1. Writing a SUCCESSFUL Conference Proposal
Andrea and Rachel

2. What is ASPIRE? ASPIRE ANNUAL CONFERENCE?
ASPIRE is a nonprofit professional association dedicated to furthering the expansion of college opportunities for low-income, first-generation students, veterans and students with disabilities. ASPIRE represents professionals working in college access and success programs such as TRIO programs and gear up in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. ASPIRE hosts an annual professional conference to inform college access and success programs about professional practice and provide networking opportunities. The ASPIRE annual conference has an attendance of over college access and success professionals and higher education colleagues.
Rachel

3. CONFERENCE INFORMATION The Antlers a Wyndham Hotel Friday, September 27 – Wednesday October 2, PRE-CONFERENCE OPPORTUNITIES; ALI ASPIRE Leadership Institute: Friday, September 27 SSS Proposal Workshop – No charge – Saturday Sept 28 Feedback on Proposals – Additional charge – Saturday Sept 28 Dashboard and your APR
Rachel

4. Why submit a proposal and present at AN aspire conference?
Personal and professional growth and experience
Share learning from research and practice
Collaboration with other program(s) and professionals (co-presenters)
Contribute to college access and success knowledge base
Other
Rachel

5. CONFERENCE THEME: elevating the Mind, body and Soul
Elevate: Raise or lift up to a higher position, raise to a more important or impressive level.
Rachel

6. 2019 Conference proposal topics
The conference committee encourages submissions of original proposals relating to the conference theme of ELEVATING THE MIND, BODY & SOUL OF TRIO and connecting theory and practice to the following strands:
2019 Conference proposal topics
Promising Practices
Partnerships
Professional and Personal Development
Special Populations
Newcomers
Rachel

7. 2019 Conference proposal topics
Promising practices for financial literacy & financial aid, transfer, remediation, postsecondary persistence/graduation, career advising and exploration, mental health, test-preparation, pre-collegiate rigorous curriculum, adult learners, and incorporating social justice into programming.
Partnerships, including resource development through national, state, institutional, community, school and international partnerships, and organizational behavior.
Professional and personal development, including alumni, retirees, work/life balance, supervision, and leadership.
Special populations, including but not limited to, students with disabilities, ESL, non-traditional, undocumented, military veterans, disconnected youth, and indigenous student populations.
Newcomers, including trio history, legislations and regulations, building leadership skills, on-boarding training.
Rachel

8. Specifics of 2019 Conference
Submission timelines:
Call for presentations opens – May 30, 2019
How to submit a successful presentation webinar –
June 13, :00 am
to join meeting.
Limited to first 30 people who join the meeting
Call for presentations deadline – June 14, 2019 EXTENDED TO JUNE 28, 2019
Presentations status notification – July 19, 2019
Presentations confirmation deadline – August 7, 2019
All concurrent session presenters must register for the conference
Specifics of 2019 Conference
Rachel

9. How to submit a SUCCESSFUL proposal
APPLICATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS Link to electronic RFP:
Title
Abstract
Description
Learning Objectives
Type
How does it relate to Conference Theme(s)
Describe the Conceptual Foundation for the Presentation Content
How to submit a SUCCESSFUL proposal
Andrea

10. How to submit a proposal: Abstract
An effective abstract
An abstract is a brief description of what the presentation will cover
Introduces topic and motivates reader to attend the session
Summarizes content, describes program format, explains special programs that may be unfamiliar to ASPIRE attendees, and suggests target audience
Previews what the attendee can learn
Abstract will be included in the conference program
Hint: define unfamiliar acronyms and abbreviations
Andrea

11. How to submit a proposal: Session Description
A solid session description
Identifies the appropriate audience
Links your session to a conference theme
Explicitly states the take-a-way for the attendee
EXAMPLE: Changing The Mindset: Building On Students’ Strengths
The barriers that prevent success for low-income and first-generation students differ by type of institution — large v. Small, public v. Private, two-year v. Four-year. However, the skills and approaches students need to overcome the limitations they often bring with them when they graduate from under-resourced high schools may be similar. Discuss with two college access program leaders from two very different campuses how they design pre-college programs to enable students from under-resourced schools, both urban and rural, to choose from among the widest possible groups of colleges. Examine how to assist students in developing the internal confidence and strength to meet academic challenges for which they may not have received adequate preparation from their high schools.
Andrea

12. How to submit a proposal: Learning Objectives
Learning objectives should be:
Most presenters tell attendees “how to” do something, but ASPIRE looks for sessions that help attendees “think” through something.
Attendees should learn new techniques and approaches that strengthen their skills in the process.
Winning proposals identify no more than 3 learning outcomes for attendees.  Outcome verbiage must be specific. For example “create a plan” NOT “gain understanding” and “strengthen skills” NOT “ learn about”.
Learning outcomes should focus on how the attendees will behave or act differently because of the session.
Andrea

13. How to submit a proposal: Type
Thoughts on Types of Session
PowerPoints or Prezi visuals are okay but not if they are merely a script, sessions are expected to be interactive and engaging.
Each attendee should leave with something to take home (handouts, templates, kits, websites, list of resources, etc.)
Idea exchange--attendees have time to idea share with one another.
Sessions with trio and non-trio counterparts or collaborations are encouraged
Sessions with more than one perspective – programs, co-presenters are encouraged
Andrea

14. How to submit a proposal: Theme
A winning proposal is related to the conference theme,
And, is connected to one of the suggested sub-themes mentioned on slides.
Has a relevant and timely message.
How to submit a proposal: Theme
Andrea

15. How to submit a proposal: Conceptual Foundation
Describe the conceptual foundation for the presentation content, including ways the presentation is grounded in relevant experience, research, appropriate theory or an effective model.
What is the foundation or framework for the presentation? Is it a practice based on research (such as proactive advising, a retention theory, non-cognitive skills development, student development theory, etc.), Experience, or a model. This connects the individual practice to a broader conceptual framework.
Example: a presentation on engaging students in international experiences may have a research framework that ties international experiences to increased engagement and persistence in postsecondary, also a high impact retention practice.
Example: a presentation about forming collaborations may be grounded in relevant experience that led to formulation of a partnership model –practice to theory.
Andrea

16. 4 General Tips for good presentations
You should be able to give your presentation without your slides; your slides should not be able to give a presentation without you
Utilize new technologies -- multimedia
Avoid talking heads
Think of your presentation as part of a conversation with attendees
Rachel

17. Some Resources to enhance your presentation
Slideshare:
Making the Most of Conference Presentations: groups/posts/making-the-most-of-conference-presentations#
Prezi:
TED Talks: speaking-lessons-from-the-worlds-greatest-ted-talks/
Eric Stoller: Conference Sessions Do Not Have to Suck sessions-do-not-have-suck
Andrea

18. Contact information
Rachel Lund ASPIRE Conference Program Co-Chair
Andrea Reeve
ASPIRE Conference Program Co-Chair
We will post this Power Point to the ASPIRE website and can them upon request.
Rachel

19. Rachel