About this Institute

Creating an action plan and actualizing a culture for civic and community engagement is the focus of this exciting 1.5-day Midwest convening of Campus Compact. In a workshop environment, participants will engage in sessions focused on Campus Compact’s soon-to-be-released Campus Action Plan for Civic & Community Engagement (CAP) framework and the accompanying Curriculum Planning Guide (CPG), which highlight strategic planning methods for advancing community-campus partnerships, integrating civic and community engagement into curricula, and expanding opportunities for students and educators to address real-world challenges. 

This is a critical moment for American democracy and higher education’s place within it with trust in public institutions at historic lows. This Midwest Convening will focus on campus-wide for civic and community engagement that leads to sustained impact. 

Attendees will hear from a panel of national, field-level, and community leaders who will share their experiences with action planning and discuss why this type of planning is essential in rebuilding trust and confidence in higher education. Activities are designed to introduce participants to action planning in a way that can move them forward once they return to their campus, while also reflecting on how this process builds on current priorities and activities. 

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is co-hosting this meeting at its DeKalb, Illinois campus. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about this nationally-recognized community-engaged institution. 

Don’t miss the chance to join your higher education colleagues for learning, planning, networking, and collective inspiration as we work to bring our college and university’s mission to life through civic and community engagement. 

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Who should attend?

Are you looking to support the civic and community engagement work of your college or university? Then this Call to Action Institute is for you.

We welcome higher education senior administrators, engagement center directors, community engagement professionals, faculty, and student affairs professionals with experience in engagement, outreach, extension, and economic and workforce development work who are looking to strengthen and implement impactful and sustainable civic initiatives.

This experience has been designed with individual participants in mind; however, small teams from a single institution are also welcome. 

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Logistics


Participants have an opportunity to preview Campus Compact’s soon-to-be-released Campus Action Plan for Civic & Community Engagement (CAP) framework and the accompanying Curriculum Planning Guide (CPG) developed in partnership with the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement (CLDE) Coalition, and engage with additional supporting tools developed to support faculty and practitioners as they work to cultivate their institution’s culture and infrastructure for civic and community engagement.
 

Opening Panel

Joelle Deleveaux, Panelist
Strategy Officer, Innovation and Discovery
Lumina Foundation

Bobbie Laur, Panelist
President
Campus Compact

Dr. Rena Cotsones, Panelist
Vice President
Outreach, Engagement, and Regional Development and Chief Engagement Officer
Northern Illinois University

Dr. Lisa Freeman, Moderator
Vice Chair, Campus Compact Board of Directors
President
Northern Illinois University

Dr. Ehren Jarrett, Panelist
Superintendent
Rockford Public Schools

Institute Facilitators

Matt Farley
Senior Vice President, Strategy
Campus Compact

Laura Weaver
Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives
Campus Compact

Nancy Shapiro
Senior Advisor, CLDE Coalition
Research Scholar, University of Maryland College of Education


Monday, November 17, 2025
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM — Check-in & Refreshments
9:30 AM - 10:20 AM — Welcome & Opening Remarks
10:20 AM - 11:15 AM — Response Panel: Community Engagement as a Path Forward
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM — Interactive Framing Session
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM — Lunch Refresher (meal provided)
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM — Interactive Workshop: Readiness Reframed
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM — Call to Action: Your Next Steps

Tuesday, November 18, 2025
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM — Check-in & Breakfast
9:30 AM - 10:10 AM — Welcome & Curriculum Planning Guide Overview
10:10 AM - 12:10 PM — Interactive Workshop: Starting with the Curriculum—Every Student Every Degree
12:10 PM - 12:30 PM — Institute Reflection & Wrap-Up


Those needing overnight accommodations can book rooms at the Northern Illinois University Hotel at Holmes in the Holmes Student Center. 

Room Rates and Availability:
Campus Compact has secured a limited number of rooms for Sunday, November 16th, and Monday, November 17th at the event rate of:

  • King room: $82.00 per night
  • Twin room (2 twin beds): $82.00 per night

This rate is guaranteed through Sunday, November 2, 2025, or until rooms are filled.

Book Your Room
Book your rooms directly by visiting the link below and entering the code 5212 to access the group rate:
https://niuholmesstudentcenter.client.innroad.com/group

Overnight Parking
Hotel Guests must purchase a visitor parking permit to park their personal vehicle in on-campus lots beginning at 7:00 AM on Monday, November 17th. 

  • Permits can be purchased online before arriving on campus or upon check-in. See the instructions in the Parking section of this page. 
  • Hotel Guests are to park in the Visitors Parking Lot adjacent to the Holmes Student Center and the Founders Memorial Library. 

If you have questions about the hotel, contact hotel@niu.edu

Hotel at Holmes is located at:
340 Carroll Avenue
DeKalb, IL 60115

Directions to the hotel

By staying at the Hotel at Holmes, you are directly supporting Northern Illinois University student activities and events.
 

Book Your Room


Free event parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the East Lagoon Parking Lot (Lot 14 and Lot 3), as indicated on the map below. Once this lot is filled, attendees will need to purchase a single-day Visitor Permit via NIU's Parking Services Customer Parking Portal for $7.00. Follow the steps below to purchase a Visitor Permit through AIMS Mobile Pay | Parking Services | Northern Illinois University:

  • To purchase, select “Visitor” at the bottom of the list
  • Select “Daily Visitor ($7.00)"
  • Enter the start date for the permit. Either 11/17/ 2025 or 11/18/2025
  • Add your vehicle information—all required:
    • Plate #
    • State
    • Year
    • Make
    • Model
    • Color
  • Add the following Attributes—all required
    • Visitor's Name
    • Yes, I am not a student/staff/faculty member
    • Reason for parking on campus
    • Full Name of Person/Dept/Event Visiting — Enter OERD with Erin Elder, and Campus Compact  
    • I certify this information is accurate
    • Visitor's (Your) Phone Number
    • Visitor’s (Your) Street Address
    • Visitor’s (Your) City
    • Visitor’s (Your) State
    • Visitor’s (Your) Zip Code
  • Add permit to cart
  • Enter your email address
  • Click continue
  • Enter your billing information
  • Enter your payment information
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Thank you to our host, Northern Illinois University

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Questions? Get in touch with Laura Weaver at lweaver@compact.org