North Atlantic 2026 Regional Conference

Planning with Purpose: Driving Transparency, Trust, and Community Impact

Higher education is navigating declining enrollments, shrinking funding, and rising public mistrust. In this environment, integrated planning isn’t optional—it’s essential. The SCUP North Atlantic Regional Conference will bring together higher education leaders and planners to share how integrated planning is helping institutions confront today’s challenges and prepare for an uncertain future.

The true value of this conference is the community—a diverse network of professionals sharing perspectives, experiences, and expertise. Together, participants will explore how integrated planning fosters collaboration across departments and sectors, drives data-informed decision-making, and strengthens institutional resilience.

Hartford, Connecticut, offers a dynamic setting for these conversations. Local institutions are demonstrating how campus growth and community revitalization can align to advance both student success and regional prosperity.

Be part of the experience—join your peers in Hartford to learn, share, and shape the future of higher education together.

Call for Proposals Closes Oct 14 – Share your story!

Sponsorship Opportunities

Gain visibility and be part of this event! Learn about event sponsorship.
Contact KenDra McIntosh for more information or complete the sponsorship order form.
kendra.mcintosh@scup.org | 734.669.3283

North Atlantic Regional Sponsors

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Call for Proposals

The call for proposals closes Oct 14 at 11:59 PM Eastern

Higher education is navigating declining enrollments, financial strain, and shifting public trust. In this environment, integrated planning is essential—and it works best when informed by the perspectives, experiences, and expertise of our community.

The SCUP North Atlantic Regional Conference invites you to share how integrated planning is being used to break down silos, foster resilience, and strengthen the future of higher education. Proposals should highlight strategies, tools, and real-world examples that demonstrate how collaboration and data-informed decision-making drive meaningful impact on campuses and in communities.

We welcome proposals on topics such as:

• Innovative Partnerships That Work – shared services, collaborations, and community engagement that reduce costs and expand access.
• Driving Institutional Change Through Data-Informed Planning – using evidence to implement transformation aligned with mission.
• Accreditation as a Framework for Change – leveraging accreditation for long-term institutional improvement.
• Organizational Models for Success – structures, governance, and cross-functional teams that embed integrated planning.
• Financial Resilience Through Integrated Planning – aligning resources to confront challenges and build sustainability.
• Bridging Gaps Between Departments and Communities – strategies to connect academic, physical, and institutional planning; expand enrollment pipelines; foster inclusion across age groups; and integrate tools like AI, internships, and CTE programs to strengthen higher education’s value.

Share your story. By contributing, you’ll help fellow planners learn from your successes, challenges, and insights—strengthening the collective practice of integrated planning.

Call for Proposal Details

As you think about putting your proposal together, we would like you to consider some important points:

Does your proposal include integrated planning practices?

Integrated planning is a sustainable approach to planning that builds relationships, aligns the organization, and emphasizes preparedness for change.

Does your proposal bring together different perspectives and experiences?

By design, integrated planning is an inclusive practice that brings together perspectives and experiences from across an institution’s community to create solutions. This can only be accomplished when all voices are heard, recognized, and valued.
Consider these questions:

• Whose perspective is missing?
• Whose voice is not being heard?

We strongly encourage you to make sure your presentation team includes different voices, and that these voices are given meaningful time to share their perspectives.

Who should submit?

Integrated planning brings together voices from every corner of campus:
Stakeholders: students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, external partners
Areas of practice: academic and strategic planning, student affairs, finance, campus planning, IT, communications, development, institutional effectiveness

The secret to a great proposal.

Great proposals focus on one of two things: solutions or foresight.

Solutions: help attendees solve a pressing problem.
Foresight: explore innovative new ideas, analyze trends, and prepare attendees for the future.

Don’t forget to include:
Takeaways: give attendees next actions, tips, tools, processes, etc., that can be applied immediately
Engagement: engage attendees with your content and with each other in meaningful ways.

Concurrent Session Quick Facts

• Sessions are 60-minute.
• Submissions must be made using SCUP’s online submission tool.
• Read other frequently asked questions.

Download the Call for Proposals Outline

QUESTIONS? Email speaker.information@scup.org.

The call for proposals closes Oct 14 at 11:59 PM Eastern
Submit Your Proposal