Last week, people on campuses across the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and beyond all wore purple as we celebrated Collegiate Recovery Week 2026. This year marked the 16th anniversary of the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE), and the theme – Recovery in Motion – couldn’t have been more fitting.
Many collegiate recovery programs held fun, dynamic, community-building events to celebrate students in recovery and all of their accomplishments! As an awareness-building and stigma-reduction campaign, staff and students alike wore their purple, held tabling events, shared about collegiate recovery, and posted our social media toolkit to broad virtual audiences. Having conversations with students, staff, and community allies about student recovery allows all students to thrive – both those in and out of recovery!
As a reminder, if anyone started conversations about collegiate recovery and the person you were conversing with wanted to learn more or get more involved, they can fill out a “Training and Technical Assistance” request with the Center for Addiction Recovery Support (CARS). After a brief triage process, if they indicate wanting to learn more about collegiate recovery, then they can be connected with ARHE and we can provide FREE support.
Details from the 2026 Collegiate Recovery Week campaign can be found on the ARHE webpage: https://collegiaterecovery.org/recoveryweek/recovery-week-2026/
The Daily Journey: Themes and Webinars
Each day of the week focused on a specific pillar of the recovery journey. Below is the summary of our national webinars (stay tuned for the recording links!).
Monday, April 13: Starting the Climb
The week kicked off with a focus on taking that first step and celebrating the courage it takes to show up and choose yourself.
ARHE Event: Collegiate Recovery Week 2026 Kickoff & Community Celebration
While this event was not recorded, we went over the theme, daily events and history of wearing purple. We spotlighted the limited-time CR Week merchandise available, the t-shirt design contest for the conference, and the social media toolkit that was published and made available for anyone to utilize.
Next, ARHE announced the 2026 Collegiate Recovery Award winners who will be celebrated at the 2026 conference!
We announced the Champions for Recovery in Higher Education (CRHE) philanthropic recognition campaign and posted the opportunity to join the Founding Champions through the rest of this year.
Finally, this session included a review of the 2025 Impact Report, released and made available online. This report is published every year and outlines the new opportunities, challenges, and strategic directions that ARHE has taken, as well as celebrating the accomplishments from the previous calendar year! You can download the Impact Report here!
Tuesday, April 14: Climbing Together
Recovery is never a solitary act. Tuesday emphasized the power of community, peer support, and the various ways in which recovery is enacted. ARHE hosted an interactive panel discussion that explored the many pathways that students take to engage in recovery and how campuses can create inclusive, supportive environments that honor diverse experiences. Facilitated by Kristen Harper, this panel consisted of Sunnie Pope from the University of Texas Permian Basin, Lily Spurgeon from the University of New Mexico, Adrien Montalvo from Benedict College, and Sandy Valentine from Valentine Recovery Consulting (previously at the University of Connecticut).
ARHE Event: Many Paths to Recovery in Higher Education: Honoring Diverse Experiences
Recording:
Wednesday, April 15: Collegiate Recovery Day (Wear Purple!)
We saw a sea of purple across social media under the hashtags #collegiaterecoveryweek, #collegiaterecoveryday, #CRW2026, and #wearpurple. This day celebrated the visibility of students in recovery and the allies who support them.
ARHE Event: Building Sustainable and Braided Funding Models for Collegiate Recovery Programs
Recording Link: While this event WAS recorded, the recording is not yet available. Please check the CARS website (https://www.carsrecovery.org/video-learning) for the recording, once available.
Thursday, April 16: Building Momentum
Progress is about consistency, not perfection. Thursday’s theme focused on how we can keep the momentum going through advocacy and policy changes. Kristina Canfield and Bret Frazier presented on what advocacy looks like and how every person in every position can advocate at a variety of levels.
ARHE Event: Advocacy in Action: Building Momentum for Recovery in Higher Education
Recording:
Friday, April 17: Toward the Future
We wrapped up the week by looking at the future possibilities – the hope, purpose and vision that drive the work that we do and the long-term impacts of recovery on students’ lives, education and leadership. This recorded session placed a special focus on the 2027-2028 conference, announcing an upcoming shift to a virtual national conference and in-person regional summits that will be planned in partnership with a host institution, benefitting the region, host CRP, and ARHE at the same time! More information will be coming soon about how your institution can bid to host a regional summit!
ARHE Event: Toward the Future: Celebrating Progress and the Next Chapter of Collegiate Recovery
Recording:
This session also announced the 2026 incoming Board Members and celebrated the outgoing board members.
Why It Matters
As ARHE Executive Director, Kristina Canfield, shared during the week, “Recovery should be a natural part of the continuum of services offered to our students.” By celebrating this week, we aren’t just holding events – we are shifting campus culture to ensure that no student has to choose between their degree and their well-being.
What’s Next?
The momentum doesn’t stop here. The lessons learned and connections made this week carry us toward the 2026 Annual Conference: “Climbing Together: Many Paths, One Summit.” Join us in Denver, CO June 26-30, 2026 for an unforgettable event!
Thank you to every student, staff member, and ally who wore purple, shared their story, and kept Recovery in Motion!