We are excited to launch the Grounding Practitioner Summit (GPS)!

GPS is intended to provide a year long opportunity for talented individuals (specifically targeting practitioners with 3-7 years of full-time experience) within Residence Life and Housing to amplify their voice, grow their network and achieve bigger goals! By participating in this program, we anticipate more representation from the BIPOC community as well as the Trans/Non-Binary community both within NEACUHO’s leadership as well as on our campuses in Senior Housing Officer positions and beyond.

Timeline

Late August 2026 - Faculty application opens

October 2026 - Faculty applications due and Participant application opens

November 2026 - Faculty decisions released and Participant applications due

December 2026 - Participant decisions released

January 2027 - Program cohort announced and welcome meeting

The Year-Long Summit Structure

The GPS will be a structured year-long summit with a hybrid delivery model, providing deep, sustained engagement:

Key Programmatic Pillars

Participant Projects

Each participant will complete a hands-on project that addresses a current issue, resulting in a physical copy of their creation (e.g., a white paper, toolkit, or program model). Potential project topics include:

• Workforce Sustainability

• Living Learning Community Models

• Mentorship & Leadership Pathways Map

Application Process

Faculty

We invite senior-level Housing and Residence Life professionals to apply to serve as faculty for the Grounding Practitioner Summit (GPS), a year-long hybrid leadership academy created for BIPOC and Trans/Non-Binary practitioners. Faculty members will help foster an affirming and growth-oriented space through mentorship, facilitation, and shared professional experiences. By participating, faculty contribute to strengthening retention, leadership development, and representation across the NEACUHO region. Follow this link for the faculty application: https://forms.gle/XMgLkDdeRNF93WzT8

Participants

The Grounding Practitioner Summit (GPS) offers a dedicated space for BIPOC and Trans/Non-Binary Housing and Residence Life professionals to build community, explore leadership pathways, and develop professionally alongside peers with shared experiences. Through virtual engagement and in-person summits, participants will gain mentorship, support, and tools to navigate the profession while contributing to a stronger and more inclusive leadership pipeline within the region. Follow this link for the participants application: https://forms.gle/tqC1HbDERf3LqRdv6