WAICU President Eric W. Fulcomer will once again provide a welcome to participants at the 2026 Higher Education Summit – Wisconsin, along with Universities of Wisconsin President Jay O. Rothman and Wisconsin Technical College System President Layla Merrifield, at the May 19-21, 2026, event to be held at the Memorial Union on the UW-Madison campus.

With seats going fast, now is the perfect time for you to reserve your spot for this year’s most robust gathering of higher education leaders, practitioners, and policymakers, the 2026 Higher Education Summit – Wisconsin.

The Summit will take place May 19–21, 2026, at UW–Madison’s Memorial Union, bringing together national experts and Wisconsin educational innovators for three days of strategy, insight, and collaboration.

Back by popular demand, Peter Lake, professor of law and director of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy at Stetson University College of Law, will headline a timely keynote on the rapidly evolving federal landscape. His session will explore current constitutional tensions, federal regulatory shifts, and what institutional leaders must track to remain compliant while supporting student success.

New to our Summit this year is keynote speaker Elliot Felix, author of The Connected College. He will explore how colleges and universities can break down silos to better support student success. He’ll share practical strategies for improving transfer pathways, building holistic and collaborative student support, and expanding experiential learning that connects students with faculty, employers, and communities. Participants will leave energized with ideas to foster belonging, improve coordination, and help students find their purpose and path.

Another new featured speaker this year, Dr. Tony Chambers of UW–Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds, will lead a deeply relevant conversation on belonging, wellbeing, and the institutional conditions that allow students and employees to thrive.

Summit planners are excited to offer a series of high-impact panels this year, designed to help campus professionals navigate some of the most urgent issues in higher education:

• Immigration in Higher Education
• Title VI and Free Speech
• AI and Student Success

Attendees will have the option to begin their Summit experience with specialized pre‑conference offerings, including:

• Compliance 101 for Higher Education, an introduction for newer professionals or anyone seeking a reset on the fundamentals.
• Wisconsin College & Career Attainment Network, an update on strategies for expanding equitable attainment across the state.
• Career Connectedness Across the Student Journey, an applied session on experiential learning, internships, and building meaningful industry partnerships.

These workshops offer hands-on learning and are a great option for teams sending staff newer to the field.

Here’s a list of complete pricing options.

Registration is strongly encouraged, as seats are going fast, especially with national access expanded this year.

For more information about the agenda, travel, and lodging, visit the 2026 Higher Education Summit website.