See you next summer in San Diego!

Call for Proposals Information

Shape the Future of Financial Aid 

Join NASFAA as a presenter at the 2027 National Conference in San Diego, California. Each year, thousands of student aid professionals gather to teach, learn, and share best practices. Presenting is a valuable opportunity to advance the profession, expand your network, and raise the visibility of your institution or organization. Sessions focus on financial aid and enrollment management, offering practical strategies participants can apply on campus.

Selected sessions will be presented in person, June 20-23, 2027.

The call for proposals for the NASFAA 2027 National Conference will open in late August.

Who Should Submit? 

We welcome proposals from financial aid professionals, higher education leaders, equity and inclusion practitioners, and policy advocates. Whether you work on campus or in the broader higher education community, your insights help strengthen our field. Submissions from speakers from historically underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

Suggested Topics by Track

To support professional development at every level, NASFAA has aligned its 2027 conference tracks with the Financial Aid Administrator Competency Model. These tracks reflect the evolving demands of the profession and guide both individual learning and institutional training. Sessions within each track are designed to be broadly applicable, offering insights and strategies relevant to attendees from all types of institutions.

The conference tracks are:

  • Laws, Regulations & Compliance – Understanding and applying federal regulations and institutional policies.
  • Customer Service – Delivering effective, equitable service to students, families, and campus partners.
  • Technology, Research & Data – Using tools, systems, and data to support informed decision-making.
  • Business of Education – Exploring financial aid’s role in institutional strategy, finance, and enrollment management.
  • Leadership – Developing leadership skills, managing teams, and driving change.
  • Career Development – Building skills for professional growth and advancement.
  • Graduate & Professional Issues – Addressing the policies, practices, and challenges unique to graduate and professional schools, with sessions tailored to the needs of advanced degree programs.

At the heart of NASFAA’s competency model is a Commitment to College Access and Student Success. This core value is reflected across all conference tracks and serves as a guiding principle for every session.

How Do I Submit a Proposal? 

Review the required information for session proposals as you prepare your submission(s).

Prepare your session submission by reviewing the required components:

  • Basic Information: Track and session type
  • Title & Summary: A clear, persuasive session description (used in the conference program if accepted)
  • Speaker Information 

To strengthen your proposal:

  • Clearly state the value and intended takeaways
  • Include a bulleted session outline
  • Identify your target audience
  • Provide links to materials you’ll reference
  • Indicate whether you have experience presenting

How Are Proposals Selected? 

Proposals are peer-reviewed and selected by the National Conference Program Task Force, which prioritizes high-quality content and diverse representation. 

Proposals are evaluated based on:

  • Relevance to current challenges in higher education
  • Potential for audience engagement
  • Practical application of content
  • Broad appeal
  • Speaker expertise and lived experience
  • Representation of higher education’s perspectives

Vendor sales pitches are not appropriate session content. Vendor-only proposals are rarely accepted unless they demonstrate broad, proven success across institutions. Co-presenting with a campus partner significantly increases acceptance rates. Vendors who prefer to present independently may consider a Business Solutions session. Contact Carissa Uhlman-Campana for more details.

Important Dates

  • Call for proposal submission deadline: October 23, 2026
  • Decisions sent: Late 2026
  • Session handouts due: June 15, 2027
  • National Conference: June 20-23, 2027

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact our Conferences Team.

Additional Materials