2024 APCU Presidents Retreat
The 2024 APCU Presidents Retreat will be held at the Emory Conference Center Hotel in Atlanta from November 18 through November 20. This change from a March gathering to a November gathering was based on feedback from our member presidents related to convenience, accessibility, and the potential to conduct other important business (like maybe donor visits?) before and/or after the Retreat.
This year’s gathering will once again feature a series of member-led discussions around the challenges and opportunities facing our member institutions. Each of these discussions will take place behind closed doors and allow for casual, open dialogue and idea-sharing. In addition to topics such as alternative revenue streams, implications of the November elections, cost containment, and surviving the enrollment cliff, we’ll also examine the value of the chaplaincy position on our campuses and how the APCU’s certificate program for college chaplains can ensure that each of our chaplains is equipped to make significant contributions to campus life–particularly in areas like student satisfaction and retention.
Of course, the Retreat is also a time to relax and refresh, and the 5-star Emory Conference Center Hotel is an ideal place to do both. Our opening reception will take place in Emory’s recreation center where you’ll have a chance to mingle with friends and colleagues while enjoying some old school bowling and billiards. Representatives from our APCU Strategic Partners will be with us for the evening to chat about their solutions and how they’re helping our schools address critical needs.
The upgraded sleeping rooms at the Emory Conference Center Hotel offer excellent amenities and great views of the conference center grounds and surrounding woods. Despite being only a short walk from Emory University, the Candler School of Theology, Emory Hospital, and the international headquarters of the Center for Disease Control, the secluded setting provides an ideal remedy for the hustle and bustle of the daily presidential grind. Walking trails and outdoor exercise areas complement the indoor pool and extensive workout facility allowing you to balance your conference experience with some much-deserved “R&R”.
The Retreat Schedule has been updated to reflect this year’s content. The absence of a business meeting gives us the opportunity to add an additional session on the APCU Sustainability Initiative. This session will be complemented by sessions on adaptive strategic planning, leveraging our Presbyterian heritage, applying AI to the Liberal Arts, and understanding the implications of adding/deleting academic programs. Here are some key components of this year’s Retreat:
Monday, November 18
- 3:00 p.m. APCU Board Meeting (directors only)
- 6:00 p.m. Opening Reception & Recreation
Tuesday, November 19
- 9:00 a.m. Strategic Conversations with Partners
- 11:00 a.m. Sustainability Initiative
- 1:00 p.m. Professional Development Sessions
- 6:30 p.m. Presidents’ Reception & Dinner
Wednesday, November 20
- 8:30 a.m. Professional Development Sessions
- 11:30 a.m. Wrap-up Conversations
Registration & Reservations
To register for the 2024 APCU Presidents Retreat, simply fill out the short registration form provided below. When you submit the form, you’ll have an opportunity to reserve your room and pay the Retreat registration fee of $360. Note that the APCU has secured a discounted rate of $195 per-night for rooms at the Emory Conference Center, single or double occupancy. If you choose to bring a guest, please indicate below if that guest will be attending the Opening Reception (Monday evening) and the Presidents’ Dinner (Tuesday evening). If so, the APCU will invoice you for an additional $175 to cover the cost of your guest’s participation in these special events. Other guest meals and amenities can be purchased on-site and charged directly to your room.