The Seed Coalition Summer Retreat is an opportunity for leaders of our member institutions to gather for discussion and reflection.
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.
2026 Summer Retreat
Our 2026 retreat will take place June 11–12 at Winona State University. We will facilitate concurrent retreats for presidents/senior leaders and community engagement professionals (CEPs), with select programming bringing both groups together. CEPs are staff or faculty who lead community and civic engagement on campus. If a campus president cannot attend, they are encouraged to send a member of their leadership team.
What to Expect
- Insightful content shared by guest contributors.
- Ample unstructured and small-group time to connect with peers.
- Time away to pause, think, and explore, without pressure to make decisions or take action.
Hotels in Winona
Winona offers a few hotel choices. The AmericInn is our recommended budget-friendly option. A new hotel, opening this fall, will be closer to campus but may be more costly.
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 professionals to create spaces for meaningful dialogue and shared learning across roles.
