Events

Attend or view webinars on your schedule and connect with peers at higher education conferences and professional networking events across the U.S. - especially useful for new or mid-level professionals. Share your lessons learned with colleagues by presenting a session at one of our conferences for higher education and get involved with the association by becoming a volunteer leader. Connect with other high-level leaders through fantastic networking opportunities during the Annual Conference and all our events, which are designed to foster professional development and career growth. Webinars are free for UPCEA Members, and membership also provides discounts to all our conferences and other events, supporting your ongoing professional learning.

• Conferences and Seminars
• Webinars & Chats
• Regional Salons
• Past Events

Conferences and Seminars

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1, 2025

2025 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education

Washington, DC

Visit the event website

DECEMBER 2-4, 2025

2025 MEMS: Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Success Conference

Boston, MA

Visit the event website

UPCEA Regional Salons | Virtual | Free and open to all UPCEA members

MULTIPLE DATES

2025 Regional Salons: Free and Open to All UPCEA Members

Virtual

Visit the event website

FEBRUARY 4-5, 2026

2026 Digital Teaching & Learning (DT&L) Conference

Virtual

Free and Open to All UPCEA Members

Visit the event website

APRIL 15-17, 2026

2026 Annual Conference

New Orleans, LA

Visit the event website

Save the dates for these upcoming events:

Click here to view past events

See Featured External Engagements by UPCEA Staff

Webinars & Chats

September 16, 2025 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET

LIVE CORe Chat | BOnES Report and Intentional Teaching Podcast Discussion

Join us for a live CORe (text) chat with Derek Bruff, host of the Intentional Teaching podcast, alongside UPCEA’s Bruce Etter and Julie Uranis as they dive into the findings from the 2025 UPCEA Benchmarking Online Enterprises Survey (BOnES). This interactive session will explore insights from the survey, featured in Derek’s September 2 podcast episode with Bruce and Julie, and provide a space for you to ask your questions directly to the report authors and Derek. Don’t miss this chance to connect live on Tuesday, September 16 at 2 p.m. ET for a timely discussion about structures, strategies, and the future of online learning enterprises. The podcast episode will be available starting September 2 at Intentional Teaching, and UPCEA will open a CORe discussion thread the same day with the link.

UPCEA Members: On Sept 16, log into CORe at 2pm ET and join the text discussion thread to post your question for real-time answers.

Access the Live session in CORe on Sept. 16

September 17, 2025 | 12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET

2025 State of Credentialing Webinar

Hosted by Accredible

Employers are hungry for proof of skills — 91% actively look for digital credentials when reviewing candidates, and 86% say a credential proving a key skill makes them more likely to interview. Yet only 46% regularly see them in applications — leaving most programs invisible at the very moment employers are paying attention.

That visibility gap represents one of the biggest opportunities for credential issuers today. When credentials are visible and trusted by employers, learners advance, programs gain reach and relevance, and leadership gets the outcomes it demands.

In this webinar, you will:

Discover new 2025 data from 500+ HR and talent leaders and nearly 200 credential issuers — what employers truly want, how issuers are (or aren’t) delivering, and what the most successful programs do differently.
Hear from leaders at LinkedIn, WIN Learning & Florida Ready to Work, and Accredible — bringing the employer, issuer, and platform perspectives on connecting credentials to real hiring impact.
Leave equipped with actionable recommendations to drive stronger learner outcomes, increase enrollment, and build long-term program value.

Presenters:

Tiffany Vause Director of Strategic Initiatives, WIN Learning & Florida Ready to Work
Erin Scruggs VP & Head of Global Talent Acquisition, LinkedIn
Rochelle Ramirez Vice President of Product, Accredible
Ryan Greives Senior Director, Brand Marketing, Accredible

September 17, 2025 | 3:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

UPCEA Virtual Forum | Expanding Institutional Capacity for Employer Engagement in Credential Innovation

Don’t miss UPCEA’s first virtual forum, an opportunity for senior leaders in online and professional education to connect with peers, to be briefed on the most pressing topics of our field today, and to discuss together ways we can be best positioned for the future. The forum employs a “roundtable” format, featuring the presentation of critical trends, predictions, and prognostications, intersected with time for small group discussion and reporting-out. The focus of this forum is around employer engagement and how UPCEA members can increase their capacities for U2B connections with regard to credential innovation. Featured presenters include UPCEA Peer Learning Leaders, member experts who are co-creating a course on institutional capacity for employer engagement (launched this fall), and leaders from the four highest-level Promotional Partners for Convergence 2025, UPCEA’s signature credential innovation event held this fall with co-host AACRAO. Forum conversations are unrecorded but notes will be captured for sharing broadly with the UPCEA community. Registration is gratis for this virtual learning opportunity, with support from Walmart.

September 18, 2025 | 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Know Before You Go: Navigating the 2025 Convergence Conference

Learn. Know. Do.

Whether you’re a newcomer or a pro, join us for an informal opportunity to connect with other Conference attendees. This fast-paced coffee chat will get you up to speed, give you an opportunity to ask questions and start thinking about planning your conference adventure. We’ll cover what you can expect to LEARN, how to get to KNOW attendees and what else you might DO in town.

Click here to access the room at 1 PM ET on September 18 or download our calendar invite below.

Coffee Chats are informal, unrecorded, live opportunities to connect with UPCEA peers. Typically an hour or less, they provide time to discuss topics of interest, share ideas and connect with others in a casual setting.

Click here to download a calendar invite

September 23, 2025 | 12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET

Webinar | Foundations for a Cyber-Resilient Future: Developing the Talent Pipeline for Cybersecurity, Audit, and AI Governance

Hosted by ISACA

As cyber threats and digital technologies like artificial intelligence transform the risk landscape, public and private sectors alike face an urgent need to build a workforce equipped with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to defend digital infrastructure and uphold data trust. This CPE-accredited webinar explores the intersections of cybersecurity, IT audit, and AI governance, and the evolving workforce roles required to meet today’s and tomorrow’s industry needs. Attendees will gain insight into the foundational competencies aligned with ISACA’s certification programs, such as CISA, Cybersecurity Fundamentals, IT Audit Fundamentals, and upcoming frameworks focused on AI assurance and digital trust.

The panel will explore:

The core domains of knowledge needed to enter cybersecurity and audit roles
How AI and automation are reshaping workforce expectations
Case studies of non-profits and training providers successfully deploying ISACA-aligned content
How workforce development foundations can integrate industry-recognized credentials into training pathways
Available grant programs, instructional resources, and support through ISACA’s global ecosystem

Presenters:

Dr. David Tobey, National CyberWatch Center

Jenai Marinkovic, GRC for Intelligent Ecosystems Foundation (GRCIE)

Jeff Angle, ISACA

September 24, 2025 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET

Webinar | Retention by Design: Student-Driven Insights to Meet Expectations of Working Adults

Hosted by Risepoint

Through the Risepoint Voice of the Online Learner research, we know that modern learners have specific needs when looking for, enrolling in, and completing online programs. As organizations and universities consider expanding their online offerings in response to enrollment declines, they need to focus on approaches that foster sustainable growth. So how do online learning leaders improve student persistence and retention? In this presentation, we’ll share student-driven data and actionable insights for serving career-focused learners.

We’ll also share real-world advice from Dr. Tim Wall, Dean of Education at Northwest Missouri State University, who brings practical leadership experience in supporting faculty, designing learner-centered programs, and navigating institutional change.

Key takeaways include:

· Meeting online and adult learners’ distinct needs

· Supporting and empowering online faculty

· Opportunities to enhance both campus and online learning experiences

Presenters:

Dr. Tim Wall, Northwest Missouri State University
Dr. Tekoya Boykins, Risepoint

September 25 2025 | 3:00 PM-3:45 PM ET

Webinar | Countdown to Compliance: Strategic Approaches to ADA Title II

Hosted by OES (Online Education Services)

By April 2026, public colleges and universities must ensure digital accessibility across websites, apps, and course content. This webinar, chaired by Tawnya Means, with experts Becca Mason, Rae Mancilla, and Liesel Slingers, will share practical strategies, governance frameworks, and design approaches. Learn how to move beyond checklists toward embedding accessibility as a core principle of higher education.

Who Should Attend?

University leaders and administrators
Digital learning and instructional design teams
Accessibility and compliance officers
IT, edtech, and online program managers
Faculty and staff shaping inclusive teaching practices

Presenters:

Dr. Tawnya Means, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dr. Becca Mason, University of California, Berkeley
Dr. Rae Mancilla, University of Pittsburgh
Liesel Slingers, OES (Online Learning Solutions)

October 2, 2025 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET

Webinar | Lead Forward: Real Tools for Real Challenges in Higher Education

Hosted by Academic Leadership Group

Higher education leaders face increasing expectations, often with fewer resources and more complexity. In this interactive session, Dr. Jenny Stine, author of The Empowered Leader, offers practical tools and insights grounded in real experience working with academic leaders across top institutions.

Designed for Academic Leaders at Every Level
This session is designed for department chairs, deans, faculty leaders, and senior administrators seeking effective strategies that work. Whether you’re guiding a team, leading change, or responding to new demands, you’ll walk away with approaches you can apply right away.

What you’ll learn:
Tools to increase alignment, support your team, and manage complex dynamics
Lessons from ALG’s consulting and coaching work across leading universities
A new way of thinking about your leadership role and how to grow it

If you’re looking for a conversation that’s honest, useful, and focused on the realities of academic leadership, we invite you to join us.

Presenter:

Dr. Jenny Stine, Academic Leadership Group

October 9, 2025 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET

Webinar | BOnES 2025 - Data and Insights from the Latest UPCEA Online Enterprise Study

Join UPCEA for an exclusive look at the 2025 Benchmarking Online Enterprises Survey (BOnES)—an essential resource for understanding how today’s online enterprises are structured, staffed, and strategically positioned. This year’s findings feature enhanced per capita benchmarking based on student headcount and credit hours, offering sharper insights into operational efficiency and resource alignment. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of how institutions are navigating the adoption and governance of generative AI in online learning environments.

Key topics include:

New per capita metrics for staffing, budgets, and revenue
Trends in financial models, organizational structures, and competitive positioning
AI adoption and leadership autonomy in decision-making
Actionable recommendations to inform planning and investment

Whether you're scaling your online enterprise or refining your strategy, this data-rich session will help you benchmark effectively and lead with confidence.

Presenters:

Bruce Etter, UPCEA
Julie Uranis, UPCEA

October 14, 2025 | 3:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Virtual Swap Shop: Paid Advertising for Online Programs

Hosted by the Marketing, Enrollment, and Student Services Network

Join us for a virtual swap shop: a coffee chat focused on sharing ideas about paid advertising for online programs, specifically sharing practices about how you're determining which online programs to invest paid ad funds in and how much you’re investing.

Click here to access the room at 3 PM ET on October 14 or download our calendar invite below.

Click here to download a calendar invite

October 16, 2025 | 12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | What Successes Are You Celebrating?

Hosted by the Central Region Leadership Team

Since many days bring challenges, join your peers from the Central Region for a break from that routine. Share successes in your day-to-day life and we’ll have a conversation about how success is helping us navigate the challenges

Click here to access the room at 12 PM ET on October 16 or download our calendar invite below.

Click here to download a calendar invite

October 22, 2025 | 1:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

UPCEA SOLAR Encore

Experience three highly regarded UPCEA #SOLAR25 sessions with your campus community!

SOLAR attendees, through their conference evaluations, helped the UPCEA team identify sessions to feature in SOLAR Encore. As UPCEA Board President, Rob Bruce, shared at the event, UPCEA understands the power of a dynamic portfolio. Pilots such as SOLAR Encore lead to new opportunities and programs for members, ones that reflect the needs of members and their institutions.

SOLAR Encore is designed to address the limited time and travel budgets of UPCEA members. Rather than offering a costly event streaming package which bifurcates UPCEA’s resources between in-person and streaming experiences, UPCEA is focused on making in-person AND virtual experiences great, independently of one another. The research is clear, remote learners viewing distant in-person instruction is not ideal, so we have applied that research to our portfolio strategy. UPCEA continues to hybridize its portfolio with intentionality. Rather than adding a streaming package to an in-person event, while that may be efficient, we do not feel that is what higher education professionals need or want.

Unlike streaming packages, where sessions are often selected by the staff, we used attendee feedback to determine the SOLAR Encore sessions. The following sessions will be featured at SOLAR Encore:

Clicks, Codes, and Consequences: Understanding Student Conduct and the Law in Online Classes
This engaging, interactive session offers practical strategies for addressing student misconduct in online learning environments while maintaining compliance with legal standards. It presents common challenges such as academic dishonesty, cyberbullying, and inappropriate online behavior, connecting them to key legal frameworks, including FERPA, Title IX, and due process requirements. In addition, it will introduce academic reviews, address disability law, and integrate applications about AI law. Be prepared for case study discussions, role-playing exercises, and collaborative problem-solving scenarios.

Jeffrey Sun, University of Louisville

Program Onboarding: Unlocking Opportunities for Growth and Impact
Discover a collaborative approach to onboarding new academic programs with the support of an academic innovation team and instructional designers. This session outlines strategies for aligning program goals with institutional priorities, designing engaging learning experiences, and fostering faculty readiness through professional development. Emphasizing cross-functional collaboration and iterative design, it provides actionable steps to streamline program onboarding while maintaining quality and innovation. Ideal for administrators, faculty, and support staff, this presentation equips attendees with a practical framework to ensure successful program launches and continuous improvement in higher education.

Honor Parks, UNT Health
Adria Battaglia, UNT Health

Navigating Dynamics with Position and Organizational Structure Changes
Promotion? Reorganized? Job change? Vision/Goals change? Each requires a different mind set and interactions. Just as a lobster might not recognize it’s in a boiling pot of water with slow increases in temperature, online leaders may miss, or choose to ignore, changes in their environment that should trigger some reflection, evaluation, and ultimately a decision to remain in their role or commit to finding a new one. Join the panel of online education leaders with lived experience in these situations to hear how they navigated such changes. Attendees can expect to have a candid and frank discussion on how you assess your environment and embrace your ‘next’.

Kim Siegenthaler, University of Hawaii
Gayla Stoner, Creighton University
Julie Thalman, University of Cincinnati

October 29, 2025 | 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET

Webinar | AI vs Authentic Assessment. Can Authentic Assessment Combat AI Use

Hosted by Harmonize Learning

As AI reshapes how students approach coursework, instructors are searching for ways to promote authentic learning while minimizing shortcuts that AI provides. This session explores how Auburn University used video responses, peer interviews, and other non-text-based assessments to deepen engagement, highlight student voice, and sidestep the pitfalls of AI-generated writing. We’ll share examples of assignments that encouraged students to tie content to their own lives, build a personal brand, and connect meaningfully with peers through constructive critique and feedback.

Research shows that authentic assessment paired with intrinsic motivation and UDL principles not only strengthens learning but also reduces the likelihood of academic dishonesty. We’ll discuss how fostering genuine student-to-student and student-to-instructor connections makes the work itself more rewarding—encouraging students to invest in the process rather than outsource it. By the end, you’ll have practical ideas for designing activities that both elevate student learning and model ethical AI use while leveraging multi-modal tools to raise barriers to ai outsourcing.

Presenters:

Dave Ketchen, Auburn University
Amy Conway, Auburn University
Marcus Popetz, Harmonize Learning

October 29, 2025 | 3:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Starting from Scratch: Ideas to Promote Institutional & Learner Buy-In

Hosted by the Credential Innovation Network

Join us for the second session in our coffee chat series for those new to the credential innovation space. Building on our July conversation, this chat will focus on strategies for gaining buy-in—both within your institution and from your learners. Bring along your strategies that have worked, as well as the questions and challenges you still face. As a group, we’ll discuss practical approaches for securing internal support and attracting learners to your offerings. If you’re looking to bring others into your work and want to learn how peers are doing the same, this conversation is for you.

Click here to access the room at 3 PM ET on October 29 or download our calendar invite below.

Click here to download a calendar invite

October 30, 2025 | 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | ID Horror Stories

Hosted by the eDesign Collaborative Network

Join us for our annual Halloween-themed coffee chat: ID Horror Stories! This traditional event provides a space to share the scariest challenges you've faced, and most importantly, how you survived and thrived. Come for the spooky stories, stay for the hard-earned wisdom and laughter.

Click here to access the room at 1 PM ET on October 30 or download our calendar invite below.

Click here to download a calendar invite

November 12, 2025 | 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET

Webinar | Beyond the AI Bot: Strategies for Peer Engagement to Keep Learning Human

Hosted by Harmonize Learning

AI can churn out answers—but it can’t replace authentic student connection or the creative spark of multi-modal work. This session will explore how fostering peer engagement, incorporating structured peer review, and using diverse media in assignments relegates AI to an assistant’s role rather than replacing the learning—while making the experience more engaging for everyone. You’ll discover strategies to boost originality, encourage meaningful collaboration, and design assessments that are stronger than ever.

With a focus on creative fields like gaming, art, and audio technology, we’ll highlight how peer review gives students the chance to see one another’s work, gain new perspectives, and build communication skills that elevate their final projects. Along the way, you’ll see how structured workflows reduce instructor workload, foster accountability through milestone tracking, and support RSI compliance by creating substantive, trackable student interactions. Whether you want to improve student motivation, streamline feedback, or simply make assessments more impactful, this session offers practical approaches you can put into action right away while sidestepping AI use in classrooms.

Presenters:

Dr. Alyson Mike, University of Silicon Valley
Marcus Popetz, Harmonize Learning

November 12, 2025 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | More with Less: AI for Operational and Instructional Enhancements

Hosted by UPCEA's Council of Chief Online Learning Officers

How can AI help us do more with less? This chat focuses on how COLOs are using AI tools to streamline administrative functions and enhance instruction. From automating enrollment processes to optimizing content creation, we'll explore the tactical uses of AI to scale impact and improve ROI.

Homework: Survey your team about their use of AI-bring those insights to share!

The Council of Chief Online Learning Officers (COLOs) invites you to an exclusive series of upcoming COLO-only Coffee Chats-dynamic, candid, peer-driven conversations crafted to tackle the most pressing challenges and innovations shaping the future of online learning leadership. These virtual gatherings offer an opportunity for COLOs to share real-world strategies, learn from each other's experiences, and engage in forward-thinking dialogue. From revenue diversification to AI implementation and academic integrity, each chat offers timely insights for building stronger, more resilient digital learning enterprises.

All sessions are designed by and for COLOs-so your voice matters. These coffee chats are more than conversations; they're catalysts for collective insight and institutional transformation.

Need to update your UPCEA roster and designate a COLO? Contact Mel Edwards ([email protected])!

Click here for the COLO-exclusive thread with chat details

November 20, 2025 | 4:00 PM-5:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Know Before You Go: Navigating the MEMS Conference

Whether you’re a newcomer or a pro, join us for an informal opportunity to connect with other #MEMS2025 Conference attendees. This fast-paced coffee chat will get you up to speed, give you an opportunity to ask questions and start thinking about planning your conference adventure. We’ll cover what you can expect to LEARN, how to get to KNOW attendees and what else you might DO in town.

Click here to access the room at 4PM ET on November 20 or download our calendar invite.

Click here for the COLO-exclusive thread with chat details

January 14, 2026 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | One More Time for Those in the Back, Cheating Occurs in all Modalities…But Let's Talk about AI & Academic Integrity in Online Learning

Hosted by UPCEA's Council of Chief Online Learning Officers

Let's get real about academic integrity in the age of AI. This conversation will delve into how COLOs are adapting policies, assessments, and pedagogy to address integrity concerns in online education. Share your strategies, ask your toughest questions, and collaborate on maintaining trust in digital learning environments.

All sessions are designed by and for COLOs-so your voice matters. These coffee chats are more than conversations; they're catalysts for collective insight and institutional transformation.

Need to update your UPCEA roster and designate a COLO? Contact Mel Edwards ([email protected])!

Click here for the COLO-exclusive thread with chat details

January 21, 2025 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET

Webinar | Online Education Goes Global: Navigating Policy and Legal Issues for Enrolling Internationally-Located Students

Hosted by the UPCEA Policy Committee
As on-campus international student enrollment in US-based programs declines amid shifting federal policies, universities are increasingly exploring online programs as a pathway to serve globally-distributed learners. Join us for a comprehensive webinar examining the critical policy and legal considerations institutions must address when expanding online programs to internationally-located students. This session will highlight the complex web of regulatory compliance issues and equip administrators, faculty, and policy makers with essential guidance to navigate the legal, regulatory, and operational issues in serving international students online. Discover best practices for compliance strategies, risk mitigation approaches, and sustainable methods for international online program delivery while maintaining institutional integrity and student success.

Presenters: