This year, in addition to informal group dinners on Thursday, July 10, we are offering structured Table Talk Dinners by interest/identity group. You will have the opportunity to select your topic of interest during the registration process. The meal is not included in your registration fee, but the evening will be facilitated by an NCCI Board member or committee leader. Below are descriptions for each of the Table Talk Groups:

• New to Higher Education: Meant for those who have been in higher education for a year or less, to take the opportunity to discuss what makes working in higher education unique and challenges experienced while building a network of professionals in a similar season.
• New to Your Role: Join the discussion with others who have been in their role less than a year but aren’t necessarily new to higher education or their institution. Share what you’ve learned as you’ve navigated a move into fields such as change management, continuous improvement, project management.
• Change Management Professionals: Engage and collaborate with other change management professionals to exchange best practices and share insights that are unique to change management in higher education.
• NCCI Private Schools: Take the opportunity to join other NCCI members for a thoughtful discussion on the unique challenges faced by private institutions in the evolving higher education landscape.
• Facilitators of Strategic Planning: Engage in a collaborative discussion on facilitating effective strategic planning within higher education organizations, including exchanging insights, strategies and experiences to address shared hurdles.
• NCCI Community Colleges: Join an NCCI community-college focused discussion for sharing strategies to improve student retention, supporting diverse student populations, and enhancing successful transfer pathways.
• Preparing for a New Administration: Engage in a dynamic conversation exploring strategies for preparing your organization to successfully adapt to and collaborate with a new administration. Whether it is internal to your institution or broader government administration changes, share your insights, challenges and best practices.
• Navigating DEIB in 2025: The evolving political environment presents both challenges and opportunities for how we approach Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives within our institutions; share with others how your team is navigating these changes while continuing to pursue DEIB efforts.