Council for the Advancement of Higher Education Progams (CAHEP) Pre-Conference

CAHEP Pre-Conference Call For Proposals & Volunteers

Proposals and Volunteer Interest Forms due Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 3:00pm Pacific Time

Review the Call For Proposals Learn more about Volunteering 

The mission of CAHEP is to enrich the teaching and learning experiences of graduate students and faculty in the Association’s constituent higher education programs within North America and around the world. Toward that end, the purpose of the CAHEP Pre-Conference is to facilitate the exchange among program coordinators/directors, faculty, students, and other interested members of the Association.

Dr. Robin Zape-tah-hol-ah Minthorn and the 2026 Conference Committee Leadership Team have put together a timely call for us to think about the systems of power embedded in our field, including colonization (www.ashe.ws/conference-theme). In doing so, they challenge us to work toward a collective critical consciousness that enables us to think through how we meet the troubling times we find ourselves in and how these impact our communities. As I reflect on their powerful theme and what it means for this year’s CAHEP Pre-Conference, the following questions enter my mind: 

1. How do we resist the powers that seek to undo what gains we have made in greater access and representation of minoritized communities in our field? 

2. How do we support students, colleagues, and ourselves when support structures are actively dismantled? 

3. How do we hold onto hope and work for collective action when the chaos and uncertainty feel overwhelming? 

4. As higher education scholar-practitioners, what are our responsibilities to our scholarly communities and our students to keep going? 

5. In a time where hope feels like an act of defiance, how do we find space to be hopeful?

With this context in mind, CAHEP is interested in proposals that might explore policies and practices in the organization, administration, delivery, and outcomes of graduate higher education programs; teaching and learning within programs; and graduate student and faculty experiences, including recruitment, socialization, mentorship, and success. CAHEP encourages creativity in exploring and addressing challenges facing today’s higher education programs as well as those that may inform the next generation of scholars and teachers of higher education. We hope proposals can present conceptual, empirical, practical, and policy-based considerations in the study of higher education and preparation of higher education administrators, faculty, students, and independent scholars. CAHEP prides itself on being a friendly, supportive space, and we particularly welcome proposals and involvement from graduate students.

In-Person Proposal formats accepted (Tuesday November 3, 2026)

Call For Volunteers

We know the quality and success of the conference is contingent upon the collective engagement of each and every member serving as Reviewers, Chairs, and Discussants. Service in these roles helps to ensure the integrity of our conference and, subsequently, the field of higher education scholarship. However, we also know that the rapidly changing landscape of higher education and the challenges we are facing more broadly in society, and within our communities are taking a toll on our members. Please know that we value you and the time and energy you give to ensuring our conference programming can meet the moment.

Learn more about Volunteering

Tentative Schedule (In-Person in San Juan)

Registration Rates

Registration will open in April 2026