Highlights From Higher Learning 2025

HLC’s annual conference was held April 5–8 in Chicago, and higher ed professionals from across the country convened to hear updates from HLC, share promising practices and discuss pressing issues in higher ed. Whether you attended or not this year, you can access resources and updates that were shared during Higher Learning 2025. 

Conference Resources  

Welcome Address  

HLC President Barbara Gellman-Danley highlighted some of the innovative work our member institutions have accomplished during a turbulent time for higher ed. Watch her Welcome Address below and read the 2025 Trends for insights on what we’re focusing on for the future. 

Revisit Sessions 

If you attended Higher Learning 2025, be sure to view and download any session materials you’d like to revisit from the conference website or mobile app by the end of May. 

Resource Guide 

The Resource Guide is your source for all things HLC, all year around. 

New Peer Reviewer Resource on Evaluating Tribal Colleges and Universities 

HLC is committed to promoting a solid understanding of the unique characteristics of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and their contribution to higher education. During the conference, we shared a paper to provide peer reviewers with considerations that may be helpful regarding types of evidence to review to ensure that TCUs are meeting HLC’s requirements. 

New Virtual Speaker Series: Higher Learning 2025 Encore Sessions 

Didn’t have the opportunity to attend the conference this year? For the first time, you have the chance to attend a virtual speaker series to hear encore presentations from HLC’s annual conference on hot topics relevant to all higher ed leaders.  

This virtual series, held July 29 and 31, will feature six webinars, including federal legislation updates from American Council on Education’s Jon Fansmith, credentials and the future of higher ed with author Kathleen deLaski, applications for Generative AI, disaster preparation and more.  

Registration will open the first week of June – sign up to be notified and check our calendar for updates. 

Save the Date for Future Conferences 

Last year, we announced that Higher Learning will be moving locations beginning in 2027 in order to accommodate the size of our conference and our geographically dispersed membership. Higher Learning will be held in Phoenix in 2027 and in Denver in 2028, and we plan to rotate the location of the conference each year to cities with convention centers that fit our needs. Save the dates: 

Higher Learning 2026: March 21–24 | Chicago 

Higher Learning 2027: April 17–19 | Phoenix 

Higher Learning 2028: April 1–3 | Denver 

Questions?  

Contact [email protected].