FCS in Higher Education:
An Open Summit on the Future

Goals of the FCS Summit

Purpose of the Summit

To develop a unified direction for the future of family and consumer sciences in higher education. The Summit will create a broad blueprint for educational renewal which will help professionals decide how to define their program mission and serve the common good of the FCS higher education community.

Participants

A self-selected gathering of individuals with a strong interest in the future of FCS in higher education.

Rationale

A challenge brought forward by Dr. Gladys Gary Vaughn to take charge of our professional destiny by charting our course for the future and developing a shared vision for who and what we want to be in the future.

Desired Outcomes

• Identify future roles and opportunities in light of changing higher education and societal conditions in contemporary society.
• Value common goals and diversity in programs/roles.
• Determine strategic direction
• Formulate recommendations for action in diverse settings.

Initiators

The Council of Administrators of Family and Consumer Sciences took the initiative to bring together representatives of higher education groups to focus on making the Summit a reality.

Partners

Board of Human Sciences, Council of Administrators of Family and Consumer Sciences, 1890 Council of Administrators, Higher Education Unit/American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Kappa Omicron Nu Omicron Nu, National Association of Teacher Educators of Family an d Consumer Sciences, and Phi Upsilon Omicron.

Process of Facilitation

The process will:

• Be inclusive—open to all interested persons
• Accommodate large numbers
• Build community
• Utilize participants as resources
• Treat all participants as equal partners
• Be dialogue based
• Encourage creativity/improvisation
• Be aimed toward action and prioritization
• Result in a meaningful document that is used