Presentation Proposals

The Midwest First-Year Conference invites presenters to interrogate, celebrate, and critically examine the digital landscape shaping today's first-year students. From TikTok study strategies to AI-assisted writing, from digital community-building to screen-time anxiety, our students arrive on campus already immersed in a culture that is fast, visual, and algorithm-driven.

This year's conference asks:

• How do we meet students where they are digitally — without losing the depth of learning? 

• How do digital tools support or hinder belonging, identity formation, and mental wellness? 

• What institutional structures and pedagogical approaches best support student success in a technology-saturated environment? 

• How do equity and access shape students' digital experiences and transitions?

We welcome proposals that engage with these questions across a range of disciplines, institutional types, and student populations.

Proposals may address, but are not limited to, the following topic areas:

• AI literacy and academic integrity in the first-year classroom

• Digital well-being, screen culture, and student mental health

• Social media, identity, and sense of belonging on campus

• Technology-enhanced advising, coaching, and early alert systems

• First-generation students and the digital divide

• Online and hybrid course design for first-year learners

• Gaming, gamification, and student engagement strategies

• Digital storytelling and student reflection practices

• Smartphone policies and classroom community-building 

• Data analytics and predictive modeling for retention 

• Institutional approaches to digital transition orientation

• Research on technology use and academic outcomes

• Navigating the digital divide among multi-generational students and staff

• Using AI and technology to improve access to higher education for students (including adult learners, part-time students, students with disabilities, etc.) 

PROPOSAL TIMELINE

Proposal submissions due by June 1, 2026.

Selected presenters will be notified by July 1, 2026

Conference date September 18, 2026

*Selected presentations will receive a code for a half-priced registration fee for one presenter.

NOTE: Although this form does not timeout, you cannot save it to edit later. We suggest you type your answers in a separate document and copy and paste here when ready to submit.

Review the educational session guidelines and submit a proposal today!