The Higher Education Networking Collective (HENC) invites dynamic and engaging proposals for session presentations at our upcoming Professional Development Day. This event is designed to bring together a diverse group of higher education professionals for a meaningful and solution-driven experience. We are seeking session proposals that align with our mission to foster collaboration, share actionable insights, and address the most pressing issues in higher education today.
Professional Development Day Theme: Supervision, Mentorship, and Career Advancement
This year’s event will focus on strategies for effective leadership at all levels, professional growth, and fostering a supportive workplace culture. Sessions should provide insights as well as ACTIONABLE strategies and tangible takeaways that participants can immediately apply in their roles.
Sub-Themes:
We encourage session proposals that explore the following key areas:
- Equitable and Inclusive Supervision –
- Building inclusive and adaptive leadership practices
- Ensuring equity in professional growth and career development
- Best practices supervising direct reports (communication, motivation, meetings, etc.)
- Technology & Generative AI –
- Utilizing digital tools to enhance efficiency, support staff development, streamline workflows, and/or effectively train employees on ethical use of emerging technologies to maximize productivity.
- Interdepartmental Collaboration and Workplace Culture –
- Strengthening cross-functional teams, improving communication, and fostering belonging innovation.
- Fostering supportive workplace environments while managing across/up/down.
- Creating shared initiatives and projects with multiple departments – working towards a common goal with varying departmental priorities.
- Career Planning –
- Planning your professional trajectory
- How to find a mentor or how to start a mentorship program in your unit
- Panels discussing career paths, lessons learned, and/or advice navigating the systems and structures within higher education
Session Formats:
We encourage a variety of session formats to foster engagement and collaboration, including:
- Expert-Led Presentation – Share research, best practices, or case studies with clear implementation strategies.
- Interactive Workshop – Facilitate hands-on learning experiences that equip attendees with actionable tools.
- Panel Discussion – Engage diverse perspectives on critical topics related to supervision, mentorship, and career growth.
- Networking Roundtable – Engage in focused discussions on key topics or mentorship areas, providing participants with opportunities to connect, share insights, and develop actionable strategies for leadership and career growth.
Please note that there will be a maximum of three presenters/panelists allowed per session.
Submission Guidelines:
- Proposal Deadline: August 1, 2025
- Session Length: 50 minutes
- Proposal Requirements:
- Title of session (10 words max)
- Abstract (150-250 words)
- Session Overview: What will you cover in your session, how will it be presented, and any other key details.
- Learning objectives (up to 3)
- Preferred session format
- Presenter(s) name(s), title(s), institution(s), bio(s) [max 200 words] and contact information
- All presenters will be required to register for the Professional Development Day at your cost.
Selection Criteria:
Proposals will be evaluated based on relevance, engagement potential, practical application, and alignment with the event theme. We encourage proposals from professionals at all levels of experience who can bring unique insights and strategies to the higher education community.
How to Submit:
Please submit your proposal via this form by August 1, 2025. Please note we encourage you to prepare all the above requested information prior to filling out the form as you will not be able to save your progress. You will also need contact information and bios for all presenters at the time of submission.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at board@higheredcollective.org.
Session Proposal Timeline:
- Call for Session Proposals Open – NOW
- Call for Session Proposals Close – August 1
- Session Proposal Review – August 1 – 15
- Decisions emailed on or before August 15
- Event – Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Need help with your session proposal?
The Professional Development Chairs will be hosting 3 open office hours prior to the deadline:
- Thursday, July 24, 12-1pm ET (link to join)
- Monday, July 28, 4-5pm ET (link to join)
- Thursday, July 31, 1-2pm ET (link to join)
Join us in shaping an inspiring, solution-focused event that strengthens the collective impact of higher education professionals working toward a more inclusive and innovative future!
Higher Education Networking Collective 