2025 Student Success & Retention Conference
SSRC 2025 Details
Sponsored by the Oregon Council for Student Services Administrators (CSSA), the Student Success and Retention Conference (SSRC) is designed for community college and university student affairs professionals. Focused on best practices to support student success, the conference provides great opportunities to connect with colleagues, identify upcoming trends, and gain the skills needed to meet the future needs of our students.
Conference Date: February 13th & 14th, 2025
Pre-Conference: February 12th
Tracks: Adapting to Emerging Educational Needs, Technology and Innovation in Operations and Supporting Students and Staff in a Changing Landscape.
Location:
Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel & Conference Center
8235 Northeast Airport Way Portland, Oregon 97220
View Directions
Accommodation
The group rate for Student Success 2025 details are below
Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station
Hampton Inn Portland Aiport- FULL
Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel- FULL
Featured Speakers
Saby Waraich, PMP, CSM, Dean and Chief Information Officer, Institutional Technology Services, Clackamas Community College
Keynote Topic: Purple Cow Leadership
Here is how PURPLE Framework aligns with some of the tracks:
- Positive Mindset: Cultivates openness to evolving educational demands, allowing leaders to inspire proactive adaptation.
- Unchaining Yourself: Encourages leaders to break free from traditional constraints and embrace progressive methodologies that meet the changing needs of students.
- Perseverance: Ensures that efforts to meet new needs are sustained, promoting long-term commitment to student success.
- Sherpa Leadership: Guides teams and institutions through complex technological transformations with empathy and strategic foresight.
- Building Relationships: Strengthens collaboration between technology teams, faculty, and administrators, creating a united front in adopting impactful innovations.
- Energy: Brings the drive needed to implement new operational systems, ensuring positive engagement throughout transitions.
Attendees will leave with actionable insights on:
- Leveraging the PURPLE framework to address emerging educational needs with creative and adaptive strategies.
- Applying Sherpa Leadership to drive technological innovation that supports institutional goals.
- Building relationships that create supportive environments, empowering students and staff to flourish in dynamic settings.
Keynote Speaker Bio
Recognized by Thinkers360 as a Global Thought Leader and Influencer—ranked in the Top 10 for Project Management and Business Strategy and in the Top 50 for Leadership—Saby Waraich is not just a speaker but a practitioner in the trenches every single day. Delivering keynotes and workshops that are both inspiring and practical, Saby combines actionable insights with a captivating storytelling style. His mission is not just to inspire but to equip you with strategies needed to excel both personally and professionally.
A veteran in driving change and fostering innovation, Saby brings a unique perspective backed by real-world experience. Whether on stage or virtually, his energetic and engaging approach provides the tools you need to stand out as a leader, build trust, and ultimately drive better results. Don’t just listen to a speech; gain a professional edge from someone who’s living it. Saby is currently working as CIO at Clackamas Community College. He speaks four languages, enjoys working with people, and brings enthusiasm, inspiration & leadership qualities.
Resources & Awards
Saby Waraich www.sabywaraich.com & https://www.linkedin.com/in/waraich
Promo Reel: https://youtu.be/nEcyBvsexTc
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Sabywaraich
30 Higher-Ed IT Leaders to Follow in 2024: https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2024/09/30-higher-ed-it-influencers-follow-2024
Higher Education IT Executive of the Year 2023: https://edscoop.com/bio/saby-waraich/
Global Thought Leader and Influencer in Leadership, Project Management and Business Strategy: Thinkers360
Dr. Brad C. Phillips, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC)
Keynote Topic: Creating Caring Campuses: It's easier than you
Students come where they are welcome and stay where they feel cared about. If students don’t feel connected to the college they attend, they are far less likely to persist and succeed, regardless of the academic interventions and support services the college has provided. As the Aspen Institute notes, “A culture of caring has become a hallmark of excellent community colleges.”
The Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC) has created Caring Campus based on research that shows students who feel more connected to their college are more likely to be retained, persist from semester to semester, and complete their academic goals. Increasing connectedness, therefore, can go a long way toward increasing the likelihood of maintaining enrollment.
Keynote Speaker Bio
Dr. Brad C. Phillips, president and chief executive officer of the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC), leads the organization’s focus on improving educational practice and outcomes in schools, colleges and universities. He has pioneered the collaborative collection and sharing of data across educational segments; the effective use of meaningful data; and its connection to educator use and institutional change. He is the co-author of the book Creating A Data-Informed Culture In Community Colleges, published by Harvard Education Press.
Brad is an IEBC Caring Campus coach, a frequent keynote speaker, author of numerous articles, and recipient of recognitions and honors. He has served as a data facilitator for Achieving the Dream, member of the Advisory Board of the Texas Student Success Center, member of the California Guided Pathways Advisory Board and is an Ambassador with the Leap of Reason national initiative.
Dr. Phillips holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University Northridge and a master’s degree in psychology from California State University Los Angeles. Prior to pursuing his doctoral degree, he worked as a therapist in community mental health. He earned his doctorate in psychology with an emphasis in research methods and statistics from Claremont Graduate University. Dr. Phillips is the founder of both the California Partnership for Achieving Student Success (Col-PASS) and IEBC.
Resources
Institute for Evidence Based Change: https://www.iebcnow.org/
Caring Campus Initiative: https://www.iebcnow.org/caring-campus/
Dr. Brent A. Gage, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Strategy, University of Iowa
Keynote Topic: 10 Key Considerations in Higher Ed Today
Keynote Speaker Bio
Dr. Brent A. Gage currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Strategy at the University of Iowa. In this role, Dr. Gage oversees all recruitment and enrollment functions including Admissions, Financial Aid, Communications, Data Analytics, Enrollment Operations, the Registrar and Undergraduate Scholarships. Dr. Gage also serves as a Senior Consultant for AACRAO Consulting and has engaged in numerous consultations both in the U.S. and abroad to assist institutions with a wide range of enrollment challenges.
Dr. Gage has over 20 years of experience in Higher Education and has held senior level enrollment positions at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Northern Illinois University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Dr. Gage holds degrees from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Eastern Illinois University and completed his Ph.D. at Indiana State University.
Download Quick Glance Schedule
SCHED Online Conference Schedule Tool: We are using SCHED for our online conference program and scheduling service. In Please log in here https://
In SCHED you will have access to the following:
• Agenda Builder to create a schedule, save to your phone and share.
• Friend Finder to see your Facebook and Twitter friends.
• Social Directory to network and meet people ahead of time.
Create Your Profile + Schedule
How To Purchase Tickets For The Student Success and Retention Conference
For detailed instructions follow this link.
Navigate to https://oregonssrc.sched.com/
Click "Reserve Tickets"
To purchase tickets you will need to create an account with SCHED or if you already have an account, you can login as well.
Once you are logged in, you can enter a promo code here, if you have been given one.
Next you can select the number of tickets you want to purchase. If you are purchasing tickets for a group of employees at your college, you would purchase a ticket for each person.
Click "Place Order"
Once you click "Place Order" you will be routed to Stripe to complete payment.
Once you enter your payment information, click "Pay" to submit your order.
If you have purchased tickets for other employees, you will also see a button on the "Schedule" tab to share tickets.
To share a ticket all you need to do is select the ticket type, add the guests name and email address. Then click "Share Now", they will receive an email letting them know you have been sent a ticket for the conference.
You will then receive an email from SCHED with conference information and you can start building your schedule.
It may take a few minutes, but the receipt for your order will come from Mt. Hood Community College and look like this.
Navigating Conflict with Confidence: De-Escalation Strategies for Student Services Professionals
Why This Matters:
As the front line of support for students, you’re uniquely positioned to handle situations where emotions run high, whether it’s due to academic stress, personal challenges, or systemic frustrations. Your ability to respond effectively not only impacts the individual but also shapes the culture of trust and care within your institution.
What to Expect:
In this session, we’ll explore practical tools and techniques to:
• Recognize signs of escalating conflict.
• Employ communication strategies that calm and re-center interactions with students and colleagues.
• Build resilience and self-awareness to manage stress during challenging moments.
Through discussion, role-play, and scenario analysis, we’ll equip you with skills to navigate these moments with confidence, fostering a safer and more supportive environment for all. Let’s dive in together, recognizing the power of small actions to transform difficult conversations into opportunities for connection and growth.
Cost: $50
Presenter Bio
Ruth Vernotico is the 2SLGBTQIA+ Student Program Coordinator at Central Oregon Community College and the founder of SUS, a nonprofit that launched SUS Magazine, Central Oregon’s first 2SLGBTQIA+ print publication and currently the only publication for queer people in Oregon.
Ruth graduated from Tulane University in Louisiana with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computing and a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Design. They also serve on the City of Bend’s Human Rights and Equity Commission, Deschutes County’s Public Health Advisory Board and the Central Oregon Health Council.
Ruth’s professional background includes healthcare leadership where they authored and led workshops on de-escalation, negotiation, and navigating conflict. Ruth also has a passion for community-building and advocacy within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, specifically at the intersections of education and how historically marginalized groups access resources and tools to navigate the learning experience.
The Oregon Council for Student Services Administrators (CSSA) works to promote practices and strategies that maximize access and success for all students. CSSA has identified recognition awards aimed to 1) elevate the student services professionals in Oregon, and 2) acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of professionals and programs that go above and beyond to support the needs of students.
These awards highlight the significance of services such as enrollment management, academic advising, career counseling, mental health support, student engagement, and service areas that promote practices and strategies that maximize access and success for all students.
Award descriptions, eligibility and criteria are provided below for each award. All award nominations will be reviewed by a selection committee of CSSA members.
Award winners will be announced at the Student Success and Retention Conference (SSRC) in Portland, Oregon in February 2025. There are four award categories available: Legacy of Excellence, Innovation Award, Rising Star Award, and Unsung Hero Award. Current and former members of CSSA are able to nominate for the Legacy of Excellence award. All other awards are open for nominations from registered participants of the SSRC conference.
Nominators can submit nominations for each award listed below and can submit multiple nominations for the same award by submitting multiple forms. Please review the award description and criteria for each award and provide as much information as possible in support of your nominee.
Nomination Form
Nominations are due by January 23rd. Award recipients will be announced and recognized at the Student Success and Retention Conference.
Thank you for your interest in SSRC. Unfortunately, registration for this year's event is now closed.
We appreciate your enthusiasm and encourage you to check back next year for 2026 SSRC information!
