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

Convergence | Credential Innovation in Higher Education | October 13-15, 2026 | Washington, DC | #credovation
OCTOBER 13-15, 2026

2026 Convergence | Credential Innovation in Higher Education

MEMS 2026 | Marketing. Enrollment Management and Student Success Conference | November 30-December 2 | Orlando, FL
NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 2, 2026

MEMS 2026 | Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Success Conference

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

2026 Regional Salons

Virtual

Free to All UPCEA Members

Digital Teaching & Learning (DT&L) Conference | February 3-4, 2027 | Virtual | Free to Members
FEBRUARY 3 - 4, 2027

2027 Digital Teaching & Learning Conference (DT&L)

Virtual

Free to All UPCEA Members

UPCEA 2027 Annual Conference | April 13-15, 2027 | Anaheim, CA | #UPCEA2027
APRIL 13 - 15, 2027

2027 Annual Conference

Webinars & Chats

August 20, 2026 | 3:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Shorter Degrees, Bigger Questions

Hosted by the Engagement & Opportunity Committee

As institutions explore new approaches to serving working adults and other nontraditional learners, proposals for 90-credit bachelor's degrees are gaining attention. Advocates argue that shorter pathways can reduce time to completion, lower costs, and better align with the realities facing today's learners. At the same time, institutions must carefully consider whether these models are truly fit for purpose and designed around learner needs rather than market pressures or emerging trends. Similar questions are being explored in higher education systems around the world, offering additional perspectives on degree length, learning outcomes, and workforce preparation.

Join colleagues for an informal coffee chat exploring the opportunities and challenges associated with 90-credit degree programs. Participants can expect to discuss characteristics, goals, and circumstances of learners who may be attracted to these pathways, as well as key considerations related to program design, transferability, workforce outcomes, employer perceptions, student support, and institutional strategy. The conversation will also invite participants to examine international models and experiences with shorter degree pathways, considering what lessons and cautions may be relevant in the U.S. context. Bring your questions, experiences, and perspectives as we examine what it takes to design shorter degree pathways that genuinely expand access and support learner success.

Click here to access the room at 3PM on August 20 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.

August 25, 2026 | 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET

Webinar | Breaking Away From Your OPM (Without Breaking Your Business)

Hosted by Collegis Education

How to reclaim control and reduce operational and student disruption.

Leaving a revenue-share OPM can be the right strategic move. It can also expose just how deeply the provider has become embedded in your institution’s operation. Recruitment campaigns are still running, applicants are still moving through the funnel, students still need support, and critical data, technology, accounts, processes, and institutional knowledge may still sit outside your control. 

That is why any OPM exit should be treated as a business-continuity program, not simply a contract decision or procurement event. The goal is not to move every capability in-house overnight. It is to determine what your institution should own, what it needs to build, and where the right strategic partner can protect performance, expand capacity, and help transfer capabilities over time. 

Join Matt Lachey, Associate Vice President of Partner Solutions at Collegis Education, for a practical discussion on how to assess OPM dependence, define a more flexible future-state operating model, and sequence the transition to reduce risk to the student experience and enrollment performance.

What you’ll learn:

This webinar will help institutional leaders move beyond the question of whether to leave an OPM and focus on how to execute the transition with confidence.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Identify hidden risks of OPM dependence across economics, operations, data, technology, talent, brand, and the student experience.
  • Assess transition readiness and determine which capabilities to own, build, or partner for.
  • Define an operating model that restores institutional ownership of strategy, data, technology, decision-making, and financial visibility.
  • Build a phased transition roadmap aligned to enrollment cycles and student needs—not just the contract end date.
  • Protect students at every stage of the enrollment journey with clear ownership, tested handoffs, and cutover readiness.
  • Leverage strategic partners to maintain momentum, fill capacity gaps, and build internal capability without creating new dependencies.

Who should attend:

This webinar is designed for executive and functional leaders evaluating an OPM partnership and considering other operational and partnership models.

  • Presidents, chancellors, and cabinet leaders
  • Provosts, chief online officers, and academic leaders 
  • Enrollment, marketing, and student success leaders

Presenter:
Matt Lachey, Collegis Education

August 26, 2026 | 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET

Webinar | Hallmarks of Excellence: Instructional Support & Learner Support

Hosted by UPCEA

Discover how excellence in digital learning depends on coordinated instructional support and learner-centered services. Hallmark authors will share strategies for supporting faculty, designing high-quality learning experiences, and creating integrated systems that promote learner success across every stage of the student journey.

Speakers:
Luke Dowden, Alamo Colleges
Annie Shean, Point Park University

September 1, 2026 | 2:00 PM-2:45 PM ET

Webinar | Rebuilding Trust in Higher Education: A Conversation with Brandeis University and Merrimack College

Hosted by Noodle

Prospective students arrive with questions: is this program right for me, what will it actually cost, and how does it fit the life I'm already living. These questions decide whether a learner moves forward or walks away.

Brandeis University and Merrimack College have made transparency a starting point for the enrollment experience, meeting prospective students earlier, with clearer information, and greater trust. Their approaches, including the technology and tools behind them, offer lessons that travel across program types, learner populations, and institutional contexts.

This session brings enrollment leaders from both institutions together to walk through what early transparency looks like in practice and what it takes to build.

What We'll Cover

• Why transparency has become central to enrollment trust across higher education, particularly for adult, returning, and professional learners
• How two institutions approached the operational, cultural, and leadership decisions that made early transparency possible
• What it looks like in practice to help prospective students identify the right program, understand real costs, and plan around their lives, including the role technology plays in     making that possible at scale
• The transferable principles: what these approaches have in common and how enrollment leaders can assess readiness at their own institutions
• How enrollment leaders can use transparency as a strategic and ethical advantage across graduate and continuing education contexts

You'll leave with a practical view of how two institutions built trust earlier in the enrollment journey and a set of questions to bring back to your own team.

Presenters:
Jen Walker, Brandeis University 
Jeanne Zilliox, Merrimack College
Melissa Batalin, Noodle

September 9, 2026 | 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET

Webinar | Hallmarks of Excellence: External Advocacy & Professionalism

Hosted by UPCEA

Digital learning leaders increasingly shape conversations that extend beyond their own institutions. This session examines how leaders can influence policy, accreditation, professional organizations, and the future of the profession while modeling ethical leadership, stewardship, and service to higher education.

Speakers:
Rae Mancilla, University of Pittsburgh
John McKenzie, UNT Health Fort Worth
Anthony Pina, Illinois State University
Laurel Hogue, University of Central Missouri

September 15, 2026 | 12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | The Noncredit Side of the Street

Hosted by the eDesign Collaborative Network

Noncredit instructional design comes with its own rhythm, rules, and rewards — different stakeholders, different timelines, and often a different definition of "success." Join us for a coffee chat exploring what it's really like to design for the noncredit space, including the unique challenges of credit-to-noncredit conversion, working with SMEs outside traditional academic structures, and building courses that stand on their own outside a degree pathway. Whether noncredit is your whole world or just one piece of your portfolio, come share what's working, what's tricky, and what you wish more people understood about this corner of ID.

Click here to access the room at 12PM on September 15 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.

September 22, 2026 | 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET

Webinar | Hallmarks of Excellence: Technology & Digital Innovation

Hosted by UPCEA

Technology has evolved from a collection of tools into a strategic ecosystem that supports teaching, learning, operations, and institutional transformation. Join the Hallmark authors as they discuss technology governance, artificial intelligence, digital credentials, analytics, and the leadership decisions that enable innovation while advancing institutional goals.

Speakers:
Gloria Niles, University of Hawaii
Renee Pfeifer-Luckett, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Gayla Stoner, Creighton University
Shawn Miller, Rice University
Emily Boles, University of Illinois Springfield

September 29, 2026 | 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET

Webinar | Building a Data-Informed, Human-Centered Shared Services Model

Hosted by the Business & Operations Network

Behind every successful analytics dashboard, seamless budget, and program is a team of people who feel supported, valued, and connected to the mission. Operational excellence isn't just about financial models; it's about nurturing culture while building tools that empower staff. Join 2026 UPCEA Award Winner Adalia "Jessie" Sova for a warm, candid, behind-the-curtain look at how NC State University unified credit and non-credit operations across two distinct divisions (DELTA and NCSCaLE), created a powerful enterprise data engine, and built an agile, compassionate team culture. In this session, we will dive into:

  • Human-Centered Leadership & Culture: Putting people first by leveraging CliftonStrengths, structured professional development, monthly staff-led Innovation Meetings, Career-to-Journey Maps, and staff-led ideas integrated directly into individual and team goals, resulting in an extraordinary 94% team retention rate.
  • Enterprise Data & Systems: Integrating PeopleSoft Financials and two Conference and Course registration systems into role-based Power BI dashboards. These dashboards give staff real-time visibility into program performance and margins while managing business services for the campus’s non-credit enterprise registration system.
  • Co-Creating the Future (Our Team-Built FY27–FY29 Strategic Plan): How our entire shared services team collaborated to build our 3-year operational roadmap, establishing a shared vision to drive automated workflows and long-term transformation for both divisions.

 

October 21, 2026 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | The Fraud Conversation: Identity Verification Strategies for Today's Enrollment Landscape

Hosted by the Policy Committee

With evolving fraud tactics and increased scrutiny around identity verification, institutions are rethinking admissions and enrollment processes. This interactive discussion will explore current practices, emerging challenges, and practical strategies for strengthening fraud prevention while maintaining a student-centered approach.

Moderators

  • Johnna Denning-Smith, Marian University
  • Bridget Beville, University of Phoenix
  • Sean Doyal, Purdue University

Click here to access the room at 2PM on October 21 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.

November 19, 2026 | 3:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Degrees, Designations, and Debt: The Cost of Being "Non-Professional"

Hosted by the Engagement & Opportunity Committee

Federal financial aid policies shape who can access higher education and how institutions design programs. This informal coffee chat will explore the consequences of the federal "professional degree" designation and how its narrow definition affects learners, institutions, and critical workforce sectors.

Participants can expect to discuss the challenges faced by students enrolled in programs that do not qualify as professional degrees for federal aid purposes, often requiring reliance on private loans despite preparing graduates for high-demand occupations. For example, the creation of associate degrees in teacher education raises questions about workforce shortages, credential pathways, and the evolving professional status of educators. Participants will also be encouraged to consider how other countries define, credential, and finance preparation for professions, and what lessons those models may offer for U.S. policy and practice.

Attendees will explore the characteristics and needs of learners in these programs, consider financial aid implications during program planning, and share institutional strategies for supporting students navigating these complex funding environments. Together, participants will examine both perspectives on professional preparation, access, affordability, and workforce development. Together we will create space for a candid conversation about how policy definitions shape educational opportunity and the engagement of learners.

Click here to access the room at 3PM on November 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 18, 2027 | 3:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

Coffee Chat | Ready or Not? Accessibility, RSI, and the New Compliance Reality

Hosted by the Engagement & Opportunity Committee

Accessibility and Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) continue to be areas of significant focus for institutions offering online, professional, and continuing education programs. While the recent one-year extension of compliance deadlines for Title II web and mobile accessibility requirements provides some additional time, many institutions are still assessing the scope of work required to meet evolving expectations. At the same time, renewed attention to RSI—particularly within competency-based education (CBE) and other innovative learning models—is prompting institutions to revisit how they design and document meaningful instructor-initiated engagement.

Join colleagues for an informal coffee chat focused on sharing experiences, challenges, and emerging practices related to accessibility and RSI. Participants will discuss strategies for planning and prioritizing accessibility efforts, supporting faculty and instructional teams, documenting compliance, and balancing regulatory requirements with learner-centered design. Bring your questions, lessons learned, and ideas as we explore how institutions are preparing for the next phase of accessibility and online learning oversight.

Click here to access the room at 3PM 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.

Past Events

SOLAR 2026 | Summit for Online Leadership and Administration | July 29-31, 2026 | Boston, MA
JULY 29-31, 2026

2026 SOLAR (Summit for Online Leadership and Administration)

UPCEA 2026 Annual Conference | April 15-17, 2026 | New Orleans, LA
APRIL 15-17, 2026

2026 UPCEA Annual Conference

2026 UPCEA Digital Teaching & Learning Conference (DT&L) | Virtual | February 4-5, 2026
FEBRUARY 4-5, 2026

2026 Digital Teaching & Learning (DT&L) Conference

Virtual

Free to All UPCEA Members

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

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

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

2025 SOLAR: Summit for Online Leadership and Administration + Roundtable

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

2025 UPCEA Annual Conference

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