The deadline to submit a proposal is March 19, 2026 11:59 PM Pacific.

If you already created an account and started a proposal, it should be saved as a draft. To access the draft, please log into your account and select “Dashboard” in the upper-left corner of this page. Previously started drafts should appear under “Proposals”.

 

Anchored in Purpose

2026 CUMU Annual Conference
November 8–11, 2026 | Houston, TX

Urban and metropolitan colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to advance opportunity, strengthen communities, and shape the future of their regions. In 2026, we gather around the theme Anchored in Purpose to affirm the values that ground our work and the commitments that guide our campuses.

This conference explores how purpose-driven strategies – rooted in place and responsive to community needs – advance social and economic mobility for students, support regional prosperity, and enhance community well-being. Together, we will examine how campuses stay steadfast in mission while adapting to evolving challenges, forging partnerships that amplify impact, and activating institutional strengths to build stronger institutions and healthier, more vibrant communities.

We invite proposals that showcase impactful work, collaborative and cross-institutional initiatives, critical perspectives, and innovative ideas. Proposals may highlight ongoing or completed work.

Review Criteria:
Proposals will be reviewed by the Conference Program Committee and peer reviewers using the following criteria:

• Relevance of Topic: Does the proposal focus on contemporary questions and challenges related to the conference theme and seek to convey new and promising strategies, methods, outcomes, and lessons learned?

• Research and Impact: Does the proposal share new knowledge and effective practice and/or focus on measurable outcomes and impact?

• Translation to Practice: Does the proposal state specific take-away messages/outcomes for participants and identify and share resources that will let participants learn more deeply?

• Session Outcomes Achievability: Is there alignment between the stated session outcomes and the proposal description?

• Quality of Submission: Does the proposal demonstrate quality, as measured by accuracy, clarity, comprehensiveness, and depth of demonstrated understanding of the topic?

The submission form includes all of the following and will begin when you click the orange button at the bottom of this page:

1) Session Title (required) (Limit 12 words)

2) Track Category (required) Which track category best describes your session? We use these to organize the sessions by topic. 
Submissions should align with one or more of the tracks below, which show potential topics. Appropriate topics are not limited to the examples shown.

• Advancing Social and Economic Mobility for Students
  Affordability, accessibility, and opportunity
  Student success
  Long-term tracking of institutional and individual success
  Holistic approaches to student well-being and individual success
  Basic needs initiatives rooted in place and community context
  Early college, dual enrollment, and college readiness models

• Anchor Strategies for Regional Prosperity and Community Well-Being
  Effective anchor collaboratives and long-term partnerships to address public challenges
  Local and regional economic development initiatives
  Place-based strategies for neighborhood and regional well-beingInnovation distrcits and entrepreneurship

• Strengthening the Workforce
  The campus as an employer advancing talent development and economic opportunity
  Preparing students for meaningful work through the curriculum, high-impact learning opportunities, and partnerships
  Aligning academic offerings and talent pipelines with regional workforce needs
  Cross-sector collaborations that strengthen career pathways and support community economic mobility
  
  

• Institutional Mission, Culture, and Infrastructure
  Navigating federal, state, and local funding and policy changes
  Promotion, tenure, and recognition of engaged scholarship
  Strategic planning and institutional transformation
  Change management and cross-campus coordination
  Strategic resourcing and operational infrastructure for innovation
  
  
• Civic and Community Engagement for Community Well-Being
  Engaged research and scholarship
  Sustainable, equitable cross-sector partnerships
  Civil discourse, dialogue, and community trust
  Strengthening democratic processes and civic life
  Public communication strategies that enhance institutional transparency
  Community-identified priorities and shared leadership models
  
  
• Measuring Impact and Telling our Story
  Evaluation methodologies for partnerships and place-based initiatives
  Institution-wide approaches to tracking and assessment
  Data-informed programs, policy, and decision-making
  Mixed-method approaches to capturing regional and community outcomes
  Purpose-driven storytelling and narrative change
  Innovative tools for communicating impact
  

3) Additional Track Category (optional) You have the option to choose an additional track from the above options that aligns with your submission.

4) Session Type (required) Please select your session Type.
The CUMU Annual Conference offers a range of formats that affords participants different methods to access and engage with innovative ideas:

TRADITIONAL SESSIONS
All sessions are 45 minutes long. Please select the session type that best fits the content you plan to present.

• Community Conversations: The presenter(s) facilitates a discussion that engages participants to better understand and strategically approach a complex scenario facing their campus and community. 45 minutes. Should use a peer-coaching/design-clinic format. We recommend no more than two presenters/facilitators.

• Mini Workshop: The presenter(s) lead an interactive session through which attendees learn about a new process, infrastructure, or policy approach. 45 minutes. We recommend no more than three presenters.

• Panel Presentation: A group of panelists with diverse viewpoints and perspectives engage in a facilitated discussion with time for participant questions and reactions. 45 minutes. We recommend no more than five panelists (facilitator included).

• Research and Impact Presentation: The presenter(s) share original research, impact evaluation, or design and implementation of an innovative program, initiative, or methodology. Participants are invited to offer questions and feedback. 45 minutes. We recommend no more than two presenters.

DYNAMIC SESSIONS
Some of the most popular events at the CUMU conference are our dynamic sessions: the poster session and the roundtables. Both events allow presenters to share their work with larger groups of people in a more intimate, conversational setting where the participants are moving around to join the conversations that they find compelling.

• Poster Sessions: Presenters share original research, program or policy innovations, or evidence-informed practices. The presenter provides a poster which is displayed in the poster reception area. During the poster reception, conference participants are invited to peruse all the posters and interact with presenters while enjoying beverages and snacks. Session is 90 minutes. We recommend no more than two presenters.

• Roundtables: Roundtable attendees visit three different tables during the 75-minute session where they participate in 25-minute discussions of projects, programs, or initiatives. Each presenter/facilitator is assigned to a table in the large banquet room and will present twice and attend one roundtable of their choosing. 75 minutes with three 25-minute discussions. We recommend no more than two presenters.

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
Pre-conference workshops take place Monday, October 27 8:30-11:30. This in-depth workshop targets specific audiences for interactive skill development and collaborative learning. 3 hours. We recommend no more than four presenters.

5) Session Proposal (required) (Limit 400 words) Please provide a detailed description of your session. Include both a clear description of the content as well as a list of 2-3 outcomes or insights that participants will gain as a result of their participation. This description is for the conference review committee and peer reviewers and will not be published publicly. You may include citations in this section. Please refer to the Review Criteria as you compose your proposal to ensure that the review committee has all relevant information.

6) Session Abstract (required) (Limit 100 words)
Please provide a brief abstract of your session. A good abstract includes a clear statement of the challenge or topic that will be addressed, a summary of relevant context and content, and perhaps a preview of the outcomes participants should expect to gain as a result of their participation. This abstract will be included in the conference program, so it should be written for potential attendees. Do not include citations in the abstract.

7) Audience Engagement (required)
The CUMU conference is highly interactive. Based on your session type, how will you engage your audience during the session? Describe the tools, strategies, and modes of interaction you will employ to reach your desired outcomes for this session.

8) Identify the ideal session participant’s incoming level of content knowledge as foundational, intermediate, and/or advanced, or any of the above. This may be listed in the conference program. (at least one required)

• Foundational – for those with no or limited exposure to the topic.

• Intermediate – for those with some familiarity and experience with the topic.

• Advanced - for those with substantial familiarity and experience with the topic.

• Any of the above.

9) Presenter Guidelines:

 

• All presenters and co-presenters must be listed on the proposal. Co-presenters should only be listed after confirmation that they commit to participate if accepted and that they agree to the terms and conditions for participation.
  
  
• If any of the presenters will be registering as corporate partners or represent corporations, please indicate that on the proposal and refer to CUMU's corporate engagement information.

• If this proposal is accepted, the lead presenter and all co-presenters must accept the invitation by May 14 and register for the conference by September 14 or the presentation acceptance may be rescinded.

• No changes can be made to the proposal title, description, or presenters after the review and selection process.

• CUMU reserves the right to revise presentation titles and/or edit the session description for program publications or request a change of session type to fit the requirements of the conference program.

• Any session appearing to promote a product or service to participants may be subject to additional administrative review and proposal decline.

 

Questions? We're happy to help!

Please feel free to contact us at info@cumuonline.org