Building on the success of the National College Attainment Network’s (NCAN) annual Hill Day and Advocacy Training from previous years, we are excited to announce a new and expanded convening this year: the inaugural NCAN Leadership Summit! Register today to make your voice heard on the federal policy issues impacting your students.

The Leadership Summit on Monday, March 31, will be tailored to attendees’ professional background and experience to help every participant grow their impact on policy. Providing a mix of knowledge and skill-building sessions, the event will feature a half-day executive retreat for CEOs and Executive Directors, an introduction to advocacy for newcomers and students, and an advanced training for those looking to deepen their advocacy skill set, and four sessions on the latest trends and biggest ideas related to higher education access and attainment.

On Tuesday, April 1, members will take to Capitol Hill to put their new skills into action, make their voices heard, and educate their representatives in the US House and Senate on time-sensitive and pressing policy issues like a fully functional Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) launch, and the need for increased funding for Pell Grants and other federal student aid. With the Pell Grant covering less than a third of the cost of attendance at in-state public postsecondary institutions, college is growing increasingly out of reach for students from low-income families. NCAN members can change this trajectory by raising our collective voice to demand better.

Register today to secure your spot for the Leadership Summit and take advantage of our early-bird pricing before January 31! Registration is free for high school and college students who participate in NCAN member programs. 

Please see below for an event overview and FAQs.

EVENT DETAILS

What: NCAN Leadership Summit

When: Monday, March 31 (Executive Leadership Retreat, Policy Content Sessions, and Advocacy Training) and Tuesday, April 1, 2025 (Congressional Education Policy Panel and Hill Meetings)

Where:

• Partnership for Public Service, 600 14th Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC, 20005
• Then, join us for a reception next door at The Hamilton, 600 14th Street NW
• On Tuesday, we’ll be on Capitol Hill, meeting with staffers and elected officials.

Why: To deepen relationships among NCAN members, strengthen your policy knowledge and advocacy skillset, and drive federal policy change!

Who: We welcome all NCAN members and the students they serve to participate in the Leadership Summit – especially those interested or engaged in policy advocacy. There will be special programming for CEOs and Executive Directors.

FAQs

Who should attend the Leadership Summit?
The Leadership Summit is open to all NCAN members, including the students you serve, recent alumni, and board members.

Who should attend the Executive Leaders' Retreat during the Summit?
The retreat is specifically designed for CEOs and Executive Directors who:

• Have the organizational capacity to influence and drive meaningful change.
• Can allocate staff and financial resources toward strategic initiatives.
• Are prepared to engage in high-level discussions that will shape the future of college attainment and equity.

This session will run concurrently with other policy content workshops on Monday morning, before all Summit attendees gather in the afternoon for advocacy training. The retreat will provide CEOs and Executive Directors an opportunity to engage in thought leadership and collaborative discussions with peers in NCAN’s membership. The retreat will be capped at 45 participants, so be sure to register early. You will be able to indicate your participation in the retreat on the Summit registration form.

Do I need to be an NCAN member to attend the Summit?
Yes, the Leadership Summit is an opportunity for those in NCAN’s membership.

What are the registration rates for the Summit?
Our early bird registration fee is $99. After January 31, this rate will increase to $149. The summit is free for high school and college students who participate in NCAN member programs. 

When does registration close?
Registration will close on Friday, March 21. We will not be able to register any attendees following this date.

How do I register students?
If you plan to bring high school or undergraduate students to the Summit (or think you might), please indicate your plans on the NCAN member Summit registration form. We will follow up with a separate registration form for students. 

Where should I stay? Is there a hotel block?
Yes, we have two hotel blocks available: one at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center for the evenings of March 30 and 31, at $359/night and another block at The Westin Washington, DC Downtown, from March 30-April 1, at $399/night. The Washington Marriott is a five-minute walk from our events on Monday, and steps from the Blue, Silver, and Orange metro lines at Metro Center, which attendees can use to get to Capitol Hill on Tuesday. The Westin is about a 15-minute walk to our events on Monday and 10 minutes to the Metro Center stop.

Booking links for NCAN room blocks:

• Washington Marriott at Metro Center: https://book.passkey.com/e/50926616
•  The Westin Washington, Downtown DC: https://book.passkey.com/go/LeadershipSummitOverflow

We recommend you book accommodations early, as the blocks may fill up. It will be Cherry Blossom season in DC, so if you plan to stay elsewhere, we suggest booking in advance, too.

Will meals be provided during the event?
Yes, breakfast and lunch will be provided on Monday and appetizers will be available during the reception at The Hamilton in the evening. On Tuesday morning, coffee and tea will be available during the Congressional Policy Panel.

Which advocacy training session should I attend?
The intro-level session will cover the nuts and bolts of in-person policy advocacy, including what to expect for your first time on the Hill, how to plan for your meetings, and how to structure your policy asks, or your “pitch.” The higher-level session will dive deeper into the complexities of education policy, how to approach tough questions, and how to frame your asks in a polarized political environment. We recommend that students and/or those new to policy advocacy attend the Policy & Advocacy 101 session. Those who regularly engage in policy advocacy, or who have attended Hill Days or similar events in the past, may be better suited for the Advanced Policy Advocacy session. In addition to the in-person advocacy training session, NCAN will host an optional, pre-Summit virtual advocacy training, which will cover the logistics of Hill meetings and introduce our policy agenda and key talking points.

What should I wear?
Attire for Monday’s events will be business casual. On Tuesday, we recommend business or business casual attire for Hill meetings. Most importantly, we strongly recommend that you wear comfortable shoes for your day on Capitol Hill! The Capitol complex is bigger than it may seem, and you will likely be walking back and forth between office buildings.