We are seeking creative speaker proposals for the 25th annual Mental Health on College Campuses Conference, to be held March 23-24, 2027, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

This is a chance for campus mental health advocates to share insights that will help shape the future of college student mental health. Join us in advancing our collective mission to create healthier, more supportive campus communities. Speakers will be notified of the status of their proposal by the end of December.

The submission window for the 2027 conference is now open. Proposals are due October 23, 2026.

Submit your proposal

Conference theme

25 Years of Growth: New Horizons in College Mental Health 

As we celebrate 25 years, the 2027 conference invites us to reflect on what we have learned along the way and consider how those lessons can inform what comes next. Our inaugural conference in 2003 centered on “Best Practices and Innovative Strategies,” reflecting a shared commitment to learning what works, challenging ourselves to think differently, and finding new ways to meet the evolving needs of students and campuses. We encourage participants to consider not only what we know now but what college mental health will require next. 

We are seeking proposals that creatively explore the following questions:

  • What new challenges and student needs do we anticipate and how can we prepare to address them?

  • How do we currently need to catch up with the present moment, and how do we prevent falling behind in the future?

  • What are our biggest opportunities to impact student mental health over the next decade?

Presentation topics

We're looking for proposals that engage creatively with the topic of learning from our past, growth, and shaping the future. Suggested topics include: 

  • Emerging trends and changing mental health needs of today’s and tomorrow’s college students
  • Opportunities, challenges, ethical considerations, and emerging applications of AI and technology in clinical care, outreach, and prevention
  • Building stronger partnerships across campus disciplines, professional roles, and community systems to address complex student needs
  • Using research, student perspectives, data, and evaluation to understand emerging needs and improve mental health practices and systems

Presentation formats

The following formats are available:

  • Workshop: 75-minute sessions give speakers and participants time to explore a topic in-depth. These interactive workshops should engage attendees in discussion and/or skill-building that improves their understanding of the topic. Time must be reserved at the end of the session for Q&A and discussion. The presentation and Q&A cannot last longer than 75 minutes. Workshops will take place in the afternoon on Tuesday, March 23.
  • Concurrent session: 60-minute sessions that provide an opportunity to introduce a model program, evidence-based practice or research study relating to the conference theme. The presentations should be no longer than 45 minutes. At least 15 minutes must be left at the end of the session for Q&A and discussion with attendees. Concurrent sessions will take place in the afternoon on Tuesday, March 23 and in the morning on Wednesday, March 24.
  • Lightning talks: 20-minute high-energy presentations designed to share key insights, innovative ideas or research findings in a concise and engaging format. We encourage clear, focused presentations that deliver high-impact insights within a short time frame. Lightning talks will take place in the afternoon on Tuesday, March 23 and in the morning on Wednesday, March 24.
  • Poster session: Create a poster about a research study or model program at your institution related to the conference theme. Each presenter will have an easel and 30" x 40" poster board for mounting their poster. Posters will be presented during a networking reception in the evening on Tuesday, March 23.

Proposal criteria

Speaker applications must be submitted online by October 23, 2026. If you have more than one presenter, the lead presenter should submit the proposal for the entire group including all co-presenters. The application includes a summary of your presentation in 300 words or fewer. Your summary must contain:

  • Your intended audience
  • Clearly defined learning objectives
  • An overview of the presentation content and format
  • A list of all speakers

If submitting for a workshop, concurrent session or lightning talk, you must include a title and a brief session description in 150 words or fewer. This description will be included in the conference program if your proposal is selected.

Apply today

If you are selected

Proposals will be reviewed by the selection committee and evaluated against specific criteria, including relevance to the theme and presenters' expertise. All applicants will be notified of their proposal status by the end of December 2026. 
  • Speakers must provide final copies of all handouts and slides by March 10, 2027.
  • Speakers are responsible for their airfare, hotel, and ground transportation expenses.
  • All selected workshop, concurrent session and lightning talk speakers will receive a complimentary conference registration.

Contact us

If you have any questions regarding proposal submission or the conference, please contact our team. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.