2026 IUC Collaborative Initiatives Summit
About this Event
The IUC Collaborative Initiatives Summit is an annual multi-campus, cross-functional event that brings together senior leaders from the various IUC Committees and stakeholders in our IUC Collaborative Initiatives programs. We celebrate our successes and identify opportunities for more collaboration. Attendees will include procurement, finance, human resources, IT, facilities, and risk management professionals from colleges and universities in the State of Ohio.
Member Registration ($20) and Supplier Registration ($500+fees) defray the cost of the event. Members of the IUC, IUC-PG, and IUC-IC should register as Members.
Agenda
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:45 AM
Registration, Coffee, Supplier Showcase
Info: Location: AB Graham Hall
🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:15 AM
Welcome and Opening
Host: Laura Lanese, IUC President
Info: Location: Bob Evans Memorial Auditorium
🕑: 10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Keynote: Becoming AI-Augmented: Expanding Human Capability in the Age of AI
Host: Dr. Darren Pulsipher
Info: Location: Bob Evans Memorial Auditorium. Artificial intelligence is changing how higher education operates, but the greatest opportunity is not replacing people—it is augmenting them. This keynote provides a practical framework for using AI to improve decision-making, productivity, and service delivery while maintaining integrity, accountability, and human judgment.
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
IUC Collaborative Initiatives Update
Info: Location: Bob Evans Memorial Auditorium
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:15 PM
Lunch, Supplier Showcase, and Networking
Info: Lunch buffet served from Club Room, seating in Bob Evans Memorial Auditorium. Supplier Showcase in AB Graham Hall.
🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:00 PM
Breakout Session: Delivering Reliable and Defensible Work with AI
Host: Moderator: Dr. Darren Pulsipher
Info: Location: Gehres Room 214. Learn practical techniques for using AI to produce work that is accurate, transparent, and defensible. Participants will explore workflows, prompting strategies, and governance practices that help ensure AI-generated content can be trusted in purchasing, finance, HR, and other administrative functions.
🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:00 PM
Breakout Session: From Prompt to Purchase: Using AI to Strengthen Strategic Pr
Host: Moderator: Katie Overholser
Info: Location: Eastman Room 100. Learn how colleges and universities are beginning to leverage AI to enhance purchasing processes and support strategic sourcing. Through presentations from member institutions and an open forum discussion, attendees will gain practical insights, exchange experiences, and identify opportunities to responsibly integrate AI into their own procurement practices.
🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:00 PM
Breakout Session: Empowering People Operations with Artificial Intelligence
Host: Moderator: Dr. Amoaba Gooden
Info: Location: International Room 110. Higher education HR teams face growing challenges in talent acquisition, employee engagement, workforce planning, and operational efficiency. This interactive session will explore how AI can help address these challenges through facilitated small-group discussions, collaborative problem-solving, and the sharing of practical ideas and experiences from across the IUC.
🕑: 01:15 PM - 03:00 PM
INVITATION ONLY Breakout: Ohio Higher Education Security Operations Center
Host: Moderator: James Yukech
Info: Location: Bob Evans Memorial Auditorium. Higher education institutions face increasingly complex cybersecurity threats that require coordinated solutions. This session will explore the vision for an Ohio Higher Education Security Operations Center, highlight emerging opportunities for collaboration, and engage stakeholders in identifying practical next steps to strengthen cyber resilience across Ohio's higher education community. Craig Wooley from Louisiana State University will provide a case study for their shared SOC.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:15 PM
Cookie Break
🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:00 PM
Breakout Session: Strategic Contract Negotiations
Host: Moderator: Lawrence McWilliams
Info: Location: Eastman Room 100. Contract negotiations are about more than securing the lowest price. Through examples from IUC member institutions, this session will explore strategies for maximizing value through rebates, alternative contract structures, sponsorships, and supplier partnerships. Attendees will gain practical insights into evaluating total value and achieving stronger outcomes for their institutions.
🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:00 PM
Breakout Session: Morale Matters: Supporting Staff Well-Being & Engagement
Host: Moderator: Dr. Amoaba Gooden
Info: Location: International Room 110. Employee morale does not always require a bigger budget. From co-created community agreements to Employee Appreciation Days and small everyday gestures, institutions across the IUC are turning intentional, low-cost efforts into lasting improvements in culture, trust, and psychological safety. As workloads grow and raises, bonuses, and extra staffing may not always be on the table, this session brings together real examples
of what has worked across the IUC and practical strategies for supporting staff well-being and keeping them engaged, even in times of austerity and change.
🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:00 PM
Breakout Session: State Government Relations 101
Host: Moderator: Joseph Baker
Info: Location: Gehres Room 214. This panel provides a practical introduction to Ohio state government, the legislative process, and the role government relations offices play in helping universities navigate policy, funding, and regulatory issues. Attendees will learn how to engage effectively with their institution's government relations team, understand emerging higher education policy trends, and strengthen their part in supporting legislative advocacy.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:15 PM
Break
🕑: 03:15 PM - 03:45 PM
Summit Recap and Closing Remarks
Info: Location: Bob Evans Memorial Auditorium. Representatives from Breakout Sessions will recap take aways from their session.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 20.00 to USD 535.38
