Higher Education IT Strategic Leadership Summit 2026
Overview
The Higher Education IT Strategic Leadership Council Summit is an invitation-only gathering of CIOs and senior technology leaders hosted by the Center for Digital Education. This closed-door, peer-to-peer forum brings together institutional and industry executives to exchange ideas, compare strategies, and shape the future of digital leadership in higher education.
The summit begins with a networking dinner, followed by a full day of focused, candid discussions. Topics reflect the core responsibilities and strategic priorities on every higher education CIO’s desk today, including:
• Enterprise architecture, modernization road mapping, and lifecycle management
• Cybersecurity resilience, risk governance, and incident readiness
• Data strategy, analytics maturity, and AI-enabled student and administrative services
• Budget optimization, sustainable funding models, and aligning IT investments with institutional mission
• Organizational structure, talent development, and workforce retention in a changing IT landscape
• Digital experience and service delivery improvements for students, faculty, and staff
This is a working session—not a conference. Attendees leave with practical insights, meaningful connections, and strategies to lead complex institutions through ongoing technological and organizational transformation.
Agenda
Tuesday, December 8 |
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6:00 pm Central |
Summit DinnerJoin Us |
Wednesday, December 9 |
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8:00 am Central |
Registration and Breakfast |
8:30 am Central |
WelcomeBrian Cohen, Vice President, Center for Digital Education |
8:45 am Central |
The Modern CIO: How Is the Role Changing, and What Will It Take to Be Successful?The CIO's role continues to evolve beyond technology operations into institutional strategy, innovation, risk management, and organizational leadership. What do presidents, boards, and academic leaders expect from today's CIO? How are responsibilities changing, and what skills, relationships, and approaches will define success in the years ahead?
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9:35 am Central |
AI After the Hype: Where Is It Actually Creating Value and What Are You Scaling?AI experimentation is widespread, but institutions are increasingly being asked to demonstrate results. Where is AI delivering measurable value across academic and administrative operations? What initiatives are moving beyond pilots, what hasn't worked, and how are institutions determining what deserves additional investment?
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10:25 am Central |
Break & Networking |
10:45 am Central |
The AI-Ready University: What Infrastructure and Capabilities Are You Investing In Next?As AI adoption expands, institutions must evaluate whether their technology environments are ready to support it. What investments in infrastructure, data, integration, security, and workforce capabilities are becoming essential? Where are institutions building internal capabilities, leveraging existing platforms, or turning to partners?
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11:35 am Central |
Third-Party Risk: What Are the New Risks and How Are CIOs and Institutions Managing What They Don’t Control?Colleges and universities increasingly depend on external providers for critical systems, services, and data. How are institutions evaluating and managing the security, operational, financial, and reputational risks associated with these relationships? What approaches are working to strengthen oversight, accountability, and institutional resilience?
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12:30 pm Central |
Lunch |
1:30 pm Central |
Modernization Without Replacement: How Far Can You Take What You Already Have?Replacing aging technology isn't always practical or affordable. How can institutions modernize existing systems, improve integration, reduce technical debt, and extend the value of their current investments? This interactive session will bring education and industry leaders together in small groups to discuss real modernization challenges facing their institutions. Participants will share experiences, explore alternative approaches, and identify practical ideas and lessons they can take back to campus.
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2:20 pm Central |
Break & Networking |
2:30 pm Central |
The Technology Investment Agenda: Where Are You Spending, Where Are You Pulling Back, and What Comes Next?With financial pressures mounting and technology demands continuing to grow, institutions face increasingly difficult investment decisions. What priorities are CIOs protecting, where are they reducing or redirecting spending, and what investments can no longer wait? How are technology leaders balancing AI, cybersecurity, modernization, infrastructure, and staffing while demonstrating value to institutional leadership?
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3:20 pm Central |
Summit Wrap-Up: Priorities, Takeaways & What's Next |
3:30 pm Central |
Summit AdjournsConference times, agenda and speakers are subject to change.
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Houston City College | District Conference Center 2nd Floor
3100 Main St.
Houston, TX 77002
713-718-2052
Houston City College | District Conference Center 2nd Floor
Registration Information / Contact Us
Event Date: December 8 and 9, 2026
This is an invitation-only event, open to Public Sector only. For more information or to request an invitation, please contact Jasmin Tetzlaff.
Sponsorship is open to Industry members of the Higher Education IT Strategic Leadership Council Program only. To learn more about becoming an Industry member, please contact Heather Earney.
This event is open to all individuals who meet the eligibility criteria, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.
Contact Information
Need help registering, or have general event questions? Contact:
Jasmin Tetzlaff
Center for Digital Education
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1308
E-mail: jtetzlaff@erepublic.com
Already a sponsor, but need a hand? Reach out to:
Mireya Gaton
Center for Digital Education
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 296-2617
E-mail: mgaton@erepublic.com
Sponsorship is open to Industry members of the Higher Education IT Strategic Leadership Council Program only. To learn more about becoming an Industry member, please contact:
Heather Earney
Center for Digital Education
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 365-2308
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com