Dear Colleagues,
We are excited to announce the Call for Proposals for Ball State University's fifth annual Student Success Summit, taking place January 6–7, 2027!
This year's theme, "Built for This Moment: Becoming What's Next," invites us to reflect on how far we have come, celebrate the extraordinary work happening across our University, and consider what we must do next to advance student success.
Over the past several years, our collective efforts have strengthened our approaches to teaching, learning, student engagement, and academic support. We have learned a great deal about what works, where challenges persist, and how our practices and systems can evolve to better serve our students. Now, we have an opportunity to build on that momentum and imagine what comes next.
We invite faculty, professional staff, administrators, and students from across the University to share their experiences, insights, research, innovative practices, and ideas through one of three conference tracks:
Track 1: Building on What Works
Celebrating Progress, Examining Evidence, and Scaling Impact
Highlight successful initiatives, innovative practices, collaborative partnerships, and lessons learned from efforts to improve student outcomes. We encourage proposals that demonstrate impact and explore opportunities to sustain or expand effective approaches.
Track 2: Understanding the Students We Serve
Changing Realities, Evolving Needs, and Student Experiences
Explore the changing characteristics, experiences, and needs of our students and how we can create more responsive, inclusive, and supportive learning environments. Proposals incorporating student voices and perspectives are especially encouraged.
Track 3: Becoming What's Next
Reimagining Systems, Strengthening Connections, and Inspiring Action
Challenge us to reconsider how we work, remove institutional barriers, strengthen collaboration, and develop new approaches that will shape the future of student success at Ball State.
We welcome proposals for interactive workshops, panels or facilitated conversations, and practice and innovation showcases. Collaborative presentations across academic and administrative units, as well as sessions involving students, are particularly encouraged.
You do not need to have all the answers or a fully developed initiative to contribute. Some of our most meaningful conversations begin with an important question, a promising idea, or a lesson learned from an approach that did not produce the results we anticipated.
The Student Success Summit is an opportunity to learn from one another, strengthen our connections, and reaffirm our shared responsibility for creating the conditions in which every student can thrive.
Proposal Submission Deadline: Friday, December 4, 2026
I hope you will consider sharing your work, collaborating with colleagues, or encouraging others whose experiences and insights could enrich our collective learning.
Together, we have made meaningful progress. Now, let's build on that foundation and become what's next.
Warmly,
Jason Rivera, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Student Success and Dean of University College