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2025 NASPA Annual Conference

Call for Programs

NASPA will celebrate its 108th annual gathering in Kansas City, Missouri. The Conference Leadership Committee looks forward to reading your program proposals for #NASPA26!

Pre-conference Workshop Submission Timeline

Pre-conference Workshop proposals have an earlier submission deadline and review period. Proposals for Pre-conference Workshops are due on Wednesday, July 16 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. Program decisions will be shared in mid-August.

Learn more about submitting a Pre-conference Workshop here.

Main Submission Timeline

The call for programs for General Interest Sessions and all other program types will be open through the summer, with proposals due on Wednesday, September 3 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. No submissions will be accepted after that date. Program decisions will be shared in October/early November. 

To request assistance with a program submission, please contact NASPA at [email protected].

Call for Reviewers

NASPA is also seeking reviewers to evaluate program proposals. Submissions will be available to review from September 10-24. Consider contributing your experience and expertise to the program review process! 

Please note that you can submit a proposal and serve as a reviewer; you will not be assigned to review your own program.

#NASPA26 Content and Focus Areas

From exploration how to reduce barriers for students while partnering across divisions and departments. We strongly encourage submissions that dive into the complexities of JEDI work, navigating federal and state legislation, and how student affairs professionals can once again find joy and purpose in their roles, ensuring student, staff and institutional success.

Conference Focus Areas

The Conference Leadership Committee encourages a critical reflection of the relevance of the profession: How does student affairs stay relevant in a shifting higher education landscape? What do we value? How can student affairs professionals align with leadership, faculty, staff, and students to maximize student success and community impact?

  • Well-being and Healthy Excellence in Student Affairs
  • Changing the Student Affairs Profession
  • Sustaining and Celebrating the Profession

The specific prompts for each core content area are listed under the questions below.

Please ensure that you read the prompts in full and select the question to which your program relates. Conference proposals will be reviewed and scored based on your responses.

Click on the plus signs below to expand the conference core content areas and view the questions under each area. These are an important part of your submission(s).

  • Elevating Student Affairs: Embracing Our Impact

    Student affairs educators must leverage technology and data, in addition to understanding the return on investment (ROI) in our work, to elevate the profession, ensure outcomes are data-informed, and drive change that centers student success. 

    • Redefining the Profession
    • Leveraging Data and Technology
    • Operational Excellence in Student Affairs
    • Navigating Workforce and Economic Trends
    • The Future of Work in Student Affairs
  • Focusing on People: The Heart of the Student Affairs Profession

    Student affairs is more than a profession - it is a career shaped by individuals from diverse backgrounds who bring unique perspectives at every stage of their journey. From entry-level professionals to faculty to senior-level practitioners, each contributes to the field's evolving identity. Equally important is celebrating the often-unsung contributions of middle managers—our directors and supervisors—who shape the future of student affairs through mentorship and innovation. 

    • Understanding Entry-level Professionals
    • Supervision Beyond Personality Assessments
    • Celebrating Leadership and Evidence-based Practices
    • Restoring Purpose and Sustained Joy in the Work
    • Tools for Professional Growth
  • Pathways to Student Success: Thriving in Higher Education

    As the landscape of higher education evolves, institutions are tasked with fostering student success amidst complex challenges. Student affairs professionals play a critical role in navigating crises, mental health needs, student goals, and institutional priorities, all while supporting the staff who are essential to student success. This focus area invites participants to think critically about the principles guiding this work, from grant funding and public-private partnerships to breaking down systemic barriers and supporting the diverse, often under-discussed identities that shape student experiences.

    • Supporting Students and Staff
    • Barriers to Success
    • Lifelong Learning for Professionals
    • Diversifying the Student Affairs Pipeline
    • Exploring Unique Identities Connected to Success

NASPA Guiding Principles

In addition to the core content above, the Conference Leadership Committee invites you to connect your program to one of the NASPA Guiding Principles below:

  • Integrity

    Committed to high moral principles exhibiting authentic, honest, just, and ethical behavior.

  • Inclusion

    Seeking ways to ensure access, voice, acknowledgement, opportunity, and participation at all levels.

  • Inquiry

    Supporting research and scholarship to add to the knowledge base of the profession and ensure that data informs practice.

  • Innovation

    Continuously seeking improvement through new and creative approaches.

Submission Guidelines

Click the Call for Programs button at the bottom of this page to log in and begin your program submission. You will be prompted to log in with your NASPA account credentials. 

Both NASPA members and non-members* may submit programs to the NASPA Annual Conference. There are several program types and each has its own guidelines and review process. More details about each program type will be available to review as you move through the submission process. You can submit more than one program type, but make sure the description matches the delivery! All programs should include the following:

  1. New and fresh contributions to the NASPA Annual Conference focus areas and/or student affairs profession
  2. Engaging program format that involves the audience and stimulates discussion
  3. Conceptually strong foundation, well-written, with clearly stated outcomes and appropriately documented research and/or experience
  4. Qualified presenters with expertise in the subject matter
*Presenter Membership and Registration Requirements: Should your program be accepted, the coordinating presenter must become a member of the Association and register for the event in order to present. All presenters of accepted programs, including supporting presenters, must be registered for the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference.

Submission Criteria

Your proposal will be evaluated by approximately three to four program reviewers using the following five standards:

  1. Contribution to the NASPA Annual Conference focus areas
  2. Clearly stated purpose and objectives
  3. Engaging program format that involves the audience and stimulates discussion
  4. Conceptually strong foundation with appropriate documented research and/or experience
  5. Qualified presenters with expertise in the subject matter
Looking for more tips on writing an effective proposal?

Check out our guidelines and view sample proposals!

Submit a Program
Submit a Program

Meeting Spaces

The 2026 NASPA Annual Conference also provides an opportunity for NASPA Constituent Groups, institutions, and other organizations to host networking and social receptions or planning meetings. Requests for meeting or reception space may be submitted through the main program submission portal.

Submit a Meeting or Reception Request