RNL Summit for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)
This 1.5 day summit is specifically design for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
This event will take place July 24-25 at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN.
Attendees are strongly encouraged to attend the RNL National Conference immediately following the HBCU workshop and will be offered a waived conference registration fee. HBCU Summit participants who attend the National Conference will have the opportunity to attend a private mix & mingle on July 27 with RNLNC keynote speaker, Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, President Emeritus of UMBC. Attendees of this private gathering will also receive a free copy of President Hrabowski’s book with opportunity to have it signed following his closing keynote on July 27.
Registration Fees
$99/per registrant
When you register for the HBCU Summit, you will automatically be registered for RNLNC.
Location and Accommodations
All sessions will take place at the:
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
The Gaylord Opryland is sold out, but here are alternative accommodations within 1 mile:
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Nashville
- Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville Opryland
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Nashville at Opryland
Note that Gaylord cancellations must be made at least 72 hours prior to arrival to avoid a one-night room and tax penalty charge.
HBCU Summit Agenda
All forum agenda session topics, dates, and times are subject to change. All times are Central Time (CT).
Monday, July 24
1:00 – 1:30 PM
Check-In
1:30 – 1:45 PM
Welcome and Introductions
Facilitators: Dr. Sumit Nijhawan, RNL and Dr. Keyana Scales, Vice President and Senior Consultant, RNL
1:45 – 2:30 PM
Leadership Panel: Current & Future State of HBCUs
HBCUs are challenged with identifying strategies to support sustained recruitment and timely degree attainment. This comes when many campuses are in the midst of initiatives designed to garner resources to support student success efforts. This leadership panel explores opportunities to maintain current enrollment trends while proactively addressing barriers to fulfilling institutional missions.
- Karrie Dixon, Chancellor, Elizabeth City State University
- Brent Swinton, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Bowie State University
- Dr. Monica Leach, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Fayetteville State University
- Curtis Wright, Vice President of Student Affairs, Xavier University of Louisiana
- Moderator: Dr. Keyana Scales, Vice President and Senior Consultant, RNL
2:45 – 3:30 PM
Session 1: Recruitment and Enrollment Trends
Sustainable enrollment is a thriving objective for every institution of higher education. Driving demand for strong recruitment is one element with another element that focuses on a retention plan that continuously engages and encourages current students to persist and graduate. This session explores key strategies and insights for creating solid recruitment and student success plans.
- Adam Connolly, Vice President of Enrollment Management, RNL
- Brandi Phillips, Senior Director of Retention Solutions, RNL
3:30 – 4:15 PM
Session 2: Making the Case for Funding
Financial resources are essential to ensuring long-term viability in what has become an increasingly competitive marketplace. This session highlights opportunities to build and strengthen collaboration between institutional advancement, enrollment management, and student services professionals while building business cases for fundraising that will support critical enrollment and student success initiatives.
- Greta Daniels, Senior Vice President for Fundraising, RNL
4:15 – 4:30 PM
Reflections and Preview of Day 2
Tuesday, July 25
8:00 – 8:30 AM
Breakfast/Welcome/Day One Review
Facilitators: William McHale, President and CEO, RNL and Dr. Keyana Scales, Vice President and Senior Consultant, RNL
8:30 – 9:15 AM
Trends in Financial Aid
Recent changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) have significant implications for mission-focused institutions such as HBCUs. This session highlights aspects of the new FAFSA and considerations for adjusting financial aid leveraging strategies. We will also explore opportunities to build business cases for fundraising at a time when many HBCU’s are amid capital campaigns centered around financial support for students.
- Wes Butterfield, Senior Vice President of Consulting Services, RNL
9:30 – 10:15 AM
Strategic Enrollment Planning 101
Creating an innovative and strategic enrollment plan can elevate an institution to ensure long term viability in what has become an increasingly competitive marketplace. This session explores the data, marketing components, and strategies that can help create sustainable enrollment. This series promises to give campuses data points to drive strategy and create ideas to drive conversations on campus.
- Dr. Lew Sanborne, Senior Vice President, RNL
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Tying It Together: Preparing for the Future
This design-thinking exercise will invite attendees to reflect on summit content while building the foundation of action plans that address challenges faced on their respective campuses. Attendees will also use this session as a springboard to the RNL National Conference, creating session agendas to further strengthen their conference experience.
- Facilitator: Dr. Keyana Scales, Vice President and Senior Consultant, RNL
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Reflections, Wrap Up and Preview of RNL National Conference and National Donor Engagement Workshop
Special event for HBCU Summit attendees on July 27
All HBCU Summit participants who also attend the RNL National Conference will have the opportunity to attend a private mix and mingle on July 27 with RNLNC keynote speaker, Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, President Emeritus of UMBC. Attendees of this private gathering will also receive a free copy of President Hrabowski’s book with opportunity to have it signed following his closing keynote on July 27.