Developing and Submitting a Proposal

Proposal submissions require:

• Track

  1. Advancing Public Purposes
     This track will explore the public purposes of higher education and how colleges and universities can advance them by focusing on the intersection of students’ career preparation; civic, community, and global engagement; and holistic well-being.
  2. Arguing with Evidence
     With a focus on policy drivers of curricular and pedagogical innovation at the institutional, state, and system levels, this track will explore how evidence gathered through authentic assessment and evaluation can be leveraged to demonstrate the multiple values of the student educational experience—in the classroom and across the curriculum and cocurriculum.
  3. Bridging Science and Humanity
     This track will explore how the convergence of problem-solving approaches across the sciences, arts, and humanities can yield innovative solutions to complex and unpredictable societal problems, while also deepening student competency in, and capacity for, scientific learning and global engagement.
  4. Educating for a Democracy in Question
     Amid growing threats to democracy in the US and globally, and in the aftermath of the 2024 elections, this track will focus on the integral relationship between higher education and democracy and on the role colleges and universities can play in helping create and enact a more aspirational, equitable, and inclusive vision of democracy.
  5. Leveraging Digital Innovation
     With emphasis on artificial intelligence, this track will examine how new and emerging technologies can support student learning and success goals and advance institutional priorities.
  6. Transforming Policies and Practices to Support Student Success
     Amid ongoing efforts to dismantle DEI, this track will focus on how to examine, build, and sustain institutional policies and practices that create and strengthen campus cultures of inclusion and belonging by prioritizing educational equity and student success.

• Session Format

  Sessions will be 10*, 30, 60, or 75 minutes in length.

  • "HEDs UP" Sessions*
    • Multiple 10-minute presentations within a one-hour session, modeled on the format of TED Talks. Each presentation should focus on an innovative project or program, on compelling research, or on “lessons learned.” HEDs Up presentations should be provocative, challenging, entertaining, and, above all, engaging.
      *HEDs Up sessions are the only format with 10-minute presentations.
  • Discussion Sessions
    • Explore current work, recent findings, or new perspectives and allow at least 20 minutes for discussion.
  • Panel Presentations
    • Follow a traditional format that allows for conversation with up to five panelists on a topic relevant to a meeting track; panelists should offer different perspectives on the topic (e.g., institutional, professional role, programmatic, curricular, cocurricular, disciplinary).
  • Research Sessions
    • Present findings, works in progress, or new methodologies relevant to the meeting themes or tracks.
  • Roundtable Discussions
    • Facilitate an informal discussion around your effective practices or programs and provide opportunities for attendees to share their successful strategies, questions, and concerns. For these discussions, attendees are welcome to rotate among several discussion topics or to focus on one only.
  • Seminar Sessions
    • Active-learning sessions—limited to 25 attendees each—provide an interactive environment within which to focus on topics currently being discussed and debated within higher education. Seminar leaders pose provocative questions and introduce activities that engage attendees in workshop-style activities.

• Proposal Abstract (Max 400 words)

  The abstract should describe the content and significance of the session and its format and how the audience will be engaged. Be sure to include new information, examples of innovation, and proven results. Please format your abstract into the following sections:

  • Anticipated learning outcomes for participants
  • Background and evidence of the effectiveness of the work being presented
  • Takeaways from your session that are applicable to attendees
  • Plan for participant interaction for Discussion Sessions
  • For Discussion Sessions, please provide the guiding questions for the discussion.
    

• Anticipated Learning Outcomes for Participants (Max 200 words)

  Include up to four learning outcomes

• Background and Evidence of the Effectiveness of the Work Being Presented (Max 250 words)

  Please elaborate on the background and evidence of the work being presented. If your proposal pertains to a project, program, course, or other feature for which there is material on the Web, please provide the URL here.

• Plan for Participant Interaction (Max 250 words)

  For discussion, panel, and roundtable sessions, please provide the guiding questions for the discussion portion of your proposed session or specify how you would facilitate interaction and engagement during the proposed session.

  For Seminar Sessions, please provide an outline of the session structure.

• Brief Description (Max 150 words)

  Provide a short description to be used in promotional materials and in both the meeting program and the mobile app. Please remember that—should your proposal be accepted—a participant’s decision to attend your session will be based, in large part, on this description. It should be accurate and as compelling as possible.

• Session Takeaways (Max 75 words)

  Describe specific examples that attendees would take away from this session and apply or use at their institutions.

A Special Note Regarding Proposals from Non-Campus Practitioners

• Call for Proposals

  Sessions submitted via the call for proposals will be reviewed by the program director and the annual meeting planning committee. If accepted, session presenters are responsible for covering their own annual meeting registration fees, travel expenses, etc. There are no additional fees associated with this session type.

• Sponsored Sessions

  Sessions submitted via the AAC&U Office of Advancement ([email protected]) are considered sponsored sessions and require executive approval. Please note that this is a paid sponsorship option. Sponsored session presenters are required to adhere to all meeting guidelines regarding session format and expectations.