2023 NASPA Racial Equity and Social Change Conference

With ongoing public health emergencies, NASPA is prepared to manage our place-based events with the health, safety, and well-being of our attendees, staff, presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, and speakers in mind. All participants, including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, NASPA staff, service providers, and others are expected to abide by our code of conduct and all polices in effect for any event sponsored by the Association.

We will continue to monitor and update safety precautions for all of our conferences regularly and coordinate with trusted national resources, state and local public health agencies, and the hotels/venues hosting our events.

In all cases, we will continue to assess the risks in the area local to the event and the current status in the United States. In keeping with the Association's duty of care and the responsibility as host, NASPA has implemented safety requirements for many of our place-based convenings.

We reserve the right to modify these policies and procedures at any time given the rapidly changing nature of any current and ongoing public health emergencies.

Please see the NASPA Global Health, Safety, and Responsibility webpage for complete information about NASPA's policy.

The 2023 conference will focus on the following themes:

The 2023 Conference will focus on racial equity, equity leadership, institutionalizing equity and justice through organizational change, and strengthening and fostering a climate of care for staff and students.

Submission Criteria:

Proposals will be evaluated by several program reviewers using the following five (5) standards:

1. Significant and creative contributions to current research, practices, and institute program themes.
2. Alignment with institute focus on racial justice.
3. Engaging program format that involves the audience and stimulates discussion.
4. Conceptually strong foundation, well-written, with clearly stated outcomes and appropriately documented research and/or experience.
5. Presenters with expertise in the subject matter.

We also encourage you to review NASPA’s guidance for program submissions prior to submitting your completed program.

Sessions will take the following formats:

Volunteer reviewers help to weave the very fabric of the conference. The 2023 NASPA Racial Equity and Social Change Conference will include content-rich sessions presented by talented colleagues in our field - but in order to make this happen, we need YOU! Each program proposal will be reviewed multiple times by professionals in the field prior to the conference committee in July. This rigorous process is part of our promise to provide exceptional professional development that is reflective of the needs and knowledge of the field. 

Assignments will be ready for review no later than July 10. You will receive an email with instructions for accessing the reviewer portal, where you will find the programs that have been assigned to you. Reviews will be due on July 21. 

Each reviewer will be assigned 5-10 proposals to review. We recommend blocking time on your calendar between July 10 - 21 to focus on your program reviews, and allow enough time to read each proposal in full and provide thoughtful feedback to the submitter. Reviewer comments will be shared anonymously with submitters for their consideration.