Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright: Cultivating Connection, Care & Community in Student Affairs

CTLPA CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2026

Conference Theme: Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright: Cultivating Connection, Care & Community in Student Affairs
Call for Paper: Opening (December 08, 2025) – Deadline (March 23, 2026)
Conference Pillars: Use the six (6) pillars described below to submit your conference proposal

1. “One Love, One Team” – Building Collaborative and Inclusive Student Services
This theme invites proposals that explore innovative strategies for strengthening collaboration across departments, fostering inclusive practices, and enhancing cohesion within student services. Presentations may focus on cross-functional partnerships, co-curricular programme design, joint advising models, or frameworks that integrate academic, social, and wellness supports. Submissions that highlight inclusive leadership, culturally responsive service delivery, and approaches that centre student voice are especially encouraged. The goal is to showcase how unified, intentional teamwork enriches the student experience and promotes a sense of belonging.

2. “No Stress, No Mess” – Mental Health, Wellness & Burnout Prevention in Higher Education
This theme seeks contributions that address the urgent mental health challenges faced by students and higher education professionals. We welcome research, best practices, and innovative interventions that support emotional well-being, prevent burnout, and promote resilience within campus communities. Topics may include trauma-informed approaches, crisis response, wellness programming, digital well-being, organisational policies, and systemic barriers to mental health access. Proposals should offerpractical insights or evidence-based strategies that help campuses cultivate healthier, more sustainable environments.

3. “Rhythms of Rest” – Incorporating Mindfulness and Restorative Practices in Student Life
Under this theme, presenters are invited to explore how rest, mindfulness, and restorative practices can enrich student life and improve learning and personal development. Submissions may address contemplative pedagogies, meditation and yoga initiatives, and restorative justice circles, sleep hygiene programming, or the design of campus spaces that support rest and reflection. We are especially interested in approaches that integrate wellness and mindfulness into the daily rhythms of campus life, offering practical tools that allow students and staff to thrive.

4. “Stronger Together” – Creating Connected Communities on Campus
This theme highlights the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships, fostering belonging, and strengthening social networks within higher education settings. Presentations may focus on community-building programmes, peer-mentorship models, residence life strategies, student organisation development, or initiatives that bridge cultural, socioeconomic, or disciplinary divides. Proposals that emphasise equity, inclusion, and the transformative power of community engagement are particularly welcome. Together, we aim to explore how campuses can intentionally build environments where every student feels seen, supported, and connected.

5. “Feel Alright, Lead Alright” – Leadership and Self-Care for Student Affairs Professionals
This theme invites reflective and practice-oriented proposals focused on the well-being, professional growth, and sustainability of student affairs practitioners. Topics may include leadership development, emotional intelligence, boundary-setting, reflective supervision, work-life harmony, and strategies for cultivating personal resilience. Submissions highlighting self-care models, restorative leadership approaches, and organisational cultures that prioritise staff wellness are encouraged. The aim is to empower professionals to lead authentically and effectively without compromising their own well-being.

6. “Rooted and Rising” – Cultivating Belonging for Stronger Student Retention
This theme invites proposals that explore how a deep sense of belonging serves as a foundation for student persistence, engagement, and academic success. We welcome submissions that examine programs, practices, and research focused on strengthening students’ social and academic integration, particularly for those from underrepresented or marginalized backgrounds. Topics may include first-year experience initiatives, culturally responsive advising, peer mentorship models, community-building strategies, identity-affirming spaces, and early-alert or wraparound support systems that help students stay connected and motivated. Presentations that highlight inclusive campus climates, collaborative approaches across departments, and innovative methods for creating supportive learning communities are especially encouraged. The goal of this theme is to showcase how institutions can help students become firmly rooted in their campus experience so they are empowered to rise, persist, and thrive.

PRESENTATIONS SHOULD FALL IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
1. Main Presentation – 1 hour (inclusive of question and answer session)
2. Concurrent Session – 45 minutes (inclusive of question and answer session)
3. Showcase – highlighting best practices in programme delivery -30 minutes (inclusive of question-and-answer session)

The proposal should include an Abstract of no more than 250 words and should outline the learning outcomes. An Abstract must reflect the content of the presentation accurately and must correlate to the listed topics and key words. It must include all information considered necessary by the presenter to merit the selection of the paper.

Complete the online Call for Proposals Form: CTLPA Proposal Submission
Queries may be emailed to ctlpahq@gmail.com using the Subject Line CTLPA Conference 2026 Query.