Upcoming Events:
CUPA-HR ILLINOIS PRESENTS
ANNUAL SPRING CONFERENCE
2027
MARCH 31 – APRIL 1
Champaign, Illinois
Connecting Illinois Higher Education HR Professionals
Bringing together HR professionals from public and private colleges and universities, including two-year and four-year institutions.
Partner With Us
Explore our standardized sponsorship packages and benefits to learn how your organization can support this annual event.
CUPA-HR Illinois welcomes our sponsors and values their partnership.
Sponsors:
The sponsorship levels are:
- $2,000 – Platinum
- $1,500 – Gold
- $1,000 – Silver
- $500 – Bronze
- $250 – Food/Hotel Sponsor
There is also an option for sponsors to contribute another amount.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/spring-conference-sponsors--2027
For additional information about sponsorship levels and benefits contact [email protected].
#HigherEducation #HumanResources #HRLeadership #ConferenceSponsorship #ProfessionalDevelopment #IllinoisHR #HigherEdIllinois #CUPAHR
The Illinois Chapter of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (IL CUPA-HR)
PAST EVENTS:
Past Conferences & Webinars
The Illinois Chapter of CUPA-HR provides professional development opportunities for higher education HR professionals through conferences, webinars, and educational programs. Explore past events, review conference agendas, and access available webinar recordings and recertification information.
2026 Spring Conference
April 1–2, 2026 | I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center | Champaign, Illinois
Conference Theme: Hop Into the Here and Now: The Ever-Changing Face of HR
The annual Illinois CUPA-HR Spring Conference brought together higher education HR professionals for professional development, networking, and discussions on the evolving landscape of human resources.
View the 2026 Conference Agenda (PDF)
Attendee reminder: Nuts were not permitted in the conference rooms.
Past Webinars
Beyond Compliance and Influence: An Illinois CHRO Discussion
December 15, 2025 or 2026 — confirm year
This session featured chief human resources officers from Illinois Wesleyan University, Parkland College, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The discussion explored the impact of evolving Illinois employment laws on higher education HR strategy, including paid leave, pay transparency, leave expansions, and cannabis policy considerations.
The session also addressed how HR professionals can strengthen their strategic partnerships with senior leaders, build credibility, and align compliance with institutional culture.
Webinar Information and Registration Link
SHRM and HRCI credit eligibility should be confirmed before displaying this as an available recertification resource.
AI and HR in Higher Education: Balancing Innovation and the Human Touch
November 20, 2025
Featuring Kathleen McAndrew, Chief Human Resources Officer and Associate Vice President of Human Resources at Parkland College, this webinar explored practical applications of artificial intelligence in higher education HR.
Topics included:
- Practical applications of AI in HR.
- Building confidence and encouraging experimentation.
- Partnering with campus technology leaders.
- Balancing innovation with ethical, accessible, and people-centered practices.
Recertification information
- SHRM: 25-4D49C
- HRCI: Contact [email protected] with your name and email address to request the credit code.
Legal Updates Webinar
December 4, 2024
Michael A. Kuczwara Jr., partner at Laner Muchin, presented legal updates for public- and private-sector employers. Topics included labor and employment law, collective bargaining, grievance and interest arbitrations, and employment-related regulatory matters.
View the Original Webinar Information
Values, Voice and Velocity: The New Rules of Employee Engagement
February 29, 2024
Presented by Allison M. Vaillancourt, Ph.D., Vice President and Senior Consultant, Organizational Effectiveness, this webinar explored emerging approaches to employee engagement.
This workshop was approved for 2 SHRM credits and 2 HRCI credits.
Past Conferences
2025 Spring Conference: Dive Right In!
April 9–10, 2025 | Hilton Garden Inn | Champaign, Illinois
Thank you to the more than 150 HR professionals who joined us for a day and a half of professional development, learning, and networking.
2024 Spring Conference: Leading Change Through HR
April 3–4, 2024 | I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center | Champaign, Illinois
The annual conference brought together higher education HR professionals to explore leadership, organizational change, and emerging workplace challenges.
Additional Professional Development Resources
Visit the national CUPA-HR events calendar for additional educational resources and professional development opportunities.