Special Sessions & Events
In addition to keynote addresses, super seminars, and educational sessions, the Annual Conference offers a variety of ways to help you stay current in your field. Learn about pre-professional and professional assessments and certifications, award-winning FCS research, the “Taking It to the Streets” Campaign, AAFCS awards, grants, fellowships, and scholarships, and more! And, be sure to visit the showcases with information on FCS curricula, design, apparel, and textiles, as well as attend the university reunions.
AAFCS Leadership Sessions
Student Unit Sessions
University Reunions
Pre-Conference Workshops (ticketed)
Educational Excursions (ticketed)
Meal Functions (ticketed)
AAFCS Competency Exams (separate fee)
AAFCS Leadership Sessions
Meet with your colleagues in-person and make plans for the coming year. Committee meetings and the Council for Certification business meeting will take place in the afternoon on Sunday, June 24, 2012. The Affiliate Presidents Unit will meet Sunday evening. The Community Council of Leaders, Assembly of Higher Education, and Collegiate Assembly will hold meetings on Monday, June 25, and Communities will meet on Wednesday morning. Please check the program-at-a-glance online as the schedule is subject to change.
Student Unit Sessions
The AAFCS Student Unit (SU) has designed several activities especially for students. If you’re a first-time attendee, come by the First-Time Attendee and New Member Orientation on Monday morning! Later that morning, attend the SU business meeting, where you’ll meet the new officers and learn updates on SU events and accomplishments of the past year. Network with fellow students during the Social Night on Tuesday, and continue networking in Wednesday’s ed session, “Navigating and Networking in AAFCS.” Be sure to bring your donation of a new pair of children’s pjs for this year’s SU Service Project benefitting the Pajama Program; the donated pjs will be given to needy children, many of whom are in foster homes. There will also be an opportunity for students to volunteer as session moderators at many educational sessions—be sure to mark your volunteer interest when you register!
University Reunions
Sponsored by the Assembly for Higher Education
Promote your university and meet with friends old and new at University Reunions! This is a fantastic opportunity for your university to attract students investigating schools—send representatives from your FCS programs and encourage alumni to stop by and talk to prospective students, as well as take advantage of this opportunity to network with your school’s alumni and those from other FCS programs. It is always fun and valuable to stay in touch with friends and colleagues who date back to university experiences, and these days networking is king!
Each university will have a table for materials and at which alumni may gather.Snacks and drinks will be provided!
Sponsored by the Assembly for Higher Education
Pre-Conference Workshops
"Essential Tools and Tips from AAFCS Teachers of the Year"
Sunday, June 24, 1:00pm – 4:30pm
Sponsored by
Moderated by Beverly Card, CFCS
Panelists: Sharon Baillie, CFCS; Elizabeth Jane Steiner, CFCS; Susan Turgeson, CFCS; Becky Newell, CFCS, Retired; and Marilyn Swierk, CFCS
If you are a family and consumer sciences educator looking to strengthen your program, attend this interactive pre-conference workshop with practical information you can use right away! Engage in a moderated panel discussion with national AAFCS Teacher of the Year recipients. Then participate in multiple roundtable discussions led by educators on topics such as career pathways, common core standards, technology in the classroom, funding, and program promotion. Other roundtable discussions will cover specific areas of family and consumer sciences, including food science, fashion and design, career preparation, and more. Each attendee will leave with a jump drive packed with useful resources!
Cost for 1-day and full conference registrants: $70. Cost for non-conference registrants: $95. 3.5 PDUs.
"Take Part in the Gluten Free Movement!"
Sunday, June 24, 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Presented by James Painter, PhD, RD, and Colleen O’Sullivan, Family and Consumer Sciences, Eastern Illinois University
In order to successfully live with a gluten-free diet, it is essential to understand what exactly gluten is and how it affects people. It is necessary for educators, schools, families, restaurants, and companies to take part in the gluten-free movement to allow individuals to follow a proper gluten-free diet. Not only will attendees become more knowledgeable on the subject, but they will also watch a demonstration and participate in product sensory evaluations. This workshop will allow participants to witness the steps involved in making gluten-free applications, such as bread products and baked goods; followed by the chance to taste and evaluate the gluten-free products compared to current commercially available products and observe the nutritional value of each.
Cost for 1-day and full conference registrants: $70. Cost for non-conference registrants: $95. 3 PDUs.
"National Pre-PAC Academy"
Sunday, June 24, 5:30pm – 9:00pm
Presented by Dr. Lori Myers, CFCS, Director, Pre-Professional Assessments and Certifications (Pre-PAC)
In a demanding environment of mandates and budget constraints, what can FCS educators do to safeguard their programs and students? What can be done to ensure that FCS programs have the data needed to substantiate their effectiveness? With increased accountability requirements, programs have been asked to demonstrate their role in preparing students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in today’s competitive environment. The Pre-Professional Assessment and Certification (Pre-PAC) Program offers a portfolio of standards-based, industry-driven, gold-standard assessments and corresponding certifications for secondary and post-secondary programs that can provide reliable data to meet these challenges. Through this in-depth training session, Pre-PAC Academy participants will be able to:
- Align curriculum and instruction with assessment competencies and concepts.
- Navigate the web-based Pre-PAC Management System.
- Utilize assessment data to guide advocacy and decisions regarding funding, curriculum, instruction, and overall program effectiveness.
- Gain valuable resources to market assessments and certifications to key stakeholders.
Cost for 1-day and full conference registrants: $70. Cost for non-conference registrants: $95. 3.5 PDUs.
Educational Excursions
Please visit our Educational Excursions page to learn more about how to earn PDUs while exploring Indiana on Sunday, June 24th and Wednesday, June 27th.
Meal Functions
Please visit our Meal Functions page to learn more about the many ticketed meals at the conference, including our popular Pacesetter Dinner!
AAFCS Competency Exams
Tuesday, June 26, 1:00pm – 4:30pmWhether you are a new professional or seasoned veteran, validate your professional expertise through the AAFCS competency examination system. These national competency exams also meet a major requirement for obtaining professional certifications. As a registered conference participant, you can sit for one of five exams, each corresponding to one of the five certifications. These exams are not listed on the printed conference registration form. If you are registering for the Annual Conference with the printed form, please email fcstests@aafcs.org to request exam procedures and registration information. Or, register for the test through the online annual conference registration form by May 31st and receive a discount on your exam fee!
All times and dates are subject to change—please check back in as we get closer to conference!