Call for Proposals: 2026 AACUSS Annual Conference

New Brunswick Community College and the Atlantic Association of College and University Student Services (AACUSS) are excited to invite you to submit proposals for the 2026 AACUSS Annual Conference! This year's conference theme is “High Tides, Bright Futures: Supporting Students Through Every Wave.”

We are seeking dynamic and engaging presentations that will inspire, educate, and empower attendees. We welcome proposals from professionals, researchers, and practitioners in the field of student services and higher education.
We encourage you to share your expertise and contribute to the success of the 2026 AACUSS Annual Conference. 

For any questions or additional information, please contact Victoria Scott at: victoria.scott@nbcc.ca   

Submission Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026

Submission Form: Please submit your proposals via the online submission form HERE.

All proposals will be reviewed by the conference planning committee, and presenters will be notified of the outcome of their proposal by the end of March.

Proposal Submission Guidelines:
Topics of Interest to Spark Ideas!

• Innovative Strategies in Student Services

• Current Challenges, Future Trends and Best Practices in Student Services

• Enhancing Student Engagement

• Technology and Student Services

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• Mental Health and Wellness

• Culturally Responsive Practices

• Responsive Actions for Truth and Reconciliation

• Leadership and Professional Development

• Other – feel free to share new areas of interest!

Presentation Formats:

• Workshops: Interactive sessions designed to provide hands-on learning experiences.

• Panel Discussions: Sessions featuring multiple speakers discussing a specific topic, followed by a Q&A segment.

• Presentation - sharing recent research findings, frameworks, evidence-based approaches, models, and/or knowledge systems to explore various successes, challenges, barriers, and emerging opportunities in student services practice. 

• Showcase: Visual or interactive display that will be showcased during designated times, allowing for one-on-one discussions with attendees. The Showcase is an opportunity to exhibit a departmental initiative or project, for graduate students to share posters or a capstone project, to share an innovative idea or solution, to highlight co-created art or your industry/community partnerships. Showcase is a celebratory show and tell! 

 
Submission Requirements:

• Title: A concise and descriptive title of your presentation.

• Session Description: 300-500 character summary of your session, including learning outcomes, key takeaways, and relevance to the conference theme.

• Please identify how this session you are proposing considers or advances equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization.

• Presenter Information: Names, titles, professional licences, and contact information for all presenters.

• Format Preference: Indicate your preferred presentation format (workshop, panel discussion, research presentation, or showcase).

• AV Needs: Specify any audio-visual or technical requirements for your presentation.

 
Proposal Review Criteria:
All submitted proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to Conference Theme: How well does the proposal align with the theme “High Tides, Bright Futures: Supporting Students Through Every Wave”?

• Clarity and Organization: Is the proposal well-organized? Are the learning objectives and key takeaways clearly defined?

• Engagement and Interactivity: Does the proposal include interactive elements or strategies to engage the audience?

• Innovation and Originality: Does the proposal present new ideas, innovative strategies, or unique perspectives?

• Practical Application: Are the concepts and strategies presented in the proposal applicable and useful to the attendees' work in student services?

• Presenter Expertise: Do the presenters have the necessary expertise and experience to effectively deliver the presentation?

• Accessibility and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Does the proposal consider accessibility needs and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion?