Professional Development
At Xcalibur, we believe professional learning should be practical, engaging, and directly applicable to the work of college access professionals. Whether your team prefers in-person learning, asynchronous and self-paced learning, or conferences, Xcalibur has what you need to grow your skills!
In-Person Skill-Building Workshops
Xcalibur’s Skill-Building Workshops are designed to supercharge your data skills! From Microsoft Excel skills to using National Student Clearinghouse data, in-person Skill-Building Workshops equip college access professionals to make better, data-informed decisions.
Hands-on, engaging format — not just “sit and get,” but interactive sessions where participants practice as they learn.
Courses built for college access data — our instructors combine technical Excel expertise with deep experience working with college access program data.
In-person Skill-Building Workshops are custom-built for grant staff, so contact us for more information!
“This was not just a sit-and-get workshop! We were engaged in the learning process and using the knowledge as we learned it.”
-Skill-Building Workshop Participant
Asynchronous Skill-Building Workshops
Focused on building Microsoft Excel skills, Xcalibur’s Asynchronous Skill-Building Workshops are perfect for a range of learners from those who are just Getting Started through learners who are Excel-ing!
Courses are flexible and affordable, and the asynchronous format means you can learn at your own pace anytime, anywhere!
For $50 per course, learners get lifetime access to the content!
For more information about courses and bundles, click here.
Every two years, Xcalibur convenes college access professionals from across the country for a national professional development conference. The conference has been held in 2019, 2022, and 2024, with the next event scheduled for 2026.
The conference provides:
National networking with fellow GEAR UP and college access practitioners.
In-depth sessions on data use, evaluation, and student support strategies.
Hands-on workshops led by college access and evaluation experts.
Practical takeaways that participants can immediately apply in their programs.
Whether you are building individual skills through workshops or connecting with peers at the conference, Xcalibur provides high-quality professional learning experiences that strengthen the college access field.
Xcalibur Conference
“Working with other grants was awesome, and I really appreciated all the specific ways in which you facilitated those connections. I think it can be easy to get lost in the bubble of your own grant and forget about just how different all the grants can be (which means everyone can learn a lot from each other).”
-Xcalibur Conference Participant
-
![]()
Xcalibur Conference 2019: Data Lights the Way
-
![]()
Xcalibur Conference 2019: Data Lights the Way
-
![]()
Xcalibur Conference 2022: Mapping the Way with Data
-
![]()
Xcalibur Conference 2022: Mapping the Way with Data
-
![]()
Xcalibur Conference 2024: Doing What Matters Most
-
![]()
Xcalibur Conference 2024: Doing What Matters Most
