NIRSA 2026 Aurora
Information for Presenters
The 2026 NIRSA Conference & Campus Rec Expo is an incredible opportunity to share your ideas, expertise, and innovations with a vibrant community of professionals. We are so grateful for the amazing contributions we’ve received in the past, and we can’t wait to see the exciting, groundbreaking proposals that will shape this year’s event. Get ready to inspire, connect, and collaborate with your NIRSA community—your voice matters, and we can’t wait to hear it! Stay tuned for more details.
Call for proposals
This signature event is designed to help higher education professionals enhance and sustain their competencies in campus recreation and wellbeing. This is your chance to showcase your innovative practices and programs and connect with colleagues from across the field. Join us in Aurora, Colorado and be part of an inspiring experience that fosters growth, collaboration, and transformation!
Presentation proposals will be accepted August 25 through September 29, 2025! Check back soon for complete details.
Before you submit a proposal, please note these requirements to speak at a NIRSA event:
- Presenting at NIRSA events is a benefit of membership; therefore, all speakers are required to hold NIRSA membership. You may submit a proposal if you are not currently a member, but speakers of accepted proposals must obtain membership before the date of the event.
- You must agree to the terms and conditions of speaking at a NIRSA event. Clicking the link below to access the call for proposals will first route you to the speaker agreement form. Upon completing the form, you will click “done” and be routed to the official proposal application portal.
- All presenters must register for the conference. Registration for the 2026 NIRSA Conference & Campus Rec Expo will open around December—check back for updates.
Resources for Designing a Strong Proposal
Before you submit, please consider reviewing the resources below to craft a strong proposal.
Other Downloads
- NIRSA Core Competency Guide (NIRSA)
- Tips for Writing Learning Outcomes (University of Arkansas)
- Learning Outcomes Handout (UC San Diego)
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: A Resource Guide for Leaders in Collegiate Recreation (NIRSA)
- Presenting for Impact: Presentation Skills Training for Impactful Learning Experiences (Tagoras)
- NIRSA Presenter Information & Resources (NIRSA)
Strategic Framework & Topics
NIRSA has recently published a new strategic framework which influences our decision-making regarding educational programming. Our top three priorities for 2024–2027 revolve around the professional pipeline, advocacy, and wellbeing.
How are submissions reviewed?
NIRSA recruits over 50 people to double-blind review submissions, meaning both presenter and reviewer identities are concealed. Additionally, the programming committee evaluates each submission for strong, actionable learning outcomes with detailed descriptions of a well-thought-out presentation. Reviewers look for:
- Strength of Learning Objectives
- Relevance to Target Audience
- Relevance to Competency and Topic Area
- Program Design
- Ability to Inspire Growth or Action
- Overall Quality
CE Credit Information
All sessions will be evaluated for their eligibility to offer CE Credits for those pursuing their CSAEd certification. You can read more about this certification and its requirements by checking out our webpage on our partnership with the Higher Education Consortium of Student Affairs Educators.
