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

2025 UPCEA Annual Conference | March 24-26, 2025 | Denver, CO | #UPCEA2025
MARCH 24-26, 2025

2025 UPCEA Annual Conference

SOLAR 2025: Summit for Online Leadership and Administration | July 22-24, 2025 | Portland, OR
JULY 22-24, 2025

2025 UPCEA SOLAR: Summit for Online Leadership and Administration

2025 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education | Sept 29 - Oct 1, 2025 | Washington, DC #credovation
SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1, 2025

2025 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education

Washington, DC

MEMS 2025 | Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Success Conference | December 2-4, 2025 | Boston, MA | #MEMS2025
DECEMBER 2-4, 2025

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

Save the dates for these upcoming events: 

  • February 4-6, 2026 | 2026 Digital Transformation and Learning Conference (DT&L) | Virtual
  • April 15-17, 2026 | 2026 UPCEA Annual Conference | New Orleans, LA | Hilton New Orleans Riverside 
  • July 29-31, 2026 | 2026 SOLAR: Summit for Online Leadership and Administration | Boston, MA | Westin Boston Seaport District

Webinars & Chats

February 13, 2025 | 2:00-3:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Digital Credentials in Action: Exploring Implementation & Use Cases

Hosted by UPCEA's Alternative Credentials Network

Join us for a coffee chat where we explore the real-world implementation of digital credentials! Whether you're considering launching a digital credentialing program or already managing one, this informal discussion is an opportunity to share experiences, challenges, and successes.

With an evolving landscape of badge platforms, learning and employment records (LERs), digital wallets, and interoperability considerations, institutions and organizations face critical decisions when selecting and implementing digital credentialing solutions. Let’s talk about:

  • Your use case – What problems are you solving with digital credentials?
  • Implementation experiences – What platforms, standards, and strategies have worked for you?
  • Learner experience – How are your digital credentials enhancing opportunities for students or workers?
  • Procurement and technology considerations – What lessons have you learned?

This is an open and interactive conversation where participants can learn from each other and explore innovative approaches to digital credentialing. Whether you're just getting started or refining an existing program, join us to gain insights, exchange ideas, and build a network of professionals navigating this space.

Click here to access the room at 2PM ET on February 13 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.

February 18, 2025 | 3:00-4:00 PM ET

Central Region Coffee Chat | Ambidextrous Leadership: Innovation and Operations

Hosted by UPCEA's Central Region

Looking to connect with Central Region peers? Join us for an informal, unrecorded opportunity to meet colleagues from the Central Region Leadership team. We’ll have introductions and share ways to stay connected. Our topic for this Coffee Chat is to learn from each other about the strategies attendees use to maintain current operations while also looking for ways to innovate. How do we grow while also making sure our established work gets the attention it needs?

Click here to access the room at 3PM ET on February 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.

February 19, 2025 | 3:00-4:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | How Do You Engage With Your Government Affairs Team?

Hosted by UPCEA's Policy Committee

Chat with colleagues about examples of how others work with their government affairs teams at different types of institutions. Gather tips and lessons learned, and share your own.

Click here to access the room at 3PM ET on February 19 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.

February 20, 2025 | 2:00-3:00 PM ET

Webinar | Is an OPM Right for You?

Cohosted by UPCEA and MindMax

Join us for an in-depth discussion about OPMs and your institution — is it the right fit or a temporary solution? Discover how to evaluate OPM partnerships and choose the model—full dependent, independent, or hybrid—that best aligns with your institution’s goals, culture, and needs. Learn to ask the right questions and make informed decisions for long-term success.
 
Key Takeaways
  • Institutional Readiness: Are you set up for a productive partnership?
  • Cultural Alignment: Will an OPM fit your institution’s values?
  • Operational Needs: Will an OPM fill key gaps?
  • Financial Considerations: Can an OPM help us scale sustainably?
  • Choosing the Right Path: Dependent, Independent, or Hybrid?
Presenters:
  • Lee Maxey, CEO, MindMax
  • Jim Fong, Chief Research Officer, UPCEA
February 25, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET

Webinar | Build Workforce-Ready Programs with Proven Partnership Strategies

Hosted by AAPC

Join AAPC and the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga for a discussion on how Continuing Education departments can integrate workforce-aligned programs to meet industry demand and enhance student career outcomes. This webinar will provide practical insights on program development, employer partnerships, and leveraging AAPC’s curriculum licensing to build high-quality, job-ready training. 
 
Presenters:
  • William Watson, University of Tennessee - Chattanooga 
  • Leonta Williams, AAPC 
February 26, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET

Webinar | Building the Future of Credentials: Guiding Principles for LER Adoption

Hosted by UPCEA as part of the LER Accelerator coalition

Join representatives from the LER Accelerator coalition for an engaging discussion on the core principles for adopting Learning and Employment Records (LERs)—a transformative framework designed to empower learners, bridge education and workforce needs, and support equitable lifelong learning pathways.

This landmark collaboration, endorsed by 12 national higher education associations, establishes nine guiding principles that prioritize learner agency, data privacy, interoperability, and accessibility. These principles provide a roadmap for institutions and organizations to design and implement LERs that are inclusive, secure, and adaptable to evolving workforce demands.

February 27, 2025 | 12:00-12:45 PM ET

Webinar | Expanding Access to Lifelong Learning: Insights From 3 Global Institutions That Successfully Scaled Their Continuing Education Offerings

Hosted by Drieam

Join us for a dynamic conversation featuring panelists from three prestigious institutions— University of St Andrews (Scotland), Jones College’s OWC (U.S.) and TIAS Business School (Netherlands) — on how these institutions have scaled their continuing education (CE) offerings, diversified revenue streams, and aligned their credentialing strategies with broader institutional goals. From executive education to workforce development and academic short courses, you’ll gain practical insights on tailoring continuing education programs to drive growth and create sustainable revenue while ensuring quality across various alternative credential models.

Attendees will gain insights into:

  • Expanding portfolio of alternative credentials while maintaining institutional quality.
  • Designing stackable micro-credentials and non-credit-to-credit pathways.
  • Building employer partnerships to drive enrollment and workforce impact.
  • Delivering high-quality learning experiences across diverse learning modalities, including online, hybrid, and in-person programs.
  • Aligning CE initiatives with institutional goals and demonstrating ROI.
Presenters:
  • Sarah Franke, Head of Digital Strategic Initiatives, University of St Andrews
  • Michael Trest, Dean of the Online Workforce College at Jones College
  • Marijn Veijgen, IT Manager Innovation, TIAS
  • Mieke Ridderhof, Chief Marketing Officer, Drieam
February 27, 2025 | 4:00-5:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Skill-aligned Curriculum: Designing Programs for Future Readiness

Hosted collaboratively by UPCEA's Program Planning and Implementation Network and International Network

The International Network is excited to partner with the Program Planning and Implementation Network for an upcoming Coffee Chat focused on Skill-Aligned Program Design: Preparing Learners for a Global Workforce. This event will delve into the skills gaps observed in global learner populations and explore how various programs are using innovative practices to address these gaps. Our discussion will center on sharing experiences across institutions and highlighting strategies for curriculum development and experiential learning opportunities that reinforce workforce skills. Our aim is an exchange of ideas and best practices to encourage advancements in program design that effectively meet the contemporary needs of learners across professional and continuing education.

Skill-Aligned Program design: Preparing Learners for a Global Workforce will take place on February 27, 2025 at 4 pm ET. We hope you can join us!

Click here to access the room at 4PM ET on February 27 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.

March 6, 2025 | 12:00-1:00 PM ET (16:00 CET)

Webinar | University of Wisconsin Business School: Using online discussions to bring equity and the real world into onsite classes

Hosted by Harmonize

Enno Siemsen and Peter Commons from the University of Wisconsin Business School use discussion forums to enhance their in-person classes. They focus on elaborating ideas and helping students apply concepts to the real world while ensuring everyone has a chance to participate. We’ll touch on how they use Harmonize to pace, auto-grade, and monitor discussions, keeping conversations going outside the classroom without adding extra work to their plates.  Finally we’ll discuss how to close the loop so interesting ideas from the online discussions can be brought back into the in person class and even awarded bonus points to encourage the cycle.
 
Presenters:
  • Billy Kardasz, Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Enno Siemsen, Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Peter Commons, Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • David Greene, Harmonize
March 10, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | PCO Support Teams That Work: Staffing & Structure

Hosted by UPCEA's Business & Operations Network

Business support teams are as unique as the units who participate in UPCEA. Designing the most effective staffing, structure and hybrid/remote/in-person mix is key to successful productivity. Join this chat and share an aspect of your structure that works really well so others can learn from your success!

Click here to access the room at 1PM ET on March 10 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.

March 13, 2025 | 1:00-1:45 PM ET

Webinar | Stacking Success: University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business Microcredentialing Journey

Hosted by Accredible

University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business has earned global recognition for its innovative and student-centric approach to academic programming. In the last five years, Gies has successfully designed a suite of stackable educational offerings, enabling students to take a course and then apply that credit to the B-school’s highly regarded iMBA or other certificate programs. Since launching the program, Gies has issued nearly 42,000 digital credentials to students — more than 9,000 of which were earned in the last academic year alone.
 
Granted, establishing a microcredentialing program and ensuring new course offerings met learners’ expectations and were delivered in a consistent way took a lot of planning, determination, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The results didn’t happen overnight, but the effort has been worth it.
 
Join Amanda Brantner, Director of Content and Educational Portfolio Strategy at Gies Business, and Dan Theckston, SVP of Customer Success at Accredible, as they dive deep into the challenges of building a microcredentialing initiative, how they overcame them, and the results that have led to stakeholder and learner adoption and expanding the initiative across campus.
 
Presenters:
  • Amanda Brantner, Director of Content and Educational Portfolio Strategy, University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business
  • Dan Theckston, Vice President of Customer Success, Accredible
 
March 13, 2025 | 4:00-5:00 PM ET

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

Whether you’re a newcomer or a pro, join us for an informal opportunity to connect with other #UPCEA2025 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 March 13 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.

March 18, 2025 | 2:00-3:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Building Bridges: Guiding Faculty to Find Balance in Online Engagement

Hosted by UPCEA's eDesign Collaborative Network

Join us for an engaging conversation on how to guide faculty toward balanced student engagement during the course design process. Instructional designers often encounter instructors who under-engage, hoping the course will run itself, or over-engage, feeling they must respond to every post 24/7. In this chat, we’ll explore practical strategies for fostering open, productive conversations with faculty to align expectations, share sustainable engagement practices, and build trust. Come share your experiences, tips, and success stories for creating courses where faculty presence is impactful and manageable!

Click here to access the room at 2PM ET on March 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.

April 16, 2025 | 3:00-4:00 PM ET

Webinar | Driving Innovation in Graduate and Professional Education: Key Research Insights from UPCEA and CGS

Presented by UPCEA and the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS)

Join UPCEA and the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) for an engaging webinar focused on key research findings that will shape the future of graduate and professional education. This collaborative session will explore emerging trends, where the convergence of student demand and innovative practices are transforming the landscape of higher education. We will explore recent UPCEA research that highlights enrollment funnel preferences of postbaccalaureate students and examine the heightened emphasis on online graduate education at the institutional level. We will also review results from the NSF-funded CGS research on pathways into masters programs and careers.

Designed for institutional leaders, faculty, and other key stakeholders, this webinar will provide actionable insights to inform strategy and drive growth in graduate and professional programs. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable perspectives from two leading organizations at the forefront of educational research and advocacy.

Presenters:

  • Bruce Etter, UPCEA
  • Emily West, UPCEA
  • Stacy Chiaramonte, UPCEA
  • Enyu Zhou, CGS
  • Alessandro Regio, CGS
April 30, 2025 | 10:00-11:00 AM ET (16:00 CET)

Webinar | Lifelong learning for health and wellbeing

Presented by eucen, UPCEA, AAACE, and CAUCE

Join representatives from eucen, UPCEA, AAACE and CAUCE for eucen's annual Seminar Across the Atlantic. This online event is an open event offered by the coordinating associations. Register for this important conversation around lifelong learning for health and wellbeing. 

Presenters:

  • Amy Heitzman, UPCEA
  • Tricia Berry, AAACE (tentative)
  • Sheila LeBlanc, CAUCE (tentative)
  • Carme ROYO, eucen (tentative)

Past Events

2024 MEMS | Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Success Conference | December 3-5, 2024 | Philadelphia, PA
DECEMBER 3-5, 2024

2024 UPCEA MEMS | Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Success Conference

Philadelphia, PA

Convergence Credential Innovation in Higher Education | Sept 30 - Oct 2, 2024 | New Orleans, LA
SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 2, 2024

2024 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education

Presented by UPCEA and AACRAO

New Orleans, LA

2024 DT&L and SOLA+R Conference | July 22-24, 2024 | Minneapolis, MN
JULY 22-24, 2024

2024 Summit for Online Leadership and Administration + Roundtable (SOLA+R) and Distance Teaching & Learning Conference (DT&L)

Minneapolis, MN

2024 UPCEA Annual Conference
MARCH 26-28, 2024

2024 UPCEA Annual Conference

UPCEA 2023 MEMS | Marketing. Enrollment Management. Student Success. | Portland, OR | November 29 - December 1, 2023
NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 1, 2023

2023 UPCEA MEMS | Marketing | Enrollment Management | Student Success

Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education | November 1-3, 2023 | Washington, DC
NOVEMBER 1-3, 2023

2023 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education

Presented by UPCEA and AACRAO

Washington DC
Capital Hilton

UPCEA West Region Map | New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
OCTOBER 19, 2023 | 10:30AM-2:30PM PT

West Region Salon

UPCEA Mid-Atlantic Region Map | West Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York
SEPTEMBER 28 2023 | 1PM - 5PM ET

Mid-Atlantic Region Salon

UPCEA New England Region Map | Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
AUGUST 2, 2023 | 11AM - 3 PM ET

New England Region Salon

2023 Distance Teaching & Learning (DT&L) and Summit for Online Leadership and Strategy + Roundtable (SOLA+R) Presented by UPCEA and University of Wisconsin-Madison July 25-27, 2023 Madison, Wisconsin
JULY 25 - 27, 2023

Distance Teaching & Learning (DT&L) +
Summit for Online Leadership and Strategy + Roundtable (SOLA+R)

Presented by UPCEA and University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI

UPCEA South Region Map | Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia
JULY 13, 2023 | 12PM - 4 PM ET

South Region Salon

UPCEA Central Region Map | Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota
JUNE 20, 2023 | 1PM - 5:30 PM ET

Central Region Salon

UPCEA 2023 Annual Conference | March 22-24, 2023 | Washington, DC
MARCH 22 - 24, 2023

2023 UPCEA Annual Conference

Washington DC
Washington Hilton

MEMS | Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Success | United for Success | November 30 - December 2, 2022 | New Orleans, LA
NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 2, 2022

2022 UPCEA MEMS | Marketing | Enrollment Management | Student Success

New Orleans, LA

The Ritz-Carlton

UPCEA South Region Map | Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia
NOVEMBER 2-4, 2022

2022 UPCEA South Region Conference

Atlanta, GA

JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead

UPCEA New England Region Map | Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
OCTOBER 26-28, 2022

2022 UPCEA New England Region Conference

Providence, RI

Renaissance Providence

UPCEA West Region Map | New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
OCTOBER 20, 2022

2022 UPCEA West Region Salon

UPCEA Mid-Atlantic Region Map | West Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York
OCTOBER 12-14, 2022

2022 UPCEA Mid-Atlantic Region Conference

Philadelphia, PA

Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District

UPCEA Central Region Map | Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota
SEPTEMBER 28-30, 2022

2022 UPCEA Central Region Conference

Columbus, OH

Sheraton Columbus at the Capitol

The 38th Distance Teaching and Learning Conference | August 3-5, 2022 | Virtual
AUGUST 3-5, 2022

2022 Distance Teaching & Learning Conference