Kansas Board of Regents

MICHAEL TILFORD CONFERENCE ON DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURALISM

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The 2024 conference, October 3-4, is hosted by Wichita State University. The Harmony of Uniqueness: Advancing Higher Education through Prioritizing Cultural Innovation and Community Engagement. Click here for more information.

The Michael Tilford Conference provides an opportunity for those involved in education, in collaboration with community business leaders, to examine diversity in education and business by discussing the challenges and opportunities including:

Inspire awareness of multiple dimensions of diversity, related practices of inclusion, and the transformation of education.
Participate in workshops to learn about challenges and strategies for teaching diverse populations on campuses and in classrooms.
Share your passion for teaching and interacting with students from all backgrounds.
Reinforce the integration of multiple dimensions of diversity into student academic and personal development components.
Explore how these strategies and practices translate into our businesses and broader communities

Goals of the conference include:

Listening to visionary leaders who will inspire you to promote equity and awareness at your institution.
Participating in workshops to learn about challenges teaching diverse populations on Kansas campuses.
Sharing your passion for teaching and interacting with students regardless of race, gender, religion and national origin.

Archives

2023 - Living into Brown: Staying the Course Toward Inclusion and Belonging
hosted by Washburn University
Click here for more information about the 2023 Tilford Conference

2022 - After Brown v Board, No Turning Back: The Future of Diversity and Multiculturalism
hosted by Washburn University
Click here for more information about the 2022 Tilford Conference

2021 - Better Together: The Power of Coalitions Building in DEI Work
hosted by the University of Kansas
Click here for more information about the 2021 Tilford Conference

2020 - Suspended due to Covid-19

2019 - From Knowledge to Practice: Professional Development for a More Equitable Campus
hosted by the University of Kansas
Click here for more information about the 2019 Tilford Conference

2018 - Moving Kansas Forward: Teaching, Advising, and Supporting Practices of Equity
hosted by Fort Hays State University
Click here for more information about the 2018 Tilford Conference.

2017 - Intentional Diversity: What is Your Part in Moving Kansas Forward?
hosted by Fort Hays State University
Click here for more information about the 2017 Tilford Conference.

2016 - CULTIVATING SUCCESS: Why Belonging Matters
hosted by Pittsburg State University
Click here for more information about the 2016 Tilford Conference.

2015 - Culturally Responsive Strategies to Champion Diversity
hosted by Pittsburg State University
Click here for more information about the 2015 Tilford Conference

2014 - Diversity Practices: Transforming Curriculum & Campus Life
hosted by Emporia State University

2013 - Embracing Diversity through Shared Experience
hosted by Emporia State University

"An Evening with Carman Agra Deedy"
Carman Agra Deedy an internationally known, award-winning children’s author, storyteller, and radio contributor, who has been featured on The American Library Association, Refugees Inter’l, The International Reading Association, Columbia University, and The Smithsonian Institute, TED, The National Book Festival, and the Kennedy Center.

"Diversity, Equity and Student Success: Critical Questions, Promising Strategies" (pdf)
Tia Brown McNair
Senior Director for Student Success in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success at Association of American Colleges and Universities

2012 - Creating A Culturally Competent Campus
hosted by Kansas State University

“Leading Change in the College Curriculum: A Tribute to Tilford Initiatives in the State of Kansas”
Irving P. McPhail
Executive Director, National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering

“Defining and Assessing Cultural Competency: Models, Methods & Minefields”
Loreto R. Prieto
Director, U.S. Latino/a Studies Program, Iowa State University

“Think Differently: Creating a Culturally Competent Community”
Dr. Wm. Gregory Sawyer
Vice President for the Student Affairs at California State University Channel Islands

2011 - Pathways to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Climate
hosted by Kansas State University

“Achieving Sustainable and Authentic Inclusive Excellence in Higher Education: Mining Campus Climates as Venues of Hope and Resistance”
Dr. Juan Muñoz
Vice President for Institution Diversity, Equity & Community Engagement; and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education & Student Affairs, Texas Tech University

“Creating an Inclusive College Campus”
Dr. Roger Worthington
Professor of Education, University of Missouri, and editor of the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education

“Practice Exercise: Rising Above Cognitive Errors to Improve Campus and Department Climates”
Dr. JoAnn Moody
Faculty Development and Diversity Consultant

2010 - The Power of Diversity in Action
hosted by University of Kansas

“Diversity as a Core Strategy for Institutional Transformation”
Dr. Nancy “Rusty” Barcelo
President, Northern New Mexico College

2009 - Diversity in Action: Strategizing to Move Ideas into Implementation
hosted by University of Kansas

“Expanding Excellence; Inclusiveness and Student Success: Implications for Practice”
Jillian Kinzie, Ph.D
Associate Director, Center for Postsecondary Research & National Survey Student Engagement Institute

2008 - Changing Demographics: Is Kansas Ready?
hosted by Wichita State University

“Diverse Constituencies: How changing demographics impact our efforts to attract, enroll & keep the students who are the future of our state.”
Ronald L. Morris
Director, Admissions Research and Training, at the National Research Center for College & University Admissions

“Responding to the Winds of Change: Preparing Tomorrow’s Diverse Campus.”
Brian K. Bridges, Ph.D.
Associate Director of the Center for Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Equity for the American Council on Education (ACE)

2007 - Multicultural Curriculum Transformation: Making it Happen
hosted by Wichita State University

“Multicultural Curriculum Transformation as well as Specific Examples of What is Working at Various Institutions Across the Country”
Dr. Debra Humphreys
Vice President for Communications & Public Affairs, Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)

This conference is named in memory of the late Dr. Michael Tilford, who passed away on November 6, 1996. Dr. Tilford was the Wichita State University representative on the Regents Diversity and Multiculturalism Committee from its onset in 1994 until his death. In 1969, Dr. Tilford was one of 100 African-American educators from across the country who received Ford Foundation Grants for advanced graduate study. He received his doctorate from Oklahoma State University in 1970. Dr. Tilford also had a bachelor's degree from Langston University in mathematics/chemistry and a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University in science education. He was appointed Dean of the Graduate School of WSU in 1988 and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs in 1994. Dr. Tilford chaired many organizations, and his committee work showed his commitment to the education of students traditionally underrepresented at the university level. In the 1970s, he served on a committee that developed a successful proposal for the minority studies program. Also, he helped conduct a study of the institutional commitment to minorities at WSU.

To learn more about how/when credit for prior learning may occur, please visit the following websites:

State University	More Information
Emporia State University	Credit for Prior Learning
Fort Hays State University	Credit for Prior Learning
Kansas State University	Credit for Prior Learning
Pittsburg State University	Credit for Prior Learning
University of Kansas	Credit for Prior Learning Transferring Credit
Wichita State University	Credit for Prior Learning

Municipal University	More Information
Washburn University	Credit for Prior Learning

Community College	More Information
Allen Community College	Credit for Prior Learning
Barton Community College	Credit for Prior Learning
Butler Community College	Credit for Prior Learning
Cloud County Community College	Credit for Prior Learning
Coffeyville Community College	Credit for Prior Learning
Colby Community College	Credit for Prior Learning
Cowley Community College	Credit for Prior Learning
Dodge City Community College
Fort Scott Community College	Advanced Standing & Credit for Prior Learning (pdf)
Garden City Community College	Credit for Prior Learning (pdf)
Highland Community College	Credit for Prior Learning
Hutchinson Community College	Prior Learning Credit
Independence Community College	Transfer Credit Policy (pdf)
Johnson County Community College	Prior Learning Assessment
Kansas City Kansas Community College	Credit for Prior Learning
Labette Community College	Credit for Prior Learning (pdf)
Neosho County Community College	Credit for Prior Learning
Pratt Community College	Credit for Prior Learning
Seward Community College	Credit for Prior Learning

Technical College	More Information
Flint Hills Technical College
Manhattan Area Technical College	Credit for Prior Learning
North Central Kansas Technical College	Credit for Prior Learning
Northwest Kansas Technical College	Credit for Prior Learning
Salina Area Technical College	Credit for Prior Learning
Washburn University Institute of Technology	Credit for Prior Learning
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology	Credit for Prior Learning

In November 2023, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Board of Trustees revised the Assumed Practices to further clarify that an institution must establish and maintain policies and procedures for determining that faculty are qualified; and that an institution could consider a variety of factors as part of these policies and procedures.

The factors that an institution considers as part of these policies and procedures could include, but are not limited to: the achievement of academic credentials, progress toward academic credentials, equivalent experience, or some combination thereof. The institution’s obligations in this regard extend to all instructors and all other entities to which it assigns the responsibility of instruction. HLC will maintain “Institutional Policies and Procedures for Determining Faculty Qualifications Guidelines” to further explain requirements for reasonable policies and procedures in accordance with this Assumed Practice.

Each institution offering dual credit courses, retains sole responsibility for determining if and how its faculty meet HLC’s faculty qualifications.

Resources for Dual Credit Instructors

In 2020, two nonprofit organizations, Northeast Wisconsin Education Resource Alliance (NEWERA) and the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) joined forces to help high school teachers find content-specific graduate courses, allowing them to earn credits that will meet instructor qualification expectations to teach college-level courses.

Graduate Credit Quest serves teachers seeking graduate level course offerings. MHEC provided the connections, expertise, and funding to expand the site to help teachers and features courses offered by universities in all twelve of MHEC's members states Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Kansas Degree & Certificate Programs

Below is a list of online graduate degrees & courses offered by public universities in Kansas in some of the most common dual credit subject areas taught in the state. Since HLC requires each institution to determine how its faculty are qualified, current and potential dual credit instructors should request an individual consultation with the institution they are or will teach for to see if the programs below meet HLC faculty qualifications.

This list will be updated as additional information is made available and is being provided solely as a resource without any specific endorsement: