Join us this fall as academic leaders from across North America come together to explore timely issues, exchange ideas, and share best practices in arts and sciences leadership. This year’s Annual Meeting will center on the theme, Charting a Course: Leadership in a Transforming Academy — a call to lead with vision, adaptability, and purpose during a time of significant change in higher education.
Who Should Attend
The CCAS Annual Meeting is open to registrants affiliated with a college or university, or with an educational association. Corporate representatives may attend only if they are official event sponsors/exhibitors.
Schedule at a Glance
The 60th Annual Meeting of the Council of Colleges of Arts & Sciences (CCAS), taking place November 4–7, 2026. The conference kicks off Wednesday afternoon and concludes Saturday at noon. View the full schedule at a glance here.
Registration & Payment
Early Bird Registration (Ends Friday, September 4nd)
$995 Member Rate | $1,500 Non-Member Rate
Regular Registration (Ends Tuesday, October 13th)
$1,245 Member Rate | $1,500 Non-Member Rate
Late Registration (Ends Wednesday, October 28th)
$1,495 Member Rate | $1,995 Non-Member Rate
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All registrations must be completed online using your CCAS portal login.
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If you are not currently a CCAS member, you may register at the non-member rate by selecting “Continue as new user” during registration. Non-members must pay by credit card at the time of registration.
Workshops
Building & Sustaining a Healthy Department & College Culture
Wednesday AM Workshop - November 4, 2026 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM PT
Culture is an essential element that defines productive and healthy departments and colleges/schools. Too often our strategic goals are undermined by a culture of disengagement, absence of innovation, and lack of accountability. This workshop performs three functions: 1) it examines culture and identifies a healthy academic unit's cultural traits, 2) it gives academic leaders a roadmap for a culture-building exercise they can lead in their school or department, and 3) it introduces the essential leadership skills and actions deans and department heads must employ to lead culture change.
Add-on Price: $225
Self-compassion and Empathy: Neural Skills to Sustain Your Source While Leading Through Uncertainty
Wednesday PM Workshop - November 4, 2026 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM PT
Being a leader any time is hard. Being a leader in a time of fundamental change and high risk is exceptionally hard. And leaders are often hardest on themselves. These pressures, external and internal, diminish our ability to recover, reduce our resilience, and increase our reactivity and overall chronic stress. We have very limited influence over those external pressures, but recent research on self-compassion and mindfulness are showing us that we have more influence over those internal pressures than most think. Self-compassion is a leadership strategy.
In this “hearts-on” and interactive workshop, we’ll explore the foundational principles of self-compassion, practice three different self-compassion skills, and explore the relationship of self-compassion behaviors to leadership skills, goals, and outcomes. It’s not about being a “kumbaya” leader. It’s about understanding the neurological, social and pragmatic effects of self-compassion — an active skill we can use to navigate uncertainty and lead people well.
Add-on Price: $225
Dealing with Difficult Faculty
Saturday PM Workshop - Saturday, November 7 1:15 PM - 4:30 PM PT
Difficult people rob us of our time, energy, and well-being. They undermine the health and effectiveness of an entire department. This workshop takes you through a four-step process of managing chronically-difficult faculty and staff, including underperformers, bullies, no-shows, trouble-makers and other types. The presentation includes specific actions and language to use as well as practice exercises to help you develop your skills.
Add-on Price: $325 (Includes Lunch)
Cancellation Policy
All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to connect@ccas.net.Cancellations received before Wednesday, October 7 2026, will be refunded minus a $150 administrative fee for meeting registration and an additional $50 administrative fee for each workshop registration. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received on or after Wednesday, October 7 2026.
Travel
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Delta Air Lines is pleased to offer special discounts for CCAS. You may also call Conferences and Events® at 1.800.328.1111* Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (EST) and refer to Meeting Event Code NY442
*Please note there is not a service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via our reservation 800 number. |
Hotel Accommodations
Hilton Bayfront San Diego
One Park Blvd
San Diego, CA 92101
Website
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CCAS Preferred Rate: $339.00/night (single or double occupancy, plus tax) & Resort Fee waived.
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Reservation Cutoff Date: October 13, 2026
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Reserve your room now: Click here to book