Compact25: Program & Call for Proposals

Proposals due October 10, 2025

Campus Compact is now accepting proposals for the Compact26 national conference. We seek proposals that explore our theme—Hope Found Here: Advancing Civic and Community Engagement through Compassion, Action, and Unity.

We are particularly interested in proposals that explore the following key topic areas. The intention of these key areas is not to limit but to inspire and energize potential presenters around critical issues that show up in their work and the civic and community engagement field as a whole. All sessions should balance learning and exchange, represent a variety of perspectives, and meaningfully contribute to racial justice, equity, and inclusion goals.

Addressing systemic inequities and wicked societal problems

Storytelling, assessment and impact

Authentic campus-community partnerships

Sessions explore how individuals and campuses are building and sustaining community partnerships and centering community voice in decision-making. Topics may include partnership management and tracking, community advisory board structures and approaches, compensation and recognition policies and practices, or how campuses and practitioners are working collectively with K-12 schools, other higher education institutions, hospitals, government agencies, or cultural organizations to advance community priorities.

Bridge building, dialogue, and discourse to support an engaged democracy

Sessions examine how individuals and institutions engage with others to support purposeful and respectful conversation across viewpoints with a desire to learn and understand. Highlighted session topics may cover voter education and engagement efforts, models and examples of civil discourse and dialogue programming, the student learning and skill developed through bridge-building activities, ways of centering community and student voice through the use of civil discourse, and creating safe and inclusive spaces that provide opportunities for those whose viewpoints may be traditionally marginalized or silenced

Centering mental health, belonging, and well-being

Civic learning and student success strategies

Sessions explore new and innovative practices within civic and community-engaged learning and teaching. Discussions may examine implementing innovative curriculum design and delivery and strategies that foster civic skill development, create pathways for learning and action, support the development of student civic identity, and champion majors, minors, and certificates in civic engagement and leadership. Sessions may also explore how these strategies contribute to improved recruitment, enrollment, and retention or showcase how civic and community engagement can enhance career-related experiences.

Infrastructure and support for community engagement

Sessions explore opportunities to build robust and holistic support for campus civic and community engagement work. Presenters may discuss creating pathways and resources for community engagement professionals, developing staffing models, funding and resourcing civic and community engagement efforts, and developing institutional policies that facilitate this work, such as faculty and staff annual rewards, promotion and tenure, and community-engaged research. Sessions may also explore professional development models and skill-building for professionals such as faculty and graduate student fellowship programs.

Student-led, Student-driven engagement and leadership

Sessions highlight and uplift innovative community and civic engagement programs, initiatives, and models that center student voice and the roles students play in the development and implementation of co-curricular initiatives and community-campus partnerships. Sessions may focus on student empowerment through community and civic engagement, showcase unique models of implementing institution-wide days of service, or tell the story of student-led social action. Student presentations are encouraged.

Additional details:

Session proposals must have been submitted through our online application portal to be considered. For your convenience, you will find a preview of the session application form below.
Session topics may not be changed after the review and selection process.
Campus Compact may edit presentation titles or session descriptions for consistency and clarity.
We will notify applicants about session decisions by email in fall 2025.
All presenters for accepted sessions are required to register for the Compact26 conference. Registration must be completed by February 6, 2026 to guarantee the session.

Proposal review

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 key topics areas? Is the topic forward-looking, emphasizing novel approaches, ideas, and resources to catalyze change?
Quality of the submission: Is the proposal comprehensive in addressing each of the questions? Are the responses clear and demonstrate a strong understanding of the proposed topic?
Session Outcomes: Is there alignment between the stated session outcomes and the proposal description? Are the outcomes achievable? Based on the proposed session type, will the proposed session achieve intended audience participation, the transition of knowledge to action, etc?

Preview: Session Proposal Form

Below you will find a preview of the questions that will be asked on the Compact26 session proposal form. All sessions must be submitted through our online application portal to be considered.

Session Information

Session Title (100 character limit)
Session abstract (120 word limit)
Full session description, including your plan to make the session interactive (250 word limit)
Select session type (learn more about Compact26 session formats)
Identify intended audience (multi-select): Community engagement professionals, community partners, faculty, senior administrators, students
Identify the focus area most closely related to your session:
- Addressing systemic inequities and wicked societal problems.
- Storytelling, assessment, and impact
- Authentic campus-community partnerships
- Bridge building, dialogue, and discourse to support an engaged democracy
- Centering mental health, belonging, and well-being
- Civic learning and student success strategies
- Infrastructure and support for community engagement
- Student-led, student-driven engagement and leadership
- None of the above (please specify)
Intended session outcomes or participant learning objectives (50 word limit)
How does this session contribute to the conference theme, Hope Found Here: Advancing Civic and Community Engagement through Compassion, Action, and Unity?

Presenter Information

Name
Email address
Job title
Institution or organization name
Institution or organization type
Brief Biography (50 word limit)
Number of co-presenters
Co-presenters' personal information
Optional demographic questions

Roundtable	In Roundtable discussions, presenters workshop ideas, gather feedback, and work collaboratively toward solutions. Presenters will discuss an initiative, project, or program at a single round table with a maximum of 8 participants. 45 minutes, maximum of 2 presenters
Poster	Poster presentations are intended to promote exchange between presenters and attendees on civically and community-engaged projects. A physical poster must be provided that highlights the purpose, strategies utilized, and outcomes. Poster presentations have a dedicated session to promote dialogue and exchange. Poster presentations are an excellent opportunity to include student collaborators. Presented during the 1.5 hour poster session, maximum of 3 presenters
Author Talk	Author talks provide participants with an opportunity to engage with the author of an impactful publication (e.g., book, book chapter, special journal issue, or journal article) in the civic and community engagement field. The session should be a blend of presenting key takeaways from the publication and dialogue with attendees. 45 minutes, maximum of 6 presenters
Knowledge-to-Action Workshop	Knowledge-to-Action sessions are focused on sharing specific knowledge, theories, skills, or methods for practical application. These sessions should be interactive, and participants should leave with actionable recommendations for practice. 45 minutes, maximum of 6 presenters
Promising Practice	Promising Practice sessions highlight a civic and community engagement project, infrastructure, or approach working effectively to inform and inspire participants for potential replication and ideas. 30 minutes (20 minutes presenting & 10 minutes Q&A), maximum of 6 presenters

PROGRAM

Preliminary Schedule

Organize a meet-up!

Session types

Call for Proposals