The 2026 CCA Annual Convening is taking place in San Diego from December 1 to 3, 2026. Registration is 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 soon.
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-Convening Sessions
Pre-convening sessions will be held Monday afternoon, November 30. California State Meeting
Post-convening sessions for grant-funded attendees only will take place Thursday, December 3, and will conclude at 5 pm.
Subject to change, based on confirmation of events.
All times are Pacific Time. Agenda is subject to change. Full session descriptions and presenter details are available in the event app.
Tuesday, Dec. 1
- Exhibitor Area · Noon–4:45 p.m. · Tidepool/Silver Pearl Hallway
- Gallery Walk · Noon–3:15 p.m. and 3:45–4:45 p.m. · Pacific Jewel Foyer & Terrace
- Tranquility Room · Opens at 2 p.m. · Sanderling
Check-In & Registration
Coral Stairway Terrace
Unfinished, Not Over: What Adults With Some College, No Degree Need to Finish
Pacific Jewel Ballroom
Millions of Americans have some college but no degree, and many still hope to finish. Adult learners featured in Lumina Foundation's Unfinished, Not Over project share what interrupted their education and what would help them return, joined by Keith Curry, president and CEO of Compton College. Dhanfu E. Elston of Complete College America moderates.
Check-In & Registration
Coral Stairway Terrace
Snack Break
Pacific Jewel Foyer & Terrace
CCA 101/201 Sessions
10 sessions
- CCA 101Seaglass
- CCA University: Building a Pipeline for Institutional TransformationTidepool 3
- Change Management 101Pelican
- Communications 101Sandpiper A
- Data 101Sandpiper C
- Every Student, Every Stage: How Purpose First Transforms the Academic ExperienceOsprey
- How to Use Data and Have Conversations that Lead to ChangeSandpiper B
- Learnings from the 2026 CCA AI SummitTidepool 5
- Policy 101: How State and Campus Policy Work TogetherTidepool 4
- Policy 201: The 2027 Policy Landscape: Federal Trends and State Strategies Across the Four PillarsTidepool 2
Wednesday, Dec. 2
- Exhibitor Area · 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. · Tidepool/Silver Pearl Hallway
- Gallery Walk · 7:30 a.m.–2:55 p.m. and 3:30–5:30 p.m. · Pacific Jewel Foyer & Terrace
- Tranquility Room · All day · Sanderling
Check-In & Registration
Coral Stairway Terrace
Breakfast
Coral 1-5
Open to all registered attendees. Name badges are required for entry.
Content Experts' Interest Meeting
Sandpiper A
Learn about opportunities to serve as a Content Expert with Complete College America.
Concurrent Sessions 1
16 sessions
- Built, Not Borrowed: How Two State Systems Designed Infrastructure for Gateway ReformOsprey
- Credit Mobility in Practice: Tools for Supporting Today’s Mobile LearnerSandpiper B
- Designing Workforce-Embedded Pathways: A Blueprint for Stackable CredentialsPelican
- Disability Justice Positively Impacts Retention and Graduation for All StudentsSilver Pearl Ballroom 3
- Doing the Work on AI Capacity: Building Faculty and Institutional Readiness at HBCUs and BeyondStan Jones StageSilver Pearl Ballroom 2
- Ensuring Fidelity While Building to Scale: Reflections from Launch and Expansion of SUNY ASAP|ACESandpiper A
- Every Student. Every Classroom. Every Learning Experience: Advancing Student Success Through Effective TeachingShorebreak 2
- From Goals to Graduation: The Oakland80 Model for Regional AttainmentTidepool 3
- Human Capital Strategies for Holistic Advising: Lessons from the FieldTidepool 2
- Integrate, Don't Complicate: Doing the Work Together for Collegewide AlignmentSandpiper C
- Invisible Rules: Eliminating the Hidden Barriers Between Students and CompletionSeaglass
- Listening to Learners: What 5,000 California Students Reveal About the Education-to-Career GapTidepool 4
- Reimagining Community Colleges: A Design Challenge for Systems-Level TransformationSandpiper D
- Supporting the Whole Student: Basic Needs as Mental Health and Completion InfrastructureSilver Pearl Ballroom 1
- Three Successful Strategies for Student Success at The University of AkronTidepool 1
- Unlocking the Mystery of Reliable Employment Outcomes DataTidepool 5
Concurrent Sessions 2
16 sessions
- A Tale of Two States: Navigating Transfer-Related Issues in Illinois and CaliforniaPelican
- Built by the Field, for the Field: Co-Creating a Framework for Digital Transformation of Holistic Student SupportsShorebreak 2
- Centering Student Voice: Innovation, Access, and HBCU Online Course SharingTidepool 4
- Credits in Hand: Using Credential Context and Completion Proximity to Re-Engage Adult StopoutsSilver Pearl Ballroom 1
- Faculty Led Developmental Education Reform – Core Principles in ActionSilver Pearl Ballroom 3
- From Classroom to Career: Building AI-Ready Computer Science Education for a Changing Labor MarketSandpiper D
- From Parallel Efforts to Collective Impact: What It Means to Do the Work TogetherStan Jones StageSilver Pearl Ballroom 2
- From Syllabi to Skills: A Career-Connected Curriculum ModelSandpiper A
- Gateway Math, Unlocked: Lessons from a Post-Secondary Math PLCSandpiper C
- Launching a Student Outcomes Lab to Connect Higher Education to Economic MobilitySandpiper B
- Lessons from OMD | CCA NEXT: Scaling Holistic Student Support Across the CountryTidepool 3
- Rethinking Readiness: Adapting to Today’s Learner RealityTidepool 2
- Top Down and Bottom Up: Scaling Statewide Student Success Reforms in NY Using Divergent ApproachesSeaglass
- Translating Opportunity Texas: Building Pathways to Success for Multilingual LearnersOsprey
- University of South Carolina Palmetto College: Doing the Work for the Palmetto StateTidepool 5
- What Michigan Learned: Adult Learner Barriers, Attainment Trends, and What's Actually WorkingTidepool 1
Innovation Exhibition
24 sessions
- A Shared Model for Student Engagement Across the Texas A&M University SystemTidepool 4
- Academic Planning: Doing the Work to Ensure that Louisiana ProspersTidepool 2
- Advancing Student Success Through UH Next: A Transfer Pilot ProgramTidepool 3
- AI at Scale in Graduate Business Career Education: A Practitioner's PlaybookTidepool 5
- Beyond the Agreement: How Campus and Four-Year Partners Make Transfer Pathways Work for StudentsTidepool 3
- Beyond the Classroom: Providing Integrated Student Supports on Higher Education CampusesTidepool 4
- Data-Driven Direction: Infusing Labor Market Insights into Purpose-First AdvisingTidepool 4
- Doing the Work: Building Flight Path 9 (FP9), a Workforce-Integrated Aviation Talent PipelineTidepool 2
- From Campus to Career: University-Nonprofit Partnership Advancing Completion and Career ReadinessTidepool 2
- From Classroom to Career: How Greenville Technical College Integrated Workforce PathwaysTidepool 2
- From Gateway Courses to Graduation: Scalable Strategies for Student CompletionTidepool 3
- Incorporating Workforce Outcomes into Program ReviewTidepool 5
- Is It Worth It? Measuring Impact of First-Generation Focused EffortsTidepool 5
- Leveraging Mentoring to Increase Student Retention, Persistence, and Academic SuccessTidepool 4
- Reimagining Persistence Pathways for Future EducatorsTidepool 3
- Retention by Design: Building Integrated Student Success Systems to Improve PersistenceTidepool 4
- Rethinking Emergency Aid: Partnership and Collaboration Maximizes Dollars and Aligns Student SupportTidepool 4
- Shifting from Completion to Mobility: Re-imagining Academic Policy for Workforce AlignmentTidepool 3
- Stop Managing Initiatives. Start Aligning InstitutionsTidepool 3
- Student Voice and Workforce Strategy: Pathways to College Completion and Career OpportunitiesTidepool 5
- The Equity Imperative: Embedding Work-Integrated Learning Where Every Student Already IsTidepool 5
- Turning Insights into Action: Lessons from the State of Higher Education for Latinx CaliforniansTidepool 5
- Using Program Cost and Student Success Data to Drive Integrated Institutional PlanningTidepool 2
- When the Schedule Is the Barrier: Data-Informed Lessons from City Colleges of ChicagoTidepool 2
Lunch
Coral 1-5
Open to all registered attendees. Name badges are required for entry.
Doing the Work After the Midterms: What Changes, What Does Not, and What Leaders Do Next
Pacific Jewel Ballroom
The midterm elections will shape the policy landscape for higher education. Jennifer Engle of Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, Jon Fansmith of the American Council on Education and Sean Murphy of the Bipartisan Policy Center discuss what changes, what stays the same and the practical steps leaders can take next. Moderator to be announced.
Snack Break
Pacific Jewel Foyer & Terrace
Concurrent Sessions 3
17 sessions
- 27 Months to a Bachelor's Degree: Quality, Access, and Lessons from BlueSky TennesseeTidepool 1
- Aligning K-12 Partnerships with Workforce PrioritiesSilver Pearl Ballroom 1
- Beyond the Pilot: Scaling Re-Engagement for the Some College, No Credential Across a SystemSeaglass
- Completion in the Age of AI: Voices Shaping Student SuccessStan Jones StageSilver Pearl Ballroom 2
- Cultivating a Data Culture: Moving From Analytics to ActionTidepool 3
- Doing the Work: Rebuilding Culture for Student Success and BelongingSandpiper B
- Faculty Development for Student Success: A Framework for Completion-Centered PracticeTidepool 4
- Fewer Resources, Greater Impact: How Data Can Destigmatize College HungerTidepool 5
- From Pantry to Pathway: Building a Basic Needs Strategy that Moves CompletionShorebreak 2
- Investing for Generations: How States and Campuses Are Closing the Gap for Parenting StudentsOsprey
- Manage Your Workforce Programs Like a Portfolio, Not a CatalogShorebreak 1
- Scaling Comprehensive Learner Records: Credential Innovation for Learner SuccessSandpiper C
- The Whole First Year: Reimagining the Journey to a College DegreeSilver Pearl Ballroom 3
- Transfer Doesn’t Fix Itself: Doing the Work Across a Community College–University PartnershipTidepool 2
- Triple Enrollment: Preparing Students for Success in College, Careers, and BeyondPelican
- Who’s at the Table: Student and Employer Co-Design as a Completion StrategySandpiper D
- Why Understanding "Why" Helps Those Doing the WorkSandpiper A
Regional Meetings
Eventide
Meet colleagues working in your region and in roles like yours, as well as your CCA Alliance Engagement Director. Light refreshments provided.
Thursday, Dec. 3
- Exhibitor Area · 7:30 a.m.–12:35 p.m. · Tidepool/Silver Pearl Hallway
- Gallery Walk · 7:30 a.m.–12:35 p.m. · Pacific Jewel Foyer & Terrace
- Tranquility Room · Until noon · Sanderling
Breakfast
Coral 1-5
Open to all registered attendees. Name badges are required for entry.
Concurrent Sessions 4
16 sessions
- Adapting CUNY ASAP for Workforce Needs: How Replication Partners Implement, Sustain, and ScaleTidepool 1
- Almost a Degree: Pathways to Re-engage Near Completers and Strengthen the WorkforceTidepool 2
- Centering Student Success Through CCA: The Harris-Stowe ApproachSandpiper D
- Centering Student Voice to Improve First-Year Persistence, Belonging, and SuccessSilver Pearl Ballroom 3
- Connecting the Budget to Student Success: A Learning Lab in ActionTidepool 4
- Doing the Work: Leading Student Success Through Courage, Community, and Personal AccountabilityStan Jones StageSilver Pearl Ballroom 2
- Doing the Work: Moving Student Success from Aspiration to Institutional TransformationSandpiper C
- From Fragmented Initiatives to Coordinated Impact: The Integrated Student Success Implementation FrameworkSandpiper A
- From Fragmented Supports to Statewide Strategy: Building a Baseline for Holistic AdvisingPelican
- Leading Student Success Through Academic Scheduling StrategyTidepool 5
- Making HIPs Last: Building the Infrastructure for High-Impact Learning at ScaleOsprey
- Retention Isn’t a Program: Building the Modern Student Success EcosystemSandpiper B
- Supporting College-in-Prison Alumni in the Labor Market: Insights from New York Fellowship ProgramsTidepool 3
- Understanding the Enabling Conditions to Reengage Rural Learners with Some College and No DegreeSilver Pearl Ballroom 1
- Unseen in the Margins: A Study of the Black Student Experience Attending an HSISandpiper C
- Wiring the State for Work: How Colorado Turned a Statute into a $5.6M ConsortiumSeaglass
Concurrent Sessions 5
15 sessions
- AI for Completion, Not Convenience: Designing Student Support That Connects Pathways to WorkSandpiper D
- AI Readiness in Action: Work-Based Learning and Access at Open-Access InstitutionsSilver Pearl Ballroom 1
- Beyond the Credit Hour: A Competency-Based Framework for Student SuccessSandpiper C
- Bridges, Not Barriers: Using Coordinated Care to Improve Financial Literacy & FAFSA CompletionTidepool 5
- Bringing Them Back: Coaching, Re-Enrollment, and the Students Higher Ed Left BehindSilver Pearl Ballroom 3
- Building Better Work-Based Learning: Integration in State Agency, College System & Program SettingsTidepool 3
- Doing the CCA Work at Harris-Stowe State University: Focused Strategies that Improve OutcomesTidepool 1
- High-Touch Ecosystem: Integrating Services to Close Rural Equity GapsSeaglass
- Purpose, Structure, Momentum, Support: Four CCA Pillars, One Ready-to-Use OER for FYE CoursesTidepool 4
- Scaling Student Success: Lessons from California for Colleges NationwideStan Jones StageSilver Pearl Ballroom 2
- Target Pathways: Aligning Dual Credit and Transfer for Credit ApplicabilitySandpiper A
- The Great Value Shift in Action: Scaling Applicability & Affordability in Higher EducationTidepool 2
- The Missing Lever in Student Success: Faculty, Teaching, and SystemsPelican
- Why Dual Enrollment: What Do Students and Parents Really Hope to Gain from Early College Credits?Osprey
- Why They Stay: Second Year Persistence in LA College PromiseSandpiper B
Funding the Work: Federal, Philanthropic and Cross-Sector Strategies for What Comes Next
Pacific Jewel Ballroom
Sustaining the work of college completion takes committed partners. Patrick Methvin of the Gates Foundation, Eloy Ortiz Oakley of College Futures Foundation and Ruth Watkins of Strada Education Foundation discuss how philanthropy and cross-sector partnerships can drive lasting implementation. Yolanda Watson Spiva, president of Complete College America, moderates.
Stan Jones Stage Featured conversations on the Stan Jones Stage in Silver Pearl Ballroom 2.
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.
Q: What is the cancellation policy?
Full Refund until October 2, 2026
50% Refund – October 3- November, 2, 2026
No Refunds after November 3, 2026
Event APP
Explore the Annual Convening Event App.
Sponsors
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 philanthropy@completecollege.org.
Download 2026 Sponsorship Prospectus
General Information
Q: What is the CCA Annual Convening?
The Complete College America (CCA) Annual Convening is an intensive gathering of educators, policymakers, and advocates committed to transforming higher education and increasing college completion rates. The 2026 event brings together hundreds of education leaders to share evidence-based strategies, learn from data-driven approaches, and collectively set the agenda for change in higher education.
Q: What is the 2026 theme?
Doing the Work: When Higher Education and Workforce Integrate, Students Succeed.
This year’s theme elevates what’s happening on the ground — the implementation stories, the hard-won lessons, and the data-backed results that are moving the needle for students.
Q: Where and when is the event?
- Venue: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
- Main Convening: December 1–3, 2026
- Pre-conference sessions: Monday, November 30 (afternoon)
— by invitation or separate registration
- Post-conference sessions: Thursday, December 3 (afternoon) and Friday, December 4 (morning) — by invitation or separate registration
Travel Tip: Plan to arrive by early afternoon on Tuesday, December 1, and depart by morning or early afternoon on Friday, December 4.
Q: What can I expect at the 2026 Convening?
Building on Baltimore 2025, the 2026 Convening features:
- 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 tackling the same challenges together
- Plenary sessions with keynote speakers and panel discussions
- Regional meetings for state and system-specific discussions
- Structured networking and collaborative work time with peers
Registration & Pricing
Q: How much does registration cost?
| Registration Tier | Price | Window |
| Insider Rate ★ | $750 | By April 30 |
| Early Bird | $850 | May 1 – July 1 |
| Regular Registration | $950 | July 2 – November 2 |
| Late Registration | $1,050 | November 3 – on-site |
Accepted presenters will receive a discounted registration rate once sessions are confirmed. Details will be communicated via acceptance notifications.
Q: How do I register?
Registration is open now. Click here to register now. For registration support, use the ‘Manage Your Registration’ link in your confirmation email or contact events@completecollege.org.
Q: What is the cancellation policy?
- Before September 13, 2026: Full refund
- September 14 – October 15, 2026: 50% refund
- After October 15, 2026: Non-refundable
Hotel & Travel
Q: How do I book my hotel room?
Use the Passkey hotel booking link included in your Cvent registration confirmation. You must use the identification code to access event rates.
For accommodation questions, contact events@completecollege.org.
Q: What does CCA cover for hotel costs?
CCA covers hotel accommodations on the master bill for pre-approved attendees only. Your personal credit card is required for all related incidentals.
All other attendees are responsible for their own room charges, including the Resort Charge, taxes, parking, and incidentals. The hotel room block should be utilized until capacity has been reached.
The CCA room block will hold rooms for a three-night stay (December 1-3) at a rate of $209 per night (excludes tax & resort fees)
Q: What airport should I fly into?
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the closest major airport — approximately 3 miles from the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. Multiple ground transportation options are available, including ride-share, taxi, and FREE hotel shuttle services.
Q: How do grant-funded attendees book flights?
Attendees participating under a grant-funded project should book flights through RouteSpring. A pre-approved flight allowance applies (economy class only; first and business class are not covered) when requesting your flight. Any costs above the allowance must be covered by your institution, organization or individual. Submit reimbursement requests after the event to accounting@completecollege.org.
Schedule & Programming
Q: What does the schedule look like?
Monday, November 30
- Afternoon — Pre-convening session
Tuesday, December 1
- Morning — Attendee Arrival & Check-In
- Afternoon — Opening Plenary Session
- Early Evening — Welcome Reception (Off-Site)
Wednesday, December 2
- Morning — Breakfast | Breakout Sessions (three rounds)
- Afternoon — Lunch | Plenary Session | Breakout Sessions | Regional Meetings
- Early Evening — Alliance Lead’s Reception (On-Site)
Thursday, December 3
- Morning — Breakfast | Breakout Sessions | Closing Plenary & Call to Action
- Afternoon — Post-convening sessions (by invitation or separate registration)
Q: When will speakers and sessions be announced?
Specific speakers and the full session lineup will be announced July 31, 2026. Registration will remain open after the announcement.
Session Proposals
Q: Can I submit a session proposal?
Yes! CCA’s Call for Programs is open and seeks diverse presenters representing various backgrounds and perspectives.
- Submission deadline (extended): June 3, 2026
- Notifications sent: June 22, 2026
- Acceptance deadline: July 1, 2026
Click here for the submission link and proposal guidelines.
Q: Are there presenter registration discounts?
Yes. Once sessions are confirmed, accepted presenters will receive a discounted registration rate. Details will be included in your acceptance notification. All presenters must be registered for the convening by the assigned deadline (July 31).
Meals, Technology & Other
Q: What meals are included?
- Tuesday, December 1: Welcome Reception (heavy hors d’oeuvres)
- Wednesday, December 2: Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack
- Thursday, December 3: Breakfast and afternoon snack
To request dietary accommodations, indicate your needs in your registration form or email events@completecollege.org.
Q: Is there an event app?
Yes. The conference app is hosted on Cvent Events, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. The app goes live 2–3 weeks before the conference and includes the full session schedule, presentation materials, speaker bios, and networking features. All session materials remain accessible through the end of the year.
Q: Will sessions be recorded or livestreamed?
Select sessions will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. Check completecollege.org/streaming/ for updates closer to the event.
Q: What is the Stan Jones Legacy Award?
This award recognizes individuals and organizations that have consistently embodied CCA’s vision and the legacy of its founder, Stan Jones. Recipients have made significant contributions to increasing the number of students who earn credentials of value and to advancing the college completion movement.
Sponsorship & Contact
Q: How do I become a sponsor?
Sponsorship supports the creation and execution of ambitious change agendas designed to eliminate institutional performance gaps and increase college completion for students from underserved communities. Contact Andrew Morse, VP of Development and External Affairs, at amorse@completecollege.org for sponsorship opportunities and to request the 2026 Sponsorship Prospectus.
Looking for information on NEXT: The 2025 CCA Annual Convening? Check out the NEXT page for content and information from Baltimore.
