2026 UEN Tech Summit

Food

Registration

General Session

AI can trigger two very real fears: losing control if we adopt it, or losing relevance if we do not. As AI shifts from a passive assistant to an active agent, leaders and professionals are asking: Will this replace me? Is my organization falling behind? How do we embrace AI without creating security risks?

In this keynote, attendees will gain a practical understanding of how agentic systems work and the role humans will play in this new world. Instead of viewing AI as something to outrun or resist, they will learn how to work with it strategically so they can stay relevant, increase their impact, and lead the transformation in their organizations.

Food

"The Kitchen Table Talks" is an open conversation about navigating the AI landscape with our families and students. We’ll move beyond technical "how-to" and dive into the heart of responsible AI use, focusing on ethics, privacy, and critical thinking. This session is a collaborative exchange of ideas, offering practical strategies to foster a "human-in-the-loop" mindset. Join us to discuss how we can guide our digital natives to lead with integrity.

Discover how Securly's AI Transparency Solution gives districts centralized visibility into student AI activity across all platforms. Learn to move beyond blanket bans with smart guardrails, connect AI insights with safety monitoring, and use real data to guide responsible AI use and digital citizenship policies.

AI tools are showing up across classrooms faster than most districts can track or govern them. From writing assistants to image generators and chatbots, students and teachers are using dozens of platforms every day, often with little visibility into how those tools are being accessed or used. In this exhibit hall session, we’ll walk through how Securly’s AI Transparency Solution, built directly into SafetyOS, gives schools a clear, centralized view of AI activity across all tools students use, not just one platform. You’ll see how AI visibility connects with web filtering, student safety monitoring, and classroom workflows to create smarter guardrails instead of blanket bans. We’ll share real examples of how districts are using this connected approach to spot trends, address risk early, guide responsible AI use, and support innovation without losing oversight. Objectives/Takeaways Participants will learn how to: Gain district-wide visibility into student AI usage across multiple tools; move from blocking AI to setting smart, responsible guardrails; connect AI insights with student safety and web activity for better context; use data to guide digital citizenship and AI policies in real classrooms.

We will include a fiber installation demo, including scoping and cleaning. We will also show options to organize cable runs and clean up equipment racks.

We plan to have an equipment rack on-site to show best practices, and also some options on cleaning kits with information on where they can be purchased.

If you've ever wanted a better understanding of how you can safely and lightly audit the EdTech apps in use in your schools, this session's for you. Jeremy Zabriskie from the Student Data Privacy team at USBE will teach you the basics of webapp analysis. This session won't require any existing technical knowledge, but it is intended primarily for IT and technology folks. For part of a demo, you may follow along on your own device, but it isn't required.

In this session, we will learn about the basics of webapp analysis and see a demo of how to do a light audit. You can follow along on your own device if you'd like, but there is no requirement to do so.

How IT leaders can become influential in helping schools, departments, and LEAs improve their technology processes.

macOS ships with a powerful set of built-in security tools — but many admins never go beyond the basics. This session dives into macOS's built-in security utilities often overlooked by admins, giving you the practical knowledge to better protect the Macs in your organization. Learn how to leverage native macOS tools to diagnose security issues, audit system configurations, manage security settings, and automate security-related tasks.

Bash scripting leverages the power of the command line and tight integration with Linux and Unix operating systems, so it's the easiest and best way to automate repetitive administration tasks (giving you the time to focus on more important issues).
"Magic" is when all you have to do is say a few words and amazing things happen! Bash scripting lets you give Linux and Unix operating systems the ability to take care of themselves (by automating frequent tasks and responding to situations). The key to this is being able to have your scripts make decisions (logic programming). In this presentation, you will begin to learn how to write and run Bash scripts (programs that are interpreted rather than compiled) including loops and logic statements, file redirection, command line arguments, and much more. It's important that you be able to continue doing these things on your own (after the conference), so comprehensive instructions and reference materials will be provided.

In this presentation, we'll go over the current tools for viewing our statewide, 400G backbone network. This covers Weathermap (including the timeline feature and custom map generation), Telly (district dashboards, device details, and network performance monitoring panels), and if available our new Looking Glass interface.

This session explores how network engineers and software engineers collaborate to build self-healing networks. It highlights how operational knowledge, automation frameworks, and AI-driven monitoring systems combine to create resilient infrastructures that can detect, diagnose, and resolve faults with minimal human intervention.
Modern digital infrastructure is evolving at a pace that demands new approaches to reliability and resilience. One of the most significant developments is the rise of self-healing networks. These systems are designed to automatically detect faults, diagnose failures, and initiate corrective actions with minimal human intervention. Although automation frameworks and artificial intelligence play important roles, their success depends on the operational expertise of network engineers. This session examines how collaboration between network engineers and software engineers drives the development of intelligent and resilient network systems. Software engineers build the automation frameworks, telemetry pipelines, and machine learning models that support large-scale observability and automated decision making. Network engineers contribute the domain knowledge that defines failure signatures, operational thresholds, and effective remediation strategies. Together, these disciplines create the foundation for self-healing infrastructure. The presentation begins by exploring the operational roots of network reliability. For decades, network engineers have produced root cause analyses, troubleshooting guides, and operational playbooks that document how networks behave during faults, congestion events, and configuration errors. These records contain the practical knowledge that has long guided incident recovery. When this expertise is translated into machine-readable logic, it becomes the basis for automated detection and remediation. Participants will examine real scenarios where operational insight enhances automated responses. A monitoring system may detect abnormal CPU utilization or routing instability, but it is the contextual understanding of experienced engineers that determines the appropriate corrective action. By embedding this knowledge into automation systems, organizations can shift from reactive monitoring to intelligent and adaptive recovery processes. The session also considers how the role of the network engineer is changing in an era shaped by automation and artificial intelligence. Automation does not replace engineers. Instead, it amplifies their influence. Engineers who understand telemetry systems, automation tools, and infrastructure programmability can directly shape the design of self-optimizing networks. Their operational judgment becomes encoded into systems that scale far beyond what manual processes can achieve. By the end of the session, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how human expertise and automation work together to strengthen digital infrastructure. The central message is clear. Self-healing networks are not created by software alone. They emerge through collaboration, operational insight, and the shared knowledge of the engineers who design and operate the networks that power modern society.

How do you quickly prove it's not the Wi-Fi when the immediate response is to blame the Wi-Fi? I'm going to share some practical, cheap, or free tools to help you dial into the actual problem quickly, and why Speedtest may not be the best metric for testing your network.

Tools like Speedtest.net have become the de facto standard that our end users know to use to test when the network is working. This actually can be detrimental and unhelpful as a metric. New tools like the WLANPI and Orb.net are providing very cost-effective tools for determining how a network is performing without having to purchase expensive overlay networks. Tools that can be installed directly on an end-user device to get real-time performance metrics.

Monticello Academy built a custom AI platform that scans handwritten student work, runs it through an OCR/LLM pipeline, and surfaces instructional insights for teachers — on a school budget. This is the real story: architecture decisions, FERPA compliance, what worked, and what we'd do differently.

What happens when a small K-12 school decides to build its own AI-powered student work analytics platform rather than wait for a vendor to solve the problem? This session tells that story from the ground up. Attendees will walk through how Monticello Academy architected StudentQuill — a cloud-native platform that captures handwritten student assignments via scanning, processes them through an OCR and multimodal AI pipeline, and delivers structured insights directly to teachers. We'll cover the full decision stack: why we chose Google Cloud Platform, how we evaluated OCR technologies for handwritten work, how we engineered prompts for rubric-aligned AI analysis, and how we designed the system to be fully FERPA-compliant from day one. Crucially, this is not a vendor pitch — it's a practitioner case study. Presenters will share the real architecture, real costs, real trade-offs, and real teacher feedback. We'll discuss what surprised us, where we hit walls, and the practical lessons any district or school can apply, whether they're building, buying, or evaluating AI tools for instructional use. Attendees will leave with a replicable architectural framework, a vendor evaluation rubric for OCR/AI tools, and a clear picture of what it actually takes to put AI to work for teachers — not just in theory, but in a live school environment.

Explore how esports facilities and cyber learning labs leverage advanced AV technologies to create engaging, high‑performance learning environments. Dive into AV design fundamentals, AV over IP workflows, considerations for these collaborative spaces, and strategies for creating scalable, future-ready systems that support seamless interaction and evolving instructional requirements.

With the rapid growth of esports and cyber education programs, effective audiovisual system integration is paramount in creating engaging and interactive environments. In this session, we will explore the fundamentals of AV system design, implementation, and the range of AV technologies utilized in these modern hubs. We will spotlight approaches that optimize system integration to ensure seamless interactions and active learning experiences in these spaces. Discover how AV over IP enhances and streamlines signal routing, cable management, control systems, and network infrastructure. Attendees will also gain insights into the importance of annotation and touchscreen interaction, plus the crucial role that collaborative spaces play for post-game reviews, coaching, group discussions, and complementary activities. Lastly, we’ll explore strategies for designing future-ready systems that can scale and adapt to evolving requirements and emerging technologies.

Discover how to solve almost any technical issues correctly the first time using the split-half method. Hear relatable anecdotes from the tech trenches, and explore practical strategies to stop guessing and start fixing 'glitches' efficiently.

Have you ever faced a classroom technology issue and had no idea where to start? In this classroom-style session, we will learn how to translate a user's vague “glitch” into a tangible issue with an actionable solution by using the split-half troubleshooting method. This highly efficient, logical approach is used by IT professionals to isolate and resolve problems by systematically eliminating half of the potential causes at a time. Using relatable and sometimes humorous anecdotes from the tech trenches, you will learn how to apply this binary search logic to everyday classroom tech issues, transforming tech-induced panic into calm, methodical problem-solving

The "Instructional Video Collaboration" (IVC) landscape is changing, and UEN is expanding our approach and partnerships, allowing us to be more innovative and agile as technologies evolve. This presentation examines the evolution of the unified K20 Zoom License Agreement, reflecting on lessons learned in the past year, why this shift is critical for our current educational landscape, and how we are leveraging this agreement for the future.

UEN’s IVC team will talk about the shifting landscape of video collaboration technologies, lessons learned in the first year of the K20 Zoom Agreement, and the UEN commitment to ongoing innovation and support of these technologies. The team will also share early results and lessons learned from a STEM classroom pilot program using video collaboration equipment new to UEN’s IVC environment. Zoom-capable hardware will be on display. We will discuss and demonstrate how new features, AI innovations, and enhanced capabilities can be used in remote learning to support classroom collaboration.

“Free” classroom apps and quick approvals now carry real legal and cybersecurity consequences. This session explains how Utah districts can move from “click and hope” to compliant, termination-ready EdTech governance under H.B. 55, Title 53E, and federal privacy law.

Most school districts have approved at least one digital tool that started with a well-meaning teacher saying, “It’s free, and everyone else uses it.” Too often, that click-through approval becomes a permanent system handling student records, behavioral data, and sensitive communications—without meaningful oversight. At the same time, Utah’s legal landscape has changed. With the passage of H.B. 55 (2026), districts are now required to maintain termination-ready contracts, enforce strict data governance standards, and demonstrate active vendor oversight. Informal adoption practices that once seemed harmless now create legal, operational, and cybersecurity risk. This session translates Utah’s statutory, regulatory, and federal privacy requirements into a practical, repeatable approval system that districts can actually run. Through real-world scenarios, breach case studies, and contract examples, participants will learn how to replace “click and hope” with “click, verify, and comply.” Attendees will leave with usable templates, workflow models, and governance tools that support instructional innovation while reducing legal exposure and reputational risk.

TDIR stands for Threat Detection, Investigation, and Response. It is a comprehensive security approach that helps organizations assess risks, understand security incidents, and remediate threats quickly. TDIR capabilities enable security teams to detect threats, investigate incidents, and respond effectively to minimize impact. This term is an industry term that is being discussed across K12s and higher education. We will discuss the future of threat detection and how education can take advantage of these frameworks.

The SOC of the Future is envisioned as a resilient, AI-augmented security operations center that continuously monitors, detects, investigates, and responds to cybersecurity threats in real time. It leverages advanced technologies such as AI-powered threat detection, extended detection and response (XDR), and enhanced visibility across endpoints, IoT, and networks. Key capabilities include AI-driven threat detection and monitoring, AI-augmented incident triage and investigation, proactive threat hunting with AI hypotheses, AI-enriched threat intelligence, and automated incident response and remediation. The modern SOC integrates federated data management and analytics, enabling comprehensive asset visibility and risk mitigation while simplifying security operations through AI-assisted workflows. It unifies threat detection, investigation, and response (TDIR) workflows within a single platform, improving operational efficiency and reducing alert fatigue by up to 90% with risk-based alerting. The SOC of the Future also emphasizes collaboration across teams and tools, leveraging integrations with Cisco and third-party security products to protect the entire digital footprint. Automation and orchestration accelerate response times, with AI-guided investigations reducing case management time by 83% and enabling near-zero time to recovery from incidents such as ransomware attacks. The SOC continuously evolves through AI feedback loops and detection engineering, supported by comprehensive threat intelligence and compliance monitoring frameworks. Overall, the SOC of the Future combines human expertise with AI and automation to deliver faster, more accurate threat detection and response, ensuring digital resilience and reducing business risk in an increasingly complex threat landscape

To do difficult tasks quickly and with skill, you need powerful tools. The "Vim" (Vi Improved) text editor is such a tool. Come take the beginning steps in how to use Vim and be amazed!

Vim is a text editor that can run in a console/terminal environment, so it is the tool of choice for editing configuration (and other) files in Linux/Unix servers (which usually run "headless" [i.e., without a graphical environment]). Any text editor will let you edit text, but they aren't all the same: why ride a kid's bicycle when you can drive a Ferrari? This class will focus on getting you started with Vim, including the Insert and Normal Modes, and the basic set of Normal Mode commands. Never take your hands off the keyboard, and amaze everyone with how quickly and easily you can edit!

This presentation, “The Software Lifecycle Whisperer,” delves into the Marriott Library at the University of Utah’s innovative approach to transforming macOS software deployment and maintenance. The session begins with an overview of the library’s complex technology environment, which supports thousands of Macs, Windows devices, and iPads. It addresses the operational challenges posed by COVID-19, such as the rapid scaling of student-checkout devices, increased software demands, remote support needs, and the limitations of traditional packaging workflows. Previously, the library’s team relied on manual packaging, repackaging of Mac App Store and commercial apps, patch management, API automation using python-jamf and jctl, and custom scripts to ensure consistent software management across platforms. These methods, although effective, often created bottlenecks, especially with non-standard installers, licensing requirements, and time-sensitive updates. A detailed “repackage decision flow” is presented to illustrate when custom packaging is necessary versus when automation can be used. The presentation’s core focus is on Installomator, an open-source, label-driven installer engine that streamlines the process of downloading, verifying, and installing macOS applications directly from vendors. The session highlights Installomator’s advantages, including simplified infrastructure, reduced technical debt, rapid deployment, self-service integration, compatibility with multiple MDMs, and support for distributed fleets. It also identifies scenarios where Installomator may not be suitable, such as version-locked environments, authenticated downloads, licensing-restricted software, or bandwidth-limited networks. Attendees will gain insights into Installomator’s flow logic, configuration variables (debug modes, notifications, DND settings, ownership rules), and real-world examples of Jamf Pro and Intune setup workflows. The talk concludes with practical advice on integrating tools like Installomator, patch management, AutoPKG, Title Editor, and manual workflows to develop a flexible software lifecycle strategy that accommodates diverse application requirements.

Higher-education data centers must support growing workloads amid constrained resources. This session explores common DCF challenges and practical considerations for improving reliability, efficiency, and long-term adaptability in university environments.

Higher-education institutions increasingly rely on their data centers to support research, teaching, and institutional services, while facing ongoing constraints in funding, staffing, and infrastructure. As workloads continue to grow in scale and complexity, ensuring reliable and efficient data center fabric operations has become a critical priority. This session examines the most common challenges universities encounter in designing and operating data center fabrics. Rather than focusing on specific technologies or vendor solutions, the discussion will center on broader architectural and operational considerations that can help institutions sustain performance while managing risk and complexity. Participants will gain insights into approaches for reducing operational overhead, improving day-to-day reliability, and balancing performance with resource efficiency. The session will also explore how institutions can establish adaptable foundations that support evolving research and service demands over time.

 Radio spectrum has typically been the bottleneck of dense WiFi networks, but the opening of the 6 GHz band has enormous potential for performance increase. This performance is dependent on client adoption of the new spectrum, not just infrastructure. We'll look at data indicating the need for additional spectrum and the roadblocks to adopting it.

WiFi is the main way that endpoints connect to campus networks, and dependence on these networks continues to increase for classroom and university operations. Latency-sensitive applications such as real-time voice and video are now integrated into classroom settings, and large venues are increasingly dependent on WiFi for student and fan engagement. These settings can be challenging due to dense client counts and channel re-use, and is compounded by the diversity of BYOD clients. Even with this understanding, WiFi is disproportionately blamed for disruptions, but it can be difficult to measure the state of current designs. We want to address these questions: How often do classrooms have high channel utilization? What is the impact of high channel utilization? Are current wireless designs adequate for modern use cases? How many WiFi devices does each person have? What is the impact of implementing 6 GHz infrastructure? What are the challenges of 6 GHz designs? What are the challenges of 6 GHz client adoption? How are visitor networks affected by this? We will review data from a project that attempted to answer some of these questions. (https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/10917/) Additionally, we will share observations from large venues with WiFi, such as LaVell Edwards Stadium, Marriott Center, and the BYU campus, as we have deployed 6 GHz infrastructure.

Many school IT teams rely on powerful scripting tools like GAM, but these often introduce security risks, limited visibility, and steep learning curves. In this session, you’ll learn how to replace traditional script-based workflows with secure, user-friendly AI-powered tools that anyone can use. We’ll walk through real-world examples (Chromebook management, web filtering analysis, and identity lookups) and show how to safely expose administrative capabilities through guided interfaces. Attendees will leave with practical patterns for building scalable, auditable, and secure automation tools their teams can trust.

This presentation outlines best practices and a structured troubleshooting framework for solving elusive Wi-Fi issues. Learn to categorize problems into connectivity, mobility, and performance, and use advanced analytics to effectively diagnose and resolve common user complaints like "slow network" or "dropped calls."

Network administrators constantly face user complaints blaming "Wi-Fi" for every issue. This session details an effective, six-step troubleshooting framework, from problem identification to final resolution. We will dive into essential infrastructure best practices, including proper cell sizing and managing legacy data rates. Furthermore, attendees will learn to categorize Wi-Fi problems—Connectivity, Mobility, and Performance—and gain actionable insights on interpreting common user reports to quickly pinpoint and eliminate the true root cause.

This applicant‑focused session covers FY2026 E‑Rate application updates, current guidance, and helpful resources, with a look ahead to FY2027 & FY2028 planning (New Bidding Portal intro), UETN consortium readiness, and potential use of ESMC. Don’t know what ESMC is? Drop in and find out.

The E‑Rate landscape continues to evolve, sometimes as quickly as the weather in Utah. This session will provide timely updates on the current status of FY2026 E‑Rate applications while looking ahead to what applicants can expect as they prepare for FY2027. Attendees will be introduced to emerging resources, tools, and guidance designed to support Utah E‑Rate applicants through the upcoming funding year. We will review recent news, policy developments, and noteworthy events impacting the E‑Rate program, with a focus on what these changes mean in practical terms for schools and libraries. The presentation will also include a status update on the UETN E‑Rate Consortium, highlighting current preparations and strategic considerations for FY2027. Time permitting, we will explore anticipated or potential use of ESMC in the FY2027 application process and discuss best practices for adapting to ongoing program changes. Because E‑Rate guidance and timelines can shift, this session is designed to be responsive and current, ensuring participants walk away with the most relevant information available at the time of the Summit.

The meeting is tailored to the needs of UETN advocates and service owners as we discuss the procurement phase coming in late summer, including UETN policies and how understanding them will lead to better stakeholder support.

Audience type: UETN Advocacy team and UETN service owners

UETN Advocates Meeting will include updates, training (topic pending), and core service updates.

The Utah Office of AI Policy presents its agenda on establishing trust and safety via regulation while fostering innovation through regulatory relief for AI in healthcare.

The Utah Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy (OAIP) represents a pioneering state-level initiative designed to balance innovation facilitation with responsible AI governance in regulated industries. Established within Utah's Department of Commerce, the Office operates under a mandate to develop evidence-based policy frameworks that promote technological advancement while safeguarding public health and consumer safety. The Office's approach to policy research emphasizes stakeholder engagement, scientific rigor, and iterative policy development. Following its 2025 agenda on AI in mental health counseling, the Office’s priorities for 2026 include a proactive agenda to systematically address critical questions regarding AI implementation in various healthcare settings, with particular attention to clinical decision support systems, remote healthcare services, transparency, and patient safety protocols. The Office's regulatory mitigation program represents a comprehensive approach to fostering AI innovation in healthcare through its Utah AI sandbox initiative, which provides regulatory relief for qualifying AI healthcare products. The application and review process includes initial expert and stakeholder consultation. The review process incorporates multiple assessment dimensions, including clinical safety evaluation, regulatory compliance analysis, data protection verification, and public health impact assessment. The presentation includes a walkthrough of recent successful sandbox applications for AI-in-healthcare products and services. The integration of AI technologies and telehealth practice presents transformative opportunities for healthcare delivery. For example, innovations can include various forms of comprehensive clinical decision support, autonomous AI decision making for a carefully scoped selection of healthcare services, and integrations with wearable fitness and wellness trackers. However, these technological advances also introduce complex challenges regarding data privacy, patient and provider transparency, and clinical liability. The successful integration of AI in telehealth requires careful consideration of technical and ethical dimensions alongside appropriate regulatory oversight. The 30-minute presentation will be followed by a 30-minute discussion during which the audience is invited to share their perspectives on how AI can contribute to expand remote-healthcare services in Utah safely and beneficially in collaboration with existing healthcare systems in the State. Dr. Alice Schwarze joined OAIP as Head of Research in 2024. She received a PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Oxford in 2019. Prior to joining the Utah AI policy office, she worked as a researcher and lecturer at UCLA, the University of Washington, and Dartmouth College, covering topics from computational neuroscience, data science for public health, and the mathematical foundations of artificial intelligence. In her current role, Dr. Schwarze leads the Office's research efforts that underlie the Office's issued guidance letters, policy recommendations, and the Office's assessment of the clinical safety and public-health benefits of AI-in-healthcare proposals in the Office's regulatory sandbox.

This session examines how Alyssa’s Law is advancing school safety beyond its intended mandate of silent panic alarms to enable broader adoption of technologies. It highlights approaches to improving first responder communications and strengthening connected safety systems in K-12 environments.

First responder communication technology in K–12 schools has gained significant momentum over the last decade, driven by a growing number of tragedies and school safety concerns. One of the most impactful recent catalysts has been Alyssa’s Law, which mandates the installation of silent panic alarms in schools to immediately alert law enforcement during an emergency. While the law’s core focus is on panic alarms, its impact extends far beyond a single piece of hardware. In many states, Alyssa’s Law has become a gateway to broader safety enhancements. In Utah, the passage of School Safety Amendments (H.B. 84) expanded requirements beyond panic alarms to include comprehensive communication capabilities, safety protocols, and additional emergency preparedness resources. This includes Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES), which ensure that police, fire, and EMS personnel can maintain reliable communication inside school buildings, even when radio signals are obstructed by walls or infrastructure. In this session, Hunter Kampmoyer, West Regional Manager at ADRF, will discuss the importance of Alyssa’s Law to the growth of public safety in schools, as well as present a Mountain West-based case study that walks attendees through different approaches to deploying ERCES in school, and how the system can double as an important backup to other connected school safety measures currently running on WiFi, including those required within H.B. 84.

With the undisputed dependency on Wi-Fi connectivity on our campuses, there is an imminent need for proper tools to design and identify problems in our networks. I will cover what is available now and the best solutions.

 I will be explaining the best approaches to designing and troubleshooting Wi-Fi with the different tools available in the market now. I will have the tools and gear in the class to present the audience with some live demos and allow hands-on. Temporary licenses to some of these tools will be available.