About the Institute

The Lamborn-Hughes Institute (LHI), hosted by the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities (UERU), is a three-day gathering of teams at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Institute is dedicated to the proposition that superior undergraduate education and student success require innovative student-centered approaches and collaborative partnerships across units. 

Lamborn-Hughes Institute teams engage in immersive study and discussion, benefit from structured networking between institutions, and gain insights from plenary sessions, all with the support of experienced LHI faculty. Each team, typically composed of leaders from a variety of units (e.g., academic and student affairs; enrollment management; diversity, inclusion, and equity; institutional research, etc.), develop campus-specific action plans. These plans, which each team presents on the final day of the institute, focus on issues such as closing student achievement gaps, increasing graduation success, enhancing faculty partnerships, promoting curricular and co-curricular engagement, and Boyer 2030-inspired equity/excellence initiatives.

The Lamborn-Hughes Institute celebrates the collaboration between Alan Lamborn, former CSU Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs & Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities Executive Director, and Blanche Hughes, CSU’s current Vice President for Student Affairs and Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities Board Member.

2024

In 2024, the LHI welcomed teams from: The Curricular Analytics Project (University of Arizona, Georgia Tech, University of Toledo, University of California, San Diego), Chapman University, Colorado State University, University of Pittsburgh, Texas State University, The University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Wyoming. 

2022

In 2022, the LHI welcomed teams from: Kansas State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Utah, University of Arizona, University of California, San Diego, University of Delaware, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, and Colorado State University.

2019

In 2019, its inaugural year, the LHI welcomed teams from: University of Virginia; University of Texas at Austin; University of South Florida; University of Nebraska; University of Kentucky; Purdue University; The Ohio State University; University of Kansas; George Mason University; Emory University; and Colorado State University.

LHI Faculty

Bethany Usher (chair)

Radford University

Dr. Bethany Usher is the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Radford University, Board President of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), and former Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education at George Mason University. 

Anne Alexander

University of Wyoming

Dr. Anne Alexander is the Assistant Dean, College of Business, former Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and former Vice Provost for Strategic Planning and Initiatives at the University of Wyoming.

Allison Crume

University of South Florida

Dr. Allison Crume is the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Vice President for Student Success at the University of South Florida.

Endorsements

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“The Lamborn-Hughes Institute provides the unique opportunity for thoughtful collaboration across colleges, campuses, and colleagues both at our home institutions and throughout the nation.”

— Dr. Patty Moran, Assistant Dean, University of Texas at Austin (2024 Institute participant)

…a great opportunity to inspire collaboration.

— Kevin Kruger, now President Emeritus, NASPA, and Boyer 2030 Commissioner

The Association of Public & Land-grant Universities applauds the [Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities]'s new initiative, The Lamborn-Hughes Institute. It is important to deepen the collaboration and research between student and academic affairs. Educating the whole student has long been the mission and privilege of Public Research Universities, and the high-quality education involves the integration of academic and student affairs. This initiative will help leverage and synthesize all of this work to increase student success.

— Peter McPherson, now President Emeritus, APLU and Boyer 2030 Commission Co-Chair

Application Process

Statement of Interest



UERU welcomes applications for the Lamborn-Hughes Institute, August 5-7, 2025! Please begin by submitting a statement of interest, due February 3rd, 2025. This approximately 200-300-word statement should state the issue or questions that your institution's team would like to explore at the Institute. Take this opportunity to let us know about your campus community, its unique character and challenges, and what you hope to gain from participating in the Institute. 

UERU leadership and the LHI faculty will select finalists in February of 2025. Once selected, UERU will contact finalists to request submission of a relatively more detailed but not onerous proposal. Selections will be made based on the overall strength of the final proposal and our interest in assembling complementary teams that are also a good fit with the Lamborn-Hughes Institute mission. The value of the Institute is shaped not only by the faculty and setting, but by the willingness of participants to engage one another and to share of their expertise and experience. This last is a hallmark of the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities and of Colorado State University. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Steve Dandaneau, UERU Executive Director and CSU Associate Provost.





Submit Statement of Interest



Participation Criteria

R1/R2 Universities: Teams from Research I (very high) and II (high research activity) universities are welcome to apply. 

Individuals: We recommend that teams are led by academic and student affairs leaders, including Provosts, VPSA/SLs, and UVPs (which include Vice Provosts, Associate Provosts, Deans of Undergraduate Colleges, etc.), and that teams be comprised of strategic leaders whose responsibilities are university-wide and include student success and well-being as well as equity and excellence. We seek to serve those best poised for innovation on behalf of student-centered research universities and pursuit of equity/excellence.

Teams: While we do not prescribe the size of teams, we recommend 5-to-10 as ideal. 

Deadline: Please submit a statement of interest by February 3, 2025. UERU will contact institution teams by February 17, 2025, to request final proposals. Final proposals are due on March 24, 2025.

Travel Details

The Elizabeth Hotel

UERU will partner with The Elizabeth Hotel to offer LHI participants a discounted room block. Situated in the heart of Old Town Fort Collins with access to restaurants and nightlife, The Elizabeth is the ideal stay for LHI team members.

Pricing

UERU Members

$375/team member
Non-Members

$625/team member

Colorado State University

The Lamborn-Hughes Institute is located on the campus of Colorado State University (CSU), UERU's host institution. CSU, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, "is the state’s only land-grant institution and has been serving Colorado since 1870 [...]. Inspired by its land-grant heritage, Colorado State University is committed to excellence, setting the standard for public research universities in teaching, research, service and extension for the benefit of the citizens of Colorado, the United States and the world." (CSU, 2024). 


Past Lamborn-Hughes Institutes

In 2024, the LHI welcomed teams from: The Curricular Analytics Project (University of Arizona, Georgia Tech, University of Toledo, University of California, San Diego), Chapman University, Colorado State University, University of Pittsburgh, Texas State University, University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Wyoming. 

In 2022, the LHI welcomed teams from: Kansas State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Utah, University of Arizona, University of California, San Diego, University of Delaware, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, and Colorado State University.

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In 2019, its inaugural year, the LHI welcomed teams from: University of Virginia; University of Texas at Austin; University of South Florida; University of Nebraska; University of Kentucky; Purdue University; The Ohio State University; University of Kansas; George Mason University; Emory University; and Colorado State University.

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