[eDebate] Summary of CEDA Summer Conference

[Schriver, Kristina]

CEDA SUMMER CONFERENCE

 

AT A GLANCE:

 

?      Topic Committee forms resolutions

?      Establishment of CEDA-UDL Partnership Program

?      Approval for UDL research grant

?      Training workshops for STA-XL and TRPC

?      Women?s Debate Collective underway

?      Acceptance of bid for CEDA Nationals 2006 

 

 

 

RESOLUTIONS

 

Resolutions for the 2004-2005 competitive season were formulated by the topic committee preceding the conference. The resolutions were distributed via edebate. Following CEDA by-laws, a ballot was distributed today and the topic will be announced on the last Friday of July. 

 

 

CEDA-UDL PARTNERSHIPS

 

CEDA is currently establishing a CEDA-UDL Partnership Program. This program will strive to form connections between UDL programs and interested CEDA member programs that are unconstrained by geography. CEDA member programs that wish to be involved in UDL activities and forming mutually beneficial partnerships should contact Will Baker (ceda2vp at cs.com). Documents outlining the program will be available at www.cedadebate.org <http://www.cedadebate.org/>  soon. 

 

UDL RESEARCH GRANT OPPORTUNITY

 

The Executive Council approved the funding of a President?s Research Grant. This $500 grant allows an organizational goal of the current President, stemming from the CEDA charter, to be pursued. This year CEDA will solicit research proposals that will attempt to analyze or measure the impact of the UDL movement on the team policy debate community. While a plethora of research has documented the benefits of UDL programs on participating high school students, the connection between the UDL movement and the collegiate team policy debate community is still somewhat speculative. Some questions of interest: Do UDL students join college programs? What are the barriers, benefits, or disadvantages of a UDL graduate?s involvement in CEDA debate programs? Is the UDL movement increasing diversity in our community? If not, why? The application for grant proposals will be available early fall. 

 

TRAINING WORKSHOPS

 

Jon Bruschke and Gary Larson conducted tabulation software training workshops at the Conference. Thanks to Jon for training first time TRPC users as well as navigating specific questions some users had after years of use. 

 

Gary Larson?s new STA-XL tabulation program is an amazing tool. Workshop attendees were shown how the program facilitates quick spreadsheet entry. The program also accommodates multiple computers entering round data, making it extremely useful for large tournaments. 

 

WOMEN?S DEBATE COLLECTIVE

 

Serena Turley of the Women?s Debate Collective, an outgrowth of CEDA panel discussion at NCA, CEDA nationals, presented the formative offerings of the group. Documents commenting on the declining participation of women in coaching and role model positions in policy debate were presented. The group is hosting an affordable planning meeting on August 15th in Tempe, AZ. Housing rates are an amazingly low $40 a night. At this meeting the group will enrich the mission and platform of the group, establish initiatives, and plan for a conference/retreat in 2005. 

 

The Executive Council approved funding for 5 needy travelers ($200 each) to attend the planning workshop in Tempe. As discussion about funding such initiatives developed before the conference, during the conference, and continued in email after the conference, it was clear that our deliberations were creating a set of criteria. That criterion is being further developed and will be available on the CEDA website before long. 

 

CEDA NATIONALS 2006 IN DALLAS

 

The Executive Council accepted the bid of Will Baker and Tim Mahoney to host CEDA Nationals in Dallas TX March 31- April 3, 2006. The tournament will be held entirely in hotel facilities. A Sheraton property will convert rooms into useable and comfortable competition space. The adjacent Westin will provide the sleeping rooms.  More details are found in the 1st VP report.

 

 

Reports, including goals and benchmarks, are being developed for the following committees: Program Retention, Professional Development, Competitive Practices, Ethics, and Public Relations. Each will be posted on the website by September 1st. 

 

 

 Kristina Whalen (Schriver)

CEDA President