Being an EACE conference presenter is a perfect opportunity to enhance your resume and personal brand! You do not need to be an EACE member to present at the conference, and you’re encouraged to share this opportunity with friends and colleagues.
The call for proposals is open Monday, October 20, 2025 - Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
If you submit a proposal to present at EACE26, you will be notified regarding the status of your proposal by early March.
Read the guidelines below to help craft your proposal.
Workshops: Hands-on, interactive sessions with practical takeaways.
Panel Discussions: Diverse Panels discussing industry-relevant topics.
Case Studies: In-depth presentations on successful initiatives with measurable results.
Coffee Chat: Roundtable style facilitated group discussions encouraging peer-to-peer learning over a warm or cold beverage.
W.O.R.K. Talk:TED-style talks focused on emerging trends or thought-provoking ideas (15 minutes per person - with up to 5 slots available). What does W.O.R.K. mean to you? Worth, Opportunity, Resilience, Knowledge—this is what defines our work. It’s more than a job; it’s a journey. When we bring purpose, curiosity, and resilience to our work, we unlock its true power, and in turn, we unlock our true potential. Have an idea, emerging trend or topic you want to explore or talk about? This is an opportunity to share it with the EACE community. (If selected as a potential finalist, a video audition submission would be required.)
If you are interested in submitting for a 60-minute break-out session or coffee chat please consider covering one of the following topics:
Employers
Recruiting in a ghosting era
People analytics and predictive insights - turning data into decisions
Retention strategies
Workforce planning, skills forecasting
Inclusive hiring practices
Burnout prevention for early career professionals
AI in talent acquisition - friend or foe?
Imposter syndrome and confidence building
Recruiting 101 from job post to offer letter
Partnering with hiring managers
College Partners
Student Engagement
Student Mentorship
Student Analytics
Career Curriculum (creating career courses, integrating career content into existing courses)
Career Coaching and Counseling Best Practices
Community Colleges
HBCUs and HSIs
Both (Employers & College Partners)
Inclusive Workplace Culture
Conflict Mediation
Intergenerational Engagement
Data-Driven Actions in Decision-Making
Affirmative Action in Recruitment
Leadership (methods for career advancement, hiring and/or training best practices, creating office culture)
Marketing and Technology
Proposal Requirements
Title and Abstract: Provide a session title (max 75 characters) and a brief abstract (max 150 words) outlining the session's content and value.
Learning Objectives: List 3-5 specific learning objectives attendees will take away.
Session Outline: Provide a detailed session outline, including the presentation style and approach.
Target Audiences: Identify the intended audiences (e.g., career service professionals, employer relations, HR professionals).
Career Level: Entry-level, mid-level, seasoned professional
Presenter Information: Include a brief bio (up to 100 words) for each presenter, showcasing relevant experience.
If your session focuses on topics of diversity and inclusion, please note it in your description.
Important Information
Incomplete forms will not be accepted. ALL co-presenter information must be included at the time the proposal is submitted.
Presenters will not be compensated and do not receive complimentary. One lead presenter per session will receive a complimentary (30%) discount towards their registration.
For accessibility purposes, presenters are expected to use the EACE Universal Design PowerPoint template. If approved, presenters are required to have five copies of their presentation that comply with the Universal Design standard for distribution, if necessary.
Break-out session rooms will be equipped with a basic LCD projector package and a microphone. Laptops are NOT provided. Internet may not be available in break-out rooms.
EACE does not print handouts. Presenters will be encouraged to upload any session handouts to the EACE Mobile App.
Tips for submitting a successful conference proposal:
GIVE IT TIME - A good proposal takes time to create! Set aside a few hours to review past proposals, draft out your presentation outline, and craft your title and session description.
MAKE IT CATCHY - The title and description you create now will be used for all promotional materials, so consider the audience, topic area and relevance to your presentation. Use action verbs and results-oriented words. Your title must be both attention-grabbing and give a good description of your session. Less is more when it comes to the length of the session description.
GET CREDIT - Sessions that are SHRM accredited sessions have an increased likelihood of being selected for the conference, and tend to have higher attendance. Review the guidelines for SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management).
SHARE TAKEAWAYS - Think about the learning outcomes. What information will attendees learn? What new insights will you cultivate? What best practices or how-to’s will you share? Answer the following: “By attending this session, attendees will gain…”
FAQs
Submission Best Practices
We encourage proposals that:
Ignite Engagement: Design sessions that foster active engagement and interaction among participants.
Highlight Practical Successes: Share real-world case studies or achievements with proven outcomes that attendees can apply to their work.
Champion Inclusion: Demonstrate how your session promotes inclusion and belonging, ensuring diverse perspectives are represented.
Show Expertise and Emerging Trends: Present deep knowledge in the field and offer insights into new trends in career services and talent acquisition.
Inspire Any Stage Career Success:Discuss strategies that empower students, early and seasoned career professionals to achieve their goals.
Who can submit a proposal?
Anyone who has a relevant topic to share! We’ve had submissions from graduate assistants, faculty, career counselors, VPs, directors, recruiters and more. You do not need to be a member of EACE to submit a proposal.
Where and when is the Annual Conference?
The EACE 2026 Annual Conference will be held June 24-26, 2026 at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Find out more.
What is the timeline for the proposal process?
October 20, 2025: Call for Proposals opens
December 17, 2025: Deadline for Submissions
February/Early March: Presenters will be notified of their selection. (The designated lead presenter receives this communication.)
How are proposals selected?
Proposals are evaluated by the Annual Conference Programming Sub-Committee. Several key factors that influence selection include, but are not limited to:
Relevance and timeliness of the content.
Clarity of learning objectives and intended outcomes.
Level of audience engagement and interaction.
Promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Practicality of the content for attendees’ professional development.
The proposal is non-commercial nor self-promoting.
How long should my presentation be?
Break-out sessions and Coffee Chats are 60 minutes which should include leaving time for questions at the end.
The W.O.R.K. speakers will run concurrently with no room for questions - this is TED X style and will be done during a Keynote slot. The time frame is 5-15 minutes.
Do presenters get discounted conference registration?
One lead presenter for each break-out session, coffee chat and/or W.O.R.K. session will receive a discounted registration fee of $449. If a presenter cannot attend the full conference, entry for the session only may be granted. Presenters needing financial assistance to attend are encouraged to apply for a 2026Professional Development Grantand/orDiversity & Inclusion Scholarship.
