North Central College Health Association (NCCHA) 2026 Annual Fall Meeting: Whole Person, Whole Campus: Moving Upstream for Collective Wellbeing

This course is planned and hosted by the North Central College Health Association (NCCHA), providing regional leadership to advance the health of college students. NCCHA strives to support its members with networking and educational opportunities, promote college health services, and influence action on health issues. For more information on NCCHA contact April O’Brien, NCCHA President, at [email protected]. For more information about the NCCHA Annual Fall Meeting, contact Dylan Karsten, [email protected], Conference Planning Chair North Central College Health Association.

The annual NCCHA meeting is open for health and wellbeing professionals from institutions of higher education across the North Central region of the United States (Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin). Attendees represent all areas of college health: medical providers, nurses, health promotion staff, registered dietitians, social workers, counselors, directors, and administrative staff. The theme for the Fall 2026 meeting is “Whole Person, Whole Campus: Moving Upstream for Collection Wellbeing”. Participants will 1)Identify upstream, evidence-based strategies for improving the mental, physical, and social well-being of college students, with a focus on prevention, early intervention, and population-level health approaches; 2)Enhance interdisciplinary collaboration by exploring models of integrated care that connect medical, counseling, health promotion, and other academic professional teams to support whole-person care on campus; 3) Examine social determinants of health impacting college students, including financial stress, food and housing insecurity, cultural belonging, and environmental factors, and develop actionable approaches for campus-wide solutions; and 4) Strengthen professionals’ skills in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and equity-centered practices that promote inclusive well-being for diverse student populations.

Call For Programs

NCCHA invites proposals for the Fall 2026 Annual Meeting from professionals across college health. We are seeking concise, engaging sessions that highlight upstream, evidence-based strategies; interdisciplinary and integrated care models; approaches to addressing social determinants of health; and practices that advance trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and equitable student wellbeing. Submit your proposal online by October 12, 2026 to help shape a dynamic, interprofessional learning experience for campuses across the North Central region.

1. Identify upstream, evidence-based strategies for improving the mental, physical, and social well-being of college students, with a focus on prevention, early intervention, and population-level health approaches.
2. Outline strategies to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration by exploring models of integrated care that connect medical, counseling, health promotion, and other academic professional teams to support whole-person care on campus.
3. Examine social determinants of health impacting college students, including financial stress, food and housing insecurity, cultural belonging, and environmental factors, and develop actionable approaches for campus-wide solutions.
4. Describe how to strengthen professionals’ skills in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and equity-centered practices that promote inclusive well-being for diverse student populations.

NCCHA Members Save on registration! If you are If you are interested in becoming an NCCHA member to qualify for member registration rates visit the NCCHA Membership page.

EARLY REGISTRATION - available through October 2, 2026
NCCHA Member Registration

• Healthcare Professionals: $225

• Students/Residents/Fellows: $90

Non-Member Registration

• Healthcare Professionals: $325

• Students/Residents/Fellows: $105

REGULAR REGISTRATION - available on and after October 3, 2026
NCCHA Member Registration

• Healthcare Professionals: $275

• Students/Residents/Fellows: $105

Non-Member Registration

• Healthcare Professionals: $375

• Students/Residents/Fellows: $140

Registration Policies

• Pre-registration is requested by October 9. Late registrants cannot be guaranteed course materials, etc. On-site registration will be allowed as space permits. All on-site registrants must use their own device to submit their registration and payment by credit card via CE Portal (cash/check not accepted). Registration through CE Portal is required even if attendance is free-of-charge.

• Special needs, such as dietary restrictions, lactation room, etc., should be requested in advance. These requests cannot always be honored on site.

• A $50 discount is available for groups of three or more participants from the same school who register together and submit payment on a single invoice. To receive the discount, please contact [email protected] for group registration instructions. Please note: The $50 discount applies to the total group registration fee, not per individual.

• Cancellation Policy: In the event you need to cancel your registration, the registration fee, less a $50 administrative fee, will be refunded if you notify us by 4:30 p.m. CST on October 12, 2026. No refunds will be made after this date. If you have any questions, please contact our office at (612) 626-7600 or e-mail us at [email protected].

• UMN Office of Continuing Professional Development (OCPD) and/or our partner in providing the activity reserves the right to cancel any activity due to unforeseen circumstances. In the event the activity is cancelled, registration fees will be refunded. UMN OCPD and/or our partner in providing the activity is not responsible for any travel-related costs, charges, or expenses, including but not limited to fees assessed by airline, travel, or lodging agencies.

Credit Designation Statements

American Medical Association (AMA)
This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Determination of exact number of credits is pending.

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
This activity is eligible for ANCC contact hours; the number of hours is pending.

American Academy of PAs (AAPA)
University of Minnesota, Interprofessional Continuing Education has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for AAPA Category 1 CME credits; the credit count is pending review of the agenda. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Other Healthcare Professionals
Other healthcare professionals who participate in this CE activity may submit their certificate of participation to their appropriate accrediting organizations or state boards for consideration of credit. The participant is responsible for determining whether this activity meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education.

Eagan Community Center
1501 Central Pkwy
Eagan, MN 55121

NCCHA has a conference room block at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport/Eagan located at 3635 Crestridge Drive Eagan, Minnesota, USA, 55122.  Follow this link to receive the conference rate.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

University of Minnesota Continuing Professional Development adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education and has policies in place to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible entities; individuals who fail to complete the disclosure in advance of the course are not eligible to be involved in this course. Specific disclosure information will be shared with learners prior to the start of the course. All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Member Information

Role in activity

Nature of Relationship(s) / Name of Ineligible Company(s)

Dylan Karsten, BS
Associate Director of Operations
Boynton Health, University of Minnesota

Course Director

April O'Brien, MA
Director of Operations
University of St. Thomas

Planning Committee Member

Sara H Parris
Associate Director of Administrative Services
Iowa State University

Planning Committee Member

Lauren Peterson, PA-C, DMSc
Director, Health and Wellness Clinic
St. Catherine University

Planning Committee Member

Ashley Pick, MHA
Associate Director of Clinical Services
Iowa State Univeristy

Planning Committee Member

Jennifer Tormey, BSN
Registered Nurse
University of Wisconsin Whitewater

Planning Committee Member

Nothing to disclose

Melanie Tucker, PhD
Director
University of St. Thomas

Planning Committee Member

Caitlin Walters, MS- Kinesiology
Wellbeing Specialist
South Dakota State University

Planning Committee Member

Corinne Werner, PsyD
Psychologist
University of Wisconsin- Madison

Planning Committee Member

Exhibit and sponsor opportunities are available