North Central 2026 Regional Conference

Call for Proposals

The call for proposals is now open.

Deadline: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern.

We seek proposals for concurrent sessions that demonstrate how colleges and universities use integrated planning to build community—both within the campus and within the region it calls home.

Some theme-relevant proposal topic ideas to consider:

• Centering students, creating belonging on campus, and education for citizenship: Planning that reflects student needs, fosters community, and encourages dialogue.
• Universal design and accessibility: Creating spaces that are accessible, welcoming, and functional for every member of the campus community.
• Planning for research with integrative design: Using collaborative, cross-functional planning to align physical environments with evolving academic and research missions.
• AI fluency, tools, and technology: Harnessing emerging technologies to enhance planning processes and improve decision-making.
• Sustainability: Embedding environmental responsibility into campus planning to ensure resilient communities.
• Volatility of markets and creative funding strategies: Navigating economic uncertainty with innovative financing models and adaptive planning approaches.
• Value of higher education: Demonstrate the positive impact colleges and universities have on students, their surrounding communities, and society as a whole.
• Innovation and planning with partners: Building strategic relationships with municipalities, businesses, and community organizations to advance shared goals.
• Economic development and institutions as engines of local economies: Positioning colleges and universities as anchor institutions that drive regional prosperity and community well-being.

Call for Proposals 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 perspectives 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.

Prepare Your Proposal

Quick Facts

• Sessions are 60-minute.
• Proposals must be submitted using SCUP’s online submission tool.
• Proposals are reviewed based on number of factors, including relevance to the theme, actionability of the content, expertise of the presenters, and how well-planned the proposal agenda is.

Resources

• Read frequently asked questions.
• Preview the questions you’ll be asked on the proposal form (PDF).
• Read an example proposal (#1) (PDF)
• Read an example proposal (#2) (PDF)

Have Questions? Reach out.

Submit Your Proposal

Deadline: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern.