Conference on Learning and Student Success (CLASS)

This year’s theme—courageous care—recognizes that transformative education emerges when institutions genuinely prioritize student and educator learning, well-being, belonging, and success. The challenges facing higher education today demand more than defending the status quo. Addressing these challenges requires a complete reimagining of undergraduate education. At CLASS 2026, we will celebrate the educators who refuse to retreat and instead double down on what works while boldly exploring what's next.

Courageous care is the practice of combining deep kindness with honest truth-telling, making difficult ethical decisions that prioritize student and educator well-being, even when these choices are uncomfortable or unpopular. It involves engaging in civil, respectful dialogue about challenging topics while maintaining unwavering commitment to learning and student success.

CLASS will showcase proven practices foundational for learning—such as evidence-based teaching, data-driven truth-telling, and high-impact educational practices (HIPs) that consistently elevate student outcomes. It’s also a venue for demonstrating how vibrant general education curricula and reimagined recruitment and retention strategies can boost student success. Courageous care calls for exploring powerful possibilities: leveraging AI and digital innovation to enhance human connection; linking academic, cocurricular, and social supports; sharing solutions for diverse student realities; building institutional capacity through professional development; and redefining what it means to foster measurable success for every student.

Importantly, delivering upon this promise of a transformational education also requires that courageous care on our campuses extend beyond students. As such, we will explore ways of reimagining campus cultures and structures to honor the contributions of all educators. Instead of reifying staid praxis, reinforcing the administrator/faculty divide, and siloing “ownership” based on reporting lines and organizational charts, CLASS will showcase ways of working, collaborating, and leading that foster innovation and promote the shared stewardship of the undergraduate experience.