Registration for pre-conference workshop attendees ONLY is from 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM. Breakfast will be provided for workshop attendees during this time.

Designed for educational advancement professionals with fewer than two years of professional advancement experience, this workshop will explore the fundamentals of advancement and lay the groundwork for a successful career in this exciting profession. You will hone networking skills, participate in small breakout sessions with veterans in the field of Development, Marketing and Communications, Alumni Relations, and Advancement Services. You will hear helpful tips for navigating the District Conference and grow your personal network of education advancement professionals.

Leading advancement shops in higher education is rewarding work. But it can be incredibly challenging. The list that successful leaders must navigate to support their employees continues to grow. This pre-conference workshop tackles many of those challenges head-on. Self-care, burnout, and managing from all directions are a few of the topics we’ll cover. Then, we’ll open the conversation to learn about industry leadership struggles and best practices from one another. If you’re new to leadership, a seasoned pro who is willing to share, or someone looking for a career leap—this pre-conference will help you address the challenges that leaders must navigate in an ever-changing world.

Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion as esteemed leaders in higher education delve into the complexities of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) within the current climate. Our panelists will provide deep insights and candid perspectives on the challenges that institutions face in fostering inclusive environments. From addressing systemic barriers to promoting cultural competency, this discussion will examine the multifaceted landscape of DEIB in higher education. Expect to gain valuable insights, practical strategies, and actionable steps towards advancing equity and fostering belonging within our academic communities. Whether you're a seasoned administrator, faculty member, or student advocate, this discussion promises to spark meaningful dialogue and inspire positive change.

We’ve heard about the enrollment cliff and its likely impact on higher education. For her dissertation, Dr. Carrie Phillips researched how marketing strategies might help mitigate this cliff. This session shares findings from visiting with chief marketing officers about how they’re preparing. The session will begin with a high-level overview of the enrollment cliff followed by a deep dive into how marketing strategies might lessen the impact. You’ll hear about the challenges participants face, strategies they’re exploring and best practices to consider. As you’re looking to navigate change at your institution, this session is a great place to start.

Donors—particularly major donors—are increasingly seeing their gifts as investments. And just like any corporate investor, they want to know their gifts’ ROI. Universities that leverage their president, chancellor, cabinet, and faculty chairs effectively to build authentic relationships with donors are the ones seeing the biggest returns in today’s philanthropic marketplace. University of Arkansas – Fort Smith has transformed its major giving program thanks to the relationships its Chancellor Terisa Riley and department chairs such as Kendall Ross have built with key stakeholders and donors. Since Dr. Riley arrived on campus three years ago, major giving has skyrocketed. The university is set to exceed its $75 million centennial campaign’s financial goal by 33 percent, with record individual gifts and giving levels.

To understand how other universities can build similar donor/president relationships, this presentation will focus on:

-the role of the university’s advancement office in the process
-qualifying and prioritizing the right donors
-ideal allocation of a president’s time to fundraising
-taking the first step in building the relationship
-the types of cultivation events or individual meetings that are most effective

We all know you can’t ask for the next unless you have successfully stewarded (and spent!) the last one. Join us as we dive into the complexities of fund compliance and utilization programs, what makes them successful (or not!), and the indispensable partnerships across your division and the campus that ensure their success. Whether you are in advancement services or a frontline fundraiser, everyone has a role to play in this space. We will explore the core components of a program that ensures your philanthropic funds are spent according to donor intent and to maximum capacity. We will explore strategies to strengthen collaboration between multiple key stakeholders for a more cohesive and effective approach. From data, reporting, metrics, and engagement and education programs, we will cover what you need to strengthen and streamline your fund stewardship program. Using real-life case studies from two rock solid donor compliance programs in the District, we'll give you all the tools you need to ensure success in this challenging space.

Advancement and Development services are approaching a new horizon when working with internal employees and external partners. Through discovery work, Dallas College Advancement and Development has created a new model for leveraging funding using network systems to support students and provide partners with a roadmap for success. This session will explore the new model, its benefits, and how it can be used to create a more efficient and effective way to manage sponsored program projects.

This session will provide findings from survey results, provide tools to navigate conversations with dissenting opinions, and harness the power of honoring traditions and values of the past while forging a relevant and progressive future. Attendees will learn how to engage alumni and donors in a way that empowers them to join in the vision, and identify when to detach from donors who do not uphold the institution’s current mission and vision.

Discover Texas State University's innovative strategic corporate engagement program, a pivotal step towards the coveted R1 status. Join us as we unveil a groundbreaking initiative that unites internal university stakeholders, aligning them with a singular vision and igniting powerful industry relationships. In partnership with UNITE Corporate Engagement, we'll delve into how this program opens doors to enhanced career services for students, support for academic excellence, expanded industry-sponsored research, and a boost for university-wide initiatives. Get ready to explore the future of corporate collaboration at Texas State University.