AUCCCD Call for Proposals
2026 Annual Conference
October 17 - 21, 2026
The 2026 Programs Committee invites proposals for sessions that promote connectedness, highlight the integration of diversity and inclusive excellence across counseling center work, and address the stress, trauma, and challenges faced by both students and counseling center staff.
Presenter Eligibility: Presenters must be current AUCCCD Members or Emeriti Members. An exception is made for pre-conference sessions only (October 17), where non-members may participate as presenters.
New / Newer Directors: AUCCCD leadership and the Programs Committee strongly encourage newer directors to submit proposals. Your colleagues want to learn from your experiences and the challenges you are navigating in your roles.
Presentation Formats
Preconference Workshops | Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Half-day workshop (3 hours): 8:30 – 11:30 AM or 1:00 – 4:00 PM
- Full-day workshop (6 hours): 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (includes lunch break)
Non-members may present in preconference workshops.
Breakout (Concurrent) Sessions | Sunday, October 18 – Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- 90-minute sessions
- Up to 4 presenters total
- AUCCCD members only
Sessions may include lectures, panels, case studies, or interactive discussions.
Session Requirements
In order to complete your submission, you will need the following:
- Presenter CVs
- Three peer-reviewed citations (published within the past 10 years) in APA format
- Presenter information
- Contact information (name, email, school, etc.)
- Degree / licensure
- Institution enrollment size
- Bio (used in app/online program)
- Headshot (if available; not required)
- Session description (maximum 200 words)
- Learning objectives (one per educational hour)
- Learning objectives should clearly describe what participants are expected to learn and how participants can apply this knowledge in practice or other professional contexts.
- Please review the Guidance for Writing Behavioral Learning Objectives prior to submitting your proposal.
- Verbs to avoid: know, understand, learn, appreciate, become aware of, become familiar with
- Please ensure that your session title accurately reflects the content of the presentation. Many attendees select sessions based on continuing education (CE) requirements, such as ethics.
You will be able to save your progress and return to the submission at any time.
Areas of Focus
These topic areas are intended as guidance and are not exhaustive. Proposals addressing innovative or emerging issues relevant to university and college counseling center leadership are encouraged.
AUCCCD encourages proposals that highlight practical applications, program models, or strategies that attendees can implement at their own institutions.
Counseling / Clinical Work
- Differing service delivery models
- Models of care (embedded, integrated, hybrid)
- Treatment approaches and clinical interventions
- Diagnosis and emerging trends in treatment
- Clinical supervision and training models
- Assessing and working with clients who use AI (chatbots or other AI mental health supports)
- Use of third-party vendors or contracted services for clinical care
- Technology and innovations in service delivery
Diversity, Equity & Inclusive Excellence
- Recruiting and retaining diverse staff in a challenging hiring environment
- Reaching minoritized students through culturally relevant programming and services
- Ensuring equitable access to counseling services
- Social justice and advocacy work within a counseling center setting
- Supporting minoritized students in states or institutions with changing DEI policies or legislation
- Facilitating dialogue across differences (faith traditions, political beliefs, identity differences, etc.)
- Adapting DEI work in times of policy change or uncertainty
Ethics / Law
- Ethical challenges and case studies in counseling center practice
- Impact of legislative and policy changes on college student mental health
- HIPAA / FERPA considerations in counseling center operations
- Open Notes and implications of the Cures Act
- Artificial intelligence and its impact on clinical practice, ethics, documentation, and counseling center operations
- The role of clinicians within Behavioral Intervention Teams (BITs)
Leadership and Management Strategies
- Leading counseling centers during periods of institutional or societal uncertainty
- Budget management and resource allocation amid reduced enrollment or funding
- Staff recruitment, retention, and professional development
- Managing an intergenerational workforce and supporting early-career clinicians
- Director and leadership self-care
- Preventing and addressing staff burnout
- Structures, systems, and policies that support sustainable workloads and staff wellbeing
- Balancing staff support with operational demands of the counseling center
Mental Health Trends
- Emerging trends in college student mental health
- Suicide prevention, homicide prevention, risk assessment, and safety planning
- The evolving role of counseling center directors on campus
- Counseling center leadership as “Chief Mental Health Officer” on campus
- Health Promoting Universities: frameworks and the role of UCCs
Outreach Programming / Prevention
- Effective outreach strategies to reach the broader student population
- Prevention and early intervention initiatives
- The counseling center’s role in fostering a campus culture of care
- Innovative collaborations with campus departments or community partners to expand mental health support
- Integrating mental health promotion into counseling center missions and service delivery models
- Peer support programs, student mental health ambassadors, and other peer-led initiatives
Political Topics
- The role of counseling centers and professional associations in responding to political issues
- Navigating campus political climate and institutional pressures
- Student activism and the counseling center’s role in supporting students and campus community
Trauma
- Trauma-informed campus programming and counseling center practices
- Post-COVID trauma and adjustment concerns among college students
- Trauma recovery and post-traumatic growth
- Supporting resilience and healing after community crises
Statement of Values to Conference Presenters
Thank you for your interest in presenting to AUCCCD members at the Annual Conference. This information reflects AUCCCD's commitment to inclusive excellence, the promotion of social justice, civility, and collegiality.
AUCCCD is an organization of members representing diverse identities (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual identity, religion, and other characteristics) and professional affiliations (e.g., social workers, psychiatrists, licensed professional counselors, psychologists, and others). As professionals serving university and college students across diverse communities, presenters should avoid using disrespectful or derogatory language or images and should strive to promote respectful, inclusive dialogue.