What’s Next for Higher Ed? Higher Learning 2025 Encore Webinars
Dates:
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 | 1–3:45 p.m. CT
Thursday, July 31, 2025 | 1–3:45 p.m. CT
Location: Zoom
Registration Fee: $150 per person
Register by: July 16, 2025 | 11:59 p.m.
Higher Learning 2025 gathered thought leaders from across the country and beyond to share information about higher ed’s most pressing issues. Attend this two-day virtual speaker series to hear encore presentations from HLC’s annual conference on hot topics relevant to all higher ed leaders.
This six-webinar virtual series features presentations on federal legislative updates, the expanding skills-based credential market, applications for Generative AI, disaster preparation, and the new Carnegie Classifications.
The sessions will be offered live via Zoom, and registration for the series grants one attendee access to all presentations and their recordings.
Who Should Attend?
Faculty, staff, administrators and other higher ed professionals can benefit from these topics. These presentations will include repeat content from Higher Learning 2025, so we welcome those who did not attend the conference this year as well as attendees who would like to revisit sessions.
Program Fees
$150 per person
The program fee of $150 includes access to all six live webinar sessions. Recordings of all sessions will be distributed to registrants after the event concludes. Substitutions are not permitted.
Payment Options
Credit Card
HLC accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. For questions regarding payment, please email [email protected].
Cancellations & Refunds
You can cancel your registration online using the confirmation number you receive in your registration confirmation email. If you’re unable to cancel your registration online, please email [email protected].
Refunds resulting from cancellations will be based on the following dates:
- Cancellations requested on or before July 14, 2025 will be eligible for a full refund less a $25 processing fee per person.
- Cancellations requested between July 15, 2025 and July 28, 2025 will be eligible for a 50% refund less a $25 processing fee per person.
- No-shows or cancellations requested on or after July 29, 2025 are not eligible for a refund.
Tuesday, July 29
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
“Yes…And.” The Future of College is More Than Degrees
Kathleen deLaski, Founder and Board Chair, Education Design Lab
Join Education Design Lab founder Kathleen deLaski for a positive take on how higher ed institutions can manage the chaos that results from the need to address multiple challenges including demographic shifts, consumer concerns about the ROI of a degree, government funding cuts and GenAI. Learn how some institutions as well as employers are adding new strategies to their toolbox, moving beyond just degrees, for a “yes…and” approach to credentials.
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Accelerating Adoption of Digital Credentials: The LER Accelerator Coalition
Melanie Booth, HLC’s Credential Lab Consultant
Melanie Gottlieb, Executive Director, AACRAO
Niesha Taylor, Director of Career Readiness, NACE
Julie Uranis, Senior Vice President, Online and Strategic Initiatives, UPCEA
Representatives from postsecondary organizations that have joined forces in the Learning and Employment Records (LER) Accelerator Coalition will discuss the coalition’s purpose and goals. The coalition aims to overhaul the educational credential, create awareness of skills-based credentials, reduce adoption obstacles, develop usage guidelines, foster collaboration and demonstrate successful models that accelerate quality credentials.
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Washington Update
Jon Fansmith, Senior Vice President, Government Relations and National Engagement, American Council on Education
Join ACE’s Jon Fansmith for a federal legislative and regulatory update focused on the latest developments in higher education. Topics will include priority issues for federal policymakers and what to expect in the coming year.
Thursday, July 31
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Practical Applications for GenAI in Higher Education
Jon Davenport, Chief Information Officer, Higher Learning Commission
Ryan Low, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, University of Maine System
Kathe Pelletier, Director, Teaching and Learning Program, EDUCAUSE
Christopher van der Kaay, Founder and President, Castle AI Consulting
Each of us approach Generative AI (GenAI) with a mix of curiosity and concern. Hear a panel of experts address the realities of GenAI and discuss ethical considerations for its usage in higher education. Hear how the panel members leveraged this technology to achieve new levels of efficiency in their disciplines and discover innovative applications for GenAI in your own work.
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Disaster Preparation and Recovery
Timothy Letzring, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, University of Central Florida
Laura Leatherwood, President, Blue Ridge Community College
Christopher Fiebrich, Director of the Oklahoma Climatological Survey and Professor, University of Oklahoma
Ryan Tropser, President, Eastern New Mexico University – Ruidoso
In 2024, colleges and universities across the country were affected by a series of devastating natural disasters, including tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and wildfires. This session will feature insights from campus leaders whose institutions were directly impacted, as well as research from experts on what to expect in the face of future climate-related events. Attendees will gain practical guidance on preparedness strategies, institutional resilience and effective recovery planning, relevant for anyone involved in higher education operations, leadership, or support services.
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Unpacking the New Carnegie Classifications
Mushtaq Gunja, Executive Director, Carnegie Classification Systems and Senior Vice President, American Council on Education
The Carnegie Classifications are undergoing their most significant revision in its 50-year history. Learn the details of the changes and what the new classifications will mean for your institution.
Technology Requirements
Platform
All sessions of this speaker series will be delivered on Zoom. Each registered attendee will have a unique link to access the webinars, and substitutions and link sharing are not permitted.
Resources
Attendees, or their respective institutions, are responsible for installing and configuring any software or hardware necessary to participate. Follow these steps while checking device compatibility:
- Check the Zoom System Requirements to confirm each team member’s device can support the platform.
- Run an Internet Speed Test on the device(s) that will be connecting to the online meeting. Compare results to the Zoom system requirements to ensure the internet speed matches the recommended bandwidth for meeting attendees.
- Visit the Zoom Download Center to find out whether the latest version is installed or check for updates on your Zoom application.
Additional Zoom guidelines and event-specific instructions will be sent out to registered attendees one week prior to the start of the event.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am not able to attend one or more of the webinar sessions. Can someone else attend in my place?
No, each registered attendee will have a unique link to access the webinars, and substitutions are not permitted. If you registered for the series, you will receive all session recordings.
When will I receive the Zoom links?
You will receive the Zoom links for all webinars one week prior to the first session.
With there be time for questions?
Each session will conclude with five minutes for the speaker to address questions submitted through the Zoom Q&A feature.
Will I have access to the recording/slides?
Yes, you will receive the recordings and any included slides from all presentations within one week after the series has concluded. The recordings will not include the Q&A portion of the webinar.
