2024 Continuing Education Leadership Conference

Monday, March 4
5:30 pm Complimentary networking reception, Meet-and-Greet

Tuesday, March 5
7 am Breakfast networking

8 am Opening Session
-Welcome, Scott Cashman, Chair of the LERN Board, William Rainey Harper Community College, Palatine, Illinois
-Chair-Elect Welcome, Jill Korsok, Orange Community Education and Recreation, Pepper Pike, Ohio
-State of the Field, Brendan Marsello, Assistant Vice President for Program Development; and Travette Webster, Assistant Vice President for Communications & Diversity, LERN

9 am- 9:45  General Session: “From a President’s View”
Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, a long time leader in continuing education, is also President of the Southwest Campus of the Houston Community College System. In an informal interview session, Topics include what other Presidents of colleges and universities should consider in setting KPI’s for their CE division; Why  the CE unit is important to fulfill the mission of the college, and more.

9: 45 – 10:15 Morning Break

10:15 – 11 am General Session: “Leading the Institution”
Starter thoughts with a Panel of University and Community College continuing education leaders. With reactions, questions, and input from participants, we discuss the latest issues, opportunities, and challenges for the field.

11:15 Concurrents
-Presentation. “Responding to the Global Economy: C.E. Planning in a more Complex Environment,” Amystique Church, Enterprise Mid Atlantic Institute, Wilmington, Delaware.

-Discussion. “Getting C.E. to the Table,” Joe Miera, Vice Provost, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Noon – 1:30 pm Luncheon (included in fee)

1:30 Concurrents
-Presentation. “Details Make the Difference: Recruitment and Retention in Lifelong Learning Programs,” Alicia Taylor, Program Coordinator, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois.

-Discussion. “Academic Affairs and C.E.,”   Samantha Bray, Wake Technical College, Raleigh, North Carolina; and Joe Miera, Vice Provost, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Moderators.

2:15 – 2:30 Afternoon Break

2:30 Concurrents
-Presentation. “How Collaboration with Internal Stakeholders Leads to an Enhanced Student Experience,” Jennifer Moorefield, Associate Vice President; and Stephanie W. Gregg, Operations Director, Greenville Technical College, Greenville, South Carolina.

-Discussion. “Advocating for C.E.,” moderated by Angie Lipschuetz, Associate Dean, College of Professional & Global Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California.

3:15 -3:30 First Day Closure
Optional: Networking and Dinner Groups (on your own)

Wednesday, March 6
7 am Breakfast networking

8 am Concurrent Sessions
-Presentation. “Extending Inclusivity Through Innovative Technology,” Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, Vice Chancellor of Workforce and President of Southwest College, Sue Moraska, Director; Ana Calvo, Program Director; Samir Saber, Dean and Executive Director, Workforce Technology; Ruben Duran, Director; and Wren Bump, Instructor, Diagnostician, and Learning Specialist, Houston Community College, Houston, Texas

-Discussion. “Strategies for C.E. Leading the Institution,” moderated by Amystique Church, Dover, Delaware.

9 am Concurrent Sessions

-Presentation. “The Enrollment Cliff: Continuing Education’s Pioneering Contributions for Future Ready Education,”  Renee R. Felts, Ed.d, Assistant Vice President for Continuing Education; and Robert Doherty,  Dir Cont Ed Cred & Prior Lng,  Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.

9: 45 – 10:15 Morning Break

10:15 Concurrents
-Presentation. “Institutional Collaboration to Benefit the Entire Community,” Eunice Melo, Senior Director; Tanya Camp, Project Director, Montgomery College, Rockville, Maryland

-Discussion. “Developing C.E. Reports for the President,” moderated by Joe Miera, University of Nevada Las Vegas.

11:15 Concurrents
-Presentation. “Process Improvement in C.E,” Elisa Waldman, Vice President; Tim Frenzel, Director, Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas.

-Discussion. “Where C.E. Online is Headed,” moderated by Scott Cashman, Harper College, Palatine, IL.

Noon – 1:30 pm Luncheon (included in fee)

1:30 Concurrents
-Discussion. “C.E. Leading the University.”
-Discussion. “C.E. Leading the Community College.”

2:15 – 2:30 Afternoon Break

2:30 Concurrents
-Presentation. “Addressing the Employee Well-Being Crisis Post-Pandemic and Beyond,” Shana LaFlore, Business Development & Solutions Representative, Madison College, Madison, Wisconsin.

-Discussion. “Financial Reserves in C.E,”  moderated by Brendan Marsello, LERN Vice President for Program Development, Jackson, New Hampshire.  

3:15 -3:30 Second Day Closure

Thursday, March 7

8 am Breakfast networking

9:00 Concurrents
Presentation. “Program Optimization: A Roadmap,” Christine Gilchrist, Executive Director; Glenn Karn, Director of Operations; Marc Swinney, Director of Business and Manufacturing Programs, Melissa Shinn, Director of Health Programs, College of Western Idaho, Nampa, Idaho.

Discussion. “Integrating the C.E. Plan with the Institution Plan,” moderated by Elisa Waldman, Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas.

CALL TO ACTION
You are needed to provide leadership in your institution. And to guide the field of continuing education forward.

10 am Position Statements
Position Statement. “C.E. Remote Work,” moderated by Scott Cashman, Harper College, Palatine, Illinois

Position Statement. “Streamlining Admissions,” moderated by Travette Webster, Ed.d., LERN Vice President for Communications and Diversity, Houston, Texas.

11 am “The 2025 Continuing Education Leadership Conference.”
Ideas and suggestions for next year’s conference.

11:30 am “Report to the Field”
Closing Panel session with the top take-aways and recommendations for continuing education leading the University, and leading the College.

Noon. The Conference Ends

About San Juan
As the oldest European-founded city in the Americas, San Juan is the beating heart of history and culture in Puerto Rico. A place where the Old World meets the new in fascinating ways, San Juan is also a hub of shopping, dining and nightlife.

Explore historic sites, art museums, salsa music, extraordinary cuisine, outdoor restaurants, hidden shops on alley-way cobblestone streets, surrounded by beautiful scenery.

The average temperature in March for San Juan is a low of 75F degrees, and a high of 81F degrees. Wonderful !

Airport. The airport is just 15 minutes away. Take a quick cab or Uber ride to the hotel.

Condado Beach. The hotel is right on Condado Beach, and within walking distance you have restaurants, beach, and

Old San Juan. Must-see, this Old World part of town is preserved and has sights, sounds, aromas, and tastes to entice and enjoy.  Visit the fort museum, art, port, walking paths, and more.
Only 3 miles from your hotel.

Hotel

The Condado Plaza Hilton Hotel is set right on the ocean beach in San Juan. It is just 10 minutes from famous Old San Juan, and only 15 minutes from the airport.

The Condado Plaza Hilton Hotel
999 Ashford Avenue
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907
United States

Special room rate: Rooms: $229/night + services, fees, taxes
(see the Final Brochure for details). The special room rate is also available 3 days before the conference and 3 days after the event, given availability.

Room Cut-off Date: February 5, 2024. These special rates are available until the cut-off date. After that date, check availability and rates.

For updates on making room reservations, email [email protected]  Subject Line: San Juan

San Juan

San Juan is the beating heart of history and culture in Puerto Rico. It is the oldest European-founded city in the Americas. San Juan is a place where the Old World meets the new in fascinating ways. Old San Juan is also a hub of shopping, dining, and nightlife.

There are dozens of non-stop flights from the U.S. mainland and Canada. San Juan is served by all of the major airlines. You fly into Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport – San Juan Airport (SJU) in Puerto Rico.  By cab, Uber or Lyft you are only 15 minutes away from the oceanfront hotel and LERN conference.

Sleeping Room Rates
For the nights of Monday, March 4; Tuesday, March 5; and Wednesday, March 6, the rates are:
Single, $229/night*
Double, $229/night*
Triple, $259/night*

Enjoy San Juan Rates
Arrive early, and/or stay late. Bring a friend or partner. For attendees staying the Condado during the conference, the same special rate of $229 single or double, $259 triple to arriving up to and including 3 nights before March 4, 2024; and/or staying up to and including 3 nights after March 6, 2024.

Cut-Off Date: February 5, 2024
Please make your sleeping room reservations before February 5, 2024, to get the LERN rate.
After February 5, 2024, we expect the LERN group rate block to sell out. If the hotel is sold out, please contact LERN for overflow hotels.

*Plus Services, Gratuities, and Taxes
These great rates are still great, even after services, gratuities, and taxes.  Puerto Rico depends on visitors for its economic prosperity.  So be sure to read and understand the services, gratuities and taxes. You are responsible for understanding the hotel charges, and for your own hotel bill. All incidental charges are also your responsibility.

Taxes. In addition, you agree to pay any and all applicable federal, territory, state, municipal or other taxes, fees, or assessments imposed on or applicable to your stay. In the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, currently the room tax rate is 9%.

Resort Fees. In addition, you agree to pay applicable resort charges. There will be a daily resort charge, currently $35 per room, per night, plus applicable commonwealth and local tax (currently at 9%) to cover the following:

*Standard WIFI
*Beach/Pool chairs umbrellas
*10% off Food at Café Caribe
*15% Spa discount
*Daily recreational activities
*Pool Toys

Service fees. In addition, service fees will be posted to the Individual Guest Room Portfolio and account. These service fees are subject to change without notice. Currently, the service fees are as follows: Porterage, $5.79 per person plus applicable tax currently 10.5% state tax and 1% municipality tax (includes both check-in and check-out); Room Attendant, $0.56 per room, per day plus applicable tax currently 10.5% state and 1% municipality tax.

LERN Fee. Your sleeping room fee includes $20, which will go towards LERN paying for the food served as part of the conference.

Guest Room Payment Arrangements
Room, tax, resort charge, porterage and room attendant, plus applicable taxes, will be paid by the individual attendee. These charges must be paid in full prior to your departure. Your individual credit needs to be established at the time of check-in.

To confirm your sleeping room, the sleeping room must be secured with a valid credit card provided by you, along with a first night’s  deposit, which is nonrefundable. Checks and major credit cards are acceptable to establish prepayment. All credit cards used to prepay the room deposit may be charged immediately.

Early Departure Fee. If you check out prior to your reserved checkout date, the hotel will add an early checkout fee to your account. Guests wishing to avoid an early checkout fee should advise the hotel directly at or before check-in of any change in your planned length of stay.

Check-in/Out Times. Currently, the hotel’s check-in time is 4:00 pm, and check-out time is 12:00 pm. This is subject to change without notice. All guests arriving before check-in time will be accommodated as rooms become available. The hotel can arrange to check baggage for those arriving early when rooms are not yet available and on your departure day.

Making Your Hotel Reservation

To confirm a sleeping room within the Room Block, the sleeping room must be secured with a valid credit, along with a first night’s deposit, which is nonrefundable. 

Option #1: Attendees can make their own reservations directly with our reservation office at phone number: 1-888-722-1274. It is very important that each person identify themselves as part of the LERN Leadership Conference, Group Code: LERN24, to receive the group rates.

Option #2: Personalized web page address: Click Here

Option #3: Hotel Web Page: www.condadoplaza.hilton.com
I. Select the desired arrival and departure dates
II. Select special rates
III. Add Group Code: LERN24
IV. Continue with the reservation process

Cost

For persons from organizations registered for the 2023 LERN Annual Conference Nov 13-16, 2023, and staying at the conference hotel for 3 or more nights;  or for persons from Organizations registered for the 2024 LERN Annual Conference, Nov 18-21, 2024, Online, and staying at the conference hotel for 3 or more nights;  just $695 per person.

For others staying at the conference hotel  for 3 or more nights, $995 per person.

Cost includes three breakfasts, two lunches, Monday night reception, and handouts.

To register, call 800-678-5376 8-5 pm M-F with a purchase order or credit card.

2024 Leadership Conference Registration Form

Questions? Email Roy or Gale at [email protected].

LERN In-Person Conference Refund and Cancellation Policy

The LERN In-Person Conference Cancellation and Refund Policy will be as follows and is applicable to the 2024 C.E. Leadership Conference.

• Conference registrations canceled on or before February 1, 2024, are refundable. The refund will be returned to your original payment method.
• Registrations cancelled on or after February 2, 2024, will NOTreceive a refund. Registration fees may be transferred to another individual from your organization or may be used as a credit for future LERN services or events.
• In the event LERN must cancel the conference due to unforeseen circumstances (see below), we will refund the cost of registration to your original payment method.

Unforeseen Circumstances Defined for Refund and Cancellation Policies

Unforeseen circumstances is used to describe an event that is unexpected and prevents LERN from continuing with the conference. Examples of such circumstances can include but are not limited to, inclement weather or other natural disasters, site unavailability, and technology challenges.