June 24 - 26, 2025
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA USA
2025 Conference Theme
Reimagining Critical Education:
Deepening Our Alliance to Meet Global Challenges
Critical Edge Alliance institutions were established to unsettle and reimagine higher education in their respective countries through innovative models of learning, teaching, research and social engagement. In a context of increasing challenges to critical education and global crises that demand new thinking, this conference seeks to create a forum to share the accomplishments, challenges and new initiatives of our respective approaches to critical education and deepen our work together through creating new avenues of collaboration and action.
How are we evolving and innovating our critical models to address current challenges? How can we build skillful, sustained engagement across the Critical Edge Alliance that leads to learning and action? How can we support one another in challenging times?
Critical Edge Alliance 2025
Event Registration
The Critical Edge Alliance is a global collaborative network for higher education institutions that focuses on student-centered learning, critical thinking, teaching and interdisciplinary research and social engagement. Find more information on the alliance and its member institutions at Critical Edge Alliance
Register by Friday, May 2
(After May 2 there will be a late registration rate)
Registration Inclusives (Off-Campus)
Food services
- Food Services: Two lunches, one dinner, and two afternoon coffee/teas
Registration Inclusives with On-Campus Accommodations
Food services and dormitory housing
- Food Services: Three breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner, and two afternoon coffee/teas.
- Dormitory Housing: Three nights in a campus dorm room (single occupancy). Includes full-size bed, shared bathroom, bed linen, towel sets, hand soap and toilet paper. Does not include shower soap, shampoo/conditioner.
- Check-in: Monday, June 23
- Check-out: Thursday, June 26
Community Engagement Day
Wednesday, June 25
Participants choose between one of four activities. Every option will be provide a wonderful experience for participants to engage with the community! Transportation is included in the registration fee.
Indigenous Nation Engagement
Salish Roots and Squaxin Island
Learn more about Evergreen’s relationships with local Native nations, particularly in the areas of Indigenous placemaking, community gardens, and government-to-government relationships.
Evergreen Liberation Education Network
Evergreen Prison Education Program
Learn more about how we are expanding access to an Evergreen education and providing holistic support services for currently incarcerated and legally liberated people. Meet with a class of students at Stafford Creek Correction Center.
Evergreen Tacoma Campus
Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve
Where Education meets community, learn about Evergreen’s urban campus in the Hilltop campus neighborhood.
Olympia Downtown
Olympia Hidden Histories
Learn about community connections and partners through public history and arts projects, solidarity work, and entrepreneurship.
Important
Conference Travel Information
When
Tuesday, June 24 through Thursday, June 26, 2025
The conference events will begin on the morning of Tuesday, June 24; continue on Wednesday, June 25; and finish on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
We advise you to arrive in Olympia, WA USA by Monday, June 23 to find your accommodations so that we can start on the morning of Tuesday, June 24.
Where
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA USA
All events will be held on the campus of The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA USA:
2700 Evergreen Pkwy NW, Olympia, WA 98505
The College is located 47 miles (76 Km) from Seattle. The campus is located in a beautiful forest at the bottom of the Puget Sound inlet and within an hour by vehicle from the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean beaches.
Accommodations
On-campus and Off-campus options
On-Campus
Evergreen offers dormitory-style accommodations (with shared bathroom) for those who would like to stay on campus. Accommodations, in student or faculty on-campus housing, will be included in the On-campus registration fee.
Off-Campus
For participants who want to stay off campus, we recommend the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in downtown Olympia at 415 Capitol Way North (located on a bus line) or the Hilton Garden Inn Olympia at 101 Henderson Park Ln SE, Olympia (car needed for the 10-minute drive to campus).
Airbnb is also a reasonably priced option. Depending on the neighborhood, a car might be needed for Airbnb accommodations. West Olympia is the neighborhood closest to Evergreen and is the most likely to be near a direct bus to campus.
Buses/Intercity Transit in Olympia are free.
Travel
Local airports and ground transportation
Those coming from elsewhere will likely fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and can make their way south (1-2 hours) to Olympia by public bus, private airport shuttle bus or other means.
Another option is to fly to Portland International Airport (PDX) and then travel by bus or train (2-3 hours) to Olympia and ride-share to your accommodations.
Shared Van Services
We will offer shared van services from SeaTac to the campus, for a fee, at three set times on Monday, June 23.