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

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.

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

October 14, 2025 | 12 PM-12:45 PM ET

Webinar | Serving More Learners with Less: How Jones College's Online Workforce College Delivered 130,000+ Credentials with a 2-Person Team with an unexpected twist – accidentally setting up a CLR!

Hosted by Drieam

Alternative Credentials: A 3-Part International Webinar Series for CE Leaders on Scaling, Modernizing, and Building Pathways

What does it look like when continuing education is built to serve the people who need it most, not just the people who can afford it? At Jones College's OWC, two people run a CE program that's lean, accessible, and statewide.

With only two full-time staff, OWC serves more than 4,000 learners annually and has issued over 130,000 credentials by managing 700+ training modules through automation and streamlined workflows. Programs are co-designed with local employers to ensure workforce alignment, with courses priced between $10 and $150 to keep access affordable. Learners progress through a stackable microcredential model, earning digital badges that build toward broader skillsets and are recognized by employers. Learners leave with a Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR) that showcases verifiable, portable evidence of skills and supports mobility across jobs and institutions.

This session will highlight how OWC built an innovative model that prioritizes impact over size, offering lessons for institutions looking to expand access, build trusted credentials, and sustain growth with limited resources.

Webinar 1 Presenter:

Dr. Michael Trest, Dean of Online Workforce College, Jones College

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

Coffee Chat | Higher Education in 2025: Serving Those Who Have Not Been Fully-Engaged in Traditional Models of Postsecondary Education

Hosted by the UPCEA's Engagement & Opportunity Committee

The new administration’s perspectives on higher education are prompting reflection and adjustment across postsecondary education. For leaders in professional, continuing, and online learning, these changes may influence programming, student services, faculty engagement, funding and institutional practices.

This unrecorded coffee chat offers a collegial space to exchange observations, discuss resources, and consider approaches to navigating this evolving environment. Together we’ll explore:

What new perspectives are emerging in the field.
What can—and cannot—be addressed under in the current environment.
Resources and strategies to help navigate these challenges.

The session is designed for open conversation and mutual learning in a supportive peer setting.

Click here to download a calendar invite

October 21, 2025 | 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | UPCEA Membership - Essential, Actionable, and Meaningful

Hosted by UPCEA Membership Committee

Considering joining UPCEA? This event is for you! Join us for a live, camera-on collegial coffee chat with current UPCEA members. We will share how members Learn. Know. Do together -- through the people, knowledge, and resources that define UPCEA membership.

Special Offer for Eligible Attendees

FREE admission to a virtual Salon of your choice (Test-drive membership)

Access to a new membership dues deal for institutions that join after this event

Be part of a community that advances online and professional education across the enterprise.

Click here to access the meeting room on October 21 at 1PM ET.

No pre-registration required. Questions? Email [email protected]

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 23, 2025 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET

2025 AI Search in Higher Education Research Study

Hosted by Search Influence

New UPCEA and Search Influence research reveals how AI is reshaping the prospective student’s search journey and what that means for higher ed marketers.

Half of today’s prospects use AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity at least weekly, but they aren’t abandoning traditional tools: 84% still rely on search engines, and 63% visit university websites when exploring options. Even so, AI shapes what they trust: 79% of prospects read Google’s AI Overviews, and 56% are more likely to trust brands cited by AI.

Join us for a first look at the data behind these shifts, including where students search, how they use AI, and which sources they trust most.

What You’ll Learn:

How prospects use AI tools, search engines, and university websites when researching programs
Which alternative platforms prospects are treating as search engines, including YouTube, Amazon, and Reddit
How prospective students engage with Google’s AI Overviews and the trust they place in cited sources

You’ll walk away with actionable guidance to turn AI search trends into growth opportunities. Discover how to create content that AI cites and structure your website for search engine trust, so your programs are found, considered, and chosen in the evolving search landscape.

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

October 30, 2025 | 12 PM-12:45 PM ET

Webinar | Lifelong Learning Through Lifelong Experience: How the University of Iceland Modernized CE in 4 Months

Hosted by Drieam

Alternative Credentials: A 3-Part International Webinar Series for CE Leaders on Scaling, Modernizing, and Building Pathways

How does a continuing education unit with 40 years of history modernize in just four months while sustaining access, strengthening partnerships, and expanding pathways for learners? At the University of Iceland, the CE unit has been serving adult learners since 1983, and in just four months it transformed its operations streamlining systems, creating new revenue opportunities, and expanding flexible learning formats

The University of Iceland's Continuing Education unit delivers 400+ programs annually to more than 12,000 learners. To meet changing expectations and scale sustainably, the team modernized operations with Eduframe + Canvas, introducing automation, a learner portal, and a business portal for employer and union training. This transformation supported the wider university by reclassifying 30 ECTS diplomas as microcredentials, ensured programs remained accessible, and created new revenue opportunities through bundled offerings.

Today, the unit is expanding into self-paced courses and building flexible noncredit-to-credit pathways that support learner mobility and institutional sustainability.

Presenters:

Íris Dröfn Magnúsdóttir, University of Iceland

Elva Björg Arnarsdóttir, University of Iceland

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 13, 2025 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Building Global Bridges: Conversations with International Education Partners

Hosted by the UPCEA International Network

Are you looking to explore international education through a global lens? Join us for an engaging and informal conversation with education partners from around the world, which will offer a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, compare educational frameworks, and discuss emerging trends shaping the international education landscape. Whether you're seeking new collaborations or simply curious about global perspectives, this chat is designed to spark meaningful dialogue and foster lasting connections among organizations. Bring your questions, insights, and curiosity to this opportunity to learn and grow!

Click here to download a calendar invite

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 15, 2026 | 3:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Higher Education in 2026: Reframing Language and Practice for Today’s Learners

Hosted by the UPCEA's Engagement & Opportunity Committee

As the postsecondary environment shifts under the current administration, higher education professionals are reflecting on how best to describe and support learners who have not been fully engaged in traditional models of postsecondary education. Many institutions are exploring new ways to identify, describe, and reach students who have historically been overlooked or excluded from standard pathways.

This unrecorded coffee chat offers a space for colleagues in professional, continuing, and online education to:

Discuss how language and framing are evolving in this work.
Share approaches to identifying and describing learners in ways that are accurate, respectful, and responsive to current directives.
Consider strategies for advancing engagement & opportunity while navigating new expectations.

The session is designed as an open, collegial conversation to exchange ideas and resources in a supportive peer community.

Click here for the COLO-exclusive thread with chat details

January 21, 2026 | 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: