About the TRUCEN 2026 Annual Meeting

Join us for The Research Universities Civic Engagement Network (TRUCEN) for the 2026 Annual Meeting—two days of action-focused discussions, networking, and coalition-building focused on advancing civic and community engagement within the unique contexts at R1 universities. The TRUCEN meeting directly precedes the Campus Compact annual conference, Compact26, which brings together over 700+ community and civic engagement leaders. We hope you’ll join us for both! 

During this year’s TRUCEN Annual Meeting, we will: 

  • Foster relationship-building and networking among members
  • Prioritize deep-dive conversations over surface-level ones
  • Authentically unpack the biggest challenges and opportunities facing our work 
  • Ground our work in the unique contexts of Chicago and learn from leaders on the ground 
  • Build momentum and energy for TRUCEN going forward


Thanks to the generous support of Northwestern University, registration for this event is free. Attendees will be responsible for travel and lodging.

Register →

Who should attend?

The 2025 TRUCEN Annual Meeting is open to all R1 institutions with active Campus Compact membership. We encourage 2 representatives to join us from each institution.

Want to bring more than 2 from your institution? Get in touch with Bobbie Laur at blaur@compact.org.

Logistics

Saturday, March 14, 2026
Hyatt Regency Chicago 
 

  • 2:30 - 3:00: Registration & Check-In 
  • 3:00 - 4:00: New Member orientation and networking (this includes new individuals to TRUCEN overall and/or those attending the annual meeting for the first time) 
    • Facilitator: Maurice Smith, Associate Director, Center for Public Service, Tulane University 
  • 4:00 - 5:30: Opening Plenary: The Critical Role of Civic and Community Engagement Today
    A dynamic panel discussion will kick off the TRUCEN convening centering on the role of civic and community engagement in navigating the biggest challenges and opportunities facing research universities committed to the public mission. The conversation will center on the intersection of several current issues, including: 
    • Integrating and prioritizing civic discourse and dialogue within civic and community engagement 
    • The luxury vs. necessity of community engagement within institutional structures and priorities 
    • Growth and expansion of new centers and schools of civic thought and leadership 
    • Translating public impact more broadly and rebuilding trust and confidence through engagement 
  • 5:30 - 6:30: Networking cocktail reception
  • 6:30 - 8:30: TRUCEN welcome dinner 
    • Welcome remarks from Bobbie Laur, President, Campus Compact  
    • Welcome remarks for George Luc, Cofounder, Give Pulse 

Sunday, March 15, 2026
Northwestern University, Downtown Campus 

  • 9:00 - 9:30: Welcome, Introductions, and Agenda Setting 
    • Welcome from Northwestern University 
    • Welcome from TRUCEN Leadership Committee 
  • 9:30 - 11:30: Leading in this Moment: Our roles, our work, and where we go from here
    During this deep-dive workshop, TRUCEN members will come together to address the most pressing issues facing our collective work.  Driven by what participants say are the biggest priorities, the network will dive into the specific challenges facing the mission, what’s working on campuses in addressing those challenges, and what resources and support TRUCEN can provide.  
  • 11:30 - 1:00: Networking Lunch & Fresh Air 
  • 1:00 - 1:30: Reports from Launching of Sustained Conversation Groups for 2026-2027
  • 1:30 - 3:30: Supporting each other and ourselves 
    This session will allow us to acknowledge and process the vulnerabilities, risks, and challenges we are navigating in higher education and across our communities.  Based on feedback during registration, we will design an afternoon workshop that is restorative and grounded in hope and mutual support. 
  • 3:30 - 4:00: Closing comments 
  • 4:00 - 5:00: Closing Reception 
  • 5:00: Return to Hotel 

We’ve intentionally kept Monday morning open so that TRUCEN attendees are free to either take some decompression time before Compact26 kicks off at 1:15 or to participate in one of the pre-conference workshops, which will run from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM on Monday. 
 

Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 East Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60602

Campus Compact has a room block available at a reduced rate of $199 per night, plus taxes and fees. You can modify and cancel hotel reservations online, as well as take advantage of any room upgrades, amenities or other services offered by the Hyatt Regency Chicago by clicking the button below, visiting https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/CHIRC/G-XCCM, or calling 312-565-1234 ext. 50 and share the code: G-XCCM. If you book through the link, the group rate is automatically applied. If you prefer to call in, you need to mention you are with Compact26 and provide the code.

Room block expires on Monday, March 1, 2026.

Agenda Highlight:

Compact26 Conference is right after!

The TRUCEN Annual Meeting runs right up against the Campus Compact annual conference, Compact26. We highly encourage you to extend your stay in Chicago and attend Compact26!

Thank you!

We want to say a big thank you to GivePulse for their sponsorship and support in making the TRUCEN convening possible.

Register

Thank you to the TRUCEN Leadership Committee for their work in guiding the agenda’s development

  • Neeraja Aravamudan, Director, Edward Ginsberg Center, University of Michigan
  • Renee Miller Zientek, Executive Director, Center for Community Engaged Learning, Michigan State University
  • Laurel Hirt, Director, Center for Community Engaged Learning, University of Minnesota
  • James Roland, Senior Director, Center for Civic and Community Engagement, Emory University
  • Maurice Smith, Associate Director, Center for Public Service, Tulane University 
  • Shalom Staub, Assistant Dean and Executive Director, Center for Community Engagement, University of California Los Angeles
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Questions? Get in touch with Bobbie Laur at blaur@compact.org