Join NCHE Now! 2025-26 Membership Drive
It’s time to renew NCHE memberships and recruit new members! NCHE welcomes all NEA higher education members as “individual members” with voting rights in NCHE, as well as “organizational members,” which are NEA higher education affiliates that join NCHE, also with voting rights. NCHE also welcomes non-higher-ed NEA members and HQ and affiliate staff as associate members.
Use this link – Join NCHE Now! – to pay by credit card for any of the NCHE membership categories. Credit card payment through this link is by far the best option for NCHE record-keeping and for the timeliness of membership processing. If check payment is the only option, NCHE welcomes checks accompanied by paper forms:
NCHE Elections
The following NCHE Executive Committee seats will be available for election at the NCHE Regular Annual Meeting (March 5th and 6th) in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Secretary (3yr term)
- Treasurer (3 yr term)
- At-Large (3yr term)
Potential candidates for NCHE office will be permitted one email message consisting of one standard length two-page document with no links to other information. NEA staff will email messages to the current NCHE membership list after vetting by the Elections, Endorsements, and Credentials Committee.
Candidates for NCHE office must be nominated from the floor during Session I of the Regular Annual Meeting (Thursday, March 5th). Nominations do not need a second. Candidates for NCHE office will have three (3) minutes to address the Council during Session I (Thursday, March 5th). of the Regular Annual Meeting.
National Education Association Higher Educator of the Year Award 2026
Purpose: National Education Association (NEA) Higher Educator of the Year Award recognizes the postsecondary education professional who continually engages in outstanding student-centered professional practice, exemplary state/local labor-based advocacy, and robust community participation. This award is presented to an NEA Higher Education member who demonstrates outstanding accomplishments in all three areas.
Award: Each year, one nominee receives the NEA Higher Educator of the Year Award. This year, the NEA Higher Educator of the Year Selection Committee, will solicit and review nominations, putting forth an awardee to be announced to the NEA Board of Directors at their May 2026 meeting. The award is then presented at the NEA Representative Assembly where the awardee gives brief remarks to the delegates. The honoree receives a monetary award of $10,000.
Eligibility: This award is open to all NEA higher education members. The recipient for the NEA Higher Educator of the Year award must have at least ten years of professional service in higher education as of January 1, 2026, and have demonstrated consistent advocacy for higher education unions at any level (local, state, national).
Nominations: A nomination must include details of how the nominee's experience reflects the award criteria. Nominations must also include at least one letter of support/recommendation from a colleague. The official nomination form, support/recommendation letter, and any accompanying materials must be submitted to the NEA Higher Educator of the Year Award Selection Committee via its chair, Ron “Duff” Martin ([email protected]), and its staff liaison, Sabrina Tines-Morris ([email protected]), by Monday, April 1, 2026. Individuals may self-nominate.
Selection/Criteria: The NEA Higher Educator of the Year Selection Committee will review all nominations to ensure that eligibility and submission requirements are met. Nominations will be scored per three of the following criteria:
- Professional Practice, including, but not limited to, demonstrated development of innovative student- centered learning tools, research methods, curricula, and appropriate discipline-based course delivery methods.
- Labor-Based Advocacy, including, but not limited to, demonstrated development of a union consciousness/social awareness regarding the critical role organized labor plays in the higher education landscape.
- Community Engagement, including, but not limited to, a demonstrated pattern of participation in local/community organizations, events, and activities associated with strengthening the ties between higher education and other service-related organizations.
Notification: The NEA Higher Educator of the Year Selection Committee will notify the recipient of this year’s award in advance of the May NEA Board of Directors meeting
Please submit your nomination by Wednesday, April 1, 2026, to [email protected] and [email protected].
2025-2026 Higher Ed member engagement webinars
The National Council for Higher Education and NEA’s Center for Organizing and Affiliate Support are excited to introduce a year-long member engagement webinar series. Simply click the links below to register!
Academic Freedom in Higher Education - Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 6:00 pm Eastern
This legal update will focus on the protection of academic freedom in higher education. We will discuss defensive litigation for members facing discipline based on protected speech, as well as challenges to overly restrictive state and federal statutes and funding conditions. We'll also discuss the potential to better protect academic freedom through state legislation.
AI & Academia: What Higher Ed Unions need to know - Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 6:00 pm Eastern
This discussion looks at institution level policies for AI applications across campus. In addition, we will consider how faculty, staff, and students are using AI Generative Tools effectively to prepare students for entering the workforce.
NCHE Annual Meeting - March 5-6, 2026
NEA Higher Education Conference - March 6-8, 2026
Save the Date
Resilience. Respect. Power! Saving Public Education and Our Democracy
The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) meeting will take place at the Gila River Resort and Casino-Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, AZ, on March 5–6, 2026. The meeting provides an opportunity to align priorities, strengthen leadership, and advance shared work across higher education, while also creating space to learn more about NCHE and what's next.
The 2026 National Education Association Higher Education Conference will run March 6-8, 2026, bringing together higher education members, staff, and leaders from across the country for learning, connection, and collective action.
Location: Gila River Resort and Casino-Wild Horse Pass, 5040 Wild Horse Pass, Chandler (Phoenix), AZ
Hotel Rate: $249 per night (single/double), plus taxes and fees
Conference registration will open soon—check back for the registration link.
A Look Back and Looking Forward with the NCHE President, Alec Thomson - Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 6:00 pm Eastern
With the current academic year coming to a close, it is a great time to not only reflect on the past year, but we can start the strategic planning process for the coming year. What challenges still need our attention? What should we be anticipating? What programs need to be renewed? Expanded? Modified? Discontinued? What do you want to see as a priority for NEA and NCHE moving forward? Join NCHE President Alec Thomson to hear about what is planned for the coming year and share what your ideas too.
NCHE Executive Committee
Marcia Mackey, Ph.D., NCHE Vice President
