CONFERENCE PROGRAM
We are excited that the 2026 Annual Conference will have over 40 breakout sessions and 15 CPE credits available to attendees!
The annual conference schedule is subject to change.
Sunday, September 27, 2026
|
| Time (CDT) |
Sessions
|
Estimated CPE
|
| 8:00am - 4:30pm |
Registration |
| 8:30am - 9:30am |
Morning Coffee / Breakfast Snacks |
| 9:30am - 10:20am |
Concurrent Sessions: |
|
| |
Lighting the Path Forward: How Structured, Flexible Learning Drives Continuous Improvement in Higher Education Operations |
1.0 |
| |
Illuminating Program Sustainability: How Indiana University Luddy School is Redefining Academic Financial Insight |
1.0 |
| |
Creating Coaching Conversations |
1.0 |
| |
Higher Education 101: General Accounting and Accounting Overview |
1.0 |
| 10:20am - 10:35am |
Transition |
| 10:35am - 11:25am |
Concurrent Sessions: |
|
| |
Shed Light on Strategic Capital Projects ROI and Enrollment Yield |
1.0 |
| |
AI Risk Universe and Application |
1.0 |
| |
Navigating the New Normal: Institutional Responses to OB3 Borrowing Changes |
1.0 |
| |
From Wahoo to the CFO’s Office: The Top 5 Business Issues in Higher Ed |
1.0 |
| 11:30am - 12:30pm |
First Time Attendee Lunch |
| 11:30am - 12:30pm |
Returning Attendees Lunch |
| 12:30pm - 12:45pm |
President Welcome & Awards Announcement |
|
| 12:45pm - 1:45pm |
KEYNOTE by Phil Hansen |
1.0 |
| 1:45pm - 3:30pm |
Exhibit Hall Open - Book Signing for Phil Hansen |
| 3:30pm - 4:20pm |
Concurrent Sessions: |
|
| |
AI, Fraud, and Financial Controls: Managing the Next Wave of Cyber Risk in Higher Education |
1.0 |
| |
FASB Update |
1.0 |
| |
The Campus Dining Index: Turning Student Insights into Future-Ready, Inclusive Dining Strategies |
1.0 |
| |
Higher Education 101: Financial Reporting |
1.0 |
| 6:00pm - 9:00pm |
Opening Reception at Kiewit Luminarium
|
Monday, September 28, 2026
|
| Time (CDT) |
Sessions
|
Estimated CPE
|
| 7:00am - 8:00am |
Breakfast |
| 8:00am - 9:00am |
KEYNOTE by Brian Biro |
1.0 |
| 9:00am - 10:30am |
Exhibit Hall Open |
| 10:30am - 11:20am |
Concurrent Sessions: |
|
| |
10 Years of MSU Lessons Learned... with GASB |
1.0 |
| |
From Weeks to Hours: Leveraging AI to Transform Financial Reporting |
1.0 |
| |
Workshop: Strategic Thinking in Uncertain Times- Part I |
1.0 |
| |
Higher Education 101: Budgets, Margins, Payroll |
1.0 |
| 11:20am - 11:35am |
Transition |
| 11:35am - 12:25pm |
Concurrent Sessions: |
|
| |
Workshop: Strategic Thinking in Uncertain Times- Part II |
1.0 |
| |
Wins and Losses in College & University Athletics |
1.0 |
| |
Modern Capital Planning: Aligning Flexibility with Long-Term Strategy |
1.0 |
| |
Audit‑Ready: Best Practices for Preparation and Disclosures |
1.0 |
| 12:25pm - 1:35pm |
Lunch |
| 1:35pm - 2:30pm |
KEYNOTE by Erin Stafford |
1.0 |
| 2:30pm - 4:00pm |
Exhibit Hall Open - Book Signing for Erin Stafford |
| 4:00pm - 4:50pm |
Concurrent Sessions: |
|
| |
Spotlight on Research Challenges and Financial Strategies |
1.0 |
| |
The ROI of Retirement Readiness: Financial Impact of Supporting Your Diamond Cohort |
1.0 |
| |
Asset or Liability? The Role of Athletics on Campus |
1.0 |
| |
From Exploration to Execution: Building Generative AI Fluency in Higher Ed |
1.0 |
| 5:00pm - 6:00pm |
Business Partner Appreciation Reception |
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
|
| Time (EST) |
Sessions
|
Estimated CPE
|
| 7:00am - 8:00am |
Breakfast |
| 8:00am - 9:00am |
KEYNOTE by Kara D. Freeman, NACUBO |
1.0 |
| 9:00am - 9:10am |
Transition |
| 9:10am - 10:00am |
Concurrent Sessions: |
|
| |
Model More: Advance Your Strategic Initiatives with Long-Term Planning |
1.0 |
| |
Campus Dining as a Catalyst for Institutional Excellence and Student Success: The Power of Partnership at Grand Valley State University |
1.0 |
| |
From Strategy to Impact: Modernization and AI at Highland Community College |
1.0 |
| |
Higher Education 101: Revenue Recognition, Grants and Endowments |
1.0 |
| 10:00am - 10:15am |
Transition & Snack |
| 10:15am - 11:05am |
Concurrent Sessions: |
|
| |
A Unified Future: Transforming Fragmented Data into Actionable Intelligence |
1.0 |
| |
Accounting, Single audit, and Tax Updates. Question: What Should Every Business Officer Know? |
1.0 |
| |
What Business Officers Should Know About HR, Benefits, and Consulting Partnerships |
1.0 |
| |
Higher Education 101: Procurement, Accounts Payable, Treasury |
1.0 |
| 11:05am - 11:20am |
Transition |
| 11:20am - 12:10pm |
Concurrent Sessions: |
|
| |
Beyond System Selection: A Practical Roadmap for Modernizing SIS, ERP, CRM, and Finance Systems in Higher Education |
1.0 |
| |
Turning Audit Findings into Strategic Advantage: Lessons for CFOs in Student Financial Aid Compliance |
1.0 |
| |
The AI-Fueled Fraud Era: What Higher Education Leaders Need to Know |
1.0 |
| |
What are You Really Asking the University to Invest in? Taking Business Planning Seriously |
1.0 |
| 12:10pm - 12:45pm |
Lunch |
|
| 12:45pm - 1:15pm |
CACUBO Business Meeting |
|
| 1:15pm - 1:25pm |
Transition |
|
| 1:25pm - 2:15pm |
Concurrent Sessions: |
|
| |
Breaking Barriers: How Zero-Fee Mandatory Payment Plans Increased Revenue While Empowering Students |
1.0 |
| |
The University of Kansas - Universal Service Model |
1.0 |
| |
A Strategic Path to Career Advancement: Partnering with Your Supervisor |
1.0 |
| |
Higher Education 101: Student Accounts and Capital Assets |
1.0 |
| 2:15pm - 2:30pm |
Transition |
|
| 2:30pm - 3:20pm |
Concurrent Sessions: |
|
| |
Under Pressure: How financial constraints are reshaping higher ed IT |
1.0 |
| |
Invisible Insights: Measuring Space Usage to Reduce Costs and Plan Smarter |
1.0 |
| |
Leading Through the Breaking Point: Burnout and Resilience for Higher Education Business Officers |
1.0 |
|
