Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals

Extended Submission Deadline: Friday, March 28, 2025

The Higher Education Center, in partnership with our Training Advisory Committee, is seeking proposals for this year’s hybrid National Meeting that reflect the best thinking in the field, informed by theory, research, and practice. This year’s conference will take place in-person at the Ohio Union on The Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio, October 21 – 23, 2025 with pre-conference opportunities offered on October 20. Additionally, a virtual conference will take place on the same dates featuring unique, live content. Recordings of this virtual content will be made available to in-person attendees.

The Higher Education Center and our Training Advisory Committee welcome proposals exploring all facets of collegiate prevention, early intervention, and recovery work. While proposals on any related topic will be considered, we are interested in developing tracks on the following topics:

Programming and Opportunities to Support Engagement and Belonging

The students we serve come from different backgrounds, experiences, and communities and the research is clear that students who are engaged in campus-related activities and feel a sense of belonging are less likely to engage in risky behavior. As such, we encourage sessions that explore how campuses are supporting engagement and belonging initiatives. Examples of sessions that may fit within this track include, but are not limited to:

• Inclusive program development
• Creating inclusive spaces that don’t center alcohol
• Supporting grief and overdose processing resources
• Strategies for trauma-informed practice
• Navigating state policies related to inclusion and belonging

Supporting Students In or Seeking Long-Term Recovery

The movement to support students in or seeking long-term recovery on college campuses has continued to grow. Students in recovery who receive adequate support are more likely to be academically successful on campus. The National Meeting is an opportunity to share both best practices and novel approaches amongst those who are exploring the idea of developing formal recovery supports, those who have new collegiate recovery programs, and those who have established programs. Examples of sessions that may fit within this track include, but are not limited to:

• Recruitment and support of under-represented students in recovery
• Statewide collaboration in recovery
• Policies and procedures in collegiate recovery
• Gaining administrative buy-in
• Research & evaluation of recovery programs
• Utilizing peers in recovery support
• Funding models for recovery programs

Engaging Identified Populations

Students involved in fraternities and sororities, athletics, marching bands, and club sports continue to be some of the most at-risk for experiencing harms from substance use. Utilizing targeted approaches to reach these audiences can be challenging at times. Sessions within this track would explore strategies for engaging and programming to high-risk audiences. Examples of sessions that may fit within this track include, but are not limited to:

• Novel programming strategies
• Effectively engaging aspects of the socio-ecological model within our work Incorporating hazing prevention into existing AOD initiatives
• Developing collaborative relationships
• Research and evaluation of identified populations and targeted programs
• Implementation of risk reduction policies

Programming Geared for New Professionals or Those New to Collegiate Prevention

Being a new professional in this field can be overwhelming. You may be an office of one and have little support. This track is intended to develop knowledge and skills around the core competencies for the new professional so that attendees can return to campus feeling confident in how to do their work. Examples of sessions that may fit within this track include, but are not limited to:

• Strategic Prevention Framework
• Core Competency development
• Data collection and assessment
• Coalition development
• Evidence-informed strategies
• Building collaborations
• Identifying prevention priorities
• Program evaluation

Presenters are encouraged to include students as co-presenters where applicable.

The overall program will result in a diverse array of presenters and perspectives, including different levels of expertise, varying types of experience, and a variety of institutional and organizational types.

Presenters of accepted professional proposals will be able to register at a discounted rate. All presenters are required to register for the conference in which they are presenting, including asynchronous presenters. Presenters will be responsible for their own travel expenses.

Applicants can expect a final decision by Friday, May 2, 2025.