ASCEND Beyond the Classroom

JosephOne & C1: HBCU Technology Conference 2026

Advancing Systems, Collaboration, Education and Next Gen Development

Date/ Duration

February 12th-13th 2026, 1.5 Days

Location

Bishop State Community College, Mobile Al

Hosted by

C1 & Joseph One Technologies & Bishop State Community College

Target Audience

IT Directors, CIOs, and Title III Administrators, Students

Participating Colleges:

Partners

Sponsorship Packages

$10,000 (1 Available)

$5,000 (3 Available)

$1,000 (5 Available)

Thursday, february 12th , 2026

Day 1: Full Conference Day

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Registration & Networking Breakfast

Welcome coffee, check-in, and early networking with vendors in the exhibitor hall.

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Opening Session & Welcome Remarks

• Bishop State Community College Representative

• Welcome (C1 & J1)

• Introduction of Participating Colleges & Attendees

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Keynote: “Future-Ready Campuses: AI Technology as the Strategic Advantage”
Presented by Microsoft Education

• Trends in higher ed tech

• Microsoft’s vision for AI, collaboration tools, and equity in education

9:45 AM – 10:00 AM
Break & Vendor Expo Opens
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
General Session
“Title III and Technology Transformation: Strategies for Sustainable Impact

• Integrating technology into Title III initiatives

• Panel with CIOs and Title III administrators

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Breakout Sessions (Choose 1 of 3):

• Track A: Infrastructure & Cybersecurity
“Securing HBCU Networks: A Cisco Deep Dive"

• Track B: Collaboration & Communication
“Reimagining Hybrid Classrooms with HP Poly”

• Track C: Student-Centric Innovation
“Data-Driven Decision-Making in Student Services”

12:15 PM – 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch + Vendor Spotlights

Featuring mini-presentations from Cisco, Microsoft, HP Poly, and Consultants

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Breakout Sessions (Choose 1 of 3):

• Track A: Cloud and Systems Integration
“Modernizing Your Infrastructure with Microsoft Azure”

• Track B: Faculty Engagement & Digital Tools
“Building Faculty Capacity with Title III Support”

• Track C: Cross-Campus Collaboration
“Shared Services & Inter-Campus Innovation Models”

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Afternoon Break & Vendor Networking
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
General Session / Panel
“Lessons from the Field: What’s Working at Our Colleges”

A collaborative panel discussion featuring CIOs and Title III leaders from participating colleges

4:15 PM – 5:00 PM
Fireside Chat: “Building the HBCU Tech Culture for Tomorrow”

A candid conversation with tech and education leaders

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Evening Networking Reception & Tech Showcase

Heavy hors d’oeuvres, live demo stations from vendors, and peer networking

Friday, february 13th, 2026

Day 2: Half Day (Wrap-Up & Strategy Focus)

8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Breakfast & Coffee with Vendors
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
General Session
“Strategic Planning for Next Gen Development”
• Aligning IT, Title III, and leadership priorities
• Facilitated by a consultant or moderator
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM
Breakout Strategy Labs (Collaborative Working Sessions):
• Lab A: Building Campus Tech Roadmaps
• Lab B: Developing Sustainable Title III Tech Initiatives
• Lab C: Partnerships & Vendor Management Best Practices
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Closing Plenary: “The ASCEND Action Plan”
• Highlights from the strategy labs
• Commitment pledges from each college
• Final remarks and next steps
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Boxed Lunch & Departures

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