2022 BisNet Conference at UT Dallas

2022 BisNet Conference at UT Dallas

A New Era in Student Exchange and Travel

The Naveen Jindal School of Management welcomes fellow BisNet business school members to our campus for the annual BisNet Conference on October 13-14, 2022. BisNet offers a forum for discussion and collaboration among top U.S. business schools with active, well-established study abroad and international exchange programs, primarily at the undergraduate level.

This year’s program focuses on the exciting developments and opportunities in this new student exchange and travel era.

Register for Conference Pay $100 Registration Fee

Hotel Information

UT Dallas has negotiated Room Rate ($114/night), including breakfast from 6:30am – 10am.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
1981 North Central Expressway
Richardson, Texas 75080
Phone: (972) 644-4000

Hotel Reservation

Organizing Committee

If there are topics you would like to see on the program, please let us know and we would be happy to add it to the program agenda.

Shawn Alborz

Shawn Alborz, PhD

Conference Chair, UT Dallas
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs

salborz@utdallas.edu | (972) 883-6455

Shirley Yu

Shirley Yu

Conference Co-Chair, UT Dallas
Project Manager, Undergraduate Programs

Shirley.Yu@utdallas.edu | (972) 883-4986

Victoria McCrady

Victoria McCrady

Conference Co-Chair, UT Dallas
Assistant Professor of Instruction

vdm130030@utdallas.edu | (972) 883-5984

Conference Agenda

The tentative schedule is noted below and will be updated periodically.

Schedule for Wednesday October 12, 2022 (Central Time)
Time Program
05:00 – 07:00 PM Welcome Reception
Double Tree Hotel Reception Area
1981 North Central Expressway
Richardson, Texas 75080
Phone: (972) 644-4000


Schedule for Thursday October 13, 2022 (Central Time)
Time Program
08:00 – 09:00 AM Registration and Coffee
09:00 – 09:30 AM Conference Welcome and Who are we?
09:30 – 10:45 AM Keynote: Covid-19 and Future Pandemics: What we might expect
Speaker: Dr. Timothy Bray, Associate Professor of Practice of Public Policy and Political Economy
10:45 – 11:00 AM Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00 PM Session #1: The Risky Business of Risk Management

Discussion of members’ challenges, triumphs and updated practices as we anticipate and address health/safety risks.

Moderators:
Madeline Allen, Global Programs Manager, The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Imperio Shanks, Assistant Director International Services, UT Dallas
12:00 – 01:30 PM Lunch Sponsored by GAV (Texas BBQ)
01:30 – 02:45 PM Session #2: Trends in Faculty-Let Trips

Breakout groups leading to a larger conversation about faculty-led trips currently attracting & retaining interest with students and faculty. We will also address new processes during the pandemic and timelines.

Moderators:
Christine Walls, Gies Global Advisor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Laura Tiffin, Assistant Director of International Programs, Indiana University – Bloomington
Jimena Holguin, Associate Director International Programs, Indiana University – Bloomington
Aleksandra Wingate, Sr. Program Coordinator, The University of Texas at Austin
02:45 – 03:45 PM Session #3: Marketing Programs to Students

Active session focused on marketing programs, recruiting students, anticipating interest and communicating practical expectations.

Moderators:
Gloria Angel, Assistant Director, Villanova University
Gabrielle Mirasola, Assistant Director, New York University
03:45 – 04:00 PM Coffee Break
04:0 – 05:00 PM Session #4: Know Your Partners

Engaging session about current partners, expectations, experiences, and ways to strengthen the relationship while addressing student issues.

Moderators:
Han Sol Meinig, Program Manager, University of Wisconsin
Victoria McCrady, Academic Director for International Partnerships, UT Dallas
Kirsten Canterbury, Director of Education Abroad, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
05:00 Shuttle to Dinner
La Hacienda Ranch
Schedule for Friday October 14, 2022 (Central Time)
Time Program
08:00 – 09:00 AM Registration and Coffee
09:00 – 10:00 AM Session #5: Best Practices/Changing Practices

Identifying previous “best practices” and how we have changed (and should change) moving forward. Tying practices to institutional goals/metrics and partners’ goals.

Moderators:
Phyllis Tutora, Senior Director, Temple University
Jennifer Hilton Montero, Director of International Initiatives, UT Dallas
10:00 – 10:15 PM Coffee Break
10:15 – 11:15 AM Session #6: Business Meeting – Treasurer’s Report and Future Conference

Focus on the finances, past year, and future. We look ahead to the next conference and adjust plans if necessary.

Moderator:
Jonathon Wood – BisNet Treasurer, Brigham Young University
11:15 – 12:30 PM Lunch
12:30 – 01:30 PM Session #7: BisNet Leadership Board

Discussion about creating a BisNet Leadership Board. We hope to decide as a full group if we want to move forward with a board. If the group would like to implement the Leadership Board, we’d like to finalize the position descriptions and discuss a selection process.

Moderators:
Kate Terry, Program Director, University of Minnesota
Laura Haas, Associate Director, University of Michigan
01:30 – 02:30 PM Wrap Up