Why attend the CUMU Conference

WHY ATTEND THE CUMU CONFERENCE

The CUMU Conference is one of a kind. It’s a place to reconnect with purpose, recharge your thinking, and remember why this work matters. It’s small enough to see familiar faces and big enough to spark new ideas and relationships. Join us in Baltimore for practical, research-informed insights for your entire team.

Connect with colleagues from across the CUMU network.

Sessions are topical, practical, and led by those who are actively engaged in the work on their own campuses. You’ll learn from colleagues in a variety of roles, representing diverse institution types and geographic regions.

Each day includes multiple networking opportunities—receptions, shared meals, and sessions designed to foster meaningful connections with new colleagues and longtime collaborators.

Bring your team. Broaden your impact.

There is so much to see and do at the conference. Bring your team to explore multiple paths, and take it all in. Then, regroup to share what you learned.

CUMU members, bring 5+ people from your campus and save 15% off your registration!

Dig into research.

All sessions are peer reviewed, and many feature reports on research and impact that can inform your work. And, if you’re looking to publish your work, CUMU’s journal, Metropolitan Universities, has two opportunities during the conference for you to learn more.

Attendees share key take aways.

One of the roundtables completely flipped my view and approach on building a community engagement advisory board.

I saw some of the most innovative curriculum for experiential learning.

Ideas for partnerships, leveraging existing internal resources, and metrics for measuring community engagement.

The keynotes, breakout sessions and posters were some of the most interesting I’ve seen. Conversation was also fantastic in the breakouts.

I have already begun sharing with my cabinet the information I gleaned from one of the sessions specific to measuring impact as an anchor institution. Very helpful.

The possibilities of what a university can do in the community are endless. There are many ways to serve the community.

crowd shot at cumu conference plenary session

There’s nothing quite like being in the room.

Whether you’re looking for practical strategies, new partnerships, or just a moment to step back and get inspired—this is the place. Don’t just take our word for it—here’s what past attendees have shared.

Slee

“So what CUMU does is in our DNA, and the conference really matters to us. And in that sense, while we don’t have the resources to do everything we want, we can prioritise what really counts.”

Peter Slee, Ph.D.
Leeds Beckett University

Sturdivant

“My campus is looking forward to being a part of the 2025 CUMU Conference in Baltimore because we have a lot to share, and we have a lot to learn.”

Brian Sturdivant
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Marsteller Kowalewski

“I can’t stop coming back and I can’t bring enough people into this network, because it truly is the place that feeds not just the soul, but it feeds the mind. It feeds the heart. It feeds everything that we do. And, you get so many amazing ideas.”

Brenda Marsteller Kowalewski, Ph.D.
Weber State University

Here’s what other attendees have to say about attending.

The experience was inspirational and served as a reminder that even in the hard times, we are all working together for the good of our communities.

Meaningful, engaging, informative, and helpful. A very positive, community-building vibe.

The short sessions allowed for exposure to many ideas, insights, and experiences.