Leadership Academy

An immersive experience for new Network Leader institutions

We are thrilled to announce our third annual Leadership Academy at the NASPA Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education, held in Denver, CO on June 27-28, 2025.

This experience will convene leadership teams from each of our newly selected Network Leader institutions (Cohort 6) and focus on the role of leaders in advancing a national narrative on first-generation student success while offering critical training and professional development. Teams will have the opportunity to meet with Expert Guides, network with peer institutions, and finalize continuous improvement priorities for the coming year.

Overview

Please keep in mind that any action items related to Leadership Academy will be sent directly to the institution’s Leadership Team. This document serves as a helpful resource for addressing any questions you or your colleagues may have regarding Leadership Academy.

Why am I being asked to attend Leadership Academy?

Because senior leader engagement is essential to the work of institutional transformation for first-generation student success, Leadership Academy provides a dedicated space for leaders to connect over strategic priorities and resources, learn from Network colleagues, and become fully immersed in the Network Leader phase experience. Leadership Academy will center leadership as critical partners in advancing first-generation efforts and will allow institutions to leave with strategic priorities for continuous improvement implementation.

Leadership Academy will also support an ongoing experience for senior leaders across the experience including quarterly progress updates, leadership meetings, a Leadership Hub, and invitations to special events.

Who should attend Leadership Academy?

We strongly recommend your four Leadership Academy participants comprise individuals leading first-generation efforts at your institution, including programmatic and strategic partners, as well as those in Institutional Research/Effectiveness and those submitting data to the Postsecondary Data Partnership (PDP).

What costs are covered by FirstGen Forward?

FirstGen Forward will provide TWO nights’ hotel stay for your four Leadership Academy participants. FirstGen Forward will work directly with you to book and manage your hotel reservation.

Additionally, once Leadership Academy participants have been confirmed, each will receive a registration code to access a locked-in early registration rate for the conference.

Can additional colleagues attend Leadership Academy (at their own expense)?

Our facilities for Leadership Academy are limited and we are not able to accommodate additional participants beyond those invited from each institution. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact your Expert Guide.

Is attendance at Leadership Academy required?

Yes, all Cohort Six institutions are required to attend Leadership Academy. Institutions have flexibility in determining who will attend, and our team is happy to work with you.

When should I plan on arriving/departing?

As Leadership Academy will begin the morning of Friday, June 27, 2025, participants will arrive and check into their hotel on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Where possible, participants should try to be at the hotel by 5 pm MT in order to check-in and attend a Networking Social held that evening.

Leadership Academy continues until mid-day on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at which time participants are encouraged to stay for the NASPA Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education. The conference will continue through Monday, June 30, 2025.

Participants will indicate their arrival and departure dates on the Leadership Academy Participation Form and FirstGen Forward will facilitate making hotel bookings on each participant’s behalf. FirstGen Forward will cover the cost of two nights; any additional nights will be billed directly to the participant.

Can I book my Flight/Train?

Participants are responsible for booking their own travel. We recommend you wait to book travel until your participant information has been shared with FirstGen Forward.

As the closest airport, we recommend flying into Denver International Airport (DEN).

When booking travel, please consider Leadership Academy and conference schedules to ensure time to travel to and from the airport/station. When arriving on Thursday, June 26, please try to arrive on-site by 5 pm. This will give you time to check in for Leadership Academy and attend our evening Networking Social.

What if I have already made travel arrangements to attend the NASPA Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education?

All travel arrangements—aside from hotel accommodations—are the responsibility of participants. You will be able to use the Participation Form to indicate whether you would like FirstGen Forward to organize your hotel accommodations.

Will there be a shuttle from the airport to the hotel?

Participants are responsible for booking and planning their own travel to and from the airport and their hotel. We encourage you to carpool when possible and tip your drivers.

Driving to Denver/hotel parking

Hotel parking is included for participants and will be applied to the hotel room and paid for directly by FirstGen Forward. Please indicate the need for hotel parking in your Participation Form.

What hotel are we staying in?

Leadership Academy and the conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center. While we do have a hotel room block within the Hyatt Regency Denver, some of our Leadership Academy participants may be placed in nearby hotels.

I already have a hotel room booked. Should I change/cancel it?

FirstGen Forward will only cover the cost of hotel rooms booked and managed internally. If you wish to book your own hotel, you will be responsible for all associated costs. Either way, please indicate this in your Participation Form.

You have two options:

You may choose to keep your current booking. You will be responsible for managing and paying all costs associated with this booking; or,
You may cancel your current booking (be sure to check for any charges or penalties associated with cancellation) and have FirstGen Forward book on your behalf.

How is the hotel room being booked?

FirstGen Forward is currently securing room blocks for Leadership Academy participants. Reservations will be made for participants based on the travel dates indicated on your Participation Form.

Anyone wishing to stay additional nights (i.e., checking in before June 26, 2025 or checking out after June 30, 2025) must coordinate and pay for this on their own. FirstGen Forward will not be able to facilitate hotel bookings outside of these dates.

Is there parking at the hotel?

Hotel parking is included for participants staying at one of our conference hotels; this will be applied to the hotel room and paid for directly by FirstGen Forward. Participants choosing to stay elsewhere will not have their parking costs covered. Please indicate the need for hotel parking in your Participation Form.

Can I extend my stay?

Do Leadership Academy participants need to attend any specific pre-conference workshops?

While we are still finalizing the full details of the schedule, please hold on registering for the conference and/or any pre-conference workshops. Any required pre-conference workshops will be communicated to you soon, and there will be no additional costs to attend these . We will send along additional information and instructions when the details are finalized.

Do I need to attend the NASPA Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education? Or can I just attend Leadership Academy?

While we understand scheduling and financial constraints may prohibit attendance at the conference, we strongly encourage all Leadership Academy participants to stay for the entirety of the conference, if possible.

Do I need to register for the NASPA Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education?

Leadership Academy participants staying for the conference will need to register themselves—but please wait until FirstGen Forward provides further instructions to do so. We will provide a registration code and set of instructions to all participants who complete the Leadership Academy Participation Form. This code will allow participants to lock in the early registration rate.

What if I have already registered for the NASPA Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education and/or pre-conference workshops?

Please complete the Participation Form. Once we have received this, we will send you instructions on registering for the conference using a unique registration code. Please do not register for the conference until you receive further instructions from FirstGen Forward.

I would like to register for the NASPA Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education. Should I do that now or wait?

How do I register for Leadership Academy?

Leadership Academy participants register their intention to attend by completing the Participation Form, which will be made available to you soon. This form will serve as your registration for Leadership Academy.

Participants attending the conference will need to register separately for the conference. You will be provided a unique registration code to complete registration. Please do not register for the conference until you receive further instructions from FirstGen Forward.

Some members of our Leadership Team can’t attend—who should we send?

Please work with your Leadership Team to determine who is best positioned to participate in Leadership Academy and represent your institution’s goals and interests. Your Expert Guide can also support you in thinking through this; we recommend discussing your plans with them.

Will there be a virtual option for Leadership Academy?

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a virtual option to attend Leadership Academy. The Academy will feature a number of interactive and breakout sessions that are not conducive to virtual participation.

What else do I need to know?

For now, please focus on identifying your Leadership Team participants and completing your Participation Form. We are working diligently to finalize plans and will communicate frequently. We will release more schedule details as soon as possible, too. Thank you for your patience! Please email Network@firstgenforward.org with any additional questions.

Leadership Academy

An immersive experience for new Network Leader institutions

Schedule

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

What is the Leadership Academy?

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information