I found the SEED Coalition retreat very meaningful. It is rare as a president to find spaces where I can discuss common issues with other higher education leaders, especially those from other states and post-secondary sectors. We are usually guarded in sharing because we compete with these institutions for students. The format of the retreat encouraged candid and supportive discussions.
Michael Berndt, President of Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College
Read additional reflections from the 2025 retreat by Jermaine Singleton (Hamline) and Amy Stevenson (Wartburg) on our blog.
Strong democracy is built locally. Civic health starts in communities, and in the relationships we build and cultivate every day. Join senior leaders and community engaged practitioners June 11-12 at Winona State University as we take the time to go deeper on the questions shaping our civic lives.
Who Should Attend
This gathering is designed for two groups: campus presidents and senior leaders, and community engaged practitioners, the faculty and staff who bring community and civic engagement into their work, formally or informally (no need to have expertise or a certain title). Attendance is free for individuals on member campuses.
What to Expect
We’ll open together as a full group, with the Engage Winona team guiding us into shared language and ideas around civic health and higher education’s role. Engage Winona models doing place-based work built on deep and trusting relationships. We are excited to learn from and with them.
On day two, the conversation will continue in the separate peer groups before coming back together for a closing lunch. Sessions will be largely discussion-based, with time for personal reflection built in.
Day 1 – Thursday, June 11
- 12:30-1:00 – Arrival
- 1:00-5:00 – Introductions, first retreat session facilitated by Engage Winona
- Break
- 6:00-8:00 – Dinner in downtown Winona
Day 2 – Friday, June 12
- 8:00-12:00 – Senior Leaders & CEPs meet separately
- CEPs: Relationships are the foundation of civic health. We will explore accountability and repair (two often overlooked relational practices), what they require of us, and what it looks like to practice them in our relationships and communities.
- Senior Leaders: Take up the same themes from an institutional perspective, exploring the relationship between civic health and campus resilience.
- 12:00-1:00 – Lunch and closing (with all attendees)
- 1:00-3:00 – Seed Coalition Board Meeting (for board members only)
We call this a retreat, and we want it to feel that way. This is a generative and exploratory space, and the agenda is designed to go deep rather than wide. Come ready to exhale, think slowly, and connect with others.
Hotels in Winona
We have a room block at the AmercInn for $124/night. You can reserve your room through May 18 using this booking link. There are a mix of single and double rooms.
If you would like to be closer to campus and the river/downtown area, you might want to check out Hotel 44° North, though rooms will be more expensive.
History
Since its founding, membership in Seed Coalition has been a presidential decision, signaling a campus’s commitment to community and civic engagement. To honor that pledge, senior leaders of member institutions have gathered for several years at the Presidents’ Retreat, a rare opportunity for leaders from across higher education to collectively explore its public purpose and address shared challenges. In 2025, we introduced a companion retreat for community engagement practitioners to create spaces for meaningful dialogue and shared learning across roles.
