IEEE R5 Congress 2026
March 27-29, 2026
Tenative Schedule
Friday, March 27 - Reception - Flatiron 3/4
- 5:00-5:30 PM - Networking
- 5:30-5:45 PM - Welcome Messages from R5 Director(s)
- 5:45-6:15 PM - Opening Remarks - IEEE-USA President Elect Kathy Hayashi
- 6:30 PM - Visit student work area
Note: Lite food and cash bar provided (5:00-6:30 PM) • Dinner on your own - Restaurant guide available
Saturday, March 28 - Full Day - Flatiron 3/4
Morning Session
- 7:00-8:00 AM - Breakfast - Meadows B
- 8:00-8:15 AM - Welcome - Chris Sanderson
- 8:15-8:30 AM - Introductions & Role Call
- 8:30-8:45 AM - Director's Report
- 8:45-9:00 AM - Audit Report
- 9:00-9:15 AM - Remarks - Kathleen Kramer
- 9:15-10:00 AM - Governance
- 10:00-10:15 AM - Break - Flatiron Foyer
- 10:15-10:45 AM - Elections
- 10:45-11:30 AM - Panel - Conference Planning, CEE, and Sponsorships
- 11:30-12:00 PM - Vitality – By the Numbers
- 12:00-1:00 PM - Lunch with Students - Flatiron 2
- 1:00-1:30 PM - Standards
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions (1:00-2:45 PM)
Note: Attendees select a card for each breakout time. The mission is to develop 5 best practices for each area and report Sunday morning.
Breakout 1 - Flatiron 3/4
- 1:40-2:05 Working with Student Branches
- 2:15-2:45 STEM/STEAM & Community Engagement
Breakout 2 - Meadows B
- 1:40-2:05 Recognition Programs
- 2:15-2:45 Industry Engagement
Afternoon Activities
- 2:45-3:00 PM - Break - Flatiron Foyer
- 3:00-4:00 PM - Spark Tank with VIP Judging Panel - Flatiron 3/4
-
3:30-5:30 PM - Wind Down:
The Connection: Bowling & Games
University Memorial Center | 1669 Euclid Avenue - 5:30-6:30 PM - Evening Reception - Flatiron Foyer
Banquet 6:30pm - Flatiron 1
- Welcome & Group Photo
- Foundation Presentation
- R5 Awards
- Director's Awards
- Spark Tank
- IEEE Systems Council Award - Walt Downing - 2026 Outstanding Service Award
- LMAG Awards
- MGA Regional Exemplary Student Branch Award
- 3 Minute Thesis (3 Finalists)
- Student Competition Winners
- Local Committee Recognition
- Next R5 Congress Overview
Sunday, March 29 - Final Day - Flatiron 3/4
- 7:00-8:00 AM - Breakfast
- 8:00-8:15 AM - Opening Remarks
- 8:15-8:45 AM - Mission IEEE Possible Reports
- 8:45-9:15 AM - Sections Congress Update & Recommendations
- 9:15-9:45 AM - IEEE-USA Update
- 9:45-10:00 AM - Conferences Overview
- 10:00-10:15 AM - Break
- 10:15-11:00 AM - HKN Panel
- 11:00-11:45 AM - Makerspace or STEM Activity
- 11:45 AM-12:00 PM - Closing Remarks
Student Competitions
Saturday we also bring students from our ~100 student branches together to compete in 3 Minute Thesis, Circuit Design, Cyber Challenges, Ethics, Networking, Presentation, Robotics, and Website competitions. Winners are announced during the banquet on Saturday night.
I hope to see you at the “can’t miss” IEEE volunteer event of the year for the Southwestern US. Thank you for taking the time to participate in being part of ONE IEEE and advancing technology for humanity
Christopher Sanderson, 2026 – 2027 Director, IEEE Region 5
