EAB IgnitED
Join our signature cross-cabinet summit
Partner Event
EAB’s annual IgnitED summit will bring together presidents, provosts, chief business officers, and heads of strategy for presentations from EAB experts and working sessions with peers from other institutions.
Our 2025-2026 series will feature EAB’s new State of the Sector research, opportunities to network with peers and colleagues, and time to create action plans to bring new ideas back to campus.
Event Details
Audience: Sessions are limited to presidents, provosts, chief business officers, chiefs of staff, and heads of strategy. Registration for each session is limited to four attendees per institution.
Please note: The October 29-30 session is limited to R1 institutions, and the March 10-11 session is recommended for heads of strategy and chiefs of staff.
For travel planning: The meeting will commence at 12:00 p.m. on the first day and adjourn at 12:00 p.m. on the second day.
Expand each session below for information about meeting location, hotel accommodations, and reservations.
September 29-30, 2025 - Washington, D.C.
Meeting Location
EAB
2445 M Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
202-747-1003
Hotel Accommodations
The Westin Georgetown Washington, D.C.
2350 M Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
202-429-0100
Reservations
$299/Room
Call 202-429-0100 or book online
Mention Ignited Roundtables to access our preferred rate
Please reserve by September 8, 2025
Please make your reservation at your earliest convenience as space and rates are subject to availability. For alternative hotel information, contact us at [email protected].
October 29-30, 2025 - Washington, D.C.
Limited to R1 institutions
Limited to R1 institutions
This session is limited to R1 institutions.
Meeting Location
EAB
2445 M Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
202-747-1003
Hotel Accommodations
The Westin Georgetown Washington, D.C.
2350 M Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
202-429-0100
Reservations
$289/Room
Call 202-429-0100 or book online
Mention Ignited Roundtables Oct 2025 to access our preferred rate
Please reserve by October 7, 2025
Please make your reservation at your earliest convenience as space and rates are subject to availability. For alternative hotel information, contact us at [email protected].
November 4-5, 2025 - Chicago, IL
Meeting Location
The University of Chicago, Gleacher Center
450 Cityfront Plaza Drive
Chicago, IL 60611
312-464-8787
Hotel Accommodations
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
505 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312-944-4100
Reservations
$269/Room
Call 877-424-2449 or book online
Mention EAB Ignited November 2025 to access our preferred rate
Please reserve by October 13, 2025
Please make your reservation at your earliest convenience, as space and rates are subject to availability. For alternative hotel information, contact us at [email protected].
March 10-11, 2026 - Washington, D.C.
Recommended for heads of strategy and chiefs of staff
Recommended for heads of strategy and chiefs of staff
This session is recommended for heads of strategy and chiefs of staff.
Meeting Location
EAB
2445 M Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
202-747-1003
Hotel Accommodations
Park Hyatt Washington, D.C.
1201 24th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
202-789-1234
Reservations
$322/Room
Call 202-429-0100 or book online
Mention 2026 Ignited Roundtables to access our preferred rate
Please reserve by February 16, 2026
Please make your reservation at your earliest convenience, as space and rates are subject to availability. For alternative hotel information, contact us at [email protected].
Agenda
Day One
12:00 p.m.
Guest Arrival and Registration
Lunch Provided
1:00 p.m.
Welcome and Introductions
1:30 p.m.
Front #1: External Accountability
Adapting to Tenuous Public Support and Heightened Political Scrutiny
Public confidence in higher education has eroded over the past decade, leaving the sector politically exposed. That exposure has been sharpened by the Trump Administration, which has placed campuses squarely in the crosshairs through a wave of new restrictions, expanded oversight, and conditional funding decisions. While tempting to see these moves as a temporary turn in the cycle, many carry lasting effects and together signal a broader rewriting of higher ed’s social contract. For institutions, this means recalibrating to a more volatile environment and growing bipartisan pressures around cost, value, and outcomes.
2:15 p.m.
Break
2:45 p.m.
Front #2: Financial Sustainability
Confronting Business Model Strain Amid Dual Revenue and Cost Shocks
Higher ed’s financial model is under unprecedented strain as every major revenue stream and cost category comes under pressure. Net tuition returns are weakening under heavy discounting, federal and state funding has become more volatile, and operating expenses continue to outpace revenues. Recent enrollment gains have offered momentary relief but mask deeper fragilities that will become unavoidable as demographic decline takes hold in 2026. The years ahead will bring unavoidable tradeoffs on scale, spending, and ambition—yet they also offer a chance to build a more durable model for the future.
5:30 p.m.
Dinner
Day Two
8:00 a.m.
Breakfast
8:30 a.m.
Front #3: Market Relevance
Preparing Students for an AI-Transformed Knowledge Economy with Fewer Jobs
Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape the knowledge economy in ways that can both expand productivity and constrain opportunity. Entry-level roles are increasingly disappearing or being redefined, reinforcing students’ and families’ doubts about the value of a degree. At the same time, employers are raising the bar and pushing higher ed to produce graduates who are job-ready on day one, even as campuses enroll a less academically and socioemotionally prepared generation of students. This shifting landscape is raising the stakes for how effectively campuses can address the growing mismatch between student needs, employer expectations, and market demand.
10:30 a.m.
Break
10:45 a.m.
Front #4: Institutional Agility
Driving Campus Change to Unlock Opportunity in a Disrupted Sector
Disruption is unfolding faster than higher ed’s systems were designed to handle.
Heightened political pressure, volatile finances, and skepticism about higher ed’s value proposition demand new levels of flexibility, prioritization, and resilience from campuses. The pressing question is whether institutions can adapt quickly enough to withstand sector shocks and seize the opportunities that follow.
12:00 p.m.
Adjournment
Testimonials
2024 attendees noted that convening with peers is a highlight of their EAB partnership:
- “It was extremely informative, and I loved connecting with colleagues. I will definitely be attending again and bringing more of my team.”
- “Always good to carve out time away from campus to deep dive into topics with EAB.”
- “Great event. Incredible info. Wonderful professional staff from support to presenters to leadership.”
