2026 NASPA International Symposium

The NASPA International Symposium is a specialized preconference of the NASPA Annual Conference that brings together student affairs professionals, educators, administrators, and students from various countries to discuss and address issues pertinent to higher education and student services globally. The primary goal is to foster a global community of practice that enhances the effectiveness of student affairs professionals, enriches the educational environments, and ultimately supports the holistic development of students worldwide. (Global Division, International Education Knowledge Community (IEKC). The event format will include keynote presentations, concurrent sessions, interactive discussions, and networking opportunities.

On behalf of the planning committee, I am very happy to invite you to the NASPA International Symposium in the United States! My colleagues and I are excited to welcome you to our annual two-day pre-conference just ahead of NASPA Annual Conference.

I hope you will consider submitting a proposal to share your expertise with colleagues from around the world. Each year, scholars and practitioners present their work at the International Symposium to share the ideas, knowledge, and best practices shaping student affairs globally. As a leader in this field, you have a unique perspective from which others would greatly benefit, and we hope you will consider proposing a session or panel.

NASPA has also launched the registration site for the Annual Conference at https://naspa.org/events/2026-naspa-annual-conference, and we hope you will consider joining us a few days early. The NASPA International Symposium is a chance to network and exchange ideas with people shaping the student experience around the world.

Please let me know if you have questions or suggestions! The planning committee and I are very excited to coordinate such a valuable professional development opportunity for our colleagues, and we look forward to seeing you at the NASPA International Symposium. Until then, I hope you are well and that we are able to connect very soon.

The 2026 NASPA Symposium Planning Committee (SPC) is responsible for supporting the creation and execution of the conference experience by leveraging their expertise and lens. NASPA is grateful to the thoughtful and intentional volunteers listed below.

Please Note: You can register for the 2026 NASPA International Symposium as a stand-alone event. You do not have to also register for the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference.

There will not be any virtual presentation opportunities.

SUCCESSFUL PROPOSALS

Program reviewers rely on a well-written description to enhance their understanding of the content and goals of the presentation. The conference planning committees encourage program proposals with proven practices and content that will engage participants in fruitful discussions and provide meaningful content to bring back to their campuses.

Successful proposals should include: 

• Lengthy description about session content that you will present.
• Relationship of the program to the conference themes outlined below in 'Conference Themes & Learning Outcomes'
• Identification of the program format (e.g., lecture, panel, roundtable) including methods for participant involvement (e.g., discussion, effective practice sharing, case study analysis).
• Discussions of replicability: to what extent can the information presented in this program be replicated at other institutions?
• Evidence of the conceptual foundation for proposal content including ways the program content is grounded in research, relevant experience, a cogent model, or appropriate theory.
  • Program proposals should establish a clear connection to the research, framework, model, or theory included in their discussions.
  • A list of references to relevant research, models, or theory must be listed in the "References" section. 

Tips:

• Draft and save your work in a word processing program to ensure you keep a copy for your records. When you are ready, copy and paste the your description and outline into the text box below. 
• There are no word limits on this section. Please provide enough details so that program reviewers can understand the breadth, depth, and scope of your program. This description will not be printed in the program book, website, or otherwise.
• Ensure correct spelling and grammar.

For additional tips, please visit NASPA’s Program Submission Guidelines