DAY THREE Sessions – Friday, November 14, 2025 – 1/2 Day
ELITE BUSINESS PARTNER SPONSORS
Sessions that are listed at the same time are concurrent sessions. *Morning Break drinks and snacks will be available between 9:30am EST. Lunch is provided at 12:00pm EST. All food on DAY 3 will be located in Poplar.
Day 3 Elite Sponsor Workshop in Holly
8:30-9:30 – Techniques for a Successful SaaS Migration Project
Over the last year, how many ERP implementations, cloud migrations, or SaaS implementations did your team do? Software vendors start multiple ones each year, worldwide, year over year. With every project, they optimize their side and their responsibilities in the implementation process. Your institution is counting on your SaaS implementation to be successful. While every project has hiccups and execution drama, SaaS implementation projects rarely fail because of a vendor’s failure to execute. In this session, we will explore some techniques you can leverage to help ensure your side of the SaaS implementation goes as smoothly as possible while meeting your institution’s needs.
10:00-12:00 – High Level Demo of Student First SIS
Are you considering an upgrade for your student information system? Come learn about how a true modern, innovative SIS can improve operations and enable better student service.
Day 3 Elite Sponsor Workshop in Willow
Experiencing Cloud Transformation with the HESS Collective & Oracle Cloud
HESS Conference – Day 3 Workshop (9:00 AM – Noon)
Join us for an informative and interactive workshop designed exclusively for HESS Collective members, showcasing the Oracle Cloud transformation enabled by Drivestream. This session will provide key updates, real-world insights, and valuable resources to help your institution maximize the benefits of the HESS Collective and accelerate your cloud transformation journey.
What You’ll Learn:
- Latest Drivestream Initiatives for the HESS Collective
Get an insider’s view of the newest developments and future plans for the HESS Collective Program. We’ll cover the launch of the Masterclass Program, expanded service offerings such as Insight Stream, updates on the Oracle Student solution, and the newly enhanced Student Financial Planning (SFP) program.
- HESS Collective Community Update
Actively participate in the evolution of our community. We will begin with a brief review of our original program goals, including the establishment of a vibrant community of practice, shared service model, and close partnership between Oracle, Drivestream, and member institutions. From there, we’ll move into an open discussion, giving participants the opportunity to share ideas for growth and identify ways in which we can all contribute to our mutual success.
- Real Results of Transformation
Hear directly from fellow HESS Collective members who have completed their transformation to Oracle Cloud. Learn from their journeys, challenges, and successes to inform your own path forward.
- Resources to Empower Your Institution
Make sure you’re taking full advantage of all the resources available within the HESS Collective. From Drivestream Academy and Oracle resources to HESS Assist and specialized working groups focused on targeted solutions, this session will ensure you know where to find the tools and support you need.
Why Attend:
This workshop offers an unparalleled opportunity to stay informed, connect with peers, and leverage the collective expertise of the HESS community. Whether you are just starting your cloud journey or well into your transformation, you’ll leave with actionable insights that can accelerate success on your campus and for the broader Collective program.
Day 3 Elite Sponsor Workshop in Dogwood
Design Thinking: Mapping Your Path to Digital Transformation
In today’s tight economic climate, higher ed CIOs face growing pressure to modernize aging systems while managing limited resources. This interactive workshop will help you assess your institution’s readiness, prioritize high-impact initiatives, and build a 12–24 month roadmap for digital transformation. Walk away with practical tools, peer insights, and a clear plan tailored to your campus. This session will go beyond the ERP, include discussions about AI and the overall tech stack to transform institutions.
By the end of this workshop, participants will:
- Understand the economic and technological imperatives for modernization.
- Identify key areas where modernization can drive efficiency and resilience.
- Learn from peer institutions that have successfully modernized.
- Develop a roadmap for initiating or accelerating digital transformation.
- Walk through practical examples of how Ellucian solutions or patterns solve common challenges
Presenters:
Joey Su, VP, Professional Services – Ellucian
Jackie Cygelmam, Group Product Manager – Ellucian
What is happening on DAY 3??
Day 3 of the HESS Consortium National Conference is a 1/2 day of workshops from our HESS National Conference Elite Sponsors – Doctums, Drivestream, Ellucian & LightLeapAI. Each of our Elite Conference Sponsors will be conducting workshops on various topics important to leaders and aspiring leaders in higher education technology.
Please select the tab above to view what is happening in each of the sessions from our Elite Sponsors and sign up for the sessions below.
Day 3 Elite Sponsor Workshop in Poplar
The Fraud Crisis in Higher Ed: What Every Leader Must Know
Fraud in higher education is no longer theoretical, from ghost students and bot applications to refund scams and data theft, institutions are under attack. In this half-day track, you’ll follow the fraud lifecycle step by step: how intruders enter your systems, where they go once inside, and how you can strengthen your defenses while meeting new compliance requirements under the OBBBA bill.
What you will learn:
- How to identify the key entry points fraudsters exploit in admissions, aid, and registration systems.
- Once entry points are clear, the tactics criminals use to extract money, steal data, and distort institutional reporting.
- The real costs of fraud for budgets, compliance, and student trust.
- How new federal compliance requirements change the risk landscape.
- A practical defense playbook: immediate steps your institution can take, plus how AI-powered detection and integrations block fraud in real time.
Who Should Attend
- Presidents, provosts, board members, CIOs, CFOs, enrollment and admissions leaders, financial aid directors, institutional research professionals, compliance/risk officers, and IT security staff.
Session One (9:00am – 9:50am)
How Fraudsters Get In: Ghost Students, Bots, and Breaches
What You’ll Learn
• How to identify fraud entry points across admissions, aid, and registration systems.
• Once entry points are clear, how fraudsters exploit them with tactics like bot farms, stolen IDs, and fake documentation.
• Direct insight from Rupa Saran, CIO of Coast Community College District, who has faced these challenges in a large multi-college system.
Who Should Attend
• CIOs, enrollment/admissions leaders, IT security staff, and anyone responsible for safeguarding the student lifecycle.
Speaker (s)
• Kiran Kodithala, CEO N2N
• Rupa Saran, CIO of Coast Community College District
Session Two (10:00am – 10:50am)
Follow the Money: Where Fraudsters Strike and What It Costs
• What You’ll Learn
• How to trace the path once fraudsters are inside — where they go to extract money or wreak havoc.
• The primary targets: refund fraud, data theft and resale, and academic disruption through fake registrations.
• The real costs: financial losses, distorted reporting, and reduced trust from students and boards.
• Who Should Attend
• CFOs, financial aid directors, institutional research leaders, compliance officers, and risk management staff.
Speaker(s)
• TBD
• Dr. Jory Hadsell is the Vice Chancellor of Technology for the Foothill–De Anza Community College District
Session Three (11:00am – 11:50am)
Protecting Your Institution: Compliance, Controls, and AI Defense Protecting Your Institution: Compliance, Controls, and the Future with AI
PLEASE NOTE – Session times and locations are subject to change. All DAY TWO sessions are in the WEST TOWER. All times are eastern time (EST).
