CEN is excited to announce that the 2024 Member Conference will take place in person at the Connecticut Convention Center on May 9, 2024, following the Pre-Conference Workshops on May 8.

The CEN Engagement and Development Advisory Council invites you to showcase your expert understanding, experience, and best practice with the CEN community! The CEN Member Conference brings together leaders and decision makers in education, research, state and municipal government, public and private sector businesses from across the state and region. Submit your session proposal today to help the CEN Community stay current with the evolving technology landscape, achieve excellence and reach goals in education, research, workforce and economic development. Parallel and/or Poster Session formats are available. Please select the desired format when submitting a session proposal.

Chosen speaker attendees recieve free admission to the CEN Member Conference!

Session topics should fall within one or more of the following conference tracks: 

• Cybersecurity: This track highlights the growing technical challenges of securing our member organizations' devices and data in our institutions' daily work as well as present examples of policy approaches and accomplishments.

• Community Best Practices: This track includes sessions that will focus on systems and solutions that seek to address issues in any of the vertical groups served by CEN: K-12 schools, libraries, municipalities, and higher ed. This track encourages discussions of emerging technologies, evolving trends, and how use of CEN has made innovative problem solutions possible.

• Innovation in Education: This track highlights sessions that will focus on the integration of technology tools into schools, classrooms, libraries and other organizations to advance learning.

• Advanced Networking & Systems: This track addresses any aspect of networking and systems administration. Submissions will be tailored to technical attendees and should include a deeper technical dive. Examples could include cloud implementations, directory services, enterprise systems, and data center systems.

Session Types Details

Presentation:

• 1 - 2 speakers presenting to audience
• Includes theater style room layout, podium/mic, and projector/screen
• Q&A included

Panel Discussion:

• 3 or more speakers offering their expertise on a panel
• Includes theater style and a panel table room layout, podium/mic, and projector/screen
• Audience has the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and participate in the conversation

Double Session:

• Includes classroom style room layout, podium/mic, and projector/screen
• Participants will be utilizing technology such as computers/laptops
• A hands-on session including useful activities, exercises, or simulations
• Attendees expected to leave with actionable takeaways they can apply to their work or projects

Poster Session:

• Includes 4' x 8' poster display
• Presenters speak to their topic of choice prompted by their poster in 1:1 or group discussions
• Provides a more casual/personal environment through brief and interactive presentations focused on effective practices, research findings, or technical solutions
• Takes place following lunch in the Main Ballroom
• Poster session info can be found here 
• Poster session guidelines can be found here

Meeting:

• Includes horseshoe style room layout, podium/mic, and projector/screen
• Allows attendees in specific groups to collaborate and advance organizational objectives

Lunch Table Meeting:

• A reserved table of 8 at lunch to meet with a group of individuals in a designated space