CategoryEducation & Training
Higher Learning Commission - HLC Annual Conference
🎯 Selling to this event's audience? Get a free tailored buyer list
Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to Higher Learning Commission - HLC Annual Conference — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.
🔒 Get my buyer details Free · ~20 seconds
About this event
HLC Annual Conference (Higher Learning 2027) — Description
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Annual Conference, branded as “Higher Learning,” is a multi-day, in-person conference focused on higher education accreditation, innovation, and continuous improvement. The event brings together leaders and practitioners from colleges and universities across the United States to explore new ideas and strengthen institutional practices through shared learning and collaboration.
What the conference is about
At HLC’s leading higher ed conference, attendees are invited to learn from HLC staff and leading thinkers, researchers, and advocates, with the goal of inspiring work directly on campus. The conference emphasizes innovation and improvement and encourages participants to build a professional community around higher education quality and effectiveness.
Who should attend
The conference welcomes administrators, faculty members, CEOs, presidents, and chancellors, as well as representatives from higher education organizations and HLC institutional representatives and peer reviewers. Some parts of the programming may be exclusive to representatives from member institutions that have an accreditation relationship with HLC.
Program format and what’s included
The General Program includes most conference sessions, including the welcome address, keynotes, and presentations by HLC and institutions. Registered General Program attendees also have access to an expo hall featuring products and services from sponsors, along with selected networking and meal functions as specified during registration.
Preconference programs are separate and have their own registration fees. Attendees do not need to register for a preconference program in order to participate in the General Program.
Where and when it takes place
Higher Learning 2027 is scheduled for April 17–19, 2027 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, United States.
In-person experience with digital support
All conference programs take place in person. While the conference is primarily physical, slides may be accessed through the conference mobile app.
Networking and community building
The conference is designed to help attendees connect with peers from institutions of every classification and size from across the country. This community emphasis supports practical engagement—so participants can compare approaches, learn from others’ experiences, and take ideas back to their own institutions.
Official conference logistics and communications
HLC advises attendees to use official conference channels for housing and discounted room blocks. The organization notes that it does not authorize third-party hotel resellers, and official housing communications will come from an email address ending in @hlcommission.org.
Data sheet
Higher Learning Commission - HLC Annual Conference – Event Attendee & Buyer Profile Analysis
Event Date: April 17–19, 2027
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
Event Status: Upcoming
Research Date: July 1, 2026
Event Overview
| Event Name | HLC Annual Conference - Higher Learning Commission |
| Event Date | April 17–19, 2027 |
| Event Status | Upcoming |
| Venue | Phoenix Convention Center |
| City | Phoenix |
| State / Region | Arizona |
| Country | United States |
| Organizer | Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Official Event Website | Higher Learning Commission Annual Conference page |
| Event Type | Association conference / higher education accreditation and leadership event |
| Primary Category | Education & Training |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | Business Services, Science & Research |
| Audience Reach | National |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
| Attendance Data Reliability | High for date, venue, and event purpose; low for attendance volume because no public count is posted. |
| Main Purpose of Event | To convene higher education leaders, accreditation stakeholders, and institutional representatives to discuss quality assurance, innovation, continuous improvement, and campus strategy. |
About the Event
HLC Annual Conference is the Higher Learning Commission’s flagship higher education gathering. The official 2027 event page confirms a multi-day in-person conference in Phoenix focused on innovation, continuous improvement, and community building among higher education professionals. The conference brings together institutional leaders and accreditation stakeholders who influence strategy, compliance, academic quality, student success, and organizational change.
This event is highly relevant for organizations selling into higher education, including solutions for accreditation support, institutional effectiveness, academic operations, student services, campus technology, facilities, consulting, and professional services. It is also a strong B2B lead-generation venue because attendee roles typically include decision-makers and influencers from colleges and universities across the United States.
1. Who Attends: Buyers / Attendees
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior institutional leadership | Colleges, universities, system offices | Sets strategy and approves major initiatives | High-value targets for enterprise solutions, consulting, and strategic services |
| Accreditation and compliance teams | Institutions with HLC accreditation relationship | Manages standards, documentation, and review readiness | Relevant for governance, workflow, policy, and evidence-management vendors |
| Provosts and academic affairs leaders | Universities, colleges, academic units | Influence curriculum, quality, and academic operations | Strong fit for academic planning, assessment, and analytics solutions |
| Institutional research and effectiveness teams | Higher education institutions | Owns data, reporting, and performance measurement | Relevant for analytics, BI, data governance, and survey tools |
| Student success and enrollment leaders | Colleges and universities | Influence retention, advising, and student support investment | Relevant for CRM, advising, engagement, and retention platforms |
| Chief information officers / IT leaders | Higher ed IT departments | Controls technology selection and integration | Strong fit for software, cybersecurity, cloud, identity, and integration vendors |
| Faculty and academic program leaders | Departments, schools, programs | Influence program design and implementation | Relevant for learning platforms, assessment tools, and instructional services |
| Facilities and operations leaders | Campus operations departments | Manages physical campus systems and service providers | Relevant for facilities, maintenance, workplace, and service vendors |
| Peer reviewers and HLC institutional representatives | Member institutions and accreditation network | Influence quality assurance and process familiarity | Useful for relationship-building and education-oriented outreach |
| Consultants and association leaders | Education consulting, associations, advocacy groups | Advises institutions and shapes best practices | Potential channel partners and referral sources |
2. Event Location and Attendee Geographic Origin
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host city: Phoenix | Arizona institutions and regional higher ed leaders | Medium | Convenient for local and Southwest attendees |
| Host state / region: Arizona / Southwest | Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Texas, California | High | Regional draw supported by travel accessibility and HLC membership footprint |
| Nearby business hubs | Phoenix metro, Tucson, Las Vegas, Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles | Medium to High | Likely attendance from institutions with active accreditation, compliance, or transformation projects |
| National reach | Institutions across the HLC service area and broader U.S. higher education community | High | Official site states attendees come from institutions nationwide |
| International reach | Limited / selective international participation | Low to Medium | Primary audience is U.S.-based higher education stakeholders |
3. Audience Reach
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| National | Primary classification | The official description says the conference attracts attendees from institutions nationwide and serves a U.S.-wide higher education audience. |
4. Sample Buyer Companies and Websites
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher Learning Commission | Accreditation organization / event host | Organizer and primary ecosystem authority for the conference | hlcommission.org | Executive Office, Conference Director, Events Manager | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| Arizona State University | University | Large higher-ed institution likely to send accreditation, academic affairs, IT, and operations leaders | asu.edu | Provost, CIO, Vice President of Student Affairs, Institutional Research Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| University of Arizona | University | Relevant buyer for accreditation, research, student success, and enterprise systems | arizona.edu | Director of Accreditation, VP Academic Affairs, CIO, Director of Assessment | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| University of Illinois System | University system | System-level governance and quality assurance stakeholder | uillinois.edu | System Provost, Accreditation Officer, CIO, Institutional Effectiveness Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Colorado State University | University | Likely attendee profile for leadership, compliance, and assessment solutions | colostate.edu | Associate Provost, Director of Institutional Research, IT Director, Dean | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| University of Nebraska System | University system | System-level planning, accreditation, and operational decision-maker | nebraska.edu | Chief Academic Officer, Institutional Effectiveness Director, CIO | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| University of Wisconsin System | University system | Relevant for accreditation, institutional research, and digital transformation needs | wisconsin.edu | Vice Chancellor, Director of Accreditation, Analytics Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Northern Arizona University | University | Arizona-based attendee candidate for local outreach and event proximity | nau.edu | Provost, Accreditation Liaison Officer, CIO, VP Operations | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Maricopa Community Colleges | Community college district | Regional higher-ed buyer with strong accreditation and operational needs | maricopa.edu | Chancellor, Accreditation Officer, IT Director, Institutional Research Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Pima Community College | Community college | Likely local/regional participant in HLC-related professional development | pima.edu | President, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Accreditation Liaison, CIO | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| University of Texas at Austin | University | Large public university with significant compliance, analytics, and leadership buying potential | utexas.edu | Provost, Chief Information Officer, Director of Institutional Research, Dean | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| University of Denver | University | Private higher-ed institution with decision-makers aligned to HLC themes | du.edu | Academic Affairs Leader, Accreditation Liaison, IT Director, VP Finance | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
5. Job Profiles, Industries and Event Type
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | President / Chancellor | Executive Office | C-Level | Owns institutional strategy and major vendor approvals |
| 2 | Provost / Chief Academic Officer | Academic Affairs | C-Level / EVP | Highly influential in quality, program, and academic transformation investments |
| 3 | Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness | Institutional Effectiveness | VP / Director | Owns assessment, outcomes, and accreditation evidence systems |
| 4 | Director of Accreditation / Accreditation Liaison Officer | Accreditation / Compliance | Director / Manager | Primary operational owner for HLC-related compliance and documentation |
| 5 | Chief Information Officer / IT Director | Information Technology | C-Level / Director | Leads technology platforms, security, integration, and digital modernization |
| 6 | Director of Institutional Research | Data / Analytics | Director | Key buyer for analytics, reporting, dashboards, and survey tools |
| 7 | Director of Assessment / Learning Outcomes | Academic Quality / Assessment | Director / Manager | Purchases tools and services for outcomes measurement and evidence collection |
| 8 | Chief Financial Officer / VP Finance | Finance | C-Level / VP | Approves large contracts, budgeting, and ROI-driven initiatives |
| 9 | Director of Student Success / Retention | Student Affairs / Enrollment | Director / Senior Manager | Relevant for CRM, advising, and engagement tools |
| 10 | Director of Facilities / Operations | Facilities / Operations | Director | Potential buyer for facilities services, space planning, and maintenance solutions |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education Management | Core higher-ed audience | Institutional leadership, academic operations, enrollment and student success |
| 2 | Higher Education | Direct fit for colleges and universities | Leadership, compliance, academic quality, and institutional effectiveness |
| 3 | Information Technology & Services | Technology decision-makers are relevant attendees | Cloud, integration, SIS, ERP, CRM, and IT services |
| 4 | Research | Institutional research and assessment functions are central | Analytics, reporting, and evidence management |
| 5 | Management Consulting | Strategy and transformation topics are highly relevant | Accreditation, organizational change, and process improvement consulting |
| 6 | Business Supplies & Equipment | Campus operations purchase business services and equipment | Facilities, office systems, workplace solutions |
| 7 | Facilities Services | Facilities leaders may attend or influence purchases | Maintenance, cleaning, safety, workplace services |
| 8 | Computer Software | High fit for digital transformation and workflow tools | SaaS for accreditation, analytics, CRM, and document management |
| 9 | Information Services | Data and knowledge services are relevant to HLC stakeholders | Benchmarking, research intelligence, data subscriptions |
| 10 | Professional Training & Coaching | Conference learning and institutional improvement focus | Leadership development, accreditation training, workforce upskilling |
| 11 | Public Policy | Policy, regulation, and accreditation are central themes | Policy research, governance, and compliance services |
| 12 | Events Services | Conference format favors event technology and support services | Event registration, mobile apps, AV, and onsite support |
6. Estimated Attendance
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Organizer page does not publish a count | Use as a quality lead source rather than a volume-verified event |
| Exhibitor count | Not publicly confirmed | Unavailable | No current exhibitor directory posted | The official page references an expo hall, but not a public exhibitor count |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed | Unavailable | No buyer roster published | Buyer presence inferred from attendee profile, not counted |
| Speaker count | Not publicly confirmed | Unavailable | Schedule not yet released | Call for proposals opens July 2026 |
| Historical attendance | Not provided in the source text | Unavailable | No historical attendance figure cited on the supplied official page text | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
7. Key Focus Areas and Buyer Engagement
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accreditation and compliance | Evidence collection, standards tracking, review readiness | Demonstrate workflow efficiency and audit support | Compliance software, document management, advisory services |
| Institutional effectiveness | Assessment, KPIs, outcomes measurement | Position analytics and reporting as decision support | BI platforms, dashboards, survey tools |
| Digital transformation | Modernize systems and processes | Show integration, automation, and ROI | ERP, SIS, CRM, automation, iPaaS |
| Student success | Retention, advising, engagement | Align solutions to institutional mission and retention outcomes | CRM, advising platforms, communication tools |
| Cybersecurity / IT governance | Protect institutional data and ensure reliability | Target CIOs and security stakeholders with risk-reduction messaging | Security tools, identity, backup, governance |
| Facilities and campus operations | Operational efficiency, service quality, maintenance | Offer cost savings and service reliability | Facilities services, FM software, workplace solutions |
Lead Quality Assessment
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | Very High | Attendees are higher education decision-makers and influencers with real purchasing authority. |
| Decision-maker availability | High | Conference profile includes presidents, CEOs, administrators, and institutional representatives. |
| Data collection potential | Medium | Strong fit for lead capture, but public attendee lists are not currently available. |
| Apollo targeting potential | Very High | Clear targeting by education, higher-ed leadership, IT, compliance, and research functions. |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | National U.S. reach with a strong Southwest travel cluster due to Phoenix hosting. |
| Best outreach approach | Consultative / value-led | Lead with accreditation support, efficiency, compliance, and measurable institutional outcomes. |
| Overall lead quality | High | Excellent event for higher education B2B prospecting and relationship-building. |
| Best use case | Account targeting and event-based outreach | Ideal for software, consulting, services, and education-focused solutions. |
| Limitations / risks | Moderate | No public attendee roster or attendance count in the supplied official content. |
Apollo.io Targeting Recommendation
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Education Management, Higher Education, Information Technology & Services, Research, Management Consulting, Professional Training & Coaching, Public Policy | Match the core attendee base and solution buyers |
| Departments | Academic Affairs, Institutional Research, IT, Compliance, Finance, Student Affairs, Operations, Facilities | Reach the functions most likely to buy |
| Seniority | C-Level, VP, Director, Head, Manager, Senior Manager | Prioritize decision-makers and strong influencers |
| Job titles | President, Chancellor, Provost, CIO, CTO, Director of Accreditation, Institutional Research Director, Assessment Director, VP Academic Affairs | Capture the most relevant senior roles |
| Geography | United States; prioritize AZ, CA, CO, TX, NM, NV, UT, IL, WI, NE | Focus on host region and HLC-associated higher-ed markets |
| Employee size | 201-500, 501-1,000, 1,001-5,000, 5,001-10,000, 10,000+ | Covers community colleges through large university systems |
| Keywords | accreditation, institutional effectiveness, student success, assessment, higher education, quality assurance, compliance, analytics, campus transformation | Refine for active projects and pain points |
| Company type | Educational institutions, university systems, public institutions, private nonprofit institutions | Align with the actual attendee base |
Suggested Apollo Search Logic: (industry: "Education Management" OR industry: "Higher Education") AND (title contains "President" OR "Provost" OR "CIO" OR "Director of Accreditation" OR "Institutional Research" OR "Assessment") AND geography: United States AND employee_size: 201+ AND keywords: accreditation OR institutional effectiveness OR student success OR compliance.
Client Fit Review Required
Please share the client website or product/service details. I will review the client offering and identify the highest-fit buyer companies, Apollo industries, seniority levels, departments, and job titles from this event.
Sources & Verification Notes
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher Learning Commission – Annual Conference page | Official organizer page | Event name, 2027 dates, Phoenix Convention Center venue, audience description, in-person format, and conference purpose | Very High |
| Higher Learning Commission – Home page | Official organizer website | Organizer identity, mission, and higher education accreditation focus | Very High |
| Phoenix Convention Center | Venue website | Venue identity and city match for the 2027 event location | High |
| Supplied official page text excerpt | Primary source excerpt | Call for proposals timing, attendee profile, expo hall mention, discounted hotel note, and on-site format | High |
🎯 Selling to this event's audience? Get a free tailored buyer list
Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to Higher Learning Commission - HLC Annual Conference — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.
🔒 Get my buyer details Free · ~20 seconds