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40th Annual Meeting of the Association of Deans and Directors of University Colleges and Undergraduate Studies

CALL FOR SESSION PROPOSALS

Conference Theme: "Student Success and All that Jazz"

Just as jazz thrives on the interplay of creative voices—each musician listening, adapting, and innovating in real time—student success demands the same spirit of inspired collaboration across our institutions. Faculty, advisors, support staff, and institutional leaders each bring a distinctive voice to the ensemble, and when those voices harmonize, the result is transformative for students and campuses alike.

The 40th Annual Meeting of AD&D will bring higher education professionals together in the vibrant city of New Orleans to explore innovative strategies, emerging trends, and collaborative approaches that support student learning, belonging, retention, and success. Inspired by the spirit of jazz—creativity, connection, and collaboration—this conference will offer engaging conversations, shared best practices, and opportunities to build meaningful professional networks while advancing student success initiatives across our campuses.

Whether you are composing new approaches to first-year student transitions, improvising data-informed retention strategies, or building cross-campus and industry partnerships that carry students from enrollment to career readiness, we want to hear from you.

Presenters are invited to submit proposals addressing one or more of the following suggested topics.

Setting the Stage: Readiness & Engagement

  • Collaborative retention strategies for first-year, transfer, non-traditional, and adult learners.
  • Faculty and advising training programs that foster campus-wide collaboration.
  • Universal design in hybrid and flexible learning environments, including ADA compliance.

Finding the Groove: Real-Time Support & Innovation

  • Predictive analytics and technology-driven approaches to student success.
  • AI-enhanced advising, early alert systems, and proactive outreach strategies.
  • Mental health, wellness, and basic needs support systems that keep students engaged and on track.

The Encore: Returners, Resilience & Nontraditional Paths

  • Supporting stop-out and returning students on their pathways to completion.
  • Industry-education partnerships, co-ops, and microcredentials that expand student opportunity.
  • Peer-to-peer models and community-building initiatives that increase engagement and belonging.

Jamming Together: Institutional Collaboration & Leadership

  • Cross-divisional and cross-institutional partnerships that advance student success.
  • Leadership strategies for building a culture of collaboration and shared accountability.
  • Innovative program models that bridge academic affairs, student affairs, and external partners.

Join us in New Orleans as we make something worth listening to—together!

If you have questions or require additional information, please email the AD&D Office ([email protected]).

For your reference, you can find AD&D’s Session Proposal Guidelines HERE. 

Evaluation Criteria:
Proposals will be rated on the following criteria:

  • The proposal provides a clear picture of what to expect during the session, including how presenters will elicit dialogue with the audience about project relevance and implications.
  • The proposed learning objectives are realistic and achievable.
  • The proposal should represent diverse perspectives.
  • The proposal demonstrates presenters’ knowledge of and experience with the topic, including relevant methodologies, sources of evidence, and/or literature.
  • The proposal highlights specific findings and conclusions and their relevance to the university college environment.
  • All presenters should be confirmed by date of submission.

Session Proposal Guidelines:
We encourage the inclusion of substantial audience discussion within sessions. Although we expect that many presentations will fit well within traditional formats (e.g., breakout session, best practices session, or facilitated discussion), please feel free to propose alternative ways to communicate your work. We are especially looking for ways to involve participants through thought-provoking, reflective conversations related to key ideas and issues raised during your session. 

Read through the Guidelines; then CLICK HERE to submit your proposal. Please note that special formatting, such as bullets, is not transferred in the online form.

Deadline for Submission
August 31, 2026 – 5pm MT

 

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