​Focus of 2026 Conference

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This conference advances institutional excellence across HBCUs by strengthening the professional growth, leadership capacity, and instructional effectiveness of faculty, staff, and academic leaders. Grounded in community-centered collaboration and knowledge sharing, it supports the HBCU Faculty Development Network’s mission to promote effective teaching, student success, and leadership readiness in a changing higher education landscape. 

 

As technology evolves, student demographics shift, and expectations for equity and accountability increase, HBCUs must equip educators and leaders with strategies and support to thrive. This conference invites participants to address current realities and prepare for emerging challenges and opportunities. 

 

Through interactive sessions and evidence-based practices, participants will explore mentoring, digital fluency, research sustainability, inclusive leadership, and holistic well-being—while honoring the historic mission and resilience of HBCUs. The conference fosters shared commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and cultivating environments where educators and leaders excel. 

The HBCU Faculty Development Network

Ensuring quality in higher education has been a cornerstone of the HBCU Faculty Development Network Annual Conference. For over 30 years, the HBCU Faculty Development Network has covered a variety of programs for administrators, faculty, and staff, aimed at improving student learning outcomes. Programs include (but are not limited to) quality management, curriculum development, and faculty development.

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​​Conference Duration and Format

The conference offers three days of workshops, concurrent sessions, and plenary sessions. The conference provides an excellent opportunity for participants to network with colleagues; exchange strategies proven successful in teaching and learning and develop practical skills that can be put to immediate use upon return to their respective institutions. Attendees will take away from this conference useful information that works and will assist them in enhancing their current role.

 

Conference proposals should address at least one of the following strands:

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Teaching & Learning

• Brain-based Teaching & Learning

• Current Issues & Trends in STEAgAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Arts, Math)

• Diversity, Inclusion and Equitable Learning 

• Global Trends in Teaching & Learning and Student Engagement

• Humanities and Social Sciences

• Learning and Assessment Across the Curriculum

• Post Pandemic Issues

• Teaching and Learning in a Crisis 

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Innovative Instructional Design & Technology

• Artificial Intelligence/ChatGPT/Institutional Policy

• Course/Curriculum Design/Redesign

• Instructional Technology

• Online vs Face to Face vs Hy-Flex

• Teacher Preparation

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Educational/Faculty Development and Administration

• Accreditation 

• Centers for Teaching & Learning

• Faculty/Professional Staff Mentoring

• Ethics

• Leadership Development in Higher Education / Workplace Productivity

• Onboarding Programs for Tenure, Non-tenure, Adjunct

• Shared Governance (success, planning, tenure, and promotion)

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Research in Higher Education

• Scholarship of Counseling

• Scholarship of Education Administration

• Scholarship of Educational Development

• Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

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Student Success

• Cross-institutional partnerships

• Financial Aid

• International and Study Abroad Student Support 

• Living & Learning Communities (Residence halls, Bridge programs)

• Mentorship/ Advising & Counseling

• Student Research Programs

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Proposal Submission Guidelines​

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Proposal Submission 

We cordially invite you to participate in this 33rd Annual HBCU Faculty Development Network Conference to be held on October 29 – 31, 2026. We invite faculty, administrators, faculty developers, and personnel of all areas that support an academic program to submit proposals for presentation at this year's conference that support the theme: Strengthening Excellence at HBCUs: Developing Faculty, Staff, and Academic Leaders for What’s Now and What’s Next. 

How to Submit a Proposal Using Sessionize

All proposals must be submitted through Sessionize by 11:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time on August 15, 2026.

Before beginning, prepare your proposed session title, proposal description, session abstract, speaker biography, professional headshot, institutional affiliation, and contact information. Presenters submitting with colleagues should also have each co-presenter’s preferred email address.

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Step 1: Access the Submission Portal

Select the Submit Your Proposal button on this page. You will be directed to the HBCU Faculty Development Network submission portal on Sessionize.

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Step 2: Log In or Create an Account

Sessionize allows users to log in with an existing Google, Microsoft, Office 365, Facebook, or X account. Presenters may also create a Sessionize account using the Classic Login option.

First-time users will be asked to confirm their registration before beginning the proposal.

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Step 3: Enter the Session Information

Complete every required field marked with an asterisk. Applicants will be asked to provide information about the proposed session, including:

• Session title

• Conference strand

• Preferred session format

• Proposal description

• Session abstract

• Presenter and co-presenter information

Sessionize saves progress automatically. Applicants may leave the form and return later before submitting.

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Step 4: Complete the Speaker Profile

Each presenter must provide accurate and current professional information, including:

• Full name and professional title

• Institution or organization

• Email address

• Professional biography

• Headshot

Use an email address that is checked regularly. Proposal decisions, presenter instructions, and conference updates will be sent through Sessionize.

To include co-presenters, enter their email addresses in the co-speaker section. Each co-presenter will receive an invitation to join the proposal and complete their profile.

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Step 5: Review and Submit

Review the entire proposal carefully before selecting Submit Session.

After submission, Sessionize will display a confirmation. Presenters may also view the proposal and monitor its status through the My Events section of their Sessionize account.

Submitting a proposal does not guarantee acceptance. Presenters will receive an official decision and additional instructions from the HBCU Faculty Development Network.

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Proposal Formats and Word Counts

​Use the following guidelines when preparing the proposal.

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Session Title

Maximum: 15 words

Choose a clear, specific title that communicates the session’s value. Avoid overly broad titles, unexplained acronyms, or titles that do not identify the session’s primary focus.

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Proposal Description

Maximum: 350 words

The proposal description should explain:

1. The challenge, opportunity, practice, or research the session will address.

2. How the topic connects to the conference theme and selected strand.

3. Why the topic is relevant to HBCUs, MSIs, or the broader higher education community.

4. The strategies, findings, tools, or practices that will be shared.

5. How participants will be engaged during the session.

6. What participants can apply at their institutions after the session.

Write for reviewers who may not work in the presenter’s specific discipline. Define specialized terms and make the proposal’s practical value clear.

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Session Abstract

Maximum: 100 words

The session abstract is a concise, audience-facing summary of the proposed session. It may be used in the conference program, website, mobile app, or promotional materials if the proposal is accepted.

The abstract should:

• Clearly state the session topic.

• Explain why the topic matters.

• Identify what attendees can expect.

• Use clear, engaging language.

• Avoid citations, references, unexplained acronyms, and excessive technical terminology.

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Do not copy the full proposal description into this section. The abstract should be brief, polished, and written to help potential attendees decide whether the session is relevant to them.

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Speaker Biography

Maximum: 100 words per presenter

The biography should briefly establish the presenter’s professional background and connection to the proposed topic. Include the presenter’s current role, institution or organization, relevant experience, and significant professional or scholarly work.

 

 

​Session Formats

Applicants should select the format that best supports the proposed content and participant experience.

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Concurrent Session

A structured presentation or interactive workshop that shares research, strategies, models, tools, or effective practices. Concurrent sessions should include opportunities for participant questions, reflection, discussion, or application.

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Roundtable Session

A facilitated, discussion-centered session focused on a clearly defined question, challenge, emerging issue, or shared area of practice. Roundtables should encourage peer exchange and generate practical ideas participants can take back to their institutions.

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Poster Session

A visual presentation of research, assessment findings, program models, instructional practices, institutional initiatives, or emerging projects. Presenters should be prepared to explain the work and engage attendees in informal discussion.

Final session assignments will be based on proposal quality, program needs, scheduling capacity, and the format that best supports the conference experience.

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Features of a Strong Proposal

Competitive proposals should:

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• Directly connect to the conference theme and at least one conference strand.

• Address a timely challenge or opportunity in higher education.

• Center the realities, strengths, missions, or needs of HBCUs and MSIs.

• Present evidence, experience, outcomes, or a clearly developed model.

• Offer practical strategies that participants can use at their institutions.

• Include meaningful audience participation or engagement.

• Explain the potential impact on teaching, faculty or staff development, leadership, institutional effectiveness, or student success.

• Be clearly written, focused, and free of unexplained jargon.

• Deliver educational value rather than primarily promoting a product, service, institution, or organization.

 

Proposals should move beyond simply describing a program. Clearly explain what was done, what was learned, why it matters, and how participants can apply the information.

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After a Proposal is Accepted

​All accepted presenters must register for the conference and pay the applicable registration fee by September 21, 2026. Sessions may be canceled when required presenter registration is not completed by the deadline.

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Presenters should continue monitoring the email address connected to their Sessionize account for acceptance notifications, scheduling information, presenter requirements, and conference updates.

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Submission Deadline:  August 15, 2026

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***IMPORTANT NOTES FOR 2026 PROPOSALS***

• Due to schedule changes for the 2026 conference, the number of concurrent sessions has been reduced.  Therefore, any concurrent session proposals submitted after August 15th, if accepted, may be scheduled as either poster or roundtable sessions.  

• Once a proposal has been accepted, the presenter(s) must pay conference registration fees by September 21st, or the session(s) may be canceled.

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For additional information, contact
Laurette B. Foster, Executive Director
lbfoster@pvamu.edu/936.261.3640