Get Hands-On with Slate.
Launchpad is a new in-person learning experience designed to help Slate users build practical skills through Technolutions led instruction, hands-on practice and real-world application.
Learning That Doesn’t Stop at the Lesson.
These in-person, hands-on courses give you the opportunity to explore Slate concepts, apply what you learn, and build practical skills along the way. Throughout each course, you’ll work directly in Slate, practice new concepts, and leave with resources you can continue using when you return home.
Launchpad is designed around a few core principles:
Hands-on practice: Spend meaningful time working directly in Slate rather than only watching demonstrations.
Focused learning: Dive into a specific area of Slate during a concentrated course experience.
Practical application: Explore approaches and best practices you can adapt to your institution.
Reusable resources: Leave with course materials and resources you can reference after you return home.
Connection: Learn alongside other Slate users and Technolutions staff.
Built for Slate Professionals
Launchpad is designed for Slate users who want to build a stronger foundation in the areas of Slate they work with.
Our foundational courses can be especially valuable for newer Slate users, Database Captains and system administrators, functional Slate users taking on new responsibilities, or experienced users who want to strengthen their understanding of core functionality and best practices.
Courses are designed for the broader Slate community, with examples and applications relevant across;
Admissions & Enrollment
Build skills that support recruitment, application management enrollment, and more.
Student Success
Explore concepts that can support student engagement, communication, and success.
Advancement
Develop skills applicable to alumni engagement, fundraising, and advancement operations.
You don't need to be brand new to Slate to benefit from Launchpad. Because each course focuses on a particular area of the platform, the right course depends more on your experience with that topic than on the number of years you've used Slate.
Explore Our Foundational Courses
For Fall 2026, Launchpad begins with four foundational courses focused on areas that support work throughout Slate.
Querying & Data Movement
Build a strong foundation for finding, understanding, and working with data in Slate. Explore the tools and approaches that help you retrieve the information you need and move data effectively into, out of, and throughout Slate.
You'll explore:
Querying fundamentals and best practices
Working with exports, filters, and the data that drive them
Use cases for more advanced Query capabilities
Approaches to importing and exporting data
Event Management
Build a foundation for creating and managing events in Slate, from event setup and registration through communications and attendee management. Explore approaches that can support a variety of event experiences across the Slate lifecycle.
You'll explore:
Event structure and configuration
Registration forms and attendee management
Event communications
Approaches for building maintainable event processes
Communications in Slate: Building the Foundations
Build a strong foundation for working with communications in Slate. Learn how to build and personalize mailings, create recipient lists, configure automated campaigns, and evaluate communication performance while exploring the tools and channels available for communicating in Slate.
You'll explore:
Building and personalizing communications
Recipient lists and audience selection
Automated campaigns and communication preferences
Testing, evaluating, and maintaining communications
Data Structures in Slate
Develop a stronger understanding of how information is structured and connected in Slate. Explore foundational concepts that can help you make thoughtful decisions about how your institution stores, organizes, and works with data.
You'll explore:
Structure concepts including custom datasets and entities
Configuration options for fields, prompts and the use of translation codes
Varied approaches to organizing institutional data
Structures that support reliable, maintainable processes
What Does Hands-On Learning Look Like?
Launchpad is designed to be interactive.
Throughout your course, instructors will introduce concepts, demonstrate approaches, and then give you opportunities to put what you've learned into practice. You'll work directly in Slate, complete guided exercises, explore realistic scenarios, and have time to ask questions along the way.
Instead of separating instruction from practice, Launchpad moves between the two throughout the experience. You'll learn a concept, see how it works, try it yourself, and build on it as the course progresses.
That means you won't spend your time simply taking notes about things you want to try later – you'll have dedicated time to try them while you're here.
Leave Ready to Put Slate to Work.
Your Launchpad experience doesn’t end when the course does.
After completing a course, you’ll leave with:
Greater confidence working with the topics covered in your course
Hands-on experience applying what you've learned in Slate
Approaches and best practices you can adapt to your institution
Course materials, resources, and a digital Course Companion you can continue accessing after your course
New ideas and perspectives from learning alongside other members of the Slate community
Join Us
Launchpad courses are held in New Haven, Connecticut, home of Technolutions.
Courses take place at Union League, located in downtown New Haven near hotels, restaurants, and transportation options. Breakfast and lunch are provided during the Launchpad experience. Attendees are responsible for their own travel and lodging. Registered attendees will receive additional information to help plan their visit, including arrival, travel, and hotel information.
Choose Your Course
Each course is offered twice this fall. Select the course and date that works best for you.
Querying & Data Movement
Communications in Slate: Building the Foundations
Event Management
Data Structures in Slate
Course
HOTELS
Several hotels are conveniently located in downtown New Haven:
The Study at Yale — Use code TECHNO for 20% off
Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale - Use code: 45380439987
October 7-8 & December 10-11
October 13-14 & November 5-6
October 20-21 & November 18-19
October 27-28 & December 3-4
Dates
You can view course details and register by accessing the Resource Center from your Slate database and visiting the Launchpad tab.
TRAVEL
New Haven is accessible by air, train, and car:
Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) — Located in New Haven and serviced by Avelo Airlines
Bradley International Airport (BDL) — Serviced by major carriers
New York City airports (LGA and JFK) — New Haven is also accessible from the major New York City airports
New Haven Union Station — Amtrak and Metro-North service make New Haven easily accessible by train
Planning Your Launchpad Experience
Ready to Launch Your Slate Skills?
Launchpad course details and registration are available through the Resource Center, which can be accessed via your Slate database.
Choose the course and date that work best for you, review the course information, and complete your registration. Once registered, you'll receive additional information from the Client Learning team to help you prepare for your visit to New Haven.
Take what you learn beyond the classroom. Build practical skills, put Slate into practice, and bring new possibilities back to your institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Launchpad is Technolutions' in-person learning experience for Slate users. Courses combine guided instruction with hands-on practice in Slate and are designed to help attendees build knowledge, skills, and confidence around specific areas of the platform.
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Launchpad is designed for Slate users who want to strengthen their knowledge of a particular topic. Foundational courses may be especially useful for newer Slate users, Database Captains and system administrators, functional users taking on new responsibilities, or experienced users who want to strengthen their understanding of core functionality and best practices.
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Some familiarity with Slate will help you get the most from the experience, but foundational Launchpad courses are designed to build knowledge from the fundamentals. Any specific prerequisites or recommended preparation should be included with the individual course description.
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Choose the course that most closely aligns with the area of Slate you work with – or want to better understand. Because courses focus on specific areas of Slate, you can attend the courses most relevant to your role and build your knowledge over time.
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Learning Lab provides self-paced online learning that you can complete on your own schedule. Launchpad is a live, in-person experience built around guided instruction, hands-on practice, and interaction with Technolutions staff and other Slate users.
The two can complement one another: Learning Lab provides flexible opportunities to learn independently, while Launchpad gives you dedicated time to explore a topic and put what you're learning into practice alongside others.
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Yes. Launchpad is an in-person learning experience held in New Haven, Connecticut.
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Our Fall 2026 foundational Launchpad courses take place over two days.
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Registration includes the Launchpad course experience, course materials and resources, and breakfast and lunch during the course.
Have questions? We’ve got you covered.
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Fall 2026 Launchpad courses are held at Union League, 1032 Chapel Street, in downtown New Haven, Connecticut.
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Bring a laptop and charger. Because Launchpad is hands-on, you'll work directly in Slate throughout your course. Any additional preparation or access requirements will be shared with you before your course.
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Yes. Hands-on practice is a central part of the Launchpad experience. You'll have opportunities throughout your course to work directly in Slate as you explore and apply the concepts being taught.
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Yes. You'll have access to a Course Companion containing course materials and resources that you can continue referencing after your Launchpad experience.
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Yes. Multiple Slate users from the same institution may register for Launchpad courses, subject to course availability.
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Breakfast and lunch are provided as part of the Launchpad experience. Travel and lodging are not included, and attendees are responsible for making their own arrangements. Additional travel and hotel information will be provided to registered attendees.
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Fall 2026 Launchpad courses cost $495 per attendee.
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Launchpad courses are designed for the broader Slate community. Our foundational courses explore concepts and functionality that can be applied across Admission, Student Success, and Advancement, with examples that reflect work across the Slate lifecycle.
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Yes! Our Fall 2026 courses begin with foundational topics, with additional Launchpad courses and learning opportunities to come. As the program grows, we’ll continue using feedback from the Slate community to help shape future topics and course levels.