Conference Theme Description:
The Greek poet and philosopher, Homer once said, "Light is the task where many share the toil." The theme of the 2012 International conference, "Lighting the Path to Student Success" borrows its inspiration from both Homer and its setting in the Gaslight Quarter of the host city. In 1974 the Gaslight Quarter was "the home of tattoo parlors, seedy bars, pawn shops, and adult businesses." (gaslight.org) Its transformation into one of the country's premier entertainment districts was a task where "many shared the toil" but the turning point happened when the San Diego City Council provided a $100,000 grant to "rehabilitate" the area. That wasn't a lot of money even in 1974 but it was enough to provide a spark to eventually light the path to the Gaslight Quarter becoming what we take for granted today.
Around the same time as the Gaslight District was receiving its humble grant that led to its new beginnings, Dr. Deanna Martin had received an even smaller amount of money to research and develop a student success program that would come to be known as Supplemental Instruction. SI has grown into its present form because many of you have shared the toil to bring the light. It is in that spirit we would like to welcome each of you to the 7th International Conference on Supplemental Instruction where many people from around the world have contributed their efforts to provide each of us an opportunity to gather in San Diego to learn more about how to light the path to student success.