We are headed west in 2026! Save the date for the 2026 CCA Annual Convening, taking place in San Diego from December 1 to 3, 2026.
Registration is now open, and you can book a room through the hotel block once you complete your registration.
Overview
Higher education has always been an engine of economic mobility, equipping students with knowledge, skills, and credentials that open doors.
But the doors are changing. Technology is advancing. Industries are evolving. The leaders meeting this moment aren’t waiting for permission to adapt.
Since 2009, CCA has worked alongside bold education leaders to build a movement that knows real progress happens at the intersections of sectors and within the flux of evolution.
Join them in San Diego to share what’s working, challenge what isn’t, and leave ready to do more of both.
What to Expect in San Diego
Building on the success of Baltimore 2025, the 2026 Convening will feature:
- Expanded workshop and interactive formats designed for practical, immediate application
- Dedicated programming tracks including AI in Higher Education, HBCU-focused sessions, first-gen practitioner content, and more
- Cross-sector collaboration — community colleges, four-year institutions, state systems, and nonprofits in the same room, tackling the same challenges
- The connection and community that have defined this gathering as the field’s essential annual event
Schedule Overview
Detailed schedule coming summer 2026.
Planning Your Travel
Plan to arrive by late morning on Tuesday, December 1, and depart late morning or by noon on Friday, December 4.
Pre- and Post-Conference Sessions
Pre-conference sessions will be held Monday afternoon, November 30.
Invite-only post-conference sessions take place Thursday late afternoon, December 3.
Subject to change, based on confirmation of events.
Monday, November 30
| 12pm – 5pm | Pre-Convening (Invited Attendees Only) |
Tuesday, December 1
| 8am – 1pm | Attendee Registration/Check-In |
| 2pm – 3:15pm | Opening Plenary Session |
| 3:15pm – 3:45pm | Snack Break |
| 3:45pm – 4:45pm | Breakout Sessions |
Wednesday, December 2
| 7:30am – 8:45am | Breakfast |
| 9am – 10am | Breakout Sessions |
| 10:10am – 11:10am | Breakout Sessions |
| 11:20am – 12:20pm | Innovation Exhibition |
| 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Lunch |
| 1:40pm – 2:55pm | Plenary Session |
| 3:00pm – 3:30pm | Snack Break |
| 3:30pm – 4:30pm | Breakout Sessions |
| 4:45pm – 5:45pm | Regional Meetings |
Thursday, December 3
| 7:30am – 8:45am | Breakfast |
| 9am – 10am | Breakout Sessions |
| 10:10am – 11:10am | Breakout Sessions |
| 11:20am – 12:35pm | Closing Plenary and Call to Action |
| 1pm – 5pm | Lunch & Post-Con Sessions (Invited Attendees Only) |
Pricing
- Regular Registration
- $950 – July 2 to November 2;
- Late Registration
- $1,050 – November 3 through the event
Once sessions are confirmed in the summer, presenters will receive a discount on registration.
Sponsorship
Support the creation and execution of ambitious change agendas designed to eliminate institutional performance gaps and increase college completion for students from underserved communities. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Andrew Morse at amorse@completecollege.org.
Download 2026 Sponsorship Prospectus
Looking for information on NEXT: The 2025 CCA Annual Convening? Check out the NEXT page for content and information from Baltimore.