Conferences are the place to be if you’re looking to get inspired, make new friends, and learn from leaders in the higher education marketing space. And while all of that is very exciting, we understand how time-consuming it is to find the right conferences to attend, compare pricing, and submit speaking proposals on time.
In order to keep you from pulling your hair out, we’ve already done a lot of the legwork for you. What follows is a wish list of higher education marketing conferences you don’t want to miss.
Keep in mind: Planning for some of these events is still underway, but we’ll do our best to keep this list up-to-date as new information comes to light.
2018 CASE District II Conference
When: February 25-27, 2018
Where: National Harbor, MD
Cost: $525 member pricing, $575 for non-members
The largest of the eight CASE districts, District II is made up of more than 700 alumni relations, marketing and communications, and philanthropy professionals. Each year, these professionals come together to network, advocate and foster support for higher education. This year the conference is headed to the beautiful National Harbor, where session topics include “Using Facebook Live to Support Your Message” and “Beyond the Marketing Department: Building an Institution-wide Brand Team.”
UPCEA Annual Conference
http://conferences.upcea.edu/annual2018/index.html
When: March 14-16, 2018
Where: Baltimore, MD
Cost: Fees range from $975 (early bird members) to $1425 (onsite non-members)
Now in its 103rd year, the UPCEA Annual Conference is one of the largest gatherings of thought leaders and practitioners today in the field of professional, continuing, and online education. Attendees have access to targeted sessions on the most pressing topics in the field today – including an entire track dedicated to Marketing, Enrollment, and Student Services. This conference is a must-attend for anyone responsible for the management, administration, and growth of professional, continuing, and online education programs.
CASE Social Media and Community
http://www.case.org/Conferences_and_Training/SMC18.html
When: March 14-16, 2018
Where: New Orleans, LA
Cost: Fees range from $935 (early bird members) to $1,410 (non-members after Feb. 2)
The popular CASE Social Media and Community conference, or #casesmc as it’s affectionately known on Twitter, is back and coming to you from NOLA this year. This conference brings together web and social media strategists from across higher ed to discuss best practices in social media storytelling, social listening, engagement, and more. Sessions include “Making Real Decisions with Facebook Ad Data,” “Social-first Strategies for Advancement,” and a Podcasting Panel, which features our very own Stephen App. Grab your ticket now to catch his virtual appearance, in which he’ll share insights from hosting the Hashtag Higher Ed podcast while managing to keep his cool with a two-week-old baby at home.
AACRAO Annual Meeting
When: March 25-28, 2018
Where: Orlando, FL
Cost: Rates vary based on date purchased and member status. Register by February 16 for early bird pricing.
Now in its 104th year (yes, you read that correctly), the annual American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) meeting promises four days of workshops, roundtables, and plenty of networking opportunities. Positioned as the leading authority on student admissions, academic records, international education, and enrollment management, the AACRAO aims to help conference attendees obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure student and institutional success.
University of Illinois Web Con
When: April 4-6, 2018
Where: Champaign, IL
Cost: Early bird $175 through February 1, standard pricing $250
Brought to you by the University of Illinois, this three-day web conference is perfect for web designers, developers, social media marketers, content managers and other web professionals within the higher ed space and beyond. Speakers announced for this year’s event include Senior Program Manager at Microsoft Maria Naggaga, as well tech pros from the University of Illinois and Stanford Graduate School of Business. Be sure to get your tickets early for this popular event as space is limited.
NAGAP 2018 Annual Conference: Sustain & Innovate
https://www.nagap.org/31st-annual-conference
When: April 11-14, 2018
Where: New Orleans, LA
Cost: Fees range from $500 (early bird members) to $850 (onsite non-members)
The Association for Graduate Enrollment Management’s mission is to “support, advance, and engage graduate enrollment professionals by promoting integrity, excellence, and collaboration through education and professional development.” The Annual Conference, held in April each year, brings hundreds of graduate admissions and graduate enrollment management professionals together to gain insight and knowledge from peers and experts in the field. This year, the opening keynote will be given by Dr. Tererai Trant, an adjunct professor in Monitoring & Evaluation in Global Health at Drexel University, School of Public Health.
Higher Ed Content Conference
http://higheredexperts.com/edu/course/higher-ed-content-conference/
When: April 25, 2018
Where: Online
Cost: $400
Don’t have the time or resources to travel to a conference this spring, but still want to gain valuable information from thought leaders in the industry? The Higher Ed Content Conference is held completely online and aimed at higher ed professionals who want to help their school create better content across all digital channels including web and social media.
Confab
When: May 21-23, 2018
Where: Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Early bird $1,495 through January 19, standard pricing $1,695 until March 16
Rather than hosting a dedicated conference for higher ed, Confab decided to combine specialized conferences into one main event this year. While we’re saddened to see the end of everyone’s favorite higher ed content strategy party, Confab 2018 promises to have something for everyone – including intensive half-day workshops, cake, main-stage talks on major challenges, short takes on emerging topics, and tailored networking opportunities for a stellar, 360-degree content strategy education. The program includes speakers from Microsoft, the University of Minnesota, Airbnb, and more. Did we mention they have cake?
UBTech Conference
https://www.ubtechconference.com/
When: June 4-6, 2018
Where: Las Vegas, NV
Cost: $595
UBTech is an annual conference and trade show organized by the print magazine, University Business. Held in Las Vegas, this three-day event brings together key campus leaders from hundreds of colleges and universities to talk about technology innovation across every aspect of campus leadership and practice. If you’re obsessed with tech and looking for opportunities to interact with the leading technology providers and influencers in the higher education market, you don’t want to miss this event.
CASE Conference on Marketing and Branding
http://www.case.org/Conferences_and_Training/ACMB18.html
When: June 4-6, 2018
Where: Denver, CO
Cost: $935 for Case Members, $1,350 for non-members before April 27
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) hosts dozens of conferences each year focusing on various areas within higher ed. A favorite among higher ed marketing professionals is the Annual Conference on Marketing and Branding, which will take place in Denver this year. Attend this three-day conference to gain insights into how to build a successful brand strategy and bring your campus stakeholders with you.
SUNYCUAD’s 2018 Conference
http://sunycuad.org/annual_conference
When: June 6-8, 2018
Where: Syracuse, NY
Cost: Early bird $425, standard pricing $475, non-member rate $500
Hosted by the State University of New York’s Council for University Advancement, this event spans three days and includes experts who work in development, public relations, alumni relations, publications, government relations, marketing, web communications, and social media. The theme for this year’s conference is “Forward Focused,” as higher ed strives to develop new ways of providing a life-changing educational experience to students of every type in today’s ever-changing world. If you’re interested in speaking at the event, the deadline for proposals is February 6, and a complete list of speakers will be released in the spring.
Content Ed
When: June 14-15, 2018
Where: London, UK
Cost: Early bird $793 + VAT before March 2, standard pricing $855 + VAT
Now in its second year, ContentEd is a higher ed conference brought to you by the team at Pickle Jar Communications, a leading UK-based content strategy consultancy to the education sector. The conference takes place in London and covers the full spectrum of content strategy from editorial and content marketing, to technical considerations. If you’re a professional involved in the management of content in an education organization, you’ll want to make the trip across the pond to learn about recruitment marketing, alumni engagement, and much more.
2018 GMAC Annual Conference
When: June 27-29, 2018
Where: Boston, MA
Cost: Rates for this year have not yet been announced.
Who should attend the GMAC Annual Conference in Boston? While past programming has been targeted to those in admissions, marketing, and MBA program management; graduate management admission administrators of all levels are encouraged to attend. The conference is an excellent opportunity for business school professionals to explore new ideas, solve current challenges, and learn from thought leaders in education and management.
CASE Summit for Leaders in Advancement
http://www.case.org/Summit18.html
When: July 15-17, 2018
Where: New York, NY
Cost: Rates have not yet been announced.
This annual meeting brings together senior-level higher education advancement professionals to discuss timely issues facing the future of advancement. Last year’s Summit featured key speakers such as Janet Napolitano, President of the University of California, and Thomas Friedman, Foreign Affairs Columnist at The New York Times. If you’re interested in speaking at this year’s event, the deadline for proposals is February 2.
eduWeb Digital Summit
When: July 23-25, 2018
Where: San Diego, CA
Cost: Early bird $975, standard pricing $$1,095
eduWeb is the place to be if you’re involved in digital marketing for higher ed. Launched in 2006, this conference prides itself on offering a diverse selection of presentations and pre-conference workshops focusing on the integration of mobile, social media, branding, and communication content with programming, design, and analytics. Follow the hashtag #eduweb18 on Twitter for the most up to date info regarding this year’s conference in San Diego.
2018 NACAC National Conference
https://www.nacacconference.org/
When: September 27-29, 2018
Where: Salt Lake City, UT
Cost: Rates vary based on date purchased and member status.
The National Association for College Admission Counseling’s annual conference brings together more than 6,500 secondary and postsecondary college admission counseling professionals together to exchange ideas and learn from experts in the field. Speakers for this year’s event have not yet been announced, but you can follow along on Twitter using #nacac18 for the latest updates.
HighEdWeb
When: October 21-24, 2018
Where: Sacramento, CA
Cost: Rates have not yet been announced. Registration opens in spring 2018.
HigherEdWeb, one of the biggest conferences created by and for higher ed web professionals, is coming to Sacramento this year. Chock full of internationally recognized keynote speakers and abundant networking opportunities, this annual conference is perfect for anyone looking to explore the unique Web issues facing colleges and universities today. The call for proposals opens in February, and registration begins in the spring.
2018 Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education
When: November 4-7, 2018
Where: Orlando, FL
Cost: $895 member pricing, $1,095 for non-members
Held in Orlando and hosted by the American Marketing Association, this four-day event covers strategies to help higher education institutions differentiate, engage, fundraise, and recruit. Attended by more than 1,200 colleagues, experts, and keynotes speakers; this event is certainly one of the largest, most comprehensive events in higher education. Grab your seat to learn about innovative approaches to everything from social media to brand building.
AACRAO SEM Meeting
http://www.aacrao.org/professional-development/meetings/future-meetings
When: November 11-14, 2018
Where: Washington, DC
Cost: Historical rates can be found here for budget planning purposes.
AACRAO’s Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Conference brings together a talented group of enrollment management professionals looking to maximize student success, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the financial well-being of their institution. Speakers from last year’s lineup included Dr. Tricia Seifert, head of the Department of Education and Associate Professor in the Adult & Higher Education program at Montana State University, and New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey J. Selingo.
Higher Ed Social Media Conference 2018
http://higheredexperts.com/edu/course/higher-ed-social-media-conference/
When: November 24, 2018
Where: Online
Cost: $400
Hosted completely online, this conference is THE annual online event for higher ed social media professionals and teams. It’s completely focused on social media in higher ed, and has featured past speakers from top universities such as the University of Michigan and Texas A&M. Topics from last year’s sessions included “Tips and Tools for Measuring the Impact of Social Media on Giving Day Campaigns” and “Snap Back to (Virtual) Reality: Producing Engaging 360° Social Media Content.”
What higher ed conferences are you dying to attend this year? Did we miss any on our list? Let us know on Twitter
@eCityInteract.
