Gatherings That Inspire, Equip, and Connect

• Dates: August 1–3, 2026
• Location: Augustana College, Rock Island, IL

Every year, NECU Presidents gather together on one of our NECU campuses to learn more about the host institution and to discuss the current state of Lutheran Higher Education and things they are facing on their campuses.

Hosted by President Andrea Talentino.

Mark your calendars! Next year, August 1-3, 2027 we will be hosted by President Frank Shushok at Roanoke College in Salem, VA

• Dates: September 18–20, 2026
• Location: Chicago, IL

2026 Theme: "Context Creators: Student Leadership for Purpose, Belonging, and the Common Good."

The 2026 NECU Student Summit invites student leaders to move beyond simply producing achievements, credentials, and activities toward becoming context creators - individuals who intentionally shape communities where others can flourish. In a Lutheran understanding of vocation, leadership is not merely about what we accomplish, but about the environments we cultivate so that all may belong, discern purpose, and live lives of meaning and service.

At a time when higher education and democracy face growing polarization, anxiety, and fragmentation, NECU students are called to create contexts of trust, courage, inclusion, and hope. Drawing on the core commitments of Lutheran higher education - vocation, whole-person formation, love of neighbor, and social responsibility - this summit will help students explore how their gifts can be used to foster communities where every person is empowered to ask: Who am I? To whom do I belong? What am I called to do? How can my life contribute to the common good?

The summit challenges students to understand that their deepest vocational calling may not be simply to create content, but to create the conditions in which others can discover their own calling and thrive. We look forward to hosting NECU students in Chicago this fall!

• Dates: November 6–7, 2026
• Location: Chicago, IL

Faith-affiliated higher education institutions, particularly those within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), face unique challenges and opportunities in today’s rapidly changing educational landscape. Board leadership plays a pivotal role in ensuring that these institutions remain faithful to their mission while adapting to new realities in governance, finance, enrollment, diversity, and public trust.

This is a dedicated forum/retreat for Board Chairs, Vice-Chairs, and/or designated board representatives which will provide a space to:

• Reflect on the distinctive vocation of Lutheran higher education.

• Strengthen governance practices rooted in faith and mission.

• Share strategies for navigating complex challenges in higher education.

• Build a network of peer support among board leaders.

We look forward to hosting your board chairs and Presidents in Chicago this November!