Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
By Iain Oldman – Copywriter, Content Marketing, Internet2
Every spring, identity and access management (IAM) professionals from all corners of the world gather online to share ideas and expertise at InCommon BaseCAMP.
The weeklong virtual IAM event presents a unique opportunity for IAM practitioners to learn new skills, solve problems unique to research and higher education (R&E) institutions, and network with their colleagues.
Since 2019, hundreds of IAM professionals have come to BaseCAMP to learn and connect with the community. BaseCAMP sets itself apart from other learning opportunities because of its focus on R&E solutions and its networking opportunities, according to previous attendees.
Learn new IAM skills and engage with your peers at BaseCAMP 2025.
Enroll TodayAhead of BaseCAMP 2025, held this year from June 2-6, we rounded up testimonials from former BaseCAMPers. Here is what they had to say about the most impactful benefits gained from attending the annual event:
Build Foundational IAM Knowledge
BaseCAMP provides one of the best opportunities to learn the fundamentals of IAM, according to Stacey Poertner, an IAM role engineer and business analyst at Virginia Tech.
Poertner came to BaseCAMP with a working knowledge of IAM solutions, but the training event helped expand her knowledge base.
“I’m not necessarily new to this, but I still had a lot of questions and wanted to know more information in regards to identity management,” Poertner said. “I wanted to learn about InCommon, Internet2, and anything related to IAM. It definitely met those expectations because of the range of sessions offered.”
This foundational IAM knowledge is essential for anyone who works with identity solutions. Since its inception, BaseCAMP has welcomed people from across the IAM landscape, from IAM developers and application developers to program managers and business analysts.
Finding IAM Solutions for R&E — By R&E
IAM experts from across R&E lead the sessions throughout the week at BaseCAMP. As a result, the content covers topics wholly unique to universities and research institutions.
Clay Cooper, an identity and access management platform engineer at the Rochester Institute of Technology, attended BaseCAMP with his university’s Identity team. Because BaseCAMP is attended and led by other IAM practitioners in R&E, Cooper said he and his team held in-depth conversations with other institutions about IAM-related issues they were dealing with.
“Everybody has a lot of the same challenges and problems they need to solve,” Cooper said. “Having those daily conversations at BaseCAMP really solidified the fact that we’re not out there alone. These may be unique problems to higher education, but they’re not unique to my institution.”
Unique Networking Opportunities at InCommon BaseCAMP
BaseCAMP convenes IAM professionals from across the world — and across different levels of experience — into one week-long virtual event.
Ben Rappleyea, the manager of the Office of Identity and Access Management at Illinois State University, took advantage of the opportunity to connect with and learn from peers.
“Being a part of BaseCAMP impacted me professionally by getting me into a network of users and administrators that have similar goals and environments that are willing to talk about what they do on a daily basis,” Rappleyea said.
At BaseCAMP, Rappleyea used his time to glean information about identity solutions from other R&E professionals. That is an opportunity Rappleyea said is unique to BaseCAMP.
“The goal of BaseCAMP is to engage, network, and learn from people who have been where you are so you have the knowledge and motivation to move forward — and I haven’t found that anywhere else,” Rappleyea said.
IAM Programming for All Skill Levels
IT experts and IAM practitioners from across R&E design the programming for BaseCAMP. Because of that, many previous attendees report the event is valuable for people at any stage of their career.
From absolute beginners to experienced teams, the diversity of conversations at BaseCAMP ensures that all attendees will gain new knowledge throughout the week.
“BaseCAMP is for everyone,” said Kathy Wright, a systems programmer/developer at Clemson University. “If you are new to this space, regardless of whether you are an operator, a manager, or in leadership at your university, you will gain insight.”
Wright further noted that the format of BaseCAMP makes it a valuable event for beginners to attend.
As BaseCAMP moves from sessions about IAM fundamentals to interactive conversations covering specific topics about IAM solutions, beginners have opportunities to have direct conversations with experienced IAM practitioners. According to Wright, those interactions can be invaluable.
“You go from a large group of people down to smaller and smaller groups, so you can make one-on-one contact with speakers and ask questions relevant to your own experiences,” Wright said.
Learn and Connect at InCommon Basecamp 2025
No matter your role in solving your institution’s IAM challenges, InCommon BaseCAMP has content and learning opportunities for you. Learn from other people in IAM who have been in your shoes — or are looking for the same solutions.
Learn more about BaseCAMP on the InCommon Academy website and enroll for the event today.
Do you have questions about whether BaseCAMP is right for you or your team? The InCommon Academy team is always happy to talk! Contact cbroomfield@incommon.edu with your inquiries.
