2026 Meauxmentum Summit
February 4-5, 2026
Cajundome and Convention Center, Lafayette
The Board of Regents’ fourth Meauxmentum Summit: Accelerating Meauxmentum is a statewide student success convening for faculty, administrators, and higher education leaders from all of the state’s public two- and four-year institutions. This event is a cornerstone of the Louisiana Meauxmentum Framework, the state’s student success strategy, which aims to advance Louisiana’s goal of achieving 60% credential attainment among working-age adults by 2030.
Designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and systemic transformation, the summit features interactive workshops, keynote sessions, and targeted discussions on strategies to remove structural barriers to student success.
The summit’s structure is designed to maximize engagement and learning. Sessions are organized into targeted tracks for faculty and administrators, addressing their unique roles in implementing transformative initiatives. Workshops are grouped into thematic clusters focused on key issues such as program selection, advising redesign, and student success strategies. Breakout sessions provide opportunities for smaller, focused discussions, while plenary sessions ensure alignment on overarching goals. The event also includes opportunities for cross-institutional collaboration and knowledge sharing, supported by national experts and facilitated by interactive tools.
Agenda at a Glance
Wednesday, February 4
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Registration/Breakfast | Exhibit Hall B |
| 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome and Opening Remarks | Exhibit Hall B |
| 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM | Keynote | Exhibit Hall B |
| 10:15 AM – 10:30 AM | Break | |
| 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM | Group A Workshops and Campus Conversations | |
| 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM | Lunch and Networking | Exhibit Hall A |
| 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM | Group B Workshops and Campus Conversations | |
| 2:15 PM – 2:30 PM | Break | |
| 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Student Panel | Exhibit Hall B |
| 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM | Reflection and Closing | Exhibit Hall B |
| 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Dinner | Exhibit Hall B |
Thursday, February 5
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM | Registration/Breakfast | Exhibit Hall B |
| 8:30 AM – 8:45 AM | Welcome | Exhibit Hall B |
| 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM | Panel: Higher Education Today | Exhibit Hall B |
| 9:30 AM – 9:45 AM | Break | |
| 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM | Group A Workshops, Campus Conversations, Group B Consultation | |
| 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM | Break | |
| 11:15 AM – 12:30 PM | Group B Workshops, Campus Conversations, Group A Consultation | |
| 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch and Institutional Team Time | Exhibit Hall B |
| 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Institutional Presentations | |
| 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Closing | Exhibit Hall B |
Workshop Sessions
Group A Workshops
| Title | Presenter |
|---|---|
| Redesigning Curriculum as a GPS: Helping Students Navigate with Purpose (Faculty) | Dr. Ryan Maltese |
| Creating a Culture of Care in the Classroom: Supporting the Whole Student Across Academic Disciplines (Faculty) | Summer Serpas |
| Rethinking the Role of Advising in the First-Year (Administrator) | Dr. Kenn Barron |
| Employing TiLT (Faculty) | Dr. Mary-Ann Winklemes |
| Transforming the Foundational Postsecondary Experience: Using Data and Design to Improve First-Year Outcomes (Administrator) | Dr. Brandon Smith and Dr. Brent Drake (with Dr. Helen Wise and Angie Pellerin) |
| Creating the Conditions for Faculty-Led Redesign at Scale (Administrator) | Dr. Heidi Leming |
| Catalyst, Convener, Community: Transforming the Community College Ecosystem (Executive) | Dr. DeRionne Pollard |
| Collective Impact in Action: Building Systems of Shared Responsibility (Executive) | Dr. Nancy Zimpher |
| From Crisis to Coordination: Building a Campus-Wide Essential Needs Hub to Anchor Student Belonging and Success (Administrator) | Dr. Jodi Bailey Accavallo |
| Implementation Science and Continuous Improvement: Driving Change in Higher Education (Administrator) | Dr. Sarah Whitley |
Group B Workshops
| Title | Presenter |
|---|---|
| Structuring the First 30 Hours Like They Matter (Because They Do) (Faculty) | Dr. Todd Zakrajsek |
| Purpose and a Plan: Implementing an Engaging and Motivating Program Onboarding Experience for All Students (Administrator) | Dr. Hana Lahr |
| Analytics for Navigation: Equipping Advisors with Tools That Matter (Administrator) | Dr. Raishell Johnson |
| Designing Effective and Engaging Courses to Promote Student Success (Faculty) | Dr. Justin Shaffer |
| Teaching with AI: Reimagining Catapult Course Design for a New Era (Faculty) | Dr. C. Edward Watson |
| Build the System, Keep Improving: Institutional Design for Teaching & Learning Excellence (Administrator) | Dr. Al Solano |
| Scaling Student Success: Lessons from Georgia State (Executive) | Dr. Mark Becker |
| Analyzing the Complexity of Curricula And Student Progress (Administrator) | Dr. Greg Heileman |
| 10 Practices for Institutions to Scale Work-Based Learning (Administrator) | Kevin Grubb |
Meet the Speakers
Hotel Information
Residence Inn Lafayette Airport
Residence Inn Lafayette Airport
128 James Comeaux Rd
Lafayette, LA 70508
Nightly Rate: $129
To book: Call 337-232-3341 and ask for Board of Regents Rate
Hampton Inn & Suites Lafayette
Hampton Inn & Suites Lafayette
1910 South College Road
Lafayette, LA 70508
Nightly Rate: $110
Click here to book
Deadline to book: January 1, 2026
Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Lafayette South
Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Lafayette South
1606 W Pinhook Rd
Lafayette, LA 70508
Book your group rate for Board of Regents Meauxmentum Summit
Parking Information
Free parking is available at the Cajundome—no parking pass is required.
Educate, Innovate, and Collaborate
The Master Plan
To move Louisiana aggressively forward, the Board of Regents has embraced a robust new attainment goal that calls for 60% of all working-age adults (ages 25-64) in Louisiana to hold a degree or high-value credential by 2030. As we stand on the brink of a new decade, this Master Plan, born of the Board of Regents’ unique charge to guide postsecondary education across the state, will set the foundation to increase opportunity. Our Talent Imperative is to Educate, Innovate, and Collaborate