The Vocation of Lutheran Higher Education Conference:

“Educational Access: Lutheran Roots, Contemporary Practices”

Augsburg University, Minneapolis, Minnesota

July 8-10, 2024

The 2024 Vocation of Lutheran Higher Education Conference for the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities will convene at Augsburg University, Minneapolis, Minnesota from July 8-10.

Each year, members of Lutheran colleges gather to explore the distinctive roles we play in higher education.The theme of the 2024 conference is “Educational Access: Lutheran Roots, Contemporary Practices“

The conference is open to all persons from ELCA colleges and universities, but persons should attend who have a campus responsibility for or interest in the mission of their institution and its place within the Lutheran intellectual tradition in higher education. Each college or university is urged to send a campus delegation, composed of a mix of administrators and faculty. 

The keynote presentation for this conference is “Access, Accessibility, and Change: Navigating Leadership in the Shifting Landscape of Higher Education” given by Emma Jones, Executive Vice President / Owner of Credo. A higher education professional since 2002, Emma (she/her) is a storyteller, strategist, speaker, writer, and editor. A more detailed schedule and information about presenters will be posted on this site by May 31st. Contact Grace Robinson at grace.robinson@elca.org  for more information about the conference or if your college or university has questions.

REGISTER FOR THE 2024 VOLHE CONFERENCE

ELCA colleges and universities are invited to send delegations of up to five persons at a subsidized rate of $150 per person. Please register by June 12, 2024.

Note: Those who need any disability-related accommodation to fully participate in this event are encouraged to contact University Events at events@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1104. Remember to have the name, date, and time of the event with you when contacting their office. Please allow for sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

Contact Janice Dames at dames@augsburg.edu for more information about registration.

The Vocation of a Lutheran Higher Education Conference is supported by the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities.

“So that we (faculty, staff, and administrators), too, may flourish.”

Augsburg University, Minneapolis, Minnesota

July 10-12, 2023

The 2023 Vocation of Lutheran Higher Education Conference for the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU) will convene at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN, July 10-12.

Each year, members of Lutheran colleges and universities gather to explore the distinctive roles we play in higher education.The theme of the 2023 conference is “So that we (faculty, staff, and administrators), too, may flourish.” The theme takes its name from Rooted and Open, where NECU institutions commit to serving students who are “called and empowered to serve the neighbor so that all may flourish.” In a time of staff and faculty burnout, resignations, and uneven degrees of belonging, we will consider how we educators, too, may flourish in mind, body and spirit. 

Highlights include a keynote address by Jonathan Malesic, author of The End of Burnout: Why Work Drains Us and How to Build Better Lives; plenary sessions led by Deanna Thompson, Rev. Lamont Wells (NECU Executive Director), Krista Hughes, Monica Smith, Marc Jerry, and Jeremy Myers; small group conversations and workshops on the flourishing of faculty, administrators and staff; and guided VOCARE spiritual practices, led by Rev. Dr. Charlene Rachuy Cox. 

The conference is open to all persons from ELCA colleges and universities, but persons should attend who have a campus responsibility for or interest in the mission of their institution and its place within the Lutheran intellectual tradition in higher education. Each college or university is urged to send a campus delegation, composed of a mix of administrators, staff, and faculty. 

A preliminary schedule may be found on the attached conference program. A more detailed schedule and information about presenters will be posted on this site soon. Contact Melinda Valverde at melinda.valverde@elca.org for more information about the conference or if your college or university has questions.

Register for the 2023 VOLHE Conference

ELCA colleges and universities are invited to send delegations of up to five persons at a subsidized rate of $150 per person. 

Note: Those who need any disability-related accommodation to fully participate in this event are encouraged to contact University Events at events@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1104. Remember to have the name, date, and time of the event with you when contacting their office. Please allow for sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

Contact Janice Dames at dames@augsburg.edu for more information about registration. Please register by June 12.

The Vocation of a Lutheran Higher Education Conference is supported by the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities.

Called to Place: Community Responsive Education

A virtual conference hosted by Augsburg University

July 12 – 15, 2021

The 2021 Vocation of Lutheran Higher Education Conference (formerly, the Vocation of a Lutheran College Conference) for the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities will convene daily, July 12 – 15, 2021, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern Time, except the session on July 13th, which will meet 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern Time.

The theme of the 2021 conference is “Called to Place: Community Responsive Education.” Participants will consider how local landscapes, neighborhoods, events, and people influence the missions, identities, and institutional vocations of our colleges and universities, along with our individual callings related to antiracism in our particular communities.

For more information on each of the sessions and speakers, please see the conference program.

Registration requires two steps. The first step is registering to receive the two Zoom links that will give you access to the conference. These links are included in the registration form. The second step is to complete daily session registration information below on this form.  Both steps are necessary for registration. There is no registration fee for the 2021 conference. Registration deadline is July 2, 2021. Registration is closed for this conference.

Register for 2021 VOLHE Conference

Conference participants are strongly encouraged to attend all four sessions of the conference.

Note: Those who need any disability-related accommodation to fully participate in this event are encouraged to contact University Events at events@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1104. Remember to have the name, date, and time of the event with you when contacting their office. Please allow for sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

Contact Janice Dames at dames@augsburg.edu for more information about registration.

The Vocation of a Lutheran Higher Education Conference is supported by the Network of ECLA Colleges and Universities.

Reference Information for Conference Attendees

Plenary 1:

Advance readings for Plenary 1.

Belonging: A Culture of Place, by bell hooks

Learning to Bloom Where You are Planted: Adapting Vocation to the Specifics of Place, by Mary Henold

Plenary 1 Bibliography:  Bibliography from Jason Mahn

Plenary 4:

Working documents for the closing plenary session.

Campus Team Reflection and Planning Document 

Planning Session Template