51st Annual General Conference & Pre-Conferences

The 51st Annual ASHE Conference will include the following virtual and in-person components:

Tuesday, October 20 (Virtual)

• CAHE Virtual Pre-Conference Gathering

Thursday, October 22 (Virtual)

• Virtual Conference Day 

Friday, October 23 (Virtual)

• CEP Virtual Pre-Conference Colloquium

Monday, October 26 (Virtual)

• CIHE Virtual Pre-Conference Keynote

Tuesday, November 3 (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

• CAHEP Pre-Conference

• CAHE Pre-Conference

• CEP Pre-Conference

• CIHE Pre-Conference

• CPPHE Pre-Conference

Tuesday, November 3 - Friday, November 6, 2026 (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

• General Conference

Current ASHE Members can register at discounted rates. Expired Members and Guests (Non-Members) can register at non-member rates. 

Payment Plans are available for current ASHE members. To enroll in a payment plan, complete your registration and on the check out screen, select "Pay Over Time." To enroll in a payment plan, you must enter your credit card information. Your saved credit card will automatically be charged on the following schedule:

• For payment plans enrolled by 7/31/2026: Your credit card will be charged 25% of the total in four equal payments over the course of four months. 
• For payment plans enrolled after 7/31/2026 and before 9/30/2026: Your credit card will be charged 50% of the total in two equal payments over the course of two months. 

We are unable to extend payment plans after 9/30/2026.

All payment plans must be paid by the first day of the conference, November 3, 2026.

To learn more about scholarships, please visit https://www.ashe.ws/scholarships

This Conference Guest Policy of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (“Association”) provides guidance on attendees of the conference who are not higher education scholars and/or may attend sessions or portions of the conference as guests.

ASHE welcomes guests and children to its Annual Conference in a manner that maintains the integrity of the event, ensures a professional atmosphere, and supports the needs of attendees.

1. Guests. Guests, defined as individuals who are not registered attendees, not members of ASHE, not presenters, or non-member attendees, who accompany a registered attendee, may attend specific portions of the conference under the following conditions:

   • Guest registration is not applicable for professionals (including students) in the field of education research who will be attending sessions.
   • Guest registration is not applicable to anyone who is a presenter in any capacity.
   • A registered attendee must be the sponsor of the guest.
   • Guests must be registered through the conference registration system. A nominal guest registration fee will be required to cover event-related expenses; children under the age of 12 shall be registered but won’t be charged the fee.
   • Guests must wear an official guest badge when in conference spaces. For children, the registered attendee should have the guest badge available if the child is unable to wear the guest badge.
   • Guests must be accompanied by their sponsor and/or the sponsor’s designee (who must be a registered conference attendee) when in conference sessions/events.
   • Guest registration is limited to evening receptions, plenary sessions (including the awards ceremony and community meeting), the expo hall, and other events in which it is noted that guests are permitted or pre-approval is provided by ASHE. Guests may only attend a breakout session in which their sponsor is presenting.
   • Children under the age of 18 are permitted to attend all sessions of the conference and must be accompanied by a registered attendee when in conference spaces. The registered attendee is responsible for ensuring that children do not disrupt conference proceedings. 

2. Liability and Code of Conduct

• • ASHE is not responsible for the supervision, safety, or care of children or guests.
  • All guests must adhere to ASHE’s Code of Conduct. The sponsor of the guest is responsible for the guest’s adherence to the ASHE Code of Conduct. This includes the ability of ASHE to enforce the Code of Conduct and ask guest and their sponsor to leave a session, event, or the conference as well as subsequent actions consistent with ASHE Ethics Policies. 

Justification Resource for Organization Funding

ASHE understands conference attendance can be a budgetary challenge for your organization or department. As such, we have developed the letter template below as a resource to shape your conversation with your program coordinators, department heads, supervisors, etc. For graduate students, we hope this information can also help shape funding requests through your departments, graduate colleges, and/or graduate student organizations. You may also want to consider applying for the Scholarships for Graduate Students. We encourage you to search for multiple funding sources that may exist across your institution or organization.

This year, the conference is taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. United States citizens and permanent residents do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico. For more information and FAQ about Puerto Rico, visit: https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/info/frequently-asked-questions

Sample Letter Requesting Support

<Salutation Here>

This letter serves as a formal request to attend the Association for the Study of Higher Education’s (ASHE) 51st Annual General Conference November 3-6, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. ASHE is the premier academic association for higher education researchers, and the annual scholarly conference provides attendees with opportunities to present peer-reviewed research. This is an opportunity to not only continue building my presentation portfolio, but also enhance the reputation of the program, department, and university. 

Through my full engagement in the conference program--including attending research and scholarly paper sessions; interactive symposiums; presidential and featured sessions; performance, visual, and digital scholarship sessions; posters and works in progress; and keynotes--I will be able to stay up-to-date with emerging research that will benefit my teaching [and/or learning if a graduate student], scholarship, and service to the field. I am happy to share what I have learned with my colleagues upon my return, if desired.

Throughout the conference, nearly 200 peer-reviewed scholarly sessions will be available to about 1400 attendees in person. This is in addition to networking events and meetings where I will serve as a representative of the institution. [insert here if there are any special meetings, such as journal ed boards, that you will attend]

[If Presenting: Additionally, I have been selected to present a <paper, poster, works in progress, symposium titled> <Insert Title>. My proposal was selected for the conference through a peer-review process which has on average a 55% acceptance rate.]

[If Volunteering: Additionally, I have been designated as a <Chair, Discussant> for the Session: <Title, Section>. I was selected to support this session to provide <description of role>.

I know a limited pool of funds exists this year to support professional travel. This presents a unique opportunity in many ways, however, especially as <a graduate student/early career faculty/etc>. I am seeking support for expenses incurred in travel, registration, and meals as appropriate. A detailed cost breakdown can be found below.

• Registration: The full price for regular registration for the conference as a non-member is $760 but can be reduced to $XXX [**adjust by membership level at ashe.ws/registration **] by registering as a member before the early deadline 7/31/26.

• Roundtrip Airfare: <Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)>

• Ground Transportation: To/from airport is between $15-30 per trip, and about $12 - $15 around the city.

• Hotel: ASHE has secured discounted hotel rates at four area hotels. (See https://www.ashe.ws/events/conference#hotels for rates & full details.) The total for five nights (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) is <enter amount> plus applicable taxes.

• Meals: There are no formal meals provided by the conference. As such, based on <per diem for institution>, the estimated amount for meals for 5 days (including travel days) is <insert per diem for trip per institution rates>.

The total estimated costs associated with attending the ASHE 2026 General Conference is $<insert your total cost>.

I look forward to the opportunity to positively represent <Your Institution/Organization> at this scholarly conference and thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

<Your Name Here>

Headquarters Hotel: Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel and Casino

Immediate access to all conference networking and the headquarters hub.

ASHE Group Rate: $219.00 plus applicable taxes and fees for a standard room; upgrades are available for additional fees.

• In addition to the room charge, there is an additional $22.20 resort fee that covers Wine & Beer Cocktail for Marriott BonVoy Elite members; Daily complimentary shuttle to Escambron Beach and Old San Juan; Daily Yoga Classes; Zen Spa Retreat 20% discount on any deluxe facial treatment; AVIS Car Rental 10% discount; Enhanced high speed internet access in guestrooms and public areas of the hotel; Two (2) Complimentary bottles of water in guest rooms, replenish daily; Coffee and tea service in the room, replenished daily; Use fitness center open 24/7; Use of towels and chaise lounges at our lavish sun and pool deck; Free local calls, Toll free calls access.

Reservation Deposit: The hotel will charge a one-night reservation deposit at the time of reservation. The deposit will be applied to your room/tax charges at the time of your stay. Should you cancel your reservation, the deposit will be refunded if notice is received at least three working days prior to arrival, and a cancellation number is obtained.

Reservations must be made by October 12, 2026.

Book Your Room at the Sheraton

Aloft San Juan

Situated in the heart of the "Distrito T-Mobile" entertainment complex.

ASHE Group Rate: $219.00 plus applicable taxes and fees for a standard room; upgrades are available for additional fees.

Rate Note: A $35 Destination Fee will appear on your reservation. However, ASHE has negotiated for this fee to be waived and you will not be charged for it.

Reservation Deposit: The hotel will charge a one-night reservation deposit at the time of reservation. The deposit will be applied to your room/tax charges at the time of your stay. Should you cancel your reservation, the deposit will be refunded if notice is received at least three working days prior to arrival, and a cancellation number is obtained.

Reservations must be made by October 12, 2026.

Book Your Room at the Aloft

Hyatt Place San Juan

Features spacious rooms and a slightly quieter environment just outside the immediate hub. 

ASHE Group Rate: $219.00 plus applicable taxes and fees for a standard room; upgrades are available for additional fees.

Rate Note: A $35 Destination Fee will appear on your reservation. However, ASHE has negotiated for this fee to be waived and you will not be charged for it.

Reservation Deposit: No reservation deposit is required.

Reservations must be made by October 12, 2026.

Book Your Room at the Hyatt Place

Hyatt House San Juan

Offers residential-style suites for those who prefer more space to work and unwind. Hyatt House's spacious suites boast fully equipped kitchens and a sleeper sofa, designed to help you make the most of your stay. Wake up to a free daily breakfast buffet or pick up a grab-and-go item at our 24-hour H Market.

ASHE Group Rate: $219.00 plus applicable taxes and fees for a standard room; upgrades are available for additional fees.

Rate Note: A $35 Destination Fee will appear on your reservation. However, ASHE has negotiated for this fee to be waived and you will not be charged for it.

Reservation Deposit: No reservation deposit is required.

Reservations must be made by October 12, 2026.

Book Your Room at Hyatt House

If you are looking for a roommate(s) for the upcoming 2026 ASHE conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico you may fill out the form so other attendees who also need roommates may get in contact with you. After you have submitted the form, you will be provided access to the Google Sheet of responses of others who are seeking a roommate. We recommend checking the sheet regularly to identify if you have lodging needs that align with others. Individual respondents are responsible for contacting other potential roommates for the conference.

Important Note: The information you provide will be available to those who complete the form. As such, feel free to skip any questions that you would prefer to not answer, except your name and email address so that others can contact you. Please note, this form is offered only as a courtesy and carries no obligations or liability for ASHE. Once you complete the form, the ASHE Staff will review your submission and share access to the Google Sheet within one week. If you have any questions, please reach out to the ASHE Staff at conference@ashe.ws.

If you are looking for a roommate(s), please complete this form. 

Best wishes with your conference roommate search. We are excited to connect with you in Puerto Rico!

Fri Nov 6, 2026, 11:30 to 12:30pm local time

Join us for a lunch and engage with scholars from multiple career levels. Each guest speaker will share how their practices sustain them through the demands of academic life and explore strategies for balancing research, teaching, and personal wellness in the context of the precarious socio-political environment of higher education.

This session is organized by the ASHE Graduate Student Committee and is $10 for ASHE Graduate Student Members. There are limited seats available, so register early and don't miss this opportunity to engage with fellow student scholars and additional guests from the ASHE community. 

Registration: https://www.ashe.ws/events/conference/register

If you haven't yet registered for the conference, you can include this event along with your registration before checkout. 

If you're already registered for the conference, you can add this event to your registration.

Media must register with the ASHE Staff to be present during the meeting, to attend conference sessions, and to report on these sessions. Media can register by contacting conference@ashe.ws by October 30, 2025. While the event is open to ASHE members and those interested in the study of higher education, media covering the annual conference must be registered ahead of time.

Journalists, editors, producers, and other working members of the media are eligible to request complimentary media registration. 

Access and Conduct. Approved media attendees are invited to attend keynotes and breakout sessions. Events marked as invite only are not open to those note specifically invited by the event organizer. Media attendee must wear their conference namebadge with the media ribbon in conference spaces.

Media professionals should:

1. Introduce themselves when engaging with presenters or attendees

2. Ask permission before recording or quoting individuals

3. Highlight the scholarly contributions and voices of diverse communities

4. Engage respectfully in both in-person and virtual settings, contributing to a thoughtful and inclusive dialogue

5. Respect the intellectual property and privacy of attendees and presenters.

6. Follow ASHE’s Code of Conduct.

Recording and Photography: Photography, recording (audio or video), and quoting from sessions are not automatically permitted and must be approved in advance by ASHE. Requests for recording access should be submitted during the media registration process or by contacting ASHE prior to the event. In all cases, presenters and participants must grant explicit permission before being recorded or quoted. ASHE is committed to creating a respectful and secure space for scholarly exchange, and we appreciate media partners who help uphold this standard.

Attribution and Use: Content obtained through ASHE events should be used for journalistic or editorial purposes. Please attribute insights accurately and avoid using ASHE branding or content for promotional or commercial purposes without prior approval. The ASHE logo is pending trademark and should not be used without explicit written permission.

Association Representative: The Association Executive Director and the President of the Board of Directors are the authorized representatives of the Association. Unless explicitly authorized in writing, no other individuals are authorized nor should be attributed to speak on behalf of the organization.

Revocation of Access: ASHE may revoke media credentials and access to its events—virtual or in-person— at its sole discretion.

ASHE is committed to offering an accessible learning and socializing environment for attendees. ASHE’s Inclusion, Equity, and Organizational Diversity Policy outlines specific details on the association's commitment. Accessibility is for everyone and includes multiple moving parts, which means creating accessible spaces requires a partnership between everyone sharing space. In an effort to shift how the Association, members, and conference attendees orient to access at the annual conference, the 2023 ASHE Conference Accessibility Committee developed a “Toward Disability Justice, Access, and Solidarity” website. Please review the website, which includes the Accessibility (Un)Statement, which was co-authored by scholars on the 2020-2022 CEP Accessibility and Equity/Inclusion Sub-Committee.

With the intent to increase accessibility for all ASHE attendees, we have outlined current guidelines and offerings below and will be adding additional resources as planning for the conference continues. We recognize that there are additional ways in which we can make events accessible for individuals. We will work with each attendee should they choose to submit an accommodation request, to ensure we provide the best possible support.

Conference Accessibility and Inclusion Contacts

Prior to the Conference, you can contact the following ASHE staff directly for questions or concerns:

• General Staff email at conference@ashe.ws
• Alicia Castillo Shrestha, ASHE Associate Director for Conference & Events at alicia@ashe.ws, (202) 925‑5935
• Autumn K. Wilke, ASHE Accessibility Consultant at autumn@ashe.ws 

Any on-site accessibility concerns can be brought to the attention of the ASHE Staff (located at the Conference Help Desk) or a convention center staff member.

Accommodation Requests

Event registrants will have the opportunity to add accessibility requests when they register for an event. This includes requests for attending or presenting at sessions for the in-person conference and virtual conference day. ASHE Staff can best meet needs when notified at least 3 weeks prior to any event. For the annual conference (Virtual Conference Day and In-person Conference), submitting accessibility requests on the registration form or by contacting the ASHE Conference and Accessibility and Inclusion Contacts prior to September 30, 2026 allows the ASHE Staff ample time to work with attendees, the convention center, and other partners to ensure we are able to provide fuller access to the in-person conference.

Virtual Conference Day Accessibility & Inclusion

Captioning and Interpreting Services

Captioning is provided through Zoom AI for all virtual conference events including Virtual Conference Day. A CART Captioner can be provided at no cost to the attendee if requested at least 3 weeks prior to any event.

An ASL Interpreter can be provided at no cost to the attendee if requested at least 3 weeks prior to any event.

General Conference Accessibility & Inclusion

Arriving and Departing from San Juan

TSA Help Line: 1-866-289-9673

The TSA Help Line assists travelers planning to fly on any airline in the United States, which includes Puerto Rico. TSA Cares is a helpline to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. TSA recommends that passengers call 72 hours ahead of travel for information about what to expect during screening.

San Juan Airport (SJU) information for the airport can be found on their website via their website.

The Discover Puerto Rico website also has information about Accessible Travel, including resources around the city.

Hotels

The 2026 ASHE General Conference Headquarters Hotel will be the Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino. The hotel is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act required under Title III.

• You may review the full list of accessible amenities and features at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino via their website.
• The hotel offers accessible rooms that are also wheelchair-access compliant. These include roll-in showers or tub transfers. In addition, hearing-impaired equipment, known as TTY telephones, are available upon request and select rooms are hypoallergenic. Each room has a refrigerator and a microwave is available on the 4th floor, the hotel is pet friendly.
• Hotel reservations must be made through the ASHE portal at https://www.ashe.ws/events/conference#hotel. To request an accessible room, enter the requested room type in the comments on the reservation page and hotel staff will process your reservation accordingly.

Additional Hotels available for the 2026 Conference include additional amenities that fit additional needs for attendees:

• Aloft San Juan - view full list of accessible amenities on their website. 
• Hyatt Place San Juan - view accessibility information on their website.
• Hyatt House San Juan - view accessibility information on their website.

Captioning and Interpreting Services

The Opening Session and Presidential Address as well as the two Plenary Sessions will be live captioned as well have ASL Interpretation. Attendees can request additional communication access such as interpreting for breakout sessions through their registration form or by contacting the ASHE Conference Accessibility and Inclusion Contacts by September 30, 2026 to allow time for scheduling services.

ASHE provides presenters with a Presenter Guide that includes information on how to make presentations more accessible. In-room laptops are also provided for each breakout session with closed captioning already enabled for PowerPoint. Presenters are highly encouraged to use PowerPoint for their sessions for this purpose.

Meeting Spaces

Meeting spaces are accessible via elevator, escalator, and stairs. There is signage included in each meeting room to signal space reserved for wheelchair and scooter users, and individuals that may need access to specific areas of the room, such as the first or back row.

Breakout Room Reserved Seating

Accessible seating is reserved near the front of each break out room for attendees who may need to be closer to the front of the room. There is no request needed for these seats. Each breakout room will also have a reserved spot for a wheelchair user. This will be indicated by a blue sticker on the floor. This space will be near the center of the room, but wheelchair users may, of course, position themselves anywhere in the room.

Sensory & Spiritual Space

ASHE is committed to identifying dedicated and accessible spaces within the main conference hotel as they are available. The Sensory & Spiritual Space will be an enclosed room available for attendees seeking a place to engage in prayer or meditative practices, take a break or recharge during the conference. For more information, please visit the Conference Help Desk during the Conference.

Lactation Room

A private enclosed space will be available by key check out for attendees that are pumping and/or breastfeeding. A refrigerator will be provided in the room for storing milk. Please note: there is only one space available for the entire convention center. Rooms in our Headquarters Hotel do have refrigerators in each guest room. Please indicate your intent to use the lactation room on your registration form so the ASHE staff can better anticipate use of the space and address possible alternative options based on demand. For more information, please visit the Conference Help Desk during the Conference.

All Gender Restrooms

All Gender Restrooms benefit people of many different identities. Several benefits include: providing a more welcoming and comfortable situation for those who require assistance when using the bathroom, such as people with disabilities, those with personal attendants, or parents/guardians of children; helping minimizing potential mistreatment or feeling uncomfortable when accessing gender-specific bathrooms; eliminating unnecessary wait time when another bathroom is open, but not associated with your gender. To be consistent with ASHE’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, the Convention Center includes All-Gender Restrooms. All-Gender Restrooms will be clearly marked with signs outside of each restroom entrance.

Food Allergies and Dietary Restrictions

In creating menus, ASHE strives to ensure there are a variety of acceptable food preference options. If you have specific food allergies or dietary restrictions, please include this on your registration form or contact the ASHE Conference Accessibility and Inclusion Contacts. If menu options do not meet a conference attendee’s dietary needs, please notify any server and they can provide an alternative option. For the General Conference, the ASHE Staff works to:

• Ensure there are no nuts on any menus
• Ensure there are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free food and drink options
• Ensure dairy free options are available when dairy items are served (e.g., non-dairy creamer with coffee breaks)
• Ensure any dietary needs or allergies shared during the registration process are noted for the convention center catering staff for conference-wide events as well as events in which a participant may attend
• Ensure there are non-alcoholic options at events where alcohol is served as well as work to limit the number of events where alcohol is served. For example, the Awards Ceremony toast is sparkling apple cider and a cash bar is available to attendees.