15th Annual Tanner Conference Highlights Learning Outside Of The Classroom

Today the college gathers to learn about the many experiences Wellesley students have gained through extraordinary summer, Wintersession, and study abroad opportunities this year. Established through the generosity of Wellesley College trustee emerita Estelle "Nicki" Newman Tanner '57, the Tanner Conference celebrates the relationship between the liberal arts classroom and student experiences in an increasingly diverse and interdependent world. 2015 marks the conference's 15th year.

The Tanner Conference explores the learning that occurs outside of a Wellesley classroom; through internships, service learning projects, student teaching, international study, Wintersession programs, experiential learning in courses, independent study, and research. This past summer, more than 300 students participated in internship programs in over 35 countries and, every year, about 45 percent of Wellesley College juniors participate in a semester or full-year international study program.

Premised on the belief that a greater understanding of the learning that takes place off campus—combined with critical inquiry into the value and effort of such learning—has the potential to move liberal arts education in new directions, Tanner (as the conference is affectionately known) provides a venue for faculty, staff and students to discuss the challenges to teaching and learning presented by new definitions of what constitutes "the classroom."

Presentations begin at 9:15am and run through 4:10pm in the Wellesley College Science Center. Visit the Tanner Conference website to see the day's complete schedule, including descriptions of each session.