The John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Higher Education invites proposals for the Symposium on Transforming the Postsecondary Experience, a national convening focused on how institutions are redesigning systems, structures, and practices to strengthen student success.
We seek proposals from faculty, academic leaders, student affairs professionals, institutional researchers, and cross-functional teams who are engaged in institutional redesign, implementation, or evidence-informed innovation. Proposals may highlight early-stage ideas, in-progress redesign efforts, or implemented practices that offer insights for other institutions.
The symposium emphasizes institutional design and system improvement. Sessions should focus on how colleges and universities are examining, aligning, and improving academic and support systems to better serve students and strengthen outcomes.
Proposed sessions will be 45 minutes, including time for discussion and questions.
Sessions should be:
Engaging and interactive
Grounded in sound pedagogy or facilitation practices
Designed to support learning and application across diverse institutional contexts
The Research Spotlight Session is a 45-minute session where selected researchers present their innovative work in the chosen conference track. This session aims to highlight cutting-edge research in a specific area and facilitate meaningful discussions and collaborations within the higher education community.
45-minute presentation, including 15 minutes for discussion. A presentation at the conference will include a 45-minute session, including 15 minutes of discussion, where speakers share their research findings or projects with the audience. Presentations offer an opportunity for presenters to showcase their work, engage with the audience, and respond to participant questions.
Case Studies: 45 minutes. A Solutions Showcase may include presentations or demonstrations of innovative research projects, best practices, and strategies employed by institutions to address challenges in the chosen track. This session offers a platform for institutions to share their experiences and engage with participants, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas to drive student success.
Collaborative Conversations are interactive and participant-driven sessions where attendees work together to explore solutions and best practices related to the chosen conference track. They provide a platform for open discussion, idea sharing, and collaboration to improve student success.
45 minutes, moderated, with 3 or more panelists. A Panel discussion is a structured conversation featuring a moderator and three or more panelists discussing a common theme or topic within the selected conference track. The panelists each share their unique perspectives and expertise, contributing to a rich and diverse dialogue for conference attendees.
For those just beginning their transformation journey.
All proposals must align with one of the following tracks:
Curriculum Transparency and Complexity focuses on transforming curriculum systems to create clearer, more coherent, and more navigable programs of study.
Proposals may examine curricular complexity, prerequisite structures, program pathways, and how policies, advising, and course sequencing interact. Sessions should emphasize evidence-informed analysis and improvement approaches that support timely student progress.
Transforming the Graduate Student Experience Through Institutional Self-Study focuses on examining and improving the graduate student experience through departmental or school-level change.
Proposals may address system-level inquiry, cross-campus engagement, evidence review, and collaborative approaches to strengthening graduate education and support structures.
Leading Institutional Transformation for Student Success focuses on leadership and alignment systems that support institution-wide student success efforts.
Proposals should explore leadership practices, coordination across units, implementation planning, and strategies for sustaining change over time.
Purpose-Driven Advising – Redesigning the Advising Ecosystem focuses on transforming advising systems to strengthen how institutions guide students throughe ducational, life, and career decision‑making and progression.
Proposals in this track should address how advising structures, practices, evidence, and expectations work together as an ecosystem. Sessions may explore system mapping, advising redesign, evidence use, and strategies for improving clarity and consistency in academic guidance.
Transforming the First Year of College – Foundations of Excellence focuses on transforming the first‑year experience system through structured institutional self‑study and evidence‑informed improvement.
Proposals in this track should address how institutional structures, policies, practices, and learning environments collectively shape the first‑year experience. Sessions may explore approaches to institutional self‑study, evidence‑guided evaluation of student transitions, strategies for improving engagement and belonging, and methods for strengthening coherence and equity across the first year.
Transforming the Gateway Course Experience™ focuses on redesigning high-enrollment, high-impact introductory courses that play a critical role in student momentum.
Proposals may explore gateway course redesign, analysis of student performance patterns, alignment between course design and institutional expectations, and strategies for reducing excess risk in introductory courses.
Strengthening the Student-Athlete Experience focuses on transforming the student‑athlete support system to strengthen academic momentum, engagement, and overall educational experience.
Proposals may examine coordination between academic and athletic units, evidence-informed practices, and institutional structures that support student-athlete momentum and engagement.
Using AI to Strengthen Student Success Systems focuses on transforming institutional systems that incorporate AI to better align human decision-making, academic processes, and technology.
Proposals should address how institutions are approaching AI adoption with attention to governance, clarity, oversight, and alignment with student success goals. Sessions may explore system mapping, decision-making structures, or responsible use frameworks.
Proposals will be reviewed based on:
Alignment with the symposium’s focus on institutional design and transformation
Relevance to one of the symposium tracks
Clarity of session goals and learning outcomes
Applicability to a range of institutional contexts
Quality of session design and facilitation approach
Proposals must be submitted by April 15, 2026.
If selected, all presenters are required to register and pay to attend the Symposium and to present at the time and location specified by the program committee.
The John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Higher Education reserves the right to refuse any session proposal that is not consistent with the organization’s mission and goals.
