2026 INTERNET2
COMMUNITY Exchange
Make The Case
April 13 – 16 Chicago, IL
Make the case for the 2026 Internet2 Community Exchange!
In a climate of constrained budgets and travel freezes, we sometimes scramble to find language convincing our managers to fund professional development and collaboration opportunities. We need to show how these opportunities advance institutional priorities, strengthen leadership, and deliver tangible, actionable outcomes for our teams.
Consider these talking points and resources to make a compelling case for attending the 2026 Internet2 Community Exchange and demonstrate how you’ll maximize the return on your organization’s investment.
Hear from past attendees
"CommEX is not just about learning; it’s about connecting with a community that shares a common mission to advance research and education through technology. Now more than ever, higher education needs each other and a strong community with the shared challenges we are facing."
— Melanie Douglas, University of California-Santa Cruz
“As an event tailored to the R&E community, Community Exchange is far more valuable than just a generic big IT or security conference. I’ve met so many people at different types of institutions who are always willing to help or share information about how they do things.”
— Anita Nikolich, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
“The connections and relationships forged at these events often lead to new partnerships and initiatives that benefit the entire community.”
— Drew Sidel, Google Workspace for Education