2025 Conference Recap

College leaders and workforce partners from 37 states joined together in Norfolk, Virginia to celebrate workforce education and elevate how colleges across the country are meeting the moment. At the premiere, practitioner-driven conference, attendees connected with peers and shared bold ideas on how to expand college and career pathways, strengthen employer and community partnerships, boost data-driven decision making, increase comprehensive supports and student-centered services, and harness emerging technologies and new credential and learning frameworks.

Event Highlights

• 80+ sessions, with 170 speakers, including 5 plenary sessions that featured:
• Live podcast recording of student insights panel, featured on All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast
• Examples of national, state, and local Hampton Roads excellence
• Presidential perspectives on the transformative power of community colleges and the evolutions ahead
• Strategies to connect federal, state, and philanthropic resources and policies, including Workforce Pell and upcoming changes to SNAP and Medicaid
• Developing dynamic partnerships and workforce ecosystems that drive economic prosperity 
• Preconference session with a select group of community college leaders and national partners from 22 states to problem solve, ideate, and share scalable strategies that allow institutions and states to meet the moment, including a deep dive on Workforce Pell. 
• Excellence Awards: 
• Exemplary Credit Program: Grand Rapids Community College, Bay College, and City of Grand Rapids (MI)
• Exemplary Noncredit Program: Howard Community College (MD)
• Mabel K. Edmonds Excellence in Equity: Seattle Colleges, Seattle Central College (WA)

Attendee Feedback:

Attendees remarked that they left feeling energized, hopeful, and inspired by all the content and connections with peers. One attendee observed, “there was a great mix of networking time and opportunities built in to meet counterparts across the country. It was very valuable.”  Another commented that they appreciated the unusual level of “candor” and willingness of colleagues to share ideas and information.

The exceptional quality of the learning and expertise of presenters from around the country was also noted. Attendees appreciated the array of practical ideas and strategies they were able to take back to apply in their own programs, colleges, and communities. “The content was relatable and actionable.”

Many thanks to the  2025 NCWE Annual Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors for their investments in workforce education and NCWE. They help make our Annual Conference possible. Special thanks to our premiere sponsors: Lumina Foundation (Champion); AGS Prime and EnGen (Roundtable); Career Step, COABE, Lightcast, QuickStart, and Virginia’s Community Colleges (Platinum); and CareerSafe, CAEL, NCCER, and zSpace (Gold).

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