Registration open for 73rd annual College Business Management Institute
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 7, 2026) — The University of Kentucky will once again host the College Business Management Institute (CBMI), in partnership with the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers. This year’s conference is July 26-31, as organizers celebrate the 73rd year of delivering exceptional professional development for higher education professionals.
Registration for the conference is now open.
Since its founding, CBMI has stood as a pillar of growth and learning for administrators and staff across higher education, offering an intensive, comprehensive curriculum that meets professionals where they are. This year is no different, with more than 90 courses covering everything from foundational concepts to advanced industry best practices, all led by distinguished faculty who are respected leaders and innovators in their fields.
“Through CBMI, I gained the chance to learn alongside experienced business and operations professionals which strengthened both my understanding of institutional budget processes and my professional network,” said Billy Payne, a UK employee and CMBI graduate. “I’m always happy to see CBMI continue to grow and bring together peers who share a commitment to strengthening business operations across higher education.”
Why CBMI?
Whether you’re attending for the first time or returning for another year, CBMI delivers an experience that’s hard to find anywhere else:
- Earn up to 27 CPE credits and work toward a graduate certificate upon completing the three-year program.
- Build your network with colleagues from institutions across the country, creating connections that last well beyond the conference.
- Deepen your expertise across the many dimensions of higher education business administration.
- Stay ahead of the curve with discussions on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the future of higher education.
CBMI also offers enriching experiences beyond the classroom:
- Enjoy networking events filled with food, entertainment and meaningful conversations with colleagues and industry leaders.
- Explore Lexington’s history and culture through exclusive tours of downtown Lexington, West 6th Brewery, Woodford Reserve Distillery and the Kentucky Horse Park.
- Take advantage of additional professional development offerings, including the new Conference Connectors program.
CBMI is also recognizing University of Kentucky employees who were awarded scholarships to attend CBMI this year:
- Evan Prince
- Crystal Jordan
- Heather Hamilton
- Kinsleigh Smith
- Marc Heft
- Bonnie Bond
- Amy Scalf
- Sam Porta
- Chris Ortiz
Unique UK payment process
As the UK Auxiliary Services CBMI team now manages registration internally, we are unable to accept ProCard payments from UK employees for registration and other conference-related fees.
During the registration process, UK employees should follow the standard steps. On the payment page, a designated button will be available for UK employees to enter their department's cost center number. Once registration is complete and the cost center number is provided, the conference billing team will initiate a journal voucher to process the payment. A payment confirmation email will be sent seven to 10 days after the transaction has been processed through your department. If there are any issues, CBMI will contact you directly.
For questions or assistance, please contact conferencebilling@uky.edu.
Register today and secure your spot at cbmi.uky.edu/registration.
For more information, visit cbmi.uky.edu or email cbmi@uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.