Registration is now open for the 2026 LACSU Annual Meeting, convening at Pomona College (Claremont, CA) from January 14-17, 2026.
Please review the meeting schedule and travel/lodging information and register by December 1 to secure your spot at the meeting. The registration form also provides opportunities for you to request “access funds” (travel and lodging subsidies for attendees from qualifying institutions) and/or to indicate your interest in contributing to meeting sessions.
We look forward to welcoming you to our li’l corner of sunny (🤞) California in January!
Kevin Dettmar, Director, The Humanities Studio at Pomona College
Gretchen Rognlien, Associate Director
Registration
Please register by December 1, 2025 to secure your spot.
Register
Register
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Program & Schedule
This draft of the meeting agenda is intended to help you plan travel, select sessions to which you wish to contribute, and prepare for rich conversations with fellow humanists. Please plan to be with us for as much of the conference as you are able!
If you are interested in contributing to one or more sessions, be sure to fill out the brief questionnaire on the registration form or email us before December 1 and we will be in touch. (Note: No need to sign up to contribute to the “lightning round” sessions—the last session on both Thursday and Friday; the idea behind those sessions is that we’ll all participate!)
"Timeless Principles for Troubled Times"
Annual Meeting of the CHCI LACSU Network
Pomona College, Claremont, CA | January 14–17, 2026
Annual Meeting of the CHCI LACSU Network
Wednesday, January 14
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 5 p.m. | Opening reception (Pomona College, Studio Art Building Terrace) |
| 6 p.m. | Welcome Dinner/CHCI Membership Dinner (Studio Art Terrace) |
Thursday, January 15
| Time | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9–10:15 a.m. | Session I: Critical Engagement/Making Criticism Engaging (Pomona College, Seaver House) | The HC’s role in fostering and modeling critical thinking for academic and non-academic audiences |
| 10:15–10:45 | Break | |
| 10:45-noon | Session II: Collaboration, Coalition Building, and Synergies (Seaver House) | Finding partners, on campus and off, and not losing your vision in the mix. And, What can LACSU & CHCI do for you? |
| Noon-1:15 p.m. | Lunch | |
| 1:15–2:30 | Session III: Humanities Center Structures and Support (Pomona College, Benton Museum Pavilion) | Roles, delegation, hier-ickies; working (genuinely) collaboratively with your associate/assistant director |
| 2:30–3:00 | Break | |
| 3:00–4:15 | Session IV: Lightning Round! “I Made This for $500!” (Benton Museum ) | Inexpensive but effective programming ideas for cash-strapped times. 2-3 min. anecdotes from the floor, hot mic, much frivolity |
| [TBA] | Dinner |
Friday, January 16
| Time | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9–10:15 a.m. | Session V: Humanities Centers as the Eye of the Storm (Trails End Ranch) | How to keep your center vital and vibrant while the world outside is losing its damned mind |
| 10:15–10:45 | Break | |
| 10:45-noon | Session VI: Directorship/Leadership Succession Planning (Trails End Ranch) | Working with your dean to ensure a smooth transition |
| Noon-1:15 p.m. | Lunch | |
| 1:15–2:30 | Session VII: Finding (& Keeping) Your Audience (Trails End Ranch) | Successful strategies for promotion to campus and public audiences |
| 2:30–3:00 | Break | |
| 3:00–4:15 | Session VIII: Lightning Round! “I Never Signed Up for This!” (Trails End Ranch) | The surprises—both bad and good!—one discovers in the role. 2-3 min. anecdotes from the floor, hot mic, much frivolity. [Drinking might begin early.] |
| [TBA] | Steering Committee Dinner/Attendees Dinner-on-Your-Own |
Saturday, January 17
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast buffet (Pomona College campus, The Humanities Studio) |
| 9:30 a.m. | Optional field trip to Huntington Library & Gardens, San Marino, CA |
| 3 p.m. | Return to Claremont |
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Hotel & Travel Information
Learn about local hotels, our five Southern California airports, and a wide variety of options for ground transportation. Please note our recommendations for the Claremont DoubleTree hotel (with a discounted block reserved for LACSU attendees, while rooms last) and for flying into Ontario International Airport (ONT) to avoid (most of) that infamous L.A. traffic.
Hotel & Travel Information
Hotels
Accommodations within a mile of Pomona College are few and fill quickly; book your room soon!
We recommend: DoubleTree by Hilton, Claremont
- 1 mile from campus (walkable!)
- Block of rooms reserved for LACSU attendees
- Book your room before December 31 for the Pomona College discounted rate ($166 + taxes per room, per night)
- If calling to book, mention affiliation with “Annual Meeting of LACSU-Pomona College” (Group Code: AML)
- Shuttle service to/from campus conference venues
- No airport shuttle
- 0.5 mile from campus (walkable!)
- Charming local favorite in the heart of the Claremont Village
- Soaking tub!
- No reserved room block for LACSU attendees
- No shuttle service to/from airport or campus
Air Travel
There are five airports within 50 miles of the Pomona College campus.
We recommend: Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Ontario, CA
- 10 miles from campus
- 15-20 minute ride to campus via taxi/Uber/Lyft/rental car
Other proximal airports:
Los Angeles International (LAX)
Los Angeles, CA
- 50 miles from campus
- 90-120 minute ride to campus via taxi/Uber/Lyft/rental car
John Wayne Airport (SNA)
Orange County, CA
- 40 miles from campus
- 90-120 minute ride to campus via taxi/Uber/Lyft/rental car
Burbank Airport (BUR)
Burbank, CA
- 45 miles from campus
- 90-120 minute ride to campus via taxi/Uber/Lyft/rental car
Long Beach Airport (LGB)
Long Beach, CA
- 45 miles from campus
- 75-120 minute ride to campus via taxi/Uber/Lyft/rental car
Ground Transportation
General information about visiting Pomona College via car or rail, including:
- Parking
- Driving directions
- Rail options
Ground options from Ontario Int’l Airport, including:
- Rental cars
- Ride apps, taxis, limos
- Airport & hotel shuttles
- Bus & rail
Ground options from LAX, including:
- Rental cars
- Ride apps, taxis, limos
- Public transportation
- Traffic estimators
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