Pre-Summit Events

• Configurable Joins
• All Lifecycles
• Beginner

This beginner-friendly session introduces Configurable Joins, Slate's powerful querying tool. Participants will build a foundational understanding of Slate as a relational database, exploring the difference between one-to-one and one-to-many relationships and how table ranks are determined within the system. From there, the session covers the practical basics of querying, including how to work with Record and Related query bases and construct simple base-level joins. By the end of the session, attendees will have the confidence and vocabulary to begin building their own joined queries in Slate.

Session Takeaways

In this session, you will:

• Explore how your Slate data is stored within the database.
• Learn how to use the different components of Slate's query interface.
• Discuss the data structure and use case for base-level joins versus subquery joins.
• Investigate how subquery exports and filters differ from standard exports and filters — and when to use each one.

• Data and Configurations
• All Lifecycles
• Beginner

This beginner-friendly session introduces participants to two of Slate's most powerful and flexible data objects — datasets and entities — and lays the groundwork for building custom data architecture within their instance. Attendees will learn what datasets and entities are, how to create them, and how to determine which one is the right fit for a given use case, including how Research fits into the picture alongside entities. The session covers practical, real-world examples of how these tools can be used to store and track data that doesn't fit neatly into Slate's standard data structures. By the end of the session, participants will have a clear understanding of when and how to use each object, and the confidence to begin designing custom data solutions in their own instance.

• Portals
• All Lifecycles
• Beginner

This beginner-friendly session demystifies Slate portals, showing participants that building a functional portal is well within reach using Slate's out-of-the-box features — no custom coding required. Attendees will get acquainted with the core building blocks of any portal (methods, views, and queries) and learn how to construct views using rows and parts, write basic portal queries, and work with simple parameters. The session also covers portal scopes and security, ensuring participants understand how to control who can access their portal and what they can see. By the end of the session, attendees will have the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience to build their own Express Portal in Slate with confidence.

• Communications
• All Lifecycles
• Intermediate

This intermediate session focuses on building communications in Slate's Deliver tool that are both deeply personalized and designed to stand the test of time. Participants will learn how to harness the power of Configurable Joins in recipient lists and leverage data from related records to ensure the right message reaches the right audience every time. The session also covers the use of content blocks and translation codes to create dynamic content that adapts to each recipient, as well as Liquid markup and Liquid looping techniques for even greater personalization and flexibility. Attendees will leave with the skills to build communications that feel tailored to every individual while remaining sustainable and easy to maintain as their institution's needs evolve.

Session Takeaways

In this session, you will:

• Explore how to plan and structure your communications to be sustainable, scalable, and relevant.
• Learn how Slate tools such as translation codes, content blocks, and Liquid markup can simplify the development of dynamic and personalized content — and when to use each one.
• Identify opportunities to leverage data from related objects, such as datasets and entities, to drive message content and automate delivery.
• Discuss strategies for message tracking, reporting, maintenance, and updates in Slate.

• Configurable Joins
• All Lifecycles
• Intermediate

Building on the fundamentals introduced in Connect the Dots, this intermediate session takes participants deeper into the world of Configurable Joins through the lens of subqueries. Attendees will learn how to construct a variety of commonly-used subquery exports — including Rank, Concatenate, Coalesce, and Aggregate — and how to apply subquery filters such as Exists, Not Exists, Comparison, and Count. The session also covers System query bases, expanding participants' querying toolkit beyond the Record and Related bases introduced at the beginner level. Attendees will leave with a stronger command of Slate's querying capabilities and the skills to tackle more complex data needs.

Session Takeaways

In this session, you will:

• Learn how to create exports and filters for one-to-many objects.
• Discuss the use of aggregates in subquery exports and subquery filters.
• Explore applications for translation codes within queries.
• Identify opportunities to leverage configurable joins in Slate query libraries and reports.

• Data and Configurations
• All Lifecycles
• Intermediate

Building on the foundations introduced in Your Data, Your Way, this advanced session explores the sophisticated and wide-ranging applications that datasets and entities make possible within a Slate instance. Participants will dive into advanced business process management, learning how to leverage these data objects to drive deadline and checklist logic, power communication content and automations, and manage complex workflows. The session also covers how to use record structures to manage user access and permissioning, as well as best practices for maintaining and updating entity data over time. Attendees will leave with a deeper appreciation for the versatility of datasets and entities and the skills to put them to work in meaningful, high-impact ways across their institution.

• Reporting and Analytics
• All Lifecycles
• Intermediate

This intermediate session equips participants with the tools and techniques to take their Slate reporting to the next level, moving beyond basic reports to more powerful and flexible data analysis. Attendees will learn how to leverage Configurable Joins in reporting, work with calculated data table row functions, and use Slate's Data Explorer tool to build pivot-table-style analyses. The session also covers how to incorporate reports into portals for a more dynamic and accessible end-user experience, and it wraps up with an honest look at Slate's reporting limitations and guidance on when and how to bring in external reporting tools to fill the gaps. Participants will leave with a sharper, more versatile reporting toolkit and a clearer sense of how to get the most meaningful insights out of their Slate data.

• Portals
• All Lifecycles
• Intermediate

Building on the fundamentals covered in Low Pressure, High Impact, this intermediate session introduces participants to the tools and techniques that bring portals to life with style and sophistication. Attendees will get a practical introduction to CSS and HTML basics, learning how to use these languages to customize the look and feel of their portals without getting lost in the weeds. The session also covers Slate's Portal Components tool, Liquid markup and content blocks for dynamic and conditional content display, and how to implement pop-ups and tabs to create a more polished, multi-layered user experience. Participants will leave with a richer toolkit and the confidence to build portals that are as visually engaging as they are functional.

• Configurable Joins
• All Lifecycles
• Advanced

Designed for experienced Slate users, this advanced session pushes the boundaries of what's possible with Configurable Joins and subqueries. Participants will explore a wide range of advanced subquery export configurations, including Dictionary, Formula, and Split exports, as well as export groups and formatted outputs. The session also covers sophisticated subquery filter techniques, including formula-based filters, mathematical calculations, and population-based calculations, as well as subquery base joins and Sequential Value Groups. Attendees will leave with a comprehensive, expert-level understanding of Configurable Joins and the ability to construct virtually any query their data requires.

Session Takeaways

In this session, you will:

• Learn how to use dictionary outputs in Liquid markup.
• Be trained on how to identify and apply formulas for exports and filters.
• Discuss how to use advanced subquery exports, including using HTML output to provide easy, clickable links to specific URLs.
• Discover when and how to use subquery joins at the base of your queries.

• Portals
• All Lifecycles
• Advanced

Designed for experienced portal builders ready to take their skills to the next level, this advanced session dives into the tools and techniques that unlock the full potential of Slate's portal framework. Participants will deepen their CSS knowledge and get a practical introduction to JavaScript fundamentals, gaining the coding confidence to create more dynamic and customized portal experiences. The session also covers advanced use of parameters and filterable reports within portals, building portal dashboards, and leveraging external tools to streamline and enhance the portal development and design process. Attendees will leave equipped to tackle even the most complex portal builds with a professional-grade toolkit at their disposal.

• Slate Tools
• All Lifecycles
• All Users

As Technolutions continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence, this session offers participants a timely and practical introduction to Slate AI and what it means for their institution. Attendees will get acquainted with the basics of Slate AI and its core components, including how to build and use Knowledge Sources, build AI dashboards, configure and deploy Bots, and work with AI Snippets. The session also takes an honest and grounded look at real-world use cases, caveats, and considerations — helping participants cut through the hype and understand where Slate AI can genuinely add value in their day-to-day work. Whether you're AI-curious or ready to dive in, this session will give you the foundation you need to explore Slate AI with confidence and intention.

Session Takeaways

In this session, you'll explore:

• Slate AI Fundamentals: Core components including Knowledge Sources, Bots, and AI Snippets that give you a practical foundation for getting started.
• Hands-On Configuration: How to build, configure, and deploy Slate AI tools, including AI dashboards, for real institutional use.
• An Honest, Grounded Perspective for Slate AI: Cutting through the hype to address real-world use cases, caveats, and limitations, as well as the benefits and opportunities Slate's AI tools can offer.

• Slate Tools
• All Lifecycles
• All Users

Back by popular demand, this session returns with an expanded collection of tips, tricks, shortcuts, and hidden gems designed to change the way you use Slate every day. Building on last year's crowd-favorite format, participants will explore innovative and unexpected applications for familiar Slate tools, discover features and functionalities they may not have known existed, and walk away with a fresh perspective on what their instance is truly capable of. Whether you're a relative newcomer or a seasoned Slate veteran, there's something in this session for everyone — and chances are, you'll leave with at least a few ideas you can't wait to implement. Come ready to take notes!

Session Takeaways

In this session, you will:

• Learn step-by-step instructions for implementing quick solutions to common problems in Slate.
• Explore topics on a range of Slate tools, including queries, forms, dashboards, events, and more.
• Be equipped with more than 60 tips, tricks, shortcuts, and hidden gems that you can utilize in your own Slate database.

• Strategy and Processes
• Admissions
• All Users

Designed for admissions professionals navigating the demands of complex recruitment and enrollment operations, this session offers practical strategies for managing the full arc of the admissions process, from recruitment all the way to enrollment. Participants will explore how to effectively manage the needs and expectations of various users and stakeholders, and how to develop systems and processes that can sustainably accommodate even the most complex admissions requirements. The session also addresses how to build the right framework within Slate to align your operations with your institution's enrollment goals, ensuring that your team is set up for both day-to-day efficiency and long-term success. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies and a clearer roadmap for turning a complex admissions operation into a well-oiled machine.

Session Takeaways

In this session, you will:

• See working examples of solutions that solve for common, complex pain points.
• Explore techniques for navigating the fragile intersection of business process change and technical solutions.
• Participate in a round-table workshop with HCE consultants, working through your own complex examples in a live strategy session.
• Leave with actionable frameworks for governance, change management, and sustainable system growth.

• Strategy and Processes
• Advancement
• All Users

This session flips the script on traditional training by putting the conversation in the hands of the attendees. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all approach, we'll start from the advancement best practices and strategies that you already know are effective, then explore together how to make Slate work harder for them. Participants will have the opportunity to share their current goals and challenges, brainstorm new opportunities for their Slate instance, and collaborate with fellow advancement users and HCE's Slate experts to identify practical, real-world solutions. Whether you leave with a concrete action plan or simply a fresh perspective, this session is designed to meet you where you are and help you see your Slate instance in a whole new light.

• Strategy and Processes
• All Lifecycles
• Intermediate

Session Full

This session guides participants through the full journey of database optimization, from recognizing the early warning signs that your Slate instance is due for a refresh to implementing a systematic plan for getting it back into peak condition. Attendees will learn what to look for when conducting a system diagnostic, how to prioritize updates and tackle them in a logical, step-by-step sequence, and how to avoid the overwhelm that can come with a large-scale database overhaul. The session also covers long-term maintenance strategies to help institutions keep their instance running smoothly and efficiently well into the future. Whether your database is showing its age or you simply want to be proactive, this session will give you a clear, actionable roadmap from diagnosis to peak performance.

Session Takeaways

In this session, you will:

• Identify the warning signs that your Slate instance is due for a review and learn how to conduct a thorough system diagnostic to assess its current health.
• Discover long-term maintenance strategies to keep your instance running efficiently and avoid falling back into the same issues down the road.
• Leave with multiple queries in your own Slate database to uncover the areas in greatest need of improvement.

• Strategy and Processes
• Student Success
• All Users

Designed specifically for Student Success users, this session takes a deep dive into the data structures and management strategies that support the unique complexity of student success work in Slate. Participants will explore common student success business processes and how to build and organize data structures that can accommodate the variability and complexity that comes with managing student records at scale. The session also addresses how to ensure that the way information is captured and stored reflects the real-world intricacies of student success workflows, and how to align your data architecture and systems with your institution's broader goals for student success. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and a clearer vision for building a Slate environment that truly serves their students and teams.