UPDATED CALL FOR PAPERS AND PARTICIPATION

The 2024 Benedict College Inaugural International Multidisciplinary Conference (BCIIMC)
May 16-17, 2024 at 9:30 am-5:00 pm

Conference Theme: “Reaffirming Intellectual Rigor in Pursuit of Liberal Arts Research and Scholarship”

INTRODUCTION

Sponsored by the School of Communication, Arts, and Social Sciences, the 2024 Benedict College Inaugural International Multidisciplinary Conference (BCIIMC) promotes the following theme: “Reaffirming Intellectual Rigor in Pursuit of Liberal Arts Research and Scholarship.” To continue fostering students' inquiring research and scholarship in higher education, the 2024 BCIIMC calls for papers on research and scholarship that promote and foster intellectual rigor in the liberal arts. Liberal arts programs at institutions of higher education are essential for the critical thinking and intellectual development of students. In a published article, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College, states, “We are committed to developing critical thinkers who will question, challenge, engage, and serve their communities in a meaningful and equitable way’” (Artis, 2023, cited in “‘Benedict College President Joins Coordinated, Urgent Action to Champion Free Expression on U.S. Campuses”). The 2024 BCIIMC wishes to invite local, state, regional, and global researchers and scholars in “Reaffirming Intellectual Rigor in Pursuit of Liberal Arts Research and Scholarship.” Abstracts and presentations in all disciplines can be focused on and linked to the conference theme above.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, JD, EdD
Benedict College
President and CEO

Dr. Artis was unanimously appointed by the Board of Trustees as the 14th and first woman President of Benedict College on June 30, 2017. Dr. Artis is a member of College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, a consortium dedicated to advancing democracy and free speech on college campuses in the United States: “‘The years that students spend on campus often involve the closest proximity they will experience in their lifetimes to people who think very differently than they do. At Benedict College it is an incredible opportunity to learn and grow. However, the benefits are only felt if all students are free to articulate what they believe and are willing to listen to the convictions of others’” (Artis, 2024, “Benedict College President and CEO, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis Joins 60 College Presidents to Advance Civic Preparedness and Uphold Free Expression on U.S. Campuses”). Within the past six years (2019-2024) of her tenure as the President and CEO of Benedict College, Dr. Artis’ leadership transformed excellence in teaching and scholarship, strength in resilience, and accomplished futuristic missions.

Dr. Shirley Staples Carter, PhD
University of South Carolina
Associate Dean, Access and Engagement
Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communications
College of Information and Communications

Dr. Shirley Staples Carter is the Associate Dean for Access and Engagement in the College of Information and Communications, and Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina. She joined the University in July 2003 as the inaugural director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, serving a five-year term from 2003-2008. Carter was named the 2006 Scripps Howard Foundation Journalism Administrator of the Year for her leadership in journalism and mass communication education, the first and only Black to date to receive this nationally competitive award She also received a 2013-2014 Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching Award at the University of South Carolina.

PLENARY SPEAKER

Dr. Leon T. Geter
Interim Dean, School of Communication, Arts, and Social Sciences
Director, Benedict College Cybersecurity Center

Dr. Leon T. Geter serves as the Interim Dean, School of Communication, Arts, and Social Sciences (CASS), and previously served as the Department Chair of the Benedict College Criminal Justice Administration and Social Science (CAJSS) Department. Dr. Geter is the operator and founding Director of the Benedict College Center for Cybersecurity, facilitating K - 12 students and undergraduates with online safety, cybersecurity awareness, coding, programming, and life-skill development. Dr. Geter facilitates an Annual Benedict College Cybersecurity Symposium that focuses on cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development for students and the community. Dr. Geter serves as the Principal Investigator for several grants—a community broadband grant, a South Carolina rescue plan and school emergency relief grant, and a cybersecurity education diversity initiative grant.

CONFERENCE INQUIRIES

Some questions to consider when thinking about your topic and composing the abstract and paper are listed below:

1)How do liberal arts disciplines define critical inquiry and critical thinking?
2)How do disciplines in the liberal arts promote and foster critical inquiry and critical thinking?
3)How do students in the liberal arts perceive critical inquiry and critical thinking?
4)What impacts might artificial intelligence promote and foster in liberal arts disciplines?

CONFERENCE TOPIC THEMES

Humanities: Languages, Literature, Linguistics, Pidgin and Creole Studies, Oral History, Public History, African American Art, African American Musical Traditions, Hip Hop, Rap, and Cultural Studies, Rap as a Form of Resistance and Oppression, Digital Humanities, New Literacies, Critical, Literary, and Contemporary Theories

Rhetoric & Composition: Rhetoric, Composition, Critical Discourse Analysis, English Language Teaching, and English Studies

Fine Arts: Studio Arts, Design Arts, Art History, Design History, Art Education, Music Industry, Music Education, Music Composition, Music Theory, Music Performance, and Music History

Mass Communication: Philosophy of Communication, Communication Theories, Communication Technology and Society, Media Studies, Media Institutions, Artificial Intelligence in the Newsroom, Organizational Communication and Public Relations, Science and Health Communication, Technical Communication

Social Sciences: African American History, History, Philosophy, Critical Thinking, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Archaeology, Criminal Justice Administration, Cybersecurity, Information Security, and Artificial Intelligence

Sciences: Studies in Physical, Earth, Life, Health, and Computer Sciences, Environmental and Electrical Engineering, and Physics and Math

Health and Sports Management: Public Health, Sports Management, and E-Sports

Business: Business Administration and Marketing, Globalization and E-Commerce, and Entrepreneurship

Interdisciplinary: Immigration, Refugee, Diaspora, Social Movement Studies, Peace Studies, Sovereignty Movement Studies, Extended Learning, Access and Engagement

ABSTRACT SPECIFICATION, SUBMISSION, NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE

The conference committee is still accepting abstracts. Interested scholars and researchers who wish to present at the 2024 BCIIMConference may email abstracts to LiberalBCIIMC@gmail.com. Abstracts, a summary of the proposed presentation, should be 300-500 words. Attach a brief bio, academic title and discipline, and academic or personal email address to your Abstracts. Notification of Acceptance is Saturday, May 4, 2024, by 11:59 pm.

The conference registration is active. If you are interested in attending or presenting at the conference, please register and submit registration fee payment at www.benedict.edu/bciimc.

REGULAR REGISTRATION FEE PAYMENT-$275
UNTIL May 4, 2024

REGULAR REGISTRATION FEE PAYMENT-$135
One-Day Conference Attendance for Presenter/Attendee

CONFERENCE VENUE
Benedict College
David H. Swinton Campus Center
1616 Oak Street
Columbia, SC 29204

ACCOMMODATIONS, DINING, AND ATTRACTIONS
Accommodations in Columbia, South Carolina
https://discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/sleeping-in-columbia-choose-from-sleek-modern-hotels-historic-bandbs-and-beyond

FYI: The Hilton Hotels on Senate Street and on Pickens Street are close to Benedict College

Dining Out in Columbia, South Carolina
https://discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/dining-out-in-columbia

Attractions in Columbia, South Carolina
https://discoversouthcarolina.com/columbia

CONTACT INFORMATION
For inquiries about the 2024 BCIIMC, please contact Dr. Victoria Batten at Victoria.Batten@benedict.edu and/or Dr. Amita Singh at Amita.Singh@benedict.edu.

Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, Benedict College President and CEO

#TheBESTofBC

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