ANCHOR LEARNING NETWORK
ANCHOR LEARNING NETWORK
The Anchor Learning Network (ALN) is a learning community designed to facilitate a rapid and effective advancement of the anchor mission. By leveraging a peer learning framework, ALN members systematically transform higher education to fully serve its public mission and advance the long-term social, economic, and physical well-being of our campuses and communities.
ALN members continue to make significant progress to institutionalize the anchor mission on their campuses and are recognized as leaders in transforming the national perception of higher education. Participating CUMU member institutions collaboratively work to identify resources, identify opportunities, work through challenges, and develop new tools for implementing, deepening, and evaluating anchor mission practices.
Higher Education’s Anchor Mission
CUMU member institutions committed to an anchor mission intentionally apply their economic power and human capital in a long-term partnership with their local communities to improve mutual well-being. ALN challenges us to imagine the potential impact if economic assets—hiring, purchasing, and investing power—were better aligned with educational missions to equitably benefit the local economies our universities call home.
Understanding that all communities have different contexts and histories, ALN members explore opportunities for advancing anchor mission strategies grounded in the Anchor Mission Framework that centers community wealth building and explores strategies around our core economic assets of purchasing, hiring, and investment, while gaining an understanding of how to advance racial equity through anchor work.
WHY CUMU MEMBERS JOIN ALN
2023 APPLICATIONS CLOSED
Applications are closed for the 2023 cohort. Sign up to receive upcoming communications.
Activities and Commitments
The Anchor Learning Network provides facilitated peer learning exchanges, tools, and strategies. Over the course of 2023, participating members will:
2023 Anchor Learning Network (ALN) Action Summit
June 12–13, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Hosted by The Anchor Economy Initiative at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
The ALN Action Summit provides an opportunity for participants of the 2023 Anchor Learning Network cohort to deepen the individual and collective efforts of our campuses to positively impact the well-being of our communities. This two-day, in-person summit features a keynote, a community experience, presentations, and interactive discussions designed to equip members with actionable takeaways.
Thank you to U3 Advisors for their support of CUMU’s Anchor Learning Network.
2023 COHORT: SAVE THESE DATES
- ALN Action Summit: Anchors, Alignment, + Action, June 12–13, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
- CUMU Annual Conference Pre-conference Gathering, October 15, Washington, D.C.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Individuals should consider applying if they are a professional employed at a CUMU member institution and part of their role is focused on the anchor mission of their campus. ALN members are leaders and drivers of the anchor mission on their respective campuses and come from a variety of functional areas including, but not limited to.
- university economic development
- workforce development centers
- community/civic engagement
- government/community relations
- human resources
- procurement
- diversity and inclusion
- policy and strategic initiatives
- institutional data
- urban and community research centers
NOTE: If you were a member of the previous Anchor Learning Network cohort, we ask that you still complete the application for the 2023 cohort.
Anchor Learning Network Participants
In February 2018, CUMU member institutions joined in a pilot year called the Higher Education Anchor Mission Initiative. This pilot led to the creation of the Anchor Learning Network, which includes participants from the United States, Canada, England, and South Africa.