The ACE (ASU–Cintana Experience) Conference is a three-day immersive event designed for academic and administrative leaders, along with key personnel from Cintana institutions. Hosted in Tempe, Arizona, the conference offers participants the opportunity to engage directly with ASU’s ecosystem, experience the value of the Cintana Alliance, learn from ASU best practices, and collaborate with peer institutions.
Event Overview
Dates:
Program hours will run daily from Monday 2:00 pm – until Thursday 8:00 p.m. (Arizona time).
Location:
Participants are encouraged to arrive on Sunday, October 18 to participate in the pre-event Dreamscape Tours or Monday, October 19 (no later than 6:00 p.m.), and depart on Friday, October 23, to take full advantage of the conference experience.
Conference Structure & Tracks
The conference will feature two tracks. Each participant must select one track during registration.
Day 0 – Optional Experience (Monday, October 19 – Afternoon) – Tempe Campus
Participants may opt to engage in an ASU Dreamscape Experience, exploring how cinematic-quality virtual environments are integrated with academic content to enhance learning outcomes, deepen engagement, and scale experiential education across disciplines.
Day 1 – All Participants (Tuesday, October 20) – Tempe Campus
Morning:
Welcome – Participants Introductions, ASU and Cintana Presentations
Afternoon:
Guided visits to key ASU campuses and facilities.
Highlights include:
Days 2 & 3 – Track-Based Sessions (Wednesday–Thursday, October 21–22) – West Valley Campus & SkySong
General Track
Designed for institutions new to the Alliance as well as those seeking to scale impact, this track focuses on accelerating program development and institutional growth by leveraging ASU content, curriculum, and best practices. Subjects will cover Leveraging ASU, Talks with ASU School representatives, Discussions on Academics, Research, Marketing and Enrollment, Retention, online. Participants will have blocks to freely choose between several simultaneous talks and activities in the different subjects, allowing to create your own agenda.
AI Track
Leverage ASU’s AI conference to explore the emerging technologies shaping the future of higher education. This track showcases ASU-led experimentation, innovation, and pilot initiatives that demonstrate how AI can enhance teaching and learning, enable data-informed decision-making, and drive scalable improvements in institutional performance and outcomes.
Participants of both tracks will participate in common workshops for Design Thinking, Creative Methods, speed matching to know people from other institutions, social dinner, and a cocktail with many ASU participants including ASU leaders, deans, faculty.
Cost & Registration
Conference Cost: $1,250 USD per participant (billed to the partner institution after the conference)
Early Registration Options:
Super Early Bird: $850 (through March 31, 2026)
Early Bird: $1,000 (April 1 – June 30, 2026)
Standard Registration: $1,250 (July 1 – October 2026)
**Travel, airfare, lodging, and meals are the responsibility of each participant/institution.
Each institution may register up to seven (7) participants (excluding Cintana staff).
Institutions attending ACE for the first time will receive registration credits covering the full conference fee ($1,250) for up to three (3) participants.
Registration Deadline
September 30, 2026
Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Early registration is strongly encouraged.
Conference registration and hotel reservations must be completed separately using the links provided in the official invitation
Visa Letters
Participants requiring a visa invitation letter should contact
Shauna Ludwig (sludwig@cintana.com)
as early as possible. Visa processing times can be lengthy, and early requests are strongly recommended. Participants are responsible for all visa-related fees.
Sightseeing & Optional Activities
We recognize the time and investment required to travel to Arizona and aim to make the experience worthwhile. Participants are welcome to explore the Tempe and greater Phoenix area before or after the conference. All personal or touristic activities are optional and at the participant’s own expense. Additional recommendations will be shared with registered attendees.
** Stay tuned! Details on our negotiated hotel rates will be coming soon.
Questions & Contact
For questions related to event logistics, registration, hotel accommodations, or visa letters, please contact:
Shauna Ludwig at sludwig@cintana.com
