Pacific 2026 Regional Conference

Convergence: Turning Challenges into Oases of Innovation

In an era of disruption, convergence is how institutions move from either/or to both/and. “Convergence” invites us to gather people, programs, partners, and places into intentionally aligned ecosystems—innovation districts that fuse academia and industry, blended academic structures that span disciplines, public–private partnerships that unlock delivery and financing, and campus–community networks that elevate student success and regional prosperity.

Inspired by Arizona State University’s approach to innovation, convergence is not a one-time project but a planning mindset: braiding missions, assets, and incentives to produce win–win–win outcomes—for students, faculty, and staff; for institutional sustainability; and for surrounding communities and economies. Like wayfinding through a desert, convergence provides direction when landmarks are sparse: pursuing shared north stars, navigating “mirages” like uncertain enrollment, and designing flexible pathways that deliver value under many futures.

As campuses face pressures—from enrollment concerns, aging infrastructure, financial pressures, climate risk to affordability, and AI’s rapid evolution—innovative integrated planning becomes a vehicle to converge strategy, space, finance, operations, and partnerships. The result: resilient, human-centered environments that catalyze learning, discovery, and belonging.

Now it’s your turn. Be part of the Pacific 2026 program by sharing your story, strategies, and lessons learned. Help our community see what convergence looks like on your campus—and inspire others to take action.

Call for Proposals Opens Sept 23; Closes October 28 – Learn more and share your story!

Sponsorship Opportunities

Gain visibility and be part of this event! Learn about event sponsorship.
Contact KenDra McIntosh for more information or complete the sponsorship order form.
kendra.mcintosh@scup.org | 734.669.3283

Pacific Regional Sponsors

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Call for Proposals

The call for proposals opens Sept 23; closes Oct 28 at 11:59 PM Eastern

Higher education institutions are at a pivotal moment, navigating an era of disruption marked by challenges like enrollment concerns, aging infrastructure, financial pressures, climate risk, affordability, and the rapid evolution of AI. This conference invites proposals that explore innovative approaches to these pressing issues through the lens of “Convergence”. Specifically, we seek submissions demonstrating how integrated planning can serve as the essential vehicle to align strategy, space, finance, operations, and partnerships, fostering resilience and transforming challenges into opportunities for innovation.

We seek submissions that address:

• From Silos to Systems: Show how your campus aligned academic programs, research, and industry to create shared value.
• Design for Convergence: Case studies of flexible, shared-use space enabling transdisciplinary learning/research.
• Alternative Financing Partnerships: Demonstrate how partnership (public, private, cross department) delivery advanced mission, equity, sustainability, or speed-to-impact.
• Community as Co‑Creator: Models where neighbors, civic leaders, and students shaped campus plans and benefits.
• Mirage to Milestone: Tools for navigating uncertain enrollment, shifting demand, or disruptive technology.
• Metrics that Matter: KPIs and dashboards that measure convergence (student outcomes, utilization, carbon, ROI, community impact).
• Belonging by Design: Strategies for integrating inclusivity principles to provide intentionally equitable student success systems to serve global, local, and diverse learners.

Call for Proposal Details

As you think about putting your proposal together, we would like you to consider some important points:

Does your proposal include integrated planning practices?

Integrated planning is a sustainable approach to planning that builds relationships, aligns the organization, and emphasizes preparedness for change.

Does your proposal bring together different perspectives and experiences?

By design, integrated planning is an inclusive practice that brings together perspectives and experiences from across an institution’s community to create solutions. This can only be accomplished when all voices are heard, recognized, and valued.

Consider these questions:

• Whose perspective is missing?
• Whose voice is not being heard?

We strongly encourage you to make sure your presentation team includes different voices, and that these voices are given meaningful time to share their perspectives.

Who should submit?

Integrated planning brings together voices from every corner of campus:

Stakeholders: students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, external partners
Areas of practice: academic and strategic planning, student affairs, finance, campus planning, IT, communications, development, institutional effectiveness

The secret to a great proposal.

Great proposals focus on one of two things: solutions or foresight.

Solutions: help attendees solve a pressing problem.
Foresight: explore innovative new ideas, analyze trends, and prepare attendees for the future.

Don’t forget to include:
Takeaways: give attendees next actions, tips, tools, processes, etc., that can be applied immediately
Engagement: engage attendees with your content and with each other in meaningful ways.

Concurrent Session Quick Facts

• Sessions are 60-minute.
• Submissions must be made using SCUP’s online submission tool.
• Read other frequently asked questions.

Download the Call for Proposals Outline

QUESTIONS? Email speaker.information@scup.org.

The call for proposals closes Tuesday, Oct 28 at 11:59 PM Eastern