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The ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Edge Symposium is a three-day, campus-wide experience designed to advance a shared commitment to Growing Toward Student Success through ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Edge practices. Bringing together faculty, staff, students, and alumni, the symposium celebrates high-impact learning, elevates student voices, and strengthens connections across academic, co-curricular, and community spaces. 

Across three intentionally designed days, participants will engage in recognition and community-building events, Edge-focused programming and showcases, alumni engagement, and student-centered presentations through COURI. The symposium highlights how ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Edge Experiences and Advantages support holistic student development by helping students reflect on, articulate, and apply their learning toward academic, career, and life goals. 

Symposium Structure & Intent 

Day 1 – Kick-Off Mixer & Edge Champions Recognition 

Intention: Build community and celebrate excellence 

The symposium opens with a community-focused kick-off at the Centennial Museum, intentionally aligned with Earth Day and this year’s theme. Faculty, staff, and teams are recognized for exemplifying ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Edge practices, highlighting the people and partnerships that help student success take root and grow. 

Day 2 – Edge Programming 

Intention: Make ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Edge visible across campus 

Day 2 centers on how ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Edge is integrated across classrooms, programs, and student experiences. Faculty, staff, and students engage in panels, student presentations, alumni TED-style talks, and interactive workshops that showcase effective practices, student learning, and the impact of Edge Experiences and Advantages in action. 

Day 3 – Alumni Fair & COURI Student Showcase 

Intention: Support articulation, career exploration, and connection 

Day 3 focuses on helping students articulate their strengths and explore pathways beyond graduation. Students engage with alumni through a major-based, speed-networking mixer that highlights multiple career paths within a discipline. Students will share their Edge Stories at the COURI Symposium, where selected students showcase their Edge Experiences and Advantages through interactive iPosters, strengthening their ability to communicate skills, learning, and growth to alumni, faculty, and peers. The day will conclude by celebrating student achievements and building community with peers, alumni, and mentors.

Symposium Objectives 

Celebrate Edge Champions and Student Voices 

• Recognize faculty, staff and teams advancing ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Edge practices. 

• Elevate student stories through panels, performances, and COURI iPoster showcases. 

• Highlight alumni contributions to student learning and career development. 

Share and Model Effective Edge Practices 

• Showcase innovative approaches to integrating ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Edge Experiences and Advantages in and beyond the classroom. 

• Provide concrete examples of how students reflect on and articulate learning and skills. 

• Demonstrate how Edge practices support persistence, confidence, and readiness for what’s next. 

Strengthen Collaboration and Campus Connectivity 

• Foster connections among faculty, staff, students, and alumni. 

• Build cross-departmental and cross-role partnerships around student success. 

• Create shared understanding of how academic, co-curricular, and support units work together. 

Increase Awareness of Student Support and Career Pathways 

• Highlight campus resources that support student learning, well-being, and success. 

• Strengthen referral pathways between academic units and student services. 

• Support students in exploring career possibilities and building social capital through alumni engagement.