Professional Development Day 2026

Make the Case for PD Day

Whether your institution covers the cost or you’re considering paying your own way, here’s what your $85 actually gets you — and how to make the ask.

The Value of $85

A single day of professional development at most industry conferences can run several hundred dollars before travel, lodging, or meals. PD Day is intentionally priced to remove that barrier — $85 (early bird, before September 15) gets you a full day of expert-led sessions, interactive workshops, structured networking, and lunch, all in one room with dozens of higher ed professionals who are working through the same challenges you are.

88%

of 2025 attendees rated the event “Excellent” or “Very Good” value for the cost

91%

learned skills or knowledge they could apply directly to their work

94%

made meaningful connections with other higher ed professionals

94%

would recommend the event to a colleague

Based on post-event survey responses from PD Day 2025 attendees.

What You’ll Walk Away With

Skills and strategies tied to this year’s four themes

Working Smarter

Practical tools and habits you can use starting your next workday — not just theory.

Growing Your Career

Frameworks for advancement, confident decision-making, and owning your professional trajectory.

Building Relationships

A real, in-person network of higher ed peers you can call on long after the event ends.

Leading in Complex Environments

Approaches for navigating ambiguity, influence without authority, and leading through change.

In Their Own Words

“I had two people highly encourage me to apply for a job and I was shocked and flattered by that… this felt like a safe space.”

“For a day conference, I thought the cost was reasonable… the conference was really well organized and worth the time.”

“Great location, affordable fee, good range of presenters and speakers. Thanks to all!”

“Potentially affordable for out of pocket if institution is unable to fund.”

“Amazing event, especially for an organization that is so new. Truly impressed and overall no negative feedback.”

“This event was very organized, on time, and well run. I enjoyed the panel presentation and the breakout sessions very much.”

Anonymous responses from the PD Day 2025 post-event survey.

How to Make the Ask

If your institution has a professional development budget, PD Day is an easy, low-cost approval. Here’s how to frame the request so it’s a quick “yes” instead of a hard sell:

1. Tie it to your role, not just your interest.

Name the specific sessions or themes that map to something you’re currently working on — a project, a team challenge, a skill gap.

2. Lead with the low cost and single day.

At $85 (early bird) for a full day, this is a much easier approval than a multi-day, out-of-state conference — say so explicitly.

3. Offer to report back.

Supervisors say yes more easily when there’s a built-in return — offer to share takeaways with your team afterward.

4. If funding isn’t available, consider covering it yourself.

Many past attendees have paid out of pocket and called it worth every dollar — $85 is often less than a single dinner out, for a full day that can pay off in your network and your next opportunity.

Supervisor Request Letter Template

Copy the template below and customize it with your own goals and sessions of interest.

SUBJECT: Request to Attend the HENC Professional Development Day 2026

I would like to request approval to attend the Higher Education Networking Collective (HENC) Professional Development Day, held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Simmons University in Boston, MA.

This year’s event focuses on working smarter, growing your career, building relationships, and leading in complex environments — themes that closely align with our work and my professional goals. The day will feature a mix of expert-led presentations, interactive workshops, and roundtable discussions. The event is designed to support both community-building across higher education and actionable learning, providing tools and strategies that can be applied immediately in our work.

My goals for attending:

Strengthen connections with professionals across higher education through the event’s community-building focus.
Gain concrete, actionable strategies related to working smarter and leading in complex environments that I can apply in my current role.
Engage with current discussions on workplace topics.

Sample sessions I plan to attend:

Budget:

Registration fee: $85 plus fees (if booked by September 15)
Parking (if needed):
Hotel (if needed):
Miles/Air/Train (if needed):

Tip: fill in your specific sessions of interest once the schedule is finalized to make the request more concrete.