Welcome, Presenters!

NIRSA 2026 National Harbor

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! This page will continue to be updated with program details for presenters.

This signature learning 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, and establish yourself as a thought leader in the profession. Join us at the 2026 NIRSA Conference & Campus Rec Expo and contribute to an inspiring experience that fosters growth, collaboration, and transformation!

Presentation proposals will be accepted August 25 through September 29, 2025!

• 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 an active member, but if a speaker of an accepted proposal does not hold membership at the time of acceptance, they must obtain a membership status 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 2026 NIRSA Conference & Campus Rec Expo will open around early December, check our website for more registration updates.

Before you submit, please consider reviewing the resources below to craft a strong proposal.

• 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 members only)
• Presenting for Impact: Presentation Skills Training for Impactful Learning Experiences (Tagoras)
• NIRSA Presenter Information & Resources (NIRSA)

NIRSA's strategic framework influences our decision-making regarding educational programming. Our top three priorities for 2024–2027 revolve around the professional pipeline, advocacy, and wellbeing.

NIRSA recruits over 50 individuals to double-blind review presentation proposal submissions, meaning the identities of both the presenter and reviewer are concealed. Additionally, the NIRSA Conference Programming Committee evaluates each submission for strong, actionable learning outcomes with detailed, thoughtful descriptions.

Reviewers look for:

1. Strength of learning objectives
2. Relevance to target audience
3. Relevance to competency and topic area
4. Program design
5. Ability to inspire growth or action
6. Overall quality

We're especially excited this year to focus on industry basics: Think foundational practices, emerging insights, and new ways to support student success, wellbeing, and community—whether on the field, in the facility, or behind the scenes.

• Roundtable Discussions: Bring your expertise on specific topic areas to guide conversations amongst your peers around the latest trends and common issues in a 90-minute roundtable discussion: Submit a proposal (PDF version)
• Panel Presentations: Team up and share stories, strategies, and perspectives from the field in a 50-minute presentation: Submit a proposal (PDF version)
• Standard Presentations: Dive deep into your topic with a classic format and time for Q&A in a 50-minute presentation: Submit a proposal (PDF version)
• 20-minute Expo Sessions: Quick, powerful bursts of content and best practices: Submit a proposal (PDF version)
• Fitness Forum: Move your audience—literally—with physically engaging presentations

Submit your proposals by September 29, 2025.

Notification about the status of roundtable discussions, panel presentations, standard presentations, and 20-minute expo session proposal applications will be sent in November 2025. Fitness Forum notifications will be sent in January 2026.

• Poster Presentations: Perfect for showcasing research, pilot programs, or emerging ideas in an approachable format: Submit a proposal (PDF version)

Poster presentation applications are due by January 30, 2026.

Notification about the status of poster presentation proposals will be sent in February 2026.

Reminders:

• To revisit presenter expectations, view the speaker agreement form. This link to the speaker agreement will not direct you to the proposal application.
• If your proposal is accepted, the Pheedloop speaker portal will include specific instructions on uploading files and updating your bio. Check the portal regularly for updated information and resources.

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.