November 29 - December 1, 2023 | Portland, OR | The annual UPCEA MEMS Conference is the premier event for leaders and practitioners responsible for professional, continuing, and online education marketing and enrollment management at universities around the world

Welcome to the 2026 UPCEA DT&L!
Digital Teaching & Learning Conference

February 4 - 5, 2026
Virtual

Already Registered? Access the Event Lobby via the unique access link in the email you received from “UPCEA - Zoom Events” or reach out to info@upcea.edu if you need help accessing the lobby. (Please check your spam or junk folder in case your access email was caught there.) If you registered before February 2nd, this email should have been sent to you already. Others who registered after will receive the link the morning of February 4th.

On behalf of the 2026 Digital Teaching & Learning (DT&L) Conference Advisory Committee, we are delighted to invite you to join us for this virtual event, taking place February 4–5, 2026. Our theme this year, "Designing the Future," reflects our shared commitment to exploring innovation, fostering community, and advancing digital learning across postsecondary education.

#DTL26 represents a bold new chapter for UPCEA—a fully virtual, reimagined, and renamed event grounded in the same values that have made this conference a cornerstone of professional development for over four decades. Designed by and for instructional designers, faculty developers, online instructors, and educational technologists, this conference offers an inclusive and dynamic space for sharing ideas, building community, and driving the future of teaching and learning.

Recognizing the ongoing challenges around professional development budgets, UPCEA is offering #DTL26 free of charge to institutional UPCEA members. Additionally, to support those looking to advance online learning at institutions that are not UPCEA members, a limited number of scholarships are available for those from non-member institutions who lack the financial resources to attend. We encourage anyone with an interest in digital teaching and learning to apply and participate in this uniquely accessible professional experience.

Our virtual format eliminates the barriers of travel and cost, enabling broader participation and a more diverse range of voices. This year’s programming features peer-reviewed workshops, roundtables, lightning talks, and keynote panels, as well as opportunities for campus-based watch parties, community conversations, and interactive experiences that bring the content to life.

We invite you to join us for two half days of energizing, forward-thinking exploration. Together, let’s shape what’s next for digital learning.

Warm regards,

Stevie Rocco
Director of Learning Design/Associate Teaching Professor
Penn State University
DT&L 2026 Advisory Committee Co-Chair

April Wolf
Senior Instructional Designer
Purdue University
DT&L 2026 Advisory Committee Co-Chair

The 2026 Digital Teaching & Learning Conference (DT&L) is centered around the theme of Designing the Future. DT&L is a free* and virtual event dedicated to showcasing innovative practices, research, and digital teaching design and strategies within postsecondary education. Instructional designers, faculty developers, and technologists working in the field of teaching and learning are encouraged to attend. As a reconceptualized event in UPCEA’s portfolio, attendees will be encouraged to share their insights, lead meaningful discussions, and connect with peers shaping the future of learning design. By eliminating the time and cost associated with travel, UPCEA will provide a superior peer-reviewed teaching and learning community event while staying true to the guiding principles of the Distance Teaching and Learning Conference (1984 - 2024).

*Free for UPCEA members.

Not a member? No PD funds? We have options!
Through the generosity of our corporate partners and members, we have a limited number of scholarships available to individuals that would otherwise not be able to attend because their institution is not an UPCEA member (entitled to a complimentary registration) and lack the professional development funds to attend otherwise.

To request a scholarship, visit this page. There you will be required to submit an email/ letter from your supervisor, indicating there are no professional funds available, and select one or two activities you would be willing to participate in to qualify for the scholarship.

Need a justification letter for your manager or organization on why you should attend? Download a template here.