With the theme, Reimagining Higher Education: Centering Humanity in a Digital Age we explore how we can design higher education that prioritizes human connection, ethical engagement, and meaningful learning experiences in a time of rapid change and increased technology use. We seek presentations that challenge educators to rethink teaching, research, and student support in ways that enhance, rather than replace, the uniquely human aspects of learning and promote higher education as a compassionate, engaging, and empowering space for all learners.
The target audience for the conference includes all NSU faculty, staff, administrators, and students who play a role in educating our students (both through curricular and co-curricular courses).
We have five tracks this year as follows:
Teaching and Learning Technologies: This track focuses on innovative and effective uses of technology to enhance teaching and learning. Sessions may explore how faculty use specific digital tools or platforms to support student engagement, improve accessibility, personalize learning, and streamline instruction in face-to-face, hybrid, or online environments.
Example Topics:
Evidence-Based Practice: This track highlights teaching strategies grounded in empirical research or systematic inquiry. Faculty are encouraged to share how they have applied research findings or conducted classroom-based research to improve student learning, foster engagement, and inform instructional decisions.
Example Topics:
Health and Wellbeing: Sessions in this track explore strategies to support the holistic wellbeing of both students and faculty. Topics may include mental health, stress management, workload balance, resilience, and creating inclusive environments that promote wellness.
Example Topics:
Teaching Durable Skills: This track focuses on how educators foster “durable” or transferable skills that students need for long-term personal and professional success. Sessions may feature approaches to embedding and assessing skills such as critical thinking, ethical reasoning, teamwork, and adaptability across disciplines.
Example Topics:
Learning Design: This track emphasizes the intentional design of learning experiences that are inclusive, engaging, and aligned with learning outcomes. It includes frameworks and approaches that support diverse learners and foster meaningful learning across modalities and contexts.
Example Topics:
50-Minute Session: These sessions are designed to be highly interactive and engaging. Presenters should plan to involve participants through hands-on activities, group discussions, demonstrations, or practical exercises. The goal is to help attendees actively practice new skills, explore concepts in depth, or experience innovative teaching strategies they can apply in their own courses.
25-Minute Session: These shorter sessions are intended to deliver focused, information-rich presentations. Presenters may demonstrate how to use a specific application or tool (for example, AI tools, Canvas features, or Office 365 resources), share concise case studies on applying research to teaching, or provide clear, step-by-step guidance on implementing a particular strategy. These sessions are ideal for highlighting practical ideas or approaches in a succinct format.
Questions? If you have questions about this call for proposals or any aspect of the conference, please contact Marti Snyder, Ph.D., Director of Faculty Professional Development, LEC and Professor, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice at smithmt@nova.edu or Alfreda Francis, Assistant Director of Faculty Professional Development, LEC at calfreda@nova.edu.
After reviewing the information in this Call for Proposals, you can submit your proposal by logging into NSUWorks and completing this form: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/ir_submit.cgi?context=lec_conference
Proposals will be reviewed based on the following four criteria:
1. Clarity: Do the title and abstract clearly describe the session? Is the abstract well-written? Is it clear what the session will be like for attendees?
2. Relevance: Is the content relevant to this year’s theme? Will this session make a positive contribution to the conference?
3. Outcomes: Are the session outcomes clear? Is there something compelling about this topic that would attract the audience and benefit the overall conference?
4. Interactivity: Is it clear how the presenter will engage participants in the session?
We have two types of session this year as follows:
50-Minute Session: These sessions are designed to be highly interactive and engaging. Presenters should plan to involve participants through hands-on activities, group discussions, demonstrations, or practical exercises. The goal is to help attendees actively practice new skills, explore concepts in depth, or experience innovative teaching strategies they can apply in their own courses.
25-Minute Session: These shorter sessions are intended to deliver focused, information-rich presentations. Presenters may demonstrate how to use a specific application or tool (for example, AI tools, Canvas features, or Office 365 resources), share concise case studies on applying research to teaching, or provide clear, step-by-step guidance on implementing a particular strategy. These sessions are ideal for highlighting practical ideas or approaches in a succinct format.
Proposals are due on Friday, September 12, 2025.
Applicants will be notified of the status of their proposal along with their scheduled timeslot by Monday, October 6, 2025.
Once the program schedule has been finalized, changes cannot be made. While situations may arise that might cause a presenter to cancel their presentation, we encourage you to seek every possible alternative, including finding a substitute or co-presenter, prior to deciding to withdraw from the conference.