Community & Technical College Workshop
July 20, 2026
Preceding Encoura + RNL National Conference
Explore winning strategies for enrollment and student success at two-year institutions
Attend this pre-conference workshop with fellow colleagues in the two-year sector as we dive into the latest strategies and innovations. This workshop will feature an interactive development of a situational analysis for the community and technical college market. Colleagues will leave with actionable takeaways for their campus and have the opportunity to network with fellow practitioners in this space. Seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
The workshop is complimentary with your registration for the Encoura + RNL National Conference
The Community and Technical College Workshop will take place before the 2026 Encoura + RNL National Conference (July 21-23). Registration is complimentary with your registration for the National Conference, which features more than 100 sessions on campus marketing, student recruitment, student success, and more.
Workshop Registration
The Community and Technical Workshop is free with your National Conference registration. Simply select the Community College Workshop when registering.
Bring a team to spark discussion and create momentum for implementing new strategies.
Workshop Location
Marriott Marquis Chicago
2121 S Prairie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
Encoura Special Rate: $269/night
Rate available until June 29. Rooms may sell out sooner—please make your hotel reservations early.
Attend the National Conference
The 2026 Encoura + RNL National Conference follows the workshop on July 21-23. Choose from more than 100 sessions on:
- Marketing
- Student recruitment
- Student success
- Strategic planning
- Analytics and technology
Agenda overview
(Agenda subject to change)
Monday, July 20
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 9:30-10:00 a.m. | Coffee and Check-In |
| 10:00-10:50 a.m. | Brand Power for Community Colleges: Mapping Your Place in the Competitive Landscape
Kim Reid, Principal Research Analyst, Encoura Join us for a data-driven exploration of how prospective students categorize institutions and what that means for your competitive positioning. Using insights from the Eduventures Prospective Student Brand Research, we’ll unpack the concept of brand neighborhoods, clusters of institutions grouped not by how they see themselves but by how students perceive them. |
| 11:00-11:50 a.m. | Strategic Planning for Community Colleges
Dawn Fortin Mattoon, Vice President, Strategic Enrollment Services, Encoura Shane Pruitt, Executive Consultant, Encoura During this interactive session, two of Encoura's strategic planning experts lead us through exercises that can help you analyze and energize your institution's strategic planning process. |
| Noon-1:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:45-2:45 p.m. | Presidents Panel Discussion
Dr. Tim Culver, Interim President, Mohave Community College Dr. Nicole Roades, President, Southern State Community College Julie Marlatt, Founder, Slope and Lever LLC We will look at pressing issues for community colleges from a presidential perspective during this panel discussion with current presidents and consultants who have worked with hundreds of institutions. |
| 2:45-3:45 p.m. | Retention and Persistence
Dr. Wes Butterfield, Senior Vice President, Encoura Student success has become even more critical to the sustainability of institutions. During our final session, we'll look at the latest strategies to help community and technical colleges maximize the retention and persistence of their students. |
Register now for the Community and Technical College Workshop and the National Conference