The Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education (ACMHE) Second Annual Conference:
The Contemplative Academy
September 24 - 26, 2010
Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts
The conference will focus on initiatives in contemplative pedagogy taking place in classrooms and institutions of higher education. It will explore how contemplative practices cultivate capacities of attention, equanimity, wisdom, and compassion, which are central to the lives of students and educators.
Contributed papers, poster sessions, and artistic presentations as well as plenary talks and contemplative practice sessions will explore the ways that contemplative practice is serving higher education. As educators integrate these practices into classrooms, studios, and co-curricular initiatives, they are learning how they develop greater mindfulness, open heartedness, and insight.
Attendance and Conference Fees
Attendance is restricted to Association Members. New members may join at the conference attendance rate of $50 for a one-year faculty membership/$30 for a one-year graduate student, part-time, or retired membership. If you're not yet a member, join now.
Conference Fee:
$250 regular/ $190 student, part-time, or retired.
The fee includes meals from reception Friday evening through mid-morning break on Sunday.
Location
All conference events will take place on the Amherst College Campus. Converse Hall, where there is registration and a reception on Friday, September 24, 2010 at 7:00 pm, is shown on the campus map at https://www.amherst.edu/map/camp_map-3-1.html.
Call for Papers
The conference welcomes proposals concerning contemplative pedagogy, methodology and epistemology within and across disciplines and through co-curricular initiatives. Submissions of proposals for panel discussions are also invited. Please send a title and an abstract of not more that 200 words for a 30 minute paper or performance along with name, institutional affiliation and 50 – 100 word professional biography to beth@contemplativemind.org by May 1, 2010. Notification of inclusion in the program will be made by June 1, 2010. Late papers will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Agenda
A brief agenda appears below. An expanded version is will be available later this Spring.
Friday, September 24
7:00 pm Registration and Reception in Porter Lounge, Converse Hall
8:00 pm Keynote Address
Saturday, September 25
8:00 am Meditation
9:00 am Conference Opening
10:30 am Parallel Sessions on Contemplative Practice and Research from members
12:00 pm Lunch
1:30 pm ACMHE Forum
3:00 pm Parallel Sessions on Contemplative Practice and Research from members
5:00 pm Plenary
6:00 pm Reception and Dinner
8:00 pm Arts Evening with Ed Sarath
Sunday, September 26
8:00 am Meditation
9:00 am Plenary Panel Presentation
10:30 am Parallel Sessions on Contemplative Practice and Research from members
12:30 pm Conference Closing
Abstracts of presentations during parallel sessions and biographical information about the presenters will be posted after June 1, 2010.
Accommodations
The conference has a group booking agreement with two nearby hotels (in Hadley, MA):
Holiday Inn Express
$151/night
413-582-0002
Econolodge
$124/night (includes breakfast)
413-582-7077
Guests make their own reservations. In order to receive the discounted group rates, you must reserve by August 9, 2010 and mention the Contemplative Academy. This tends to be a very busy weekend, so please book your room as soon as possible.
Ride Board and Room Share
After registration, attendees will receive access to the Ride Board and Room Share features in the online professional community on the Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education website.