Wednesday, September 16th, 2026 - Main Day One
Welcome to Higher Education Shared Services & Outsourcing Week - the only conference designed exclusively for shared services leaders in the higher education space. As institutions navigate shifting priorities, evolving technologies, and growing expectations, this event provides the platform to turn transformation into long-term progress.
Over two days, leaders from across the U.S. and Canada will share strategies that strengthen operations, sustain growth, and accelerate collaboration. Join peers and innovators to explore what’s next for higher education shared services and build the momentum that carries your institution forward.
Morning Workshops
8:30 am - 9:30 am
Registration & Breakfast
9:30 am - 11:00 am
WORKSHOP A: From Data Chaos to Data Confidence: Building an AI-Ready Shared Services Model
Many institutions continue to face fragmented data environments, siloed technology teams, and resource constraints that make it difficult to use data strategically. This workshop focuses on how to move from scattered systems and inconsistent data practices to a scalable shared services model that is ready for AI-driven analytics and decision-making. Participants will explore practical steps for standardizing tools, improving data governance, and building institutional alignment to support student success and operational efficiency—without increasing cost or complexity.
Key Takeaways:
Develop a structured approach for assessing data maturity and building governance models that promote consistency across campus units and sites.
Identify where consolidating platforms, workflows, or vendor spend can streamline operations and redirect resources toward strategic priorities.
Examine practical pathways to introduce AI, copilots, automation, and analytics in ways that enhance service quality while responsibly managing risk, change, and adoption.
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Morning Break
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
WORKSHOP B: Sustaining Momentum Through Leadership Transitions and Institutional Change
Dan Melchior -
Shared Services Director,
San Diego State University
Abigail Hernandez - Project and Change Manager, San Diego State University College of Extended Studies
Leadership transitions and institutional shifts can introduce uncertainty that affects team morale, operational stability, and long-term progress. This session explores how shared services leaders can maintain continuity, reassure stakeholders, and preserve forward momentum during periods of transition. It focuses on practical approaches for safeguarding priorities, reinforcing organizational identity, and guiding teams through ambiguity. Attendees will gain tools for leading with steadiness and clarity even when direction, expectations, or governance structures evolve.
Clarify non-negotiable priorities and core service commitments to ensure continuity and reduce disruption.
Communicate consistently to maintain trust, provide context, and help teams understand what is changing and what remains stable.
Strengthen cultural anchors and team engagement practices that keep individuals motivated and aligned throughout transition periods.
Abigail Hernandez
Project and Change ManagerSan Diego State University College of Extended Studies
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Networking Luncheon
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Workshop C: Reorganizing Leadership to Scale Shared Services Impact
Calvin Turner Jr. -
Executive Director, UC Shared Services,
University of California Office of the President
As shared services expand, complexity multiplies. New functions are added, stakeholder groups grow, and legacy structures strain under broader mandates. What once worked for a focused operating model can quietly reinforce silos, fragment accountability, and dilute the enterprise promise of shared services. At a certain point, incremental process fixes are no longer enough. Leadership itself must be redesigned.
In this hands-on workshop, the Head of UCPath shares the organization’s transformation journey as retiree services became the catalyst for structural change. Facing growing demand, heightened scrutiny, and the need for tighter cross-functional coordination, UCPath reexamined its leadership model, governance structure, and decision rights. The result was not simply a reshuffle of reporting lines, but a deliberate shift toward enterprise accountability, clearer ownership across the retiree lifecycle, and stronger collaboration between HR, payroll, benefits, and service operations.
Key Takeaways:
Examine the strategic inflection point that made leadership reorganization unavoidable and how retiree services exposed structural gaps limiting scale and integration.
Deconstruct the structural and governance changes that clarified decision rights, strengthened cross-functional accountability, and reduced duplication across functions.
Apply a practical framework to assess whether your current leadership model enables enterprise-wide cohesion—and identify where redesign is necessary to expand scope and unlock greater institutional value.
Calvin Turner Jr.
Executive Director, UC Shared ServicesUniversity of California Office of the President
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Afternoon Refreshment Break
Afternoon Mainstage Sessions
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Starting Smart: Launching and Expanding Shared Services with Speed and Credibility
Stig Lanesskog -
Chief Executive Officer,
Claremont University Consortium
Every shared services journey begins with the same question: how do you get something started? Whether launching a new model, adding a new function, or expanding existing offerings, leaders must navigate fractional FTE allocations, unclear ownership, and pressure to show immediate savings—despite knowing the financial return rarely materializes in the first year or two. This session explores how to move from concept to execution quickly and credibly by defining focused scope, consolidating scattered responsibilities into real capacity, and establishing governance that accelerates decisions. Participants will also learn how to frame the financial story honestly—balancing upfront investment and transitional costs with long-term value—so expansion efforts build confidence rather than skepticism.
Key Takeaways:
Overcome the fractional FTE challenge by consolidating scattered responsibilities into scalable, accountable service structures.
Launch or expand shared services quickly by narrowing initial scope, clarifying ownership, and establishing fast-track governance mechanisms.
Build a transparent financial narrative that addresses upfront investment, delayed savings, and the broader value proposition beyond immediate cost reduction.
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Modernizing Systems for a Unified Digital Platform
Transitioning from legacy platforms to modern solutions presents more than a technical challenge. It creates an opportunity to reshape culture, policies, and processes across higher education, finance, and accounting. This session examines how institutions can leverage the move from Banner to Workday to drive adoption, enforce compliance, and cultivate new ways of working, even amid resistance to change. Leaders will gain insights into turning a mandatory technology shift into a lasting organizational transformation.
Explore strategies for guiding finance and accounting teams through cultural resistance during system transitions.
Learn how to use system change to reinforce compliance and update policies.
Discover approaches for embedding long-term process improvements beyond the technology implementation.
Register Now. Which customer are you?
Conference passes provide access to the Big Idea Stage, Receptions, Meals, the Innovation HUB, and so much more!
Select Your Package(s):
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Total
Main Conference + Workshops Pass
Super Early Bird - Register By 4/10/2026September 16 - 17
- Workshops
- Main Conference Sessions
- Breakfast & Lunch Daily
- Networking Activities
- Access to Innovation Hub
- Exciting Keynotes
- Access to Solutions Pavillions
- Access to Digital Content & Takeaways
- Actionable Tracks
- Interactive Discussion Groups
Unit Price
$1,999.00
$999.00
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Shared Services & Outsourcing Week Add On
Attend SSOW September 14 - 15 to benchmark with mature corporate shared services centers.
Unit Price
$999.00
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Vendor Main Conference Pass
- Workshops
- Main Conference Sessions
- Breakfast & Lunch Daily
- Networking Activities
- Access to Innovation Hub
- Exciting Keynotes
- Access to Solutions Pavillions
- Access to Digital Content & Takeaways
- Actionable Tracks
- Interactive Discussion Groups
Unit Price
$4,599.00
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