Doctoral Students Regional Connections Conferences Prospectus

(Draft 6-17-01)

BACKGROUND:

For five years, beginning in 1995, doctoral students from Library and Information Studies schools around the Great Lakes region organized the Connections conference as a forum for the dissemination of doctoral research. The first and fourth conferences were held at the University of Western Ontario, the second and fifth at the University of Toronto, and the third at the University of Michigan.

In a departure from past traditions, Connections 2000 took place outside the Great Lakes region. The University of Tennessee in Knoxville hosted it. Interest in the conference began to expand to the point of North American-wide participation. Participants felt these LIS doctoral student conferences to be valuable, worthwhile experiences and some felt that the benefits of such an experience should be available to more LIS doctoral students. Others felt that the more casual, less threatening feel of a regional conference could be lost if the conference became a North American event. There is a way to keep the regional conference intact AND expand to include all LIS doctoral students.

REGIONAL CONFERENCE BENEFITS:

• There is indeed a lot of value in the regional conference format:
• Less threatening environment. Low-pressure atmosphere.
• Greater attendance of doctoral students of the region. (Easier and less expensive to get to.)
• All doctoral students have the opportunity to gain presentation experience. (For many, this is a first opportunity to present. There is a strong feeling that, as a learning experience, all who register should have the opportunity to present. Regional conferences may be kept small enough as to make the jury process unnecessary.)

REGIONAL CONNECTIONS CONFERENCES GUIDELINES:

• North America would be divided into 4 to 6 regions, depending on school locations (i.e. Great Lakes, East Coast, West Coast, Southern, etc.) Each region could hold a Connections Conference. The purpose is to keep all the benefits of regional conferences, yet take the collective event to another level at the same time.
• Host schools should rotate amongst all schools in the region. However, a school may opt to pass on the host position.
• A research presentation would be selected as "Best of Conference" at each regional location. These could then receive wider, North American attention (perhaps at the ALISE annual conference?).
• ALISE is encouraged. This increases participation in and awareness of ALISE and the ALISE Doctoral Students SIG.
• There should be no need to jury presenters out of the process. All LIS doctoral students would get presentation experience.
• International doctoral students from LIS schools outside North America are at liberty to attend and participate in any regional conference of their choice - only one presentation per year.

Mechanism for choosing the top research presentation from each region:

1. The host school brings in an LIS faculty member from outside their Region to judge the event. No conflict of interest then exists. This might prove expensive and may not be practical. (Though it is a great way for faculty to scout future faculty!)
2. In the event the host school is unable to bring in a "judge" from a faculty outside of their region, the dean of the host school selects the top research presentation from the guest LIS doctoral students attending. (The host LIS students would not be eligible that particular year.) This would eliminate conflict of interest for the host dean, but would be unfortunate for the host students. The conference would rotate locations every year, but not all would be in a position to present for more than one year and might miss out. Obviously, option 1 is preferred over option 2.
3. The doctoral student conference participants could vote on the top research presentation.

Selection suggestion:

"Best of Conference" may be selected based 50% on quality of the research and 50% on quality of the presentation.

Conference agendas should include:

The need for achievement vs. the need for affiliation can find balance at Connections conferences. We want to be supportive of each other and find fellowship, yet also increase our quality. Therefore:

1. An LIS faculty member, preferably a senior researcher should explicitly address what quality research is. This may take the form of a luncheon presentation, for instance.
2. The host school's dean, faculty member, or invited dean or faculty member gives a "highlights" review of the conference - a sort of "what have we learned" wrap-up. This could be the same individual who is to select the "Best of Conference" doctoral student research presentation.

CONCLUSION:

Doctoral students often have an identity problem. These conferences would be a good way to address the "ugly duckling problem" - by bringing all the swans together.

By having a "Best of Conference" research presentation selection, a talk on quality research, and a "post-conference wrap-up we address credibility and standards. The conference is not just a way to network, important as that is.

By replicating the Great Lakes Connections Conference in other regions, we honor the achievement and innovations of the Great Lakes Connections founders. We also provide the same experiences/benefits to all LIS doctoral students.

Respectfully submitted,

Sharon McQueen