Events

Loading Events

« All Events

2026 Leadership Educators Institute

December 14 @ 9:00 am - December 16 @ 12:00 pm UTC+0

2026 Leadership Educators Institute (LEI)

14-16 DECEMBER 2026 • UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE IN LOUISVILLE, KY

A partnership between ACPA, NASPA, and NCLP

LEI provides a unique opportunity for all professional levels within our field to engage in critical dialogue to promote positive sustainable change on their campuses.

LEADERSHIP EDUCATORS INSTITUTE
WHAT TO EXPECT

A partnership between ACPA, NASPA and the National Clearinghouse for Leadership Programs (NCLP), LEI provides a unique opportunity for all professional levels within our field to engage in critical dialogue to promote positive sustainable change on their campuses.
 
The Leadership Educators Institute creates a space for student affairs administrators, scholars, and practitioners to discuss and advance current leadership topics, such as:
 
  • Modern leadership theories and models including new research, applications, and critical perspectives
  • Innovative and inclusive curriculum, pedagogy, and strategies for leadership studies courses
  • Assessment and evaluation of leadership programs, student development, and learning outcomes
  • Future directions in leadership education and development based on widely-used studies and standards such as the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership, CAS, and ILA Guiding Questions
  • Unique co-curricluar program models and high-impact practices including those with cohort and multi-year engagement, distance and online learning, service-learning, mentoring, and global experiences
  • Strategy and management of leadership program operations including staff training, funding, and partnerships
  • Intersectional and interdisciplinary approaches to leadership education
Leadership is an integral competency for our profession. The leadership development of students is an important and ongoing process that requires commitment from both students and staff. Student affairs professionals and other university administrators play an essential role in coordinating, shaping, and evaluating the leadership development of students by designing leadership courses and programs, creating co-curricular opportunities, and utilizing emerging technologies. The Leadership Educators Institute (LEI) has a rich history of convening professionals committed to leadership development for nearly 17 years.
 

SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE

DAY 1

  • 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration Open
  • 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pre-Institute Workshops
  • 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Welcome and Opening Keynote
  • 2:35 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. Concurrent Sessions I
  • 3:55 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. Concurrent Sessions II
  • 5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions III
  • 6:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Opening Reception (Light Fare Provided)

DAY 2

  • 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration Open
  • 8:00 am. – 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast Provided
  • 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Concurrent Sessions IV
  • 10:20 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. Roundtable Sessions I

or

  • 10:20 a.m. –  10:50 p.m. Learning Labs Session I // 11:10 a.m. –  11:40 p.m. Learning Labs Session II
  • 11:40 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. Lunch (On Your Own)
  • 1:40 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. Keynote
  • 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Roundtable Discussions and Featured Sessions

or

  • 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Concurrent Sessions V
  • 5:05 p.m. – 6:05 p.m. Concurrent Sessions VI
  • 7:00 p.m. Dinner & Dialogues (optional)

DAY 3

  • 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Registration Open
  • 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast Provided
  • 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Closing Keynote
  • 9:50 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. Concurrent Sessions VII
  • 11:05 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Concurrent Sessions VIII

Registration Deadlines & Pricing

Early Bird 1 — December 8, 2025–June 26, 2026
Early Bird 2 — June 27–September 14, 2026
Regular — September 15–November 13, 2026
Late — November 14–December 14, 2026
  • Early — $480
  • Early 2 — $500
  • Regular — $580
  • Late — $650
  • Early — $690
  • Early 2 — $700
  • Regular — $780
  • Late — $850

Consider becoming a member of ACPA for a maximum of $179 to save $200 on your registration price–instant $21 savings!

  • Early — $190
  • Early 2 — $200
  • Regular — $245
  • Late — $325

*membership must be active through 16 December 2026

  • Early — $290
  • Early 2 — $300
  • Regular — $345
  • Late — $420

Consider becoming a member of ACPA for only $39 (Masters student) or $49 (Doctoral student) to save $100 on your registration price!

  • Early — $80
  • Early 2 — $80
  • Regular — $100
  • Late — $140

PLEASE NOTE: In order to qualify for member rates for the Leadership Educators Institute, membership with ACPA, NASPA, and/or NCLP must be valid through 16 December 2026. You must have your own individual membership. If it is not active prior to the start of the Leadership Educators Institute you will not be provided with your Leadership Educators Institute Event credential unless you renew your membership or pay the difference between the non-member and member registration cost.

Registrations can be paid by check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. All fees must be prepaid. Purchase orders are not accepted. Refunds will be given for cancellations, received in writing to info@acpa.nche.edu by 13 November 2026. Registrations can also be withdrawn by registrants by using the event registration system through 13 November 2026. After 13 November 2026 there are no refunds. ACPA, NASPA, and NCLP reserve the right to charge a service fee of US$50 for returned checks. Registrations are non-transferable. The conference may be cancelled or postponed due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. In this case, the fees will be fully refunded; however, the sponsoring organizations will not be responsible for other additional costs, charges or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines and/or travel agencies.

HOTEL information

Lodging is available for $129/night plus tax through a reserved room block at the Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Airport. Use the link below to reserve your space.

Details

  • Start: December 14 @ 9:00 am UTC+0
  • End: December 16 @ 12:00 pm UTC+0
  • Event Category:

Venue

  • University of Louisville