The Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) is pleased to announce Aramark Collegiate Hospitality and the Healthcare Anchor Network as title sponsors of the 2024 CUMU Conference: Beyond Boundaries.
CUMU’s 29th annual conference will take place October 20–23 in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, MN. This year’s theme elevates our vision that urban higher education transcends campus borders, expanding affordable access, fostering engaged citizenship, exploring interdisciplinary solutions, and building bridges to enhance the well-being of our students and communities locally, regionally, and globally.
“I want to thank Aramark for their continued support of our conference and to welcome the Healthcare Anchor Network as new supporters,” said CUMU Executive Director Valerie Holton. “Both value and are committed to the work of CUMU and that of our growing membership and I am pleased that they will be part of our annual gathering.”
This year also marks the 35th anniversary of CUMU’s founding, which will be celebrated at the annual event.
CUMU was founded by visionary leaders from metropolitan and urban-serving institutions who understood the unique challenges, but more importantly the unique opportunities that our campuses hold to shape the future of higher education. “Support from Aramark and the Healthcare Anchor Network helps to amplify this mission of collaboration and building bridges across our network, and for that I’m grateful,” said Holton.
Aramark is a leading global provider of food, facilities and uniform services to education, healthcare, business and industry, and sports, leisure, and corrections clients. Aramark’s higher education division—Aramark Collegiate Hospitality—is the only food service company with a full-time Farm to Institution role dedicated to getting food directly from local farmers to chefs. Aramark Collegiate Hospitality puts words into action with shared sustainability goals focused on developing diverse and inclusive sourcing and local seafood initiatives.
“As I step into my new role as a leader with Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, I am struck by parallels in our mission and goals with those of CUMU,” said Jennifer Hatton, chief growth officer, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. “Our hospitality partnerships on campuses strive to create a culture of collaboration and community, curating exceptional dining experiences that embrace local partners, respond to student feedback, and enhance the campus lifestyle. Like CUMU, we are passionate about nourishing the next generation of leaders and serving their future potential.”
The CUMU Conference highlights how CUMU member institutions achieve their place-based missions, create transformative outcomes for students, and work to create equitable and sustainable outcomes for the communities they serve.
“As leaders in the hospitality industry, we look for ways to mentor and develop the next generation of talent with educational opportunities across a variety of disciplines that enable career growth after graduation,” said Jennifer Radice, vice president of human resources, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. “In addition, many of our college and university partners offer hospitality programs and degrees, so collaborating with them on experiential learning programs for students is a natural fit.”
CUMU member institutions are mission-driven organizations inextricably linked to the long-term well-being of their communities. Because of this, they are uniquely positioned and incentivized to play a more active role in being responsive to the needs of their local communities. Through CUMU’s anchor mission initiatives, such as the Anchor Learning Network, CUMU members are working to transform the national perception of higher education, championing local economic advancement, and becoming long-term partners with the communities they serve.
The Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) is a growing national collaboration of 75+ leading healthcare systems working to build more inclusive and sustainable local economies. HAN members are committed to ensuring their institutional and operational resources are aligned with their clinical mission.
“Eds and Meds are key anchor institutions in their communities and HAN is proud to continue our collaboration with CUMU to build the anchor mission movement,” said David Zuckerman, president and founder of Healthcare Anchor Network. “Together, we can work to get health systems and higher education institutions to more rapidly and effectively adopt strategies that leverage their hiring, purchasing, investing and other key assets to ensure more equitable and stronger local economies and communities,” added Zuckerman.
“CUMU members value our annual convening because of the open sharing of ideas. It’s a platform where everyone, from presidents and vice chancellors to undergraduates and community partners, has a voice to share how they are addressing issues that all tie back to the value of place. The support of our title sponsors, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality and the Healthcare Anchor Network, is essential in helping to elevate these conversations,” added Holton.