Selected Professional Development Events & Conferences

Read below for Professional Development events throughout the calendar year and opportunities that are on-going and/or on-demand (bottom of the page).

(Event key topics are highlighted in bold.)

Learn about funding for conferences and events. For help with completing expense reports and travel authorizations on ctcLink, see the ctcLink help and resources page.

January

ITLC Lilly Conference with The International Teaching & Learning Cooperative Conferences in San Diego, CA

• The International Teaching & Learning Cooperative Conferences (ITLC Lilly) have provided opportunities for the presentation of the scholarship of teaching and learning. Conference participants are made up of faculty and administrators at various stages in their academic careers from across the United States, representing nearly every discipline found in higher education. We always offer a variety of sessions so that participants can match their learning preference to the presentation formats: 20- and 40-minute concurrent sessions, traditional plenary addresses, roundtable discussions, and poster sessions. Conference presentations are selected through a blind peer-review process.

February

Achieving the Dream (AtD) in-person (location rotates annually)

• The annual signature event of ATD, DREAM brings together thousands of practitioners from hundreds of colleges to exchange evidence-based approaches to accelerating student success in a manner that champions equity and drives economic vibrancy. The conference embodies Achieving the Dream’s longstanding belief in advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing, and social mobility that eliminate inequities in students’ educational and workforce outcomes. In short, DREAM is the place to discover time-proven strategies that transform higher education and uplift our communities.

NW Regional Equity Conference with Clark College in Vancouver, WA (virtual event)

• We are committed to improving equitable, sustainable experiences and outcomes for historically underrepresented students, employees, and community members. Our conference keynotes represent intersectional identities and will be covering topics including LGBTQIA+, Immigrant experiences, and Black liberation with a common thread of what it looks like to build towards the future we want while staying grounded in hope. While this conference centers higher education, we continue to broaden our scope to include the government, nonprofit and business community in which students and other participants also participate.

 

March

Spokane Regional ESL Conference at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA

• The Spokane Regional ESL Conference is celebrating 35th years of inspiring teachers, connecting with colleagues, learning from each other, and advancing our profession as teachers of ESL.

COABE National Conference in-person (location rotates annually)

• The Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) is the leading national organization representing the US system of adult education. COABE provides award winning leadership, communication, professional development, and advocacy services to more than 79,000 adult educators and 1.5 million adult learners. Known as an innovation curator, our diverse, internationally acclaimed strategic initiatives have propelled the field forward in funding, visibility, and professional development. Our dynamic, multi level, cross sectoral partnerships are showcased annually at the COABE national conference, which is the largest convening of adult educators in the world.

AHSIE Annual Best Practices Conference in-person (location rotates annually)

• As Highline College continues our efforts to becoming a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution, we invite faculty to consider attending the AHSIE conference that is the national conference focused on best practices for serving Latine/x students. AHSIE intends to send a loud and clear message of resistance and empowerment during these times. The AHSIE Annual Conference will serve as a space for us to sow the seeds of resilience that often define our personal stories as educators. As we persist on this path toward equity and justice, we offer the AHSIE Conference as a space for healing, recharge, and empowerment through community building and the sharing of best practices.

TESOL International Convention & Expo in-person (location rotates annually)

• The TESOL International Convention & Expo is the largest professional development event in the English language teaching field. The convention offers a wide range of engaging professional development opportunities to English language teaching (ELT) professionals at all levels from around the world. In lively interactive sessions, you’ll develop a global perspective through the exchange of ideas, research, and practices. Gain knowledge about current trends in the field while developing your professional network. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with English language teaching-related companies and organizations at the English Language Expo! Learn about the latest products, publications, services, and resources in the field.

 

April

Conference on College Composition and Communication in-person (location rotates annually)

• The Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) is committed to supporting the agency, power, and potential of diverse communicators inside and outside of postsecondary classrooms. CCCC advocates for broad and evolving definitions of literacy, communication, rhetoric, and writing (including multimodal discourse, digital communication, and diverse language practices) that emphasize the value of these activities to empower individuals and communities. CCCC promotes intellectual and pedagogical freedom and ethical scholarship and communication.

AACC Annual with the American Association of Community Colleges in-person (location rotates annually)

• The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) hosts one of the most significant professional development events for leaders in community colleges and providers engaged with the two-year college sector. This event includes high-energy keynote presentations and breakout sessions addressing the sector’s most pressing issues and opportunities, disruptive technology showcases, deep-dive problem solving work sessions, and unparalleled networking opportunities.

AAC&U Conference on Learning and Student Success with the American Association of Colleges & Universities in-person (location rotates annually) and hybrid event

• The AAC&U Conference on Learning and Student Success (CLASS) explores strategies for transforming student learning and reimagining the undergraduate experience. Building on the legacies of the Conference on General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment and the Conference on Diversity, Equity, and Student Success, CLASS fosters collaboration across disciplines to address the most pressing issues in higher education, including general education reform, equity in student success, and the connections between curricula and career outcomes.

OLC Innovate Conference in Denver, CO (hybrid event)

• OLC Innovate, a joint conference presented by the Online Learning Consortium and MERLOT, provides a path for innovators of all experience levels and backgrounds to share best practices, test new ideas, and collaborate on driving forward online, digital, and blended learning. OLC Innovate features an ongoing discussion revolving around the potential of new technologies, methodologies, and practices, as well as the process of implementing them. The Innovate conference tends to focus on conversation, hands-on activities, and collaborative learning experiences. You will likely find a higher percentage of early adopters and early majority innovators here.

Transfer Symposium (virtual event)

• This annual event provides a meeting of the minds for staff, faculty and stakeholders who support the efforts of the transfer student pathway.

Students of Color Conference at Green River College in Auburn, WA

• The Students of Color Conference (SOCC) offers educational workshops designed to help students lead in a diverse community. In addition, students participate in a group discussion of issues that affect their own identity group. Students will be able to network with other student leaders from Washington State colleges.

Queer & Trans People of Color (QTPOC) Conference at Bellevue College in Bellevue, WA

• The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) and QTPOC Conference Advisory Committee will host our first Queer & Trans People of Color (QTPOC) Conference for faculty and staff employees who work in Higher Education! Our Two-day conference will cover topics on the theme of: “_____ is resistance!” Session topics will center on the ways in which Queer and Trans people of color can have an impact on, and are impacted by, the current social and political climate, as a result of the unique experiences that come with holding such intersecting identities. We aim to highlight the many ways QTPOC show up in all spaces to push back against oppression with love, education, and community care.

 

May

Washington College Mathematics Conference in-person (location rotates annually)

• The joint ORMATYC/Washington College Mathematics Conference offers keynote speakers and 50-minute presentations. The conference will also include opportunities for 20-minute presentations and social activities for gathering.

Assessment, Teaching and Learning (ATL) Conference with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in Yakima, WA

• Get ready to reconnect with each other and with your passion for teaching and learning!  This year’s Assessment, Teaching, and Learning conference will serve as an opportunity to build upon the practices you already use or for you to find new best practices to implement. Join us for two days of inspiring keynotes, engaging workshops, and thought-provoking networking sessions. You’ll leave the conference energized with innovative strategies to create the best possible learning experience for your students.

WABE Annual Conference with the WA Association for Bilingual Education, in-person (location rotates annually)

• We’ll have a full lineup of breakout session offerings and opportunities to network with other multilingual programs from around the state!

National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education in-person (location rotates annually)

• The NCORE® (National Conference on Race & Ethnicity) conference series constitutes the leading and most comprehensive national forum on issues of race and ethnicity in higher education. The conference focuses on the complex task of creating and sustaining comprehensive institutional change. This change work is designed to improve racial and ethnic relations and their intersections with other issues and groups on campus. The conference speakers and sessions offer strategies for expanding educational access and success for diverse, traditionally underrepresented populations.

 

June

Teaching Professor Annual Conference in-person (location rotates annually)

• It’s not your imagination—teaching has gotten more demanding in the past few years. We created the Teaching Professor Annual Conference to help teachers explore ways to help students learn while being able to network and collaborate with fellow teaching professors. Share ideas, discuss strategies to combat issues, and get the charge of inspiration from knowing that you are not alone in tackling an ever more challenging teaching environment in higher education today! This is a non-disciplinary conference. We welcome educators from all levels and departments to participate. Educational developers, instructional designers, academic leaders, and secondary-school educators might also find value in the conference.

National Higher Education Teaching Conference with NHTEC in Minneapolis, MN

• Accelerating student success and belonging. Experience interactive sessions delivered using evidence-based teaching practices. Engage with leaders, educators, policymakers, and organizations wishing to advance higher education through this transformative movement. Interact with favorite authors during Author’s Row. Enjoy student musicians and top-notch entertainment throughout the program. Celebrate the efforts of Movement Makers in higher ed during an evening Awards Dinner.

Summer Institutes with the Learning and Teaching Commons, The Washington Center at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA
Various dates in June-August

• Evergreen State College’s summer institutes promote a generative culture of interdisciplinary teaching and learning that is student-centered, equity-minded, inquiry-oriented, and committed to access and excellence. The primary purpose of summer institutes is to offer professional development opportunities that build institutional capacities to advance long-term curricular stability as required by our adopted mission and values. These institutes also provide Evergreen faculty and staff the rare opportunity to convene together as learners in a learning organization.

 

July

Summer Institutes with the Learning and Teaching Commons, The Washington Center at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA
Various dates in June-August

• Evergreen State College’s summer institutes promote a generative culture of interdisciplinary teaching and learning that is student-centered, equity-minded, inquiry-oriented, and committed to access and excellence. The primary purpose of summer institutes is to offer professional development opportunities that build institutional capacities to advance long-term curricular stability as required by our adopted mission and values. These institutes also provide Evergreen faculty and staff the rare opportunity to convene together as learners in a learning organization.

Institute on Engaged and Integrative Learning (IEIL) with the American Association of Community Colleges & Universities (virtual event)
July 16-19

• The IEIL provides institutions with time, resources, and support to develop and advance institutional-level efforts for integrative and engaged learning. Teams will explore ways to help students make connections among their experiences on campus and in the community, and to help students identify how resulting skills and knowledge from such experiences can set them up for success in their future lives and careers. High-impact experiential learning is central to the institute curriculum and can be integrated into all disciplines, across curricular and cocurricular experiences, and designed to be equitable, accessible, and impactful for all students. Join us to develop and advance institutional-level efforts to expand engaged and integrative learning.

August

MAA MathFest with the Mathematical Association of America in Indianapolis, IN
August 7-10, 2024

• Every summer, MAA MathFest presents the latest in mathematical research and education to diverse audiences across the nation. As the largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts, MAA is proud to bring an interactive, accessible, and informative experience to you each year.

2024 AI Institute with Clover Park Technical College (virtual event)
August 9-10, 2024

• The 2024 AI Institute is dedicated to advancing the understanding and application of Artificial Intelligence in higher education. Focused on three main tracks – AI Newbies, Ethics, and Applications – the Institute aims to provide a comprehensive platform for educators, researchers, and practitioners. Our goal is to explore the potential of AI to enhance educational experiences while upholding the highest ethical standards. This event will serve as a melting pot of ideas, innovations, and discussions, fostering a community that’s at the forefront of integrating AI into academic practices.

Summer Institutes with the Learning and Teaching Commons, The Washington Center at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA
Various dates in June-August

• Evergreen State College’s summer institutes promote a generative culture of interdisciplinary teaching and learning that is student-centered, equity-minded, inquiry-oriented, and committed to access and excellence. The primary purpose of summer institutes is to offer professional development opportunities that build institutional capacities to advance long-term curricular stability as required by our adopted mission and values. These institutes also provide Evergreen faculty and staff the rare opportunity to convene together as learners in a learning organization.

 

September

 

October

Open Education Conference in Providence, RI (hybrid event)
October 8-10, 2024

• The Open Education Conference (“OpenEd”) is an annual convening for sharing and learning about open educational resources, open pedagogy, and open education initiatives. This dynamic gathering celebrates the core values of open education that strive to realize education ecosystems that are accessible, affordable, equitable and inclusive to everyone, regardless of their background. is the leading association globally for the advancement of student success through excellence in academic advising in higher education. Our annual national conference is in October, and we have regional opportunities for professional development in advising.

Pie and Pi: A Lunch and Learn Series (virtual event series)
October 15-November 19, 2024

• WA Math Pathways and Placement offers this series of discussions for math faculty to discuss a wide variety of math-related teaching topics, including culturally relevant teaching practices in math and virtual escape rooms. Discussions are hosted on Zoom from 1:00-2:00pm PT on Tuesdays in October and November. Check their website for a specific list of topics and to register for an event!

EDUCAUSE Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX (see November for virtual event)
October 21-24, 2024

• The EDUCAUSE Annual Conference connects the best thinkers in higher education technology. This is THE event where professionals and technology providers from around the world gather to network, share ideas, grow professionally, and discover solutions to today’s challenges. It’s the largest gathering of your peers…people you can relate to, learn from, and stay connected to throughout the year.

Conference on Global Learning with the American Association of Community Colleges & Universities
October 24-26, 2024

• Each year, the AAC&U Conference on Global Learning delves deep into bold new ideas and transformative innovations that prepare all students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Share with and learn from a strong community with leading visionaries and collaborators who value every voice and perspective. Through an array of in-depth sessions and workshops, AAC&U explores the most relevant topics around global learning, community-based learning, and other high-impact practices in a global context. Participate in a meeting of minds from around the world.

TYCA – PNW Fall Conference with Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA
October 24-26, 2024

• The Two-Year College (English) Association of the Pacific Northwest serves as a professional development organization and conduit to the National TYCA as an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) for those focused on the first two years of college English instruction.

 

November

WAESOL Annual Conference at Renton Technical College in Renton, WA
November 2, 2024

• The Washington Association for the Education of Speakers of Other Languages (WASEOL) Annual Conference is the annual conference for ESOL/ESL/EFL instructors in Washington State. Instructors wishing to expand their instructional practice with multilingual learners would benefit from attending.

Pie and Pi: A Lunch and Learn Series (virtual event series)
October 15-November 19, 2024

• WA Math Pathways and Placement offers this series of discussions for math faculty to discuss a wide variety of math-related teaching topics, including culturally relevant teaching practices in math and virtual escape rooms. Discussions are hosted on Zoom from 1:00-2:00pm PT on Tuesdays in October and November. Check their website for a specific list of topics and to register for an event!

Transforming STEM Higher Education Conference with the American Association of Community Colleges & Universities in Arlington, VA
November 7-9, 2024

• The AAC&U Transforming STEM Higher Education Conference advances undergraduate STEM education reform by foregrounding STEM faculty’s diverse perspectives, worldviews, voices, and desires—especially those from groups historically marginalized in STEM. This event provides a deeper understanding of classroom, institutional, and national levers of reform. It outlines a national agenda for manipulating those levers to drive discovery, innovation, and social change in STEM higher education.

EDUCAUSE Annual Conference (virtual event; see October for in-person event)
November 13-14, 2024

• The EDUCAUSE Annual Conference connects the best thinkers in higher education technology. This is THE event where professionals and technology providers from around the world gather to network, share ideas, grow professionally, and discover solutions to today’s challenges. It’s the largest gathering of your peers…people you can relate to, learn from, and stay connected to throughout the year.

OLC Accelerate Conference in Orlando, FL
November 18-21, 2024

• The Accelerate conference, hosted by the Online Learning Consortium, showcases groundbreaking research and highly effective practices in online, blended, and digital learning. This event is designed to empower and support leaders, designers, and educators by providing a diverse range of sessions and activities. These are specifically curated to meet the needs of our entire community, focusing on overcoming the unique challenges and achieving the collective goals in the evolving landscape of digital education. The OLC is committed to creating equitable spaces where academics, practitioners, students, and staff can work together across their unique experiences to build truly inclusive communities and learning environments.

December

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Ongoing, Asynchronous, and/or Multiple Professional Development Opportunities:

Building Thinking Classrooms (virtual book club)
WA Math Pathways and Placement Are you a mathematics educator who wonders what students know? Are traditional teaching practices not reaching students the way they used to? Have you heard colleagues talk about ‘active learning’ and don’t understand what that means? Please join us in a Washington state-wide virtual book club on Building Thinking Classrooms, by Dr. Peter Liljedahl. This book goes over a framework that includes fourteen practices that can refocus your classroom towards student thinking and understanding of mathematics.

Teaching with AI (Asynchronous)
ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools are forcing educators to rethink assignments, activities, courses, and questions. Some find this thrilling, others fear for the future of higher ed, their jobs, and their students’ learning. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, we all stand to benefit from learning more about these technology tools and thinking deeply and collectively about what they might mean for the courses we teach, the students we serve, and the world we are helping to shape. This world-class, fully-online, self-paced course is especially designed for higher education faculty, graduate students interested in academic careers, and professional staff. As featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed, this course is interactive (not just a bunch of videos!) and thought-provoking.

3CSN Peer Educator & Civic Dialog Series (Multiple, Ongoing Opportunities)
3CSN is providing professional learning tailored to meet the needs of colleges, particularly in the areas of Equity, DEIA, and for new faculty on creating student-centered classrooms both in person and online. We hope you can join us and add these free offerings to your professional learning schedules. The Civic Dialogue series schedule is regularly updated!

NACADA Region 8 Conference with the Global Community in Academic Advising (Multiple, Ongoing Opportunities)
The National Community for Academic Advising is the leading association globally for the advancement of student success through excellence in academic advising in higher education. We have regional opportunities for professional development in advising. NACADA account required (free).

Online Learning Consortium (Multiple, Asynchronous, & Ongoing Opportunities)
The Online Learning Consortium™ (OLC) is a collaborative community of higher education leaders and innovators, dedicated to advancing quality digital teaching and learning experiences designed to reach and engage the modern learner – anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Amercan Association of Colleges & Universities (Multiple Opportunities)
The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) is a global membership organization dedicated to advancing the vitality and democratic purposes of undergraduate liberal education. They offer institutes, webinars, networking events, and host conferences year-round.

3CSN Design Labs: Professional Learning by Design (Multiple & Ongoing Opportunities)
The California Community College Success Network (3CSN) design labs are intentionally designed for each of 3CSN’s Design Principles to be experienced. Each design lab consists of multi-part 90-minute sessions. Participants build knowledge and relationships during the learning community and apply their knowledge to design, revise, and/or reimagine their approaches, materials/plans, and roles as community college professionals. Many educators participate in multiple labs.

Reading Apprenticeship (Multiple, Online, & Ongoing Opportunities)
Today’s secondary and college students need strong literacy skills, subject-area knowledge, self-direction, and curiosity to succeed. Reading Apprenticeship opens opportunities for all students, giving them new ways of reading, writing, thinking, talking, and reasoning in supportive classroom environments. Teachers using the Reading Apprenticeship approach learn to model discipline-specific literacy skills and establish routines for discussion and collaboration that tap students’ own experiences.

Whiteley Center – Friday Harbor Laboratories (UW) – A Retreat for Scholarly and Creative Activities (Ongoing Opportunity)
The Helen Riaboff Whiteley Center (HRWC) provides a refuge for established scholars and artists to study, write, create, and interact in a peaceful and quiet environment. It is located at the University of Washington’s (UW) Friday Harbor Laboratories (FHL), a marine science research and education center north of Puget Sound, Washington. Scholars at the HRWC can work in quiet isolation, and also take advantage of opportunities to meet with other HRWC scholars and with scientists working at FHL.

International Conferences on Higher Education (Multiple Opportunities)
International Conferences on Higher Education aim to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Higher Education. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of Higher Education. Conferences are hosted year-round and across the world. Starting in 2025, virtual and hybrid conferences will be offered.