Lineup of Sessions for NEXT: The 2025 CCA Annual Convening

Complete College America today announced the lineup of sessions for NEXT: The 2025 CCA Annual Convening, taking place November 17-19, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland.

NEXT brings together impatient reformers committed to transforming higher education and mobilizing the boldest innovation at every level—from individual institutions to entire state systems. This year’s convening will coordinate the power of hundreds of education leaders as they share what they know, learn what they don’t, and reimagine higher education as a force for transformation.

Mainstage Keynote: Chike Aguh

Next: The 2025 CCA Annual Convening will feature a mainstage keynote by Chike Aguh, senior advisor on the future of work and innovation at the McChrystal Group and senior advisor for Harvard University’s Project on Workforce. On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 18, Aguh will deliver a thought leader’s perspective on why postsecondary and workforce development partnerships are the future of higher education and the foundation of transformation.

His keynote will focus on the evolution from talking about skills gaps to building the innovative partnerships and credentialing models that actually close them, and why higher education institutions must be strategic partners, not just suppliers, in workforce transformation.

A Fulbright Scholar and recognized authority on the future of work and economic opportunity, Aguh previously served as chief innovation officer at the US Department of Labor, where he led efforts to use data, emerging technologies (AI, quantum computing, cybersecurity, etc.), and innovative practice to advance/protect American workers. He has served across sectors—from teacher and policy official in New York as part of America’s largest school system to corporate strategy director at higher education technology company EAB, and CEO at Everyone On, a nonprofit focused on digital connectivity for under-resourced communities. He holds degrees from Tufts University, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Kennedy School, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and Gov. Wes Moore appointed Aguh as vice chair of the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

Breakout Session Lineup

CCA is proud to announce nearly 100 concurrent sessions featuring the expertise of campus leaders, practitioners, higher education funders, policymakers, students, and innovators from across the field. The program includes 66 breakout sessions and 32 Innovation Exhibition sessions, allowing for close conversations on cutting-edge ideas and emerging practices.

Session Themes

CCA’s sessions cover four core themes for transformation:

• Changemaking Coalitions
  Sessions focused on building cross-sector partnerships, advocacy strategies, and coordinated efforts to drive systems-level change in postsecondary education.
  See the Changemaking Coalition breakout sessions.  |  See the Changemaking Coalition Innovation Exhibition presentations
• Coordinated Momentum
  Strategies for aligning efforts across institutions, systems, and states to create synchronized progress toward college completion goals.
  See the Coordinated Momentum breakout sessions.  |  See the Coordinated Momentum Innovation Exhibition presentations. 
• Data-Driven Strategies
  Evidence-based approaches to improving student outcomes, using analytics to inform decision-making, and implementing accountability measures that drive results.
  See the Data-Driven Strategies breakout sessions.  |  See the Data-Driven Strategies Innovation Exhibition presentations. 
• Scalable Solutions
  Proven practices and innovative models that can be adapted and implemented across diverse institutional contexts to eliminate performance gaps.
  See the Scalable Solutions breakout sessions.  |  See the Scalable Solutions Innovation Exhibition presentations. 

Breakout Session Highlights

From building effective research partnerships that support student success to promoting the educational and economic promise of college, our breakout sessions address the full spectrum of challenges facing higher education today. Featured sessions include:

• Building Effective Partnerships: Collaborative research models that support student success through cross-sector partnerships
• Promoting Opportunity: Building capacity for messaging the educational and economic promise of college in today’s challenging climate
• From Barriers to Bridges: Equity, partnership, and purpose in postsecondary pathways, featuring Maine’s innovative workforce development models
• Impact in Higher Ed: Creating student-ready systems through coalition-building, exploring the Strong Start to Finish Network approach

See all breakout sessions.

Innovation Exhibition

The Innovation Exhibition provides an intimate setting for exploring emerging practices and breakthrough strategies in higher education. These 30+ sessions, which will take place on Tuesday morning, offer participants the opportunity to engage in close conversations about innovative approaches to increasing college completion rates and supporting student success.

See all Innovation Exhibition sessions.

Experience NEXT

Coalition of Changemakers

• Connect with a broad community of educators, policymakers, and advocates who are unafraid to challenge conventional wisdom and hold themselves publicly accountable for creating a new higher education system.

Data-Driven Strategies

• Discover tested strategies that clarify degree paths, facilitate strong starts, align college experiences to student goals, and address co-curricular needs—all implemented with precision and confidence.

Scalable Solutions

• Engage with approaches specifically designed to eliminate institutional performance gaps and increase completion rates for all students.

Coordinated Momentum

• Experience how cross-sectional teams can synchronize efforts across institutions, systems, and states—creating higher education environments that help all learners graduate on time.

Registration Information

Registration is currently open at $900 for regular registration through October 15. After that, the price increases to $1,000.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation shaping the future of higher education. Register now to secure your spot and share in the ideas that will lead the college completion movement.

Change starts here. Join us in Baltimore this November as we coordinate our collective power to set the agenda for transformation in higher education.