024, The EpiCenter is able to cover up to $750.00 to be used toward any basic conference and travel expenses. This could be used to cover out of pocket or pre-paid group rate registration (without pre-conference), reimbursement for round trip economy airfare, up to 4 nights in an approved hotel, meals, and/or rideshare transportation to and from conference as needed.

SMC has designated caps and guidelines on costs for airfare, hotel rates, meals, and other incidentals. The EpiCenter expects all attendees for this cohort to follow these guidelines. Please review page 1 of the SMC Conference Authorization Form for details (but please do not fill out or submit the form yet -- The EpiCenter will provide instructions for attendees).

MEALS:
While most of your meals will need to be acquired and paid for on your own (to be reimbursed with itemized receipts for up to $75/day), NCORE does provide some refreshments and snacks on most days of the conference.

Please visit the NCORE website for a detailed description of when food or beverages will be provided.

PRE-CONFERENCE INSTITUTE REGISTRATION/ACCOMMODATIONS NOT OFFERED:
The NCORE Pre-conference Institute is an optional day of NCORE programming on Tuesday, May 28th. The EpiCenter cannot cover fees for this additional day of the conference. If you would like to attend the pre-conference, we recommend seeking alternative professional development funding sources for your attendance at NCORE.

 

• Priority will be given to FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES of NCORE and to those who have not attended the last 3 years of the conference
• Priority will be given to those participating in current equity programs at SMC
• Faculty submissions will be considered with a priority on full-time and associate status
• Only completed interest forms demonstrating full availability and commitment from the attendee can be considered
• Short-answer questions (2000 character count) will be reviewed to determine eligibility - thoughtful responses are encouraged
• Limited funding is available, which will be granted based on factors listed above, and in a ratio representative of SMC's employee groups (considering the number of interest forms received from each)

 

Participating in the NCORE Conference with SMC provides the opportunity for each participant to learn new equity-centered student success strategies from experts and practitioners in the field of education. In turn, the College expects each participant to put their knowledge to use to become campus leaders in promoting equity-centered student success on campus. 

SMC + NCORE Attendee Commitments:

1. Must be available and approved to travel to and attend all 4 days of the NCORE conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. The conference takes place from Wednesday, May 29 through Saturday, June 1. 
2. Must fill out the interest form thoughtfully and in its entirety, and submit it in a timely manner. Priority is given to those who have not attended NCORE before. 
3. Must be able to pay out-of-pocket for airfare, meals, hotel, and other incidentals for the duration of the trip and submit receipts to the district for reimbursement upon return. 
4. Must consider the dates of the conference as work days - attendees are expected to attend sessions on all days (except for social events and Saturday, which are optional) of the main conference and will be asked to keep documentation and/or notes on sessions.
5. Must agree to represent SMC at the conference in a respectful, open-minded, and empathetic manner. NCORE can be an emotionally and mentally challenging and enlightening experience, and while we hope you will allow yourself space for emotions or decompression that may be needed, we also ask that you conduct yourself in a professional and considerate manner.
6. Must attend an EpiCenter pre-conference prep session and post-conference debrief session (may be held virtually or on main campus - more details to follow) and prepared to complete an Equity Action Plan to be implemented in Fall 2024 (template will be provided).
7. Must be willing and able to participate in planning and presentation of an opening day panel or workshop with fellow attendees on SMC Fall Opening Day, 2024.
8. Those attending NCORE on behalf of SMC are expected make a reasonable effort to participate in additional SMC meetings, events, or discussions regarding the NCORE experience as planned by the EpiCenter or Equity, Pathways, & Inclusion - advance notice will always be given for sufficient planning.

What is the conference schedule? Click for an At-A-Glance outline

 

Fill out our SMC+NCORE Interest Form!

Please read all information thoroughly and fill out all fields of the google form linked below, then hit the “submit” button located at the bottom left of the document. A pop-up will show that the interest form was successfully sent. If you do not see the pop-up confirmation please check your settings and/or resubmit your form. You should receive an email with a copy of your responses as additional confirmation.

THE DEADLINE FOR THIS FORM IS FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2024 at 12:00 noon.
Incomplete or late forms will not be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE:

1. The SMC + NCORE conference interest form is open to all SMC Employees. If you are unsure about whether NCORE is right for you, please visit their website or read the full descriptions and information on this page. 
2. Submission of the interest form does not guarantee your attendance at NCORE. Funding is limited and will be considered based on the criteria listed. 
3. Please discuss/get approval for your attendance of this conference with your immediate supervisor or department chair prior to filling out the form. If you need assistance with justification, we have modified a letter template and packet that NCORE provided for your use: SMC + NCORE 2023 Justification Letter
4. Airfare, meals, hotel, and incidentals must be paid for by each individual attendee, with reimbursement available upon return for approved expenses with receipts and proper documentation submitted via district-approved reimbursement forms. The EpiCenter will provide instructions for all required forms and documentation.
5. You will need to "braid" funding in order to cover costs outside of the EpiCenter's $750.00 sponsorship, if you are approved for it.

The SMC EpiCenter will contact you via email regarding your attendance request by 3/15/24.

Questions about the interest form, submission process, or participation status can be directed to Andrea de Brito: brito_andrea@smc.edu

Questions about the requirements or funding can be directed to the EpiCenter Team at EpiCenter@smc.edu

Questions regarding Equity, Pathways, and Inclusion can be sent to Maria Muñoz at munoz_maria@smc.edu

All other questions can be sent to EpiCenter@smc.edu 

Thank you!