About The Program
The Spring Higher Ed Facilities & Safety Congress brings together the VPs of Facilities, Chief Facilities Officers, and campus operations and safety leaders responsible for the spaces where higher education happens, the decision-makers steering capital projects, deferred-maintenance strategy, and campus security at institutions across the nation.
It’s three days of curated one-on-one business meetings and focused, closed-door discussions built to surface real challenges, pressure-test solutions, and forge the partnerships that move projects forward. You’ll meet the right people, in the right context, at the right time.
Become a Partner
Topics of Discussion
Tackling Deferred Maintenance: Smarter Prioritization, Funding, and Communication
Explore how institutions are quantifying backlogs, ranking projects by risk and impact, and making the case to boards and CFOs. Topics include capital renewal planning, funding models, and translating facility needs into financial and mission terms.
Facilities as a Competitive Advantage in the Demographic Cliff Era
Look at how building quality, residence halls, and student spaces influence recruitment and retention as traditional student populations decline. Learn how to prioritize investments that matter most to students and align capital plans with enrollment strategy.
Right-Sizing the Campus Through Space Utilization, Repurposing, and Portfolio Strategy
With new construction slowing, examine how institutions are consolidating, repurposing, and optimizing existing space. Topics include utilization data, hybrid work and learning impacts, and decisions about what to renovate, repurpose, or divest.
Energy, Sustainability, and Resilient Infrastructure
Discuss how campuses are managing energy costs, meeting sustainability goals and regulatory mandates, and preparing infrastructure for extreme weather and grid disruptions. Topics include electrification, retrofit strategies, and measuring ROI.
Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness From Planning to Response
Examine how institutions are strengthening emergency operations plans, mass notification, training, and crisis communication. The session also covers coordination among facilities, public safety, and campus leadership before and during an incident.
Solving the Facilities Workforce Challenge Through Staffing, Skills, and Partnerships
Address recruiting and retaining skilled trades and facilities professionals, succession planning for an aging workforce, and the role of outsourcing, managed services, and vendor partnerships. Learn how to build sustainable teams and reduce burnout in lean operations.
Smart Buildings and Predictive Maintenance for Doing More with Less
Learn how facilities teams are moving from fixed-schedule maintenance to condition-based approaches using CMMS platforms, IoT sensors, and analytics. The session covers building a business case and integrating facilities data with the rest of campus.
Implementing AI to Work in Facilities Operations and Campus Safety
Explore how institutions are using AI for work order triage, predictive maintenance, energy optimization, space planning, and video analytics, and where to start. Topics include identifying high-impact use cases, setting governance and privacy guardrails, evaluating vendor claims, and measuring real ROI beyond the pilot stage.
89% of delegates said this is the best event they’ve attended all year
Advisory Board
Dallas College, Texas
Delgado Community College, Louisiana
The University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, Arkansas
Stony Brook University, New York
Fresno City College, California
University of California-Los Angeles, California
University of Nevada-Reno, Nevada
Fordham University, New York
Past Speakers
Stony Brook University, New York
University of Arizona Global Campus, Arizona
Weber State University, Utah
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, Arkansas
California State University-San Marcos, California
Hudson County Community College, New Jersey
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Arizona State University-Tempe, Arizona
New Jersey Institute of Technology, New Jersey
The Schedule
Event Registration
Opening Keynote
Strategy Session/Business Meetings
Afternoon Refreshments and Networking
Strategy Session/Business Meetings/Roundtable Discussions/Workshops
Free Time
Welcome Drinks and Networking Dinner
Networking Breakfast
Morning Keynote/Panel Session
Strategy Session/Business Meetings
Morning Refreshments and Networking
Strategy Session/Business Meetings
Workshops/Roundtable Discussions
Networking Lunch
Roundtables/Business Meetings/Workshops
Afternoon Refreshments and Networking
Strategy Session/Business Meetings
Closing Session
Free Time
Networking Drinks and Dinner
Business Meetings
Breakfast
Workshops/Roundtable Discussions
Closing Session
Our Commitments to You
Maximized Networking Opportunities
A personal, customized itinerary
Exclusive qualified attendance
return on time and objective
Delegate Testimonials
RTM is a great opportunity to brainstorm with peers on existing and emerging challenges, as well as stay up-to-date on the latest innovations impacting higher education.
The CIO Congress is more than a conference. It is a small learning community of dedicated professionals committed to growth and excellence.
The CIO Congress by RTM provides an opportunity to engage w/ peers and hear their perspectives which may vary from East Coast, Southern, Midwest, and West Coast schools. Having like-minded individuals who are willing to share and collaborate is very much appreciated. The unique business meeting format is also beneficial. It allows me to have intentional focus with the vendors I want to engage and the dialogue is not one-sided. They listen and it doesn't feel like a typical "vendor floor" where I'm being pitched to buy their "latest and greatest" product.
The way the RTM conference is planned ensures that I have multiple opportunities to meet and engage with other decision-makers in my field. Talking through our shared problems at RTM opens my mind to fresh ideas and new solutions. It's my favorite small-scale conference.
In addition to amazing thought provoking sessions, the networking opportunities at RTM Higher Ed events are the best I’ve ever experienced. I have made some great connections and friendship's with other IT leaders in Higher Ed.