RNL Summit for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)
July 21 in Atlanta | Held before the RNL National Conference
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Join us for this one-day summit specifically designed for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), July 21 at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, Georgia. During our day together, you’ll hear strategies that address key issues facing HBCUs:
- Marketing and recruitment to reach your enrollment goals.
- Student success strategies to increase completion rates.
- Trends and technology that are impacting HBCUs
The Summit is complimentary with your registration for the 2025 RNL National Conference
The RNL HBCU Summit will take place before the 2025 RNL National Conference (July 22-24). Registration is complimentary with your registration for the RNL conference, which features more than 120 sessions on campus marketing, student recruitment, student success, financial aid, and more.
Summit Accommodations
The HBCU Summit and all RNLNC sessions will take place at the:
Atlanta Marriott Marquis
265 Peachtree Center Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30303
Special attendee rate: $249
Must be booked by June 30, 2025
HBCU Summit and RNLNC Registration
The 2025 HBCU Summit is free with your registration for the RNL National Conference. Simply select the HBCU Summit when registering. Conference fees are:
| Registrations | By May 30 | By June 30 | After June 30 |
| 1 to 5 people | $795 | $895 | $995 |
| 6 or more | $695 | $795 | $995 |
Registration fees are per person. Save when six or more people from your institution attend.
Can’t attend RNLNC but still want to attend the HBCU Summit? Click here to register for the Summit only.
HBCU Summit Agenda
All agenda session topics, dates, and times are subject to change. All times are Central Time (CT).
Monday, July 21
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Registration and Check-In
10:30 – 10:45 AM
Welcome and Introductions
10:45 – 11:45 AM
The State of the Union: The Current and Future State of Higher Education and HBCUs
Colleges and universities are challenged with identifying strategies to support sustained recruitment and timely degree attainment. This comes when many campuses are amid initiatives designed to garner resources to support student success efforts. This leadership panel explores opportunities to achieve and maintain organizational success in today’s educational and political landscape while proactively addressing barriers to fulfilling institutional missions..
11:45 am – 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Navigating the New Normal: Leveraging Strategic Planning to Protect and Sustain Institutional Revenue
Sustainable revenue is an objective for every institution of higher education. However, many campuses employ aging processes, systems, and approaches while expecting improved outcomes. This session explores innovative strategies and insights for securing and maintaining institutional revenue while navigating market complexities. All sessions subject to change.
2:00 – 3:00 PM
The Marketing Imperative: Using Omnichannel Approaches to Yield Full-Funnel Success
Using a multi-channel marketing approach is mission-critical when addressing institutional outcomes (increased enrollment, retention, and giving). This session will challenge attendees to consider best practices for effectively connecting with key stakeholder populations and yielding desired results.
3:15 – 4:15 PM
Meets Expectations: Unpacking the HBCU Student Experience
The power of an HBCU education is well documented, yet recent RNL research findings show that while students continue to demonstrate interest in enrolling at HBCUs, their satisfaction levels around their student experience are significantly lower in comparison to peers attending other types of institutions. This interactive session will engage attendees in discussion about key research findings and student success practices that position campuses to foster the personal and professional preparation of students entering a global workforce at a time when HBCUS are facing unprecedented popularity and increased levels of political scrutiny.
4:15 – 4:45 PM
Preparing for the Future
This design-thinking workshop 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.