Call for Proposals

Proposal Submission Guidelines

• Session Formats

  Sessions will be 10*, 30, 45**, 60, or 75 minutes in length.

  *HEDs Up sessions are the only format with 10-minute presentations.

  **45-minute sessions are an option for the Annual Forum for Open Learning and ePortfolios only.

  • “HEDs UP” sessions include 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, compelling research, or “lessons learned.” HEDs Up presentations should be provocative, challenging, entertaining, and above all, interesting.
  • Discussion sessions explore current work, recent findings, or new perspectives and allow ample time for discussion with or among audience members.
  • Panel presentations follow a traditional format with a presentation(s) followed by discussion among the speakers and with the audience.
  • Research sessions present findings, works in progress, or new methodologies pertaining to the meeting themes.
  • Roundtable discussions provide opportunities for participants to share successful strategies and examples of effective academic and institutional leadership and/or change at all levels. For these informal discussions, participants are welcome either to rotate among several discussion topics or to focus on one only.
  • Seminar sessions are active-learning sessions—limited to 25 participants each—that focus on topics currently being discussed and debated within higher education. Seminar leaders pose provocative questions and introduce activities that engage participants in workshop-style activities.

• Writing a Strong Proposal

  The proposal process is highly competitive. Priority will be given to proposals that

  • draw on the work of multiple institutions, of consortia, or of campus-community partnerships;
  • reflect diverse disciplinary or programmatic perspectives;
  • reflect the pluralism of campus communities and include presenters who bring diverse perspectives and life experiences;
  • demonstrate work that has been proven effective and has advanced well beyond the planning stage;
  • highlight current work, recent findings, fresh viewpoints and curricular or institutional innovations;
  • illustrate the perspectives of various organizational roles (e.g., faculty members, department chairs, deans, provosts);
  • address the challenges and obstacles encountered—not just the successes.

  Sessions should explicitly address and encourage translation or adaptation to other institutional or professional settings. “Show and tell” submissions that have little or no applicability to other institutions will not be accepted. Please consider the number of panelists carefully to ensure adequate time for dialogue.

  Proposals that refer to the presentation as “this paper” will not be accepted. Presenters who read papers will not be considered for future sessions. Anyone listed in the proposal as a presenter will be expected to attend and present at the meeting.

• Annual Forum on Open Learning and ePortfolios

  In addition to regular session proposals that focus on the use of ePortfolios, AAC&U also seeks proposals for the daylong virtual Forum on Open Learning and ePortfolios, which will take place on Monday, January 24, 2022. You will be able to indicate on the online form whether you are submitting your proposal for the Annual Meeting proper or for the Forum.
  

• Information to Include when Submitting a Proposal

  Proposal Abstract (Max 400 words)
  The abstract should describe the content and significance of the session and its format, how the session relates to the theme of the meeting, and how the audience will be engaged. Be sure to include new information, examples of innovation, and proven results.

  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.

  Expected Learning Outcomes (Max 75 words)
  Describe or list the outcomes with which you hope the audience members will leave the session (i.e., the “takeaways”).

  Hybrid Option for Presentation
  Indicate whether you are proposing a session for the in-person or virtual meeting format. Please note that all co-presenters must present in the same format. It is not possible to combine formats for presentations.

• How to Submit a Proposal

  The Call for Proposals is now closed. The submission deadline was by Monday, July 26, 2021. Decisions regarding proposals were sent out in late September. If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting please contact [email protected].
  

• Deadline

  The Call for Proposals is now closed. The submission deadline was by Monday, July 26, 2021.

  Proposal Notification

  You should have been notified via email in late September 2021 regarding the status of your proposal.

  Registration Fees

  All presenters are responsible for paying the appropriate registration fees. Please be sure all presenters submitted in your proposal have this information. Registration is open and available online. Register now.
  

Meeting Tracks

• Addressing Racialized Practices

  Sessions in this track will focus on identifying and overcoming practices that perpetuate privilege and bias in curricular and cocurricular settings and on ways to build faculty, staff, and student capacity to address historical and contemporary racial issues. Sessions will also focus on campus-community partnerships that seek to break down racial hierarchies and dismantle the belief in a hierarchy of human value as well as on the role of institutional leaders in upholding institutional values, missions, and goals by addressing racism within higher education.
  

• Curricular and Pedagogical Innovation

  Sessions in the track will focus on innovative and equitable teaching, learning, and assessment practices and on professional development strategies that prepare faculty to apply these practices in learning environments of various kinds. Sessions will also focus on the use of affordable and open educational resources (OER), ePortfolios, and other digital pedagogies as well as on general education pathways at and between two-year and four-year institutions.
  

• Equity and Student Success

  Sessions in this track will focus on reimagining or revitalizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success efforts to address existing and emerging student needs and for strengthening institutional capacity and cross-division collaboration to achieve equity and student success goals. Sessions will also focus on innovative and equitable models of educational design (e.g., high-impact practices and guided pathways) that embrace the diversity of student identities and promote student learning and engagement.
  

• Global and Civic Learning

  Sessions in this track will focus on innovative models for fostering integrative global and civic learning across majors and disciplines and for facilitating global learning for all students through equitable and ethical engagement with local and global communities. Sessions will also focus on the case for civic learning in a time of political and cultural polarization and amid global concerns about the fragility of democracy.
  

• Liberal Education and Democracy

  Sessions in this track will focus on making the case to campus and community stakeholders—and beyond—that, in a democratic society and an increasingly global economy, a liberal education is an essential form of preparation for work, life, and citizenship. Sessions will also focus on the inextricable links between the knowledge and skills developed through a liberal education and the civic capacities required to strengthen and sustain democracy.
  

• Undergraduate STEM Reform

  Sessions in this track will focus on the integration of STEM disciplines with the arts and humanities and the exploration of global issues and challenges through STEM curricula.
  

• Whole-Person Development and Campus Well-being

  Sessions in this track will focus on whole-person development across the curriculum and cocurriculum and on how high-impact practices, including civic and career-based experiences, can contribute to the cultivation of a growth mindset in students. Sessions will also focus on innovative practices for advancing an institutional commitment to wellness for the entire campus community (students, faculty, and staff) and for promoting well-being, belonging, and flourishing.