Strong administrative and operational practices are essential to delivering high-impact research. This interactive breakfast roundtable session will feature rotating discussions across two days, providing participants with opportunities to engage in focused conversations on key aspects of managing university transportation research centers. Each day will include a selection of roundtable topics, with discussions covering areas such as the use of AI tools to support center activities, communications and digital accessibility, reporting requirements for USDOT-funded centers, and strategies for student recruitment and outreach. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, exchange practical tools, and discuss challenges and emerging practices with peers. Designed as a collaborative forum, this session will highlight approaches that enhance efficiency, support compliance, strengthen visibility, and contribute to workforce development.

The opening session will bring together leaders from Auburn University and Alabama transportation agencies to spotlight the exciting research and innovation shaping mobility in the U.S. Southeast. They will share brief insights into emerging initiatives and collaborative efforts driving the transportation field forward. The session will also introduce the CUTC Summer Meeting, highlighting its key objectives and the opportunities ahead for engagement and discovery.

This session will define a new meeting structure designed to complement business goals with deep technical synthesis. Participants will identify high-priority R&D challenges and opportunities to bridge cross-center research gaps. The session serves as a pilot to refine a roadmap for future actionable collaborations, ensuring UTC outcomes directly inform and align with USDOT strategic research directions. The session will conclude with an open forum for additional USDOT programmatic updates and attendee inquiries.

This panel, featuring representatives from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Research Advisory Committee (AASHTO RAC) and CUTC member institutions, will explore effective strategies for how university-based transportation programs can partner with state DOTs. Panelists will share insights into state DOT priorities, decision-making processes, and opportunities for collaboration. Topics will cover a number of research-funding mechanisms including discussions of State Planning and Research (SP&R) research projects and partnering on federal opportunities including the FHWA Safe Streets for All (SS4A) and the USDOT UTC program. The discussion will highlight successful, practical approaches for building relationships, aligning research with agency needs, and advancing projects from concept to implementation. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate partnerships with state DOTs to support innovation, inform practice, and deliver real-world impact.

This keynote will explore strategies for using training, technology transfer, and technical assistance programs, including the well‑known FHWA Local Technical Assistance Program, to strengthen economic development in rural communities. The speaker will outline practical approaches to outreach, stakeholder engagement, and project transparency that contribute to successful transportation‑related safety and infrastructure initiatives. Examples from communities across Alabama’s rural agricultural regions, particularly those in distressed rural corridors, will be featured. A particular emphasis will be placed on how these efforts can align with and support broader state and national rural economic development goals.

This session will convene participants for CUTC’s official business meeting, including organizational updates and elections. Participants will also engage in a focused discussion on strategies to strengthen the visibility and impact of university transportation research centers. The conversation will explore opportunities to enhance marketing, communications, and outreach efforts to better showcase research accomplishments, partnerships, workforce development activities, and contributions to practice.

Operating a University Transportation Center (UTC) involves far more than conducting research; it also includes educating and preparing the next generation of transportation leaders, advancing technology transfer, and supporting workforce development opportunities. At the same time, UTCs must navigate federal reporting requirements that, while necessary, can often be time-consuming and complex. This session will provide an opportunity to engage with USDOT representatives and fellow UTCs to discuss experiences across all aspects of the UTC program, including reporting expectations, effective internal processes for facilitating compliance, and strategies to better support both UTCs and USDOT as we continually strive to strengthen and improve our work.

This panel discussion will explore practical strategies for strengthening the financial sustainability of university transportation centers. Panelists will share experiences and lessons learned in diversifying funding sources, building institutional support, leveraging partnerships, and aligning research portfolios with emerging opportunities across federal, state, local, industry, and philanthropic sectors. The conversation will highlight actionable approaches to developing resilient funding models that support long-term research impact, workforce development, technology transfer, and stakeholder engagement. Participants will gain insights into successful practices, common challenges, and innovative strategies for ensuring continued growth and influence in a dynamic funding environment.

Experience the spirit of Auburn with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Jordan-Hare Stadium, followed by a special presentation of the Flight of the Eagle from Auburn University’s Raptor Center. This immersive event captures the energy and pageantry of an Auburn gameday, offering a unique glimpse into one of college football’s most iconic traditions. The experience concludes with a photo opportunity to commemorate the evening. Following the tour, attendees will enjoy dinner at the stadium at the Tiger Walk Club—an opportunity to continue conversations and connect with colleagues in a memorable and distinctly local setting.

Strong administrative and operational practices are essential to delivering high-impact research. This interactive breakfast roundtable session will feature rotating discussions across two days, providing participants with opportunities to engage in focused conversations on key aspects of managing university transportation research centers. Each day will include a selection of roundtable topics, with discussions covering areas such as the use of AI tools to support center activities, communications and digital accessibility, reporting requirements for USDOT-funded centers, and strategies for student recruitment and outreach. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, exchange practical tools, and discuss challenges and emerging practices with peers. Designed as a collaborative forum, this session will highlight approaches that enhance efficiency, support compliance, strengthen visibility, and contribute to workforce development.

This panel will highlight practical approaches for embedding workforce development into the mission and activities of university transportation centers. Panelists will share examples of successful programs, partnerships, and strategies that connect research, education, and industry engagement to prepare the next generation of transportation professionals. The discussion will explore best practices for aligning workforce initiatives with center strengths, leveraging collaborations with public agencies and industry partners, and measuring impact. Participants will gain insights into models that effectively integrate students, faculty, and external stakeholders to strengthen talent pipelines and expand the real-world relevance of center activities.

Technology transfer is essential to ensuring that university transportation research leads to measurable improvements in practice, policy, and system performance. This session will explore how centers can intentionally integrate technology transfer and implementation strategies into their business plans, operational models, and performance goals. Panelists will share practical approaches for moving research project deliverables beyond publication—highlighting partnerships with public agencies and industry, deployment pathways, stakeholder engagement strategies, and mechanisms for scaling promising research outcomes. Participants will gain insights into building structured processes that support adoption, demonstrate impact, and strengthen accountability to funders and stakeholders. The discussion will emphasize actionable models that help centers translate research into implementation, reinforcing the connection between discovery, deployment, and real-world results.